January 1 in History

January 1 is the first day of the year. There are 365 days remaining until the end of the year.

• 1773– The hymn that became known as Amazing Grace, then titled 1 Chronicles 17:16–17 was first used to accompany a sermon by John Newton in the town of Olney, England. 
• 1804 – French rule ended in Haiti. Haiti became the first Black republic and second independent country in North America after the U.S.
• 1808 – The importation of slaves into the United States was banned.
• 1845 – The Cobble Hill Tunnel in Brooklyn was completed.
• 1863 – The Emancipation Proclamation took effect in Confederate territory. 
• 1863 – The first claim under the Homestead Act was made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska.
• 1880– Ferdinand de Lesseps began construction on the Panama Canal for the French.
• 1890 – The first Tournament of Roses Parade was held in Pasadena, California. 
• 1892 – Ellis Island began processing immigrants into the United States.
• 1898 – New York City annexed land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The four initial boroughs, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens were joined on January 25 by Staten Island to create the modern city of five boroughs.
• 1902 – The first American college football, the Rose Bowl, between Michigan and Stanford, was held in Pasadena, California.
• 1912 – The Republic of China was established.
• 1934 – Alcatraz Island became a United States federal prison.
• 1966 – A twelve-day New York City transit strike began.
• 1971 – Cigarette advertisements were banned on American television.
• 1983 – The ARPANET officially changed to using the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet.
• 1985 – The first British mobile phone call was made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
• 1985 – The Internet’s Domain Name System was created.
• 1990 – David Dinkins was sworn in as New York City's first black mayor.
• 1995 – The World Trade Organization began operation.