1785 ~ Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter expressing disappointment over the selection of the eagle as the symbol of the United States; he wanted the turkey.

1788 ~ A British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sailed into Sydney Harbour to establish the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Celebrated today as Australia Day.

1885 ~ Troops loyal to the Mahdi conquered Khartoum.

1905 ~ Birthday of Maria von Trapp, Singer

1925 ~ Birthday of Paul Newman, Actor.

1945 ~ Birthday of Jacqueline du Pré, Cellist

1972 ~ Death of Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Music singer.

1992 ~ Boris Yeltsin announced that Russia was to stop targeting United States cities with nuclear weapons.

1996 ~ Whitewater scandal: First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton testified before a grand jury.

1998 ~ Lewinsky scandal: On television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denied he had "sexual relations" with former intern Monica Lewinsky.


Holidays and observances

Australia ~ Australia Day

Catholicism ~ Feast day of Ss. Timothy and Titus.

India ~ Republic Day

__________________
Eudaimonia