January 11
1935
Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
1964
The first government report regarding the dangers of cigarette smoking was issued by the U.S. Surgeon General, Luther Terry.
1973
Baseball’s American League adopted the “designated hitter” rule which allowed another player to bat for the pitcher.
2002
The first al-Qaeda prisoners arrive at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
2003
Outgoing Illinois governor George Ryan cleared the state’s death row by commuting the sentences of 167 inmates.
2011
The Arab Spring movement begins in Tunisia when demonstrators take to the streets to protest chronic unemployment and police brutality.
Birthdays
William James
1842–1910 psychologist
Alexander Hamilton
statesman (1755)
Ezra Cornell
financier (1807)
Sir John Macdonald
statesman (1815)
Alice Paul
activist (1885)
Alan Paton
novelist (1903)
Jean Chrétien
politician (1934)
Mary J. Blige
singer, songwriter (1971)