THIS DAY IN HISTORY – JANUARY 3

HISTORICAL EVENTS

1496 - Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine.

1521- Martin Luther is excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X.

1848 - Joseph Jenkins Roberts is sworn in as the first president of the independent African Republic of Liberia.



1964 - Jack Parr Show airs a clip of the Beatles singing "She Loves You".

1988 - Margaret Thatcher becomes longest-serving British PM this century.

FAMOUS BIRTHS

106 BC - Cicero, Roman statesman and philosopher (d. 43 BC).

1892 - John Ronald Reuel (J.R.R.) Tolkien, South Africa, philologist/writer (Lord of Rings).

1901 - Ngo Dinh Diem, president/dictator of South Vietnam (1955-63).

1926 - George Martin, record producer (The Beatles).




FAMOUS DEATHS

None worthy of any note.