What Happened in January 1837

Historical Events

  • Jan 22 Earthquake in southern Syria kills thousands
  • Jan 26 Michigan admitted as 26th US state

Famous Birthdays

  • Jan 2 Mily Balakirev, Russian pianist and composer (Islamej, Tamara), born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (d. 1910)
  • Jan 12 Adolf Jensen, German pianist, composer, and teacher, born in Königsberg, Prussian (now Kaliningrad, Russia) (d. 1879)
  • Jan 12 Carlos Troyer, American composer, born in Frankfurt, German Confederation (d. 1920)
  • Jan 16 James Phillip Simms, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1887)
  • Jan 19 William Williams Keen, American physician (1st American brain surgeon), born in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania (d. 1932)
  • Jan 20 David Josiah Brewer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (d. 1910)
  • Jan 23 Amanda Smith, American former slave, singer and evangelist, born in Long Green, Maryland (d. 1915)

Famous Deaths

  • Jan 20 John Soane, English architect (Book of Designs, Soane Museum), dies at 84
  • Jan 23 John Field, Irish pianist and composer (Nocturnes), dies at 54