January 16th

Today in America's Present Past

1780 | Revolutionary War: Moonlight battle off Cape St. Vincent.

1786 | Founding: Virginia enacts Thomas Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom.

1821 | General and Vice-President John C. Breckinridge was born.

John C. Fremont | Image courtesy of Battlefield Trust

1847 | Explorer John C. Fremont is appointed Governor of the California Territory.

1878 | Actor Harry Carey was born.

1883 | POTUS: Republican President Chester A. Arthur signs the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.

1901 | Entrepreneur Frank Zamboni was born.

1901 | Hiram Rhodes Revels died.

1906 | Entrepreneur Marshall Field died.

1917 | Entrepreneur Carl Karcher was born.

Admiral George Dewey | Image courtesy Naval Heritage & History Command

1917 | Admiral George Dewey died.

1919 | The 18th Amendment is ratified, enacting prohibition.

1923 | Poet Anthony Hecht was born.

1930 | Author Norman Podhoretz was born.

1936 | Serial killer Albert Fish died.

Carole Lombard | Image courtesy of The New York Post

1942 | Actress Carole Lombard died.

1943 | Musician Ronnie Milsap was born.

1947 | Physiologist Laura Schlessinger was born.

1949 | Entrepreneur Anne F. Beiler was born.

1968 | Religious Leader Bob Jones, Sr. died.

1986 | Religious Leader Hebert W. Armstrong died.

1991 | Gulf War: U.S.-led Coalition Forces invade Iraq.