January 1 in History

• 1804

  January 1, 1804:

  Haiti’s independence from French colonial rule is declared.

• 1818

  January 1, 1818:

  “Frankenstein” by author Mary Shelley is published.

• 1863

  January 1, 1863:

  U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation to free US Confederacy slaves.

• 1915

  January 1, 1915:

  The film, “A Birth of a Nation” by D.W. Griffith is previewed to a limited audience at the Riverside, California-based Loring Opera House under the title “The Clansman”.

• 1958

  January 1, 1958:

  Johnny Cash holds his first prison concert at the San Quentin State Prison.

• 1959

  January 1, 1959:

  Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba as his dictatorial regime is brought to an end by Fidel Castro.

• 1994

  January 1, 1994:

  The North American Free Trade Agreement is effected to eliminate barriers to trade amongst Canada, United States and Mexico.

• 2002

  January 1, 2002:

  The use of the Euro starts amongst participating members of the European Union.

• 2011

  January 1, 2011:

  The basic cable channel named Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) starts transmission.

• January 1, 2011:

  Singer Shania Twain marries Frederick Thiebaud in Puerto Rico.