This Day in History – January 24, 2012

0041 – Roman Emperor Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards. The Guard then proclaims Caligula’s uncle Claudius as Emperor 1639 – Connecticut colony organizes under Fundamental Orders 1679 – King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament. 1848 – California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter’s Mill near Sacramento. 1857 – The University of Calcutta is formally founded as the first fully-fledged university in south Asia. 1861 – Arsenal at Augusta GA seized by Confederacy 1901 – 1st games played in baseball’s American League 1916 – In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad, the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax constitutional. 1922 – Eskimo Pie patented by Christian K Nelson of Iowa (not an Eskimo) 1935 – 1st canned beer is sold by Kruger Brewing Co in Richmond VA 1946 – The United Nations General Assembly passes its first resolution to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission. 1950 – Jackie Robinson signs highest contract ($35,000) in Dodger history 1961 – 1961 Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost. 1964 – 24th Amendment to US Constitution goes into effect & states voting rights could not be denied due to failure to pay taxes 1971 – NFL Pro Bowl NFC beats AFC 27-6 (1st Pro Bowl after NFL-AFL merger) 1982 – Super Bowl XVI San Francisco 49ers beat Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21 in Pontiac MI; Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana, San Francisco, Quarterback 1984 – The first Apple Macintosh goes on sale. 1985 – 15th Space Shuttle (51-C) Mission-Discovery 3 is launched 1986 – Voyager 2 passes within 81,500 kilometres (50,600 mi) of Uranus, finds new moons 1990 – Japan launches Hiten, the country’s first lunar probe, the first robotic lunar probe since the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 in 1976, and the first lunar probe launched by a country other than Soviet Union or the United States. 1994 – Dow Jones closes above 3,900 for 1st time (3,914.48) 2003 – The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.]]]]> ]]>