On This Day – January
1 – 1772 The first Traveller’s Cheques are issued.
2 – 1860 The discovery of the planet ‘Vulcan’ is announced.
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4 – 1903 Topsy the Elephant is electrocuted at Luna Park, New York.
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9 – 1923 The world’s first autogyro flight takes place.
10 – 1863 The first underground railway, the Metropolitan in London, opens.
– 1956 The US Air Force and CIA start Project Genetrix, sending over 500 ‘weather balloons’ over the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to take surveillance pictures. The inadvertently supply Russia with the film it uses to photograph the far side of the moon.
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21 – 1981 The production of Delorean sports cars begins.
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23 – 1570 The first assassination by shooting. James Hamilton kills the 1st Earl of Moray in Scotland.
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25 – 1890 Journalist Nellie Bly, inspired by Jules Verne’s novel, completes a trip around the world in 72 days.
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28 – 1896 Walter Arnold receives the first fine for speeding in a motor car. He was travelling through Kent, England at 8mph.
29 – 1790 The first specially designed lifeboat is tested on the River Tyne.
30 – 1959 The MS Hans Hedtoft, sinks on its maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg. She becomes know as the mini Titanic.
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