Tom Thumb Day
Tom Thumb Day is celebrated annually on January 4th to honor the life and legacy of Charles Stratton, better known by his stage name General Tom Thumb, who was born on January 4, 1838. Charles Stratton was a performer with P.T. Barnum’s Circus and became famous as one of the most celebrated entertainers of the 19th century. Despite being only 3 feet tall due to dwarfism, Stratton charmed audiences worldwide with his charisma, wit, and talent, performing as a singer, dancer, and actor.
World Braille Day
World Braille Day is observed annually on January 4th, commemorating the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system. Born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France, Louis Braille lost his sight as a child and developed the tactile writing system that revolutionized accessibility for visually impaired individuals. The day raises awareness about the importance of Braille as a means of communication and education for blind and partially sighted people. It highlights the need for inclusivity and accessibility in all aspects of society, including education, employment, and daily life.
Earth at Perihelion and Perihelion Day
Earth at Perihelion is the point in Earth’s orbit when it is closest to the Sun. This event typically occurs around January 3rd or 4th each year. At perihelion, Earth is approximately 147.1 million kilometers (91.4 million miles) from the Sun. Earth’s orbit around the Sun is elliptical (not a perfect circle), with the Sun slightly off-center. This means the distance between Earth and the Sun changes throughout the year. Perihelion occurs when Earth is at the closest point in this elliptical orbit.
Significant Historical Events on January 4
46 BC: Julius Caesar defeats Titus Labienus, a former ally, at the Battle of Ruspina during the Roman civil wars.
1642: King Charles I of England attempts to arrest members of Parliament, leading to the English Civil War.
1809: Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system, is born in Coupvray, France.
1847: Samuel Colt sells his first revolver, the Colt revolver, to the U.S. government.
1854: The McDonald Islands are discovered by British Captain William McDonald in the Southern Ocean.
1884: The Fabian Society, a socialist organization aimed at reforming society through gradual and democratic means, is founded in London.
1896: Utah becomes the 45th state of the United States.
1903: Topsy the elephant is electrocuted in Coney Island, New York, as part of a public execution and demonstration of electricity’s power.
1936: Billboard magazine publishes its first music hit parade.
1948: Burma (now Myanmar) gains independence from the United Kingdom.
1958: Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite, falls back into the atmosphere after three months in orbit.
1974: President Richard Nixon refuses to hand over materials subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.
2004: NASA’s Spirit Rover lands on Mars to explore the Martian surface.
Famous Birthdays
1643: Isaac Newton, English physicist, mathematician, and astronomer, one of the most influential scientists in history.
1809: Louis Braille, French educator and inventor of the Braille system for the visually impaired.
1838: Charles Stratton (General Tom Thumb), American entertainer and performer.
1892: Manuel Azaña, Spanish politician and writer, President of the Spanish Republic.
1935: Floyd Patterson, American professional boxer and two-time world heavyweight champion.
1942: John McLaughlin, British jazz guitarist, founder of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Notable Deaths
1248: Sancho II of Portugal, King of Portugal from 1223 to 1247.
1941: Henri Bergson, French philosopher and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature.
1961: Erwin Schrödinger, Austrian physicist and Nobel laureate, known for the Schrödinger equation.
2010: Tsutomu Yamaguchi, Japanese survivor of both atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
