Month: January 2024
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Cole and John Younger, Frank, and Jesse James, and Art McCoy pulled off the first peacetime train robbery in Missouri history at the whistle-stop town of Gads Hill. January 31, 1874.
Image: Jesse and Frank James, 1872. (Public Domain) On this day in history, January 31, 1874, Cole and John Younger, Frank, and Jesse James, and Art McCoy pulled off the first peacetime train robbery in Missouri history at the whistle-stop town of Gads Hill. They would manage to steal $12,000. Fresh from a stagecoach holdup…
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The Great Raid Occured Where 500 Allied POWs were Freed in the Philippines, January 30, 1945.
134 U.S. Army Rangers and Alamo Scouts, along with about 280 Filipino guerilla fighters, successfully raided a Japanese prisoner of war camp near Cabanatuan City, Philippines, extricating more than 500 Allied POWs. January 30, 1945. Image: Different routes were used for the infiltration and extraction behind Japanese lines during the Raid at Cabanatuan (Public Domain) On…
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500 Members of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation Lay Dead After the Worst Massacre of Native Americans by the U.S. military in American History. January 29, 1863.
Image: Massacre survivor Chief Sagwitch and spouse Beawoachee, circa 1875. (Public Domain). On this day in history, January 29, 1863, as many as 500 Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation lay dead after the worst massacre of Native Americans by the U.S. military in American history. Most people have never heard of the Bear River…
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American Gangster Al Capone Died Eight Days After His 48th Birthday. January 25, 1947.
Image: “Scarface” Al Capone is shown here at the Chicago Detective bureau following his arrest on a vagrancy charge as Public Enemy No. 1 On this day in history, January 25, 1947, American gangster Al Capone died eight days after his 48th birthday. After suffering for years from paresis (a late stage of syphilis), which…
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Roman Emperor Caligula was assassinated because of a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers. January 24, 41 C.E.
Image: Marble bust of Caligula, 37—41 C.E. On this date in history, Roman Emperor Caligula was assassinated because of a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers. Caligula was described as an insane emperor who was very self-absorbed, short-tempered, who was a capricious killer, and one who indulged in too much spending…
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The Wannsee Conference, Where 15 High-Ranking Nazi Party and German Government Officials Gathered at a Villa in a Berlin Suburb to Discuss and Coordinate the Implementation of the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.” January 20, 1942.
Image: The villa Am Großen Wannsee 56–58, where the Wannsee Conference was held, is now a memorial and museum. (Public Domain) On this day in history, the Wannsee Conference, where 15 high-ranking Nazi Party and German government officials gathered at a villa in a Berlin suburb to discuss and coordinate the implementation of the “Final…
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California Governor Gavin Newsom denied the release of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin Sirhan Sirhan after 53 years in prison. January 13, 2020.
Image: Mugshot of Sirhan in 2021. On this day in history, January 13, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom denied the release of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin Sirhan Sirhan after 53 years in prison. This was Sirhan’s 16th attempt at parole for the June 5, 1968, assassination of the presidential hopeful at the Ambassador Hotel in…
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The FBI Arrested Six Great Brink’s Robbery Gang Members Six Days Before the Statute of Limitations Expired. January 12, 1956.
Image: Present-day North Terminal Garage in Boston, site of the Great Brink’s Robbery in 1950. (Public Domain) On this day in history, January 12, 1956, the FBI arrested six Great Brink’s robbery gang members six days before the statute of limitations expired. One criminal gang member felt that he was being stiffed out of his…
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Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in Northern Italy and set off a civil war in the Roman Republic. January 10, 49 BCE.
Image: Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon. On this day in history, January 10, 49 BCE, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in Northern Italy and set off a civil war in the Roman Republic. There had been many civil wars over the previous century in the Roman Republic, yet the one begun by Julius Caesar…
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A Farmer in Bethel, New York, Sued Fellow Farmer Max Yasgur, who Rented Out His Farm for the Woodstock Music and Art Festival, for $35,000 for Damage to Their Properties Caused by the 500,000 Hippies Who Attended the Festival. January 7, 1970.
Image: Opening ceremony at Woodstock. Swami Satchidananda giving the opening speech. (Public Domain) On this date in history, January 7, 1970, a farmer in Bethel, New York, sued fellow farmer Max Yasgur, who rented out his farm for the Woodstock Music and Art Festival, for $35,000 for damage to their properties caused by the 500,000…
History Daily With Francis Chappell Black 