1841-China cedes Hong Kong to the British during the First Opium War
1921-Republic of Turkey declared out of remnants of the Ottoman Empire
1934-Japan sends Henry Pu Yi as regent to emperor of Manchuria
1937-First U.S. Presidential Inauguration day held on Jan 20th, (previously March 4th)
1942-Nazi officials hold the notorious Wannsee Conference in Berlin to organize the "final solution", the extermination of Europe's Jews
1945-Franklin D. Roosevelt sworn-in for an unprecedented (and never to be repeated) 4th term as U.S. President
1981-The U.S. diplomats and citizens held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran are released and begin their journey home after 444 days
1986-Chunnel announced (railroad tunnel under Channel)
1999-The China News Service announces new government restrictions on Internet use aimed especially at Internet cafes
2009-Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, becoming the United States' first African-American president