Today is Friday, January 21, the 21st day of 2011. There are 344 days left in the year.
1077 ― German King Heinrich IV petitions Pope Gregory VII for forgiveness
1799 ― Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccination is introduced
1903 ― ``Wizard of Oz" premieres in New York City, N.Y.
1908 ― New York City, N.Y., regulation makes it illegal for a woman to smoke in public
1919 ― Sinn Fein proclaims parliament of Free Ireland
1954 ― First gas turbine automobile exhibited (New York City, N.Y.)
1954 ― First atomic submarine, USS Nautilus, launched on Thames River, christened by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower
1976 ― Supersonic Concorde, first commercial flights, by Britain and France
1977 ― President Jimmy Carter pardons almost all Vietnam War draft evaders
1977 ― Italy legalizes abortion