1st » First edition of 'The Times' of London, previously 'The Daily Universal Register', is published.
2nd » Georgia (U.S. state) or Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
9th » Connecticut becomes the fifth state to be admitted to the United States.
19th » The second group of ships of the First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay.
20th » The third and main part of First Fleet arrives at Botany Bay. Arthur Phillip decides that Botany Bay is unsuitable for the location of a penal colony, and decides to move to Port Jackson.
26th » The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson or Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Commemorated as Australia Day
Famous Birthdays on January in 1788
8th » Archduke Rudolf of Austria (1788–1831) named Archduke Rudolf of Austria (d. 1831)
11th » William Thomas Brande, English chemist (d. 1866)
19th » Pavel Kiselyov, Russian general and politician (d. 1874)