January 28
1547
King Henry VIII of England died and his nine-year-old son, Edward VI, assumed the throne.
1915
Congress passed legislation creating the U.S. Coast Guard.
1916
The first Jewish Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis, was appointed.
1986
U.S. shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members aboard, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
1999
The creation of Element 114 is announced by scientists.
2003
In his second State of the Union Address, President Bush presents the case for war with Iraq.
Birthdays
Jackson Pollock
1912–56, American painter, born in Cody, Wyo.
Sir Henry Morton Stanley
explorer (1841)
William Seward Burroughs
inventor (1857)
Colette
novelist (1873)
Arthur Rubinstein
concert pianist (1887)
John Banner
actor (1910)
Roger Vadim
filmmaker (1928)
Alan Alda
actor (1936)
Sarah McLachlan
singer, songwriter (1968)
Elijah Wood
actor (1981)