January 11 ...

In 1757 Alexander Hamilton was born in Nevis, British West Indies. In 1787 American astronomer William Herschel discovered Titania & Oberon, moons of Uranus. In 1797 Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and relative of Robert E. Lee, died at 62. In 1805 the Michigan Territory was created. In 1807 founder of Western Union Telegraph and Cornell University (NY) Ezra Cornell was born in Westchester, New York. In 1815 US General Andrew Jackson achieved victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The War of 1812 had officially ended on December 24, 1814, with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. The news of the signing had not reached British troops in time to prevent their attack on New Orleans. Also on this day, the first Prime Minister of Canada Sir John Alexander MacDonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1842 American philosopher William James was born in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1843 author of The Star-Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key died in Baltimore at age 63. In 1861 Alabama seceded from the Union. In 1867 Benito Juarez returned to the Mexican presidency, following the withdrawal of French troops and the execution of Emperor Maximilian. In 1878 milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first time in New York by Alexander Campbell. In 1913 the first sedan-type car, manufactured by Hudson Motor Company, was unveiled at the National Automobile Show in New York City. In 1914 writer Ambrose Bierce died at age 71. In 1922 14-year-old Canadian boy Leonard Thompson became the first person in history to have diabetes successfully treated using insulin. Also on this day, Popular Mechanics magazine was published for the first time. In 1935 Amelia Earhart Putnam became the first woman to fly solo from Hawaii to California. In 1942 Japan declared war against the Netherlands. The same day, Japanese forces invaded the Dutch East Indies. Also on this day, "The Big Man," Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, was born. In 1963 Whisky a Go Go opened on Sunset Strip in LA. The club helped to launch The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, and The Byrds. In 1964 US Surgeon General Luther Terry issued the first report linking cigarette smoking to disease. In 1973 owners of American League baseball teams voted to adopt the designated-hitter rule on a trial basis. In 1977 France released Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected in the murders of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1989 President Reagan bade the nation farewell in an address from the Oval Office. In 1996 Ryutaro Hashimoto become Japan's prime minister. He replaced Tomiichi Murayama who had resigned on January 5, 1996. Also on this day, the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on a nine-day mission. In 1997 director and actor Sheldon Leonard died at age 89. While he was best known as the producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show, many people remember Leonard for his role as Nick the bartender in It's a Wonderful Life.