Historical Events
- Jan 11 Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur
Cook's Last Log Entry
Jan 17 Captain James Cook's last notation in Discovery's ship's log
Dickinson Delaware Delegate
Jan 18 John Dickinson is appointed a delegate for Delaware to the Continental Congress
Messier Adds to his Catalog
Jan 23 French astronomer Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra)
- Jan 31 French astronomer Charles Messier adds M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra) to his catalog
Famous Birthdays
- Jan 1 William Clowes, English printer (d. 1847)
- Jan 5 Stephen Decatur, American naval hero (War of 1812), born in Sinepuxent, Maryland (d. 1820)
- Jan 5 Zebulon Pike, American brigadier general and explorer (Pike's Peak), born in Lamington, New Jersey (d. 1813)
- Jan 15 Jean Coralli, French ballet producer and choreographer (Giselle), born in Paris, France (d. 1854)
Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869)
Jan 18 British lexicographer (Roget's Thesaurus) and inventor (slide rule, pocket chessboard), born in London
