January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as the day of New Year. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of winter) and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer).
January symbols: The birthstone of January is the garnet which represents constancy. Its birth flower is the cottage pink Dianthus caryophyllus or galanthus. In Finnish, the month of tammikuu means the heart of the winter and because the name literally means Oak moon. The zodiac signs for the month of January are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onwards). The traditional English birth month flower is the Carnation.
Historical Events for January, 1942
Day of Week 1st » The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations.
Day of Week 2nd » The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.
2nd » World War II: Manila, Philippines is captured by Japanese forces.
Day of Week 7th » World War II: The Battle of Bataan or siege of the Bataan Peninsula begins.
Day of Week 11th » World War II: The Japanese Battle of Kuala Lumpur or capture Kuala Lumpur.
Day of Week 12th » World War II: President of the United States e.g President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board.
Day of Week 13th » Henry Ford patents a plastic automobile, which is 30% lighter than a regular car.
13th » World War II: First use of an aircraft ejection seat by a Germany called German test pilot in a Heinkel He 280 jet fighter.
Day of Week 16th » Crash of TWA Flight 3, killing all 22 aboard, including film star Carole Lombard.
Day of Week 20th » World War II: At the Wannsee Conference held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee, senior Nazi Germany named Nazi German officials discuss the implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question".
Day of Week 23rd » World War II: The Battle of Rabaul (1942) e.g Battle of Rabaul begins, the first fighting of the New Guinea campaign.
Day of Week 24th » World War II: The Allies of World War II known as Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.
Day of Week 25th » World War II: Thailand declares war on the United States and United Kingdom.
Day of Week 26th » World War II: The first United States forces arrive in Europe landing in Northern Ireland.
Day of Week 30th » World War II: Empire of Japan Japanese forces Battle of Ambon invade the island of Ambon Island Ambon in the Dutch East Indies.
Day of Week 31st » World War II: Allied forces are defeated by the Japanese at the Battle of Malaya and retreat to the island of Singapore.
Famous Birthdays on January in 1942
1st » Dennis Archer, American lawyer and politician, 67th Mayor of Detroit
1st » Anthony Hamilton-Smith, 3rd Baron Colwyn, British dentist
1st » Al Hunt, American journalist
1st » Country Joe McDonald, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Country Joe and the Fish)
1st » Alassane Ouattara, Ivorian politician, List of heads of state of Ivory Coast known as President of the Ivory Coast
1st » Gennadi Sarafanov, Soviet astronaut (d. 2005)
1st » Judy Stone, Australian singer
2nd » Dennis Hastert, American politician, 59th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
2nd » Ray Moore (broadcaster) called Ray Moore, English radio host (d. 1989)
2nd » Hugh Shelton, American general
3rd » John Marsden (lawyer) or John Marsden, Australian lawyer and activist (d. 2006)
3rd » John Thaw, English actor (d. 2002)
4th » Precious Bryant, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2013)
4th » John McLaughlin (musician) e.g John McLaughlin, English guitarist and songwriter (The Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti (band) e.g Shakti, and Remember Shakti)
5th » Jan Ellis, South African rugby player (d. 2013)
5th » Jan Leeming, English journalist
5th » Terenci Moix, Spanish author (d. 2003)
5th » Maurizio Pollini, Italian pianist
5th » Charlie Rose, American journalist and talk show host
6th » Yiannis Boutaris, Greek businessman and politician
7th » Vasily Alekseyev, Russian weightlifter (d. 2011)
7th » Jim Lefebvre, American baseball player and manager
7th » Danny Steinmann, American director and screenwriter (d. 2012)
7th » Danny Williams (singer) or Danny Williams, South African singer (d. 2005)