The past leaves a trace.

The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.

The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, comparable to interior ministries abroad. Its missions involve anti-terrorism, civil defense, immigration and customs, border control, cybersecurity, transportation security, maritime security and sea rescue, and the mitigation of weapons of mass destruction.

Air India Flight 101 crashes into Mont Blanc.

Air India Flight 101 crashes into Mont Blanc.

Air India Flight 101 was a scheduled Air India passenger flight from Bombay to London, via Delhi, Beirut, and Geneva. On the morning of 24 January 1966 at 8:02 CET, on approach to Geneva, the Boeing 707 operating the flight accidentally crashed into Mont Blanc in France, killing all 117 people on board. Among the victims was Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the founder and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

Birth of Gustav III of Sweden

Born: Gustav III of Sweden (died 1792).

Matthias Corvinus is elected King of Hungary.

Matthias Corvinus is elected King of Hungary.

Matthias Corvinus was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I. He is often given the epithet "the Just". After conducting several military campaigns, he was elected King of Bohemia in 1469 and adopted the title Duke of Austria in 1487. He was the son of John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary, who died in 1456. In 1457, Matthias was imprisoned along with his older brother, Ladislaus Hunyadi, on the orders of King Ladislaus the Posthumous. Ladislaus Hunyadi was executed, causing a rebellion that forced King Ladislaus to flee Hungary. After the King died unexpectedly, Matthias's uncle Michael Szilágyi persuaded the Estates to unanimously proclaim the 14-year-old Matthias as king on 24 January 1458. He began his rule under his uncle's guardianship, but he took effective control of government within two weeks.

Death of David IV

Died: David IV (born 1073).

David IV, also known as David IV the Builder, of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the 5th king (mepe) of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1089 until his death in 1125.

Start of the First Fatimid invasion of Egypt.

Start of the First Fatimid invasion of Egypt.

Claudius is proclaimed Roman emperor by the Praetorian Guard after they assassinate the previous emperor,…

Claudius is proclaimed Roman emperor by the Praetorian Guard after they assassinate the previous emperor, his nephew Caligula.

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or simply Claudius, was a Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 until his death in AD 54. The fourth ruler of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Drusus the Elder, the brother of Emperor Tiberius, and Antonia Minor at Lugdunum in Roman Gaul, where his father was stationed as a military legate. He was the first Roman emperor to be born outside Italy.