On This Day:
Thursday January 2, 2014 This is the 2nd day of the year, with 363 days remaining in 2014. Fact of the Day: Niagara Falls Niagara Falls lies on the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York state, United States. It is divided into two sections, the American Falls (176 feet high with 150,000 gallons of water flowing over per second) and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls (167 feet high with 600,000 gallons of water flowing over per second). The first person to perform a highwire stunt there was the French acrobat known as "Blondin," in 1859. The first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel was 62-year-old school teacher Annie Edson Taylor in 1901. As of 2006, sixteen people have been known to go over Niagara Falls and eleven have survived.
Holidays Feast day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Basil, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Munchin, St. Adalhard or Adelard, St. Caspar of Bufalo, St. Macarius of Alexandria, St. Vincentian, and the Holy Name of Jesus.
Japan: Kakizome.
Switzerland: Berchtoldstag.
Haiti: Ancestors' Day or Hero's Day.
Events 1492 - The last Arab/Moors stronghold in Spain, the kingdom of Granada, surrendered to Spanish forces loyal to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
1788 - Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the Constitution of the United State of America.
1811 - Senator Timothy Pickering, a Federalist from Massachusetts, became the first senator to be censured. Pickering was accused of violating congressional law by publicly revealing secret documents communicated by the president to the Senate.
1839 - French photographer Louis Daguerre took the first photograph of the Moon.
1900 - Secretary of State John Hay announced the "Open Door Policy" to facilitate trade with China.
1905 - After a six-month siege, Russians surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese.
1929 - The United States and Canada reached an agreement to preserve Niagara Falls.
1942 - The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.
1960 - Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1965 - The New York Jets signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.
1965 - Indonesia withdrew from the United Nations -- the first member to do so.
Births 1920 - Isaac Asimov, Russian-born American science fiction writer, author of almost 500 books.
1936 - Roger Miller, American singer, songwriter, and musician.
1938 - David Bailey, English photographer
1939 - Jim Bakker, disgraced American televangelist.
Deaths 1963 - Dick Powell, American singer, actor, producer, and director.
1974 - Tex Ritter, US stage and screen singing cowboy.
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