Today in History for Jan. 26, 2015

General Ambrose Burnside

Jan. 26, 1500 - Vicente Yáñez Pinzón discovered Brazil by becoming the first European to set foot on Brazil.

Jan. 26, 1779 - In Savannah, Ga., a group of Patriots met at the Burke County Jail. Later they engaged in a skirmish with Loyalists on the banks of the McIntosh Creek. (Engagement at Burke County Jail)

Jan. 26, 1837 - Michigan became the 26th state to join the United States.

Jan. 26, 1839 - Alabama's first state prison was established by legislative act. In 1842, at the Wetumpka State Penitentiary, the state's first inmate began serving time for harboring a runaway slave. The first female was incarcerated in 1850 for murder. Today, the Alabama Department of Corrections oversees a multi-facility state prison system.

Jan. 26, 1861 - Louisiana became the sixth state to secede from the Union. The state convention voted 113 to 17 in favor of the measure.

Jan. 26, 1863 – During the Civil War, General Ambrose Burnside was relieved of command of the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous Fredericksburg campaign. He was replaced by Joseph Hooker.

Jan. 26, 1863 – During the Civil War, Governor of Massachusetts John Albion Andrew received permission from Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent.

Jan. 26, 1870 - The state of Virginia rejoined the Union.

Jan. 26, 1879 – Dr. William R. Strode, 46, died at Perdue Hill, Ala. Born in Culpepper County, Va. in 1833, he graduated from the Medical College of Philadelphia in 1853. He served as a surgeon in the Confederate Army and married Mary Gorin of Monroe County in October 1870.

  

Jan. 26, 1885 – The Monroe Journal reported that “a gentleman from Canada, who has been prospecting in the northern part of our county, with a view to a home in our delightful climate, expresses himself as being very much pleased.”

Jan. 26, 1905 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Monroeville Library would be ready to open its doors to the public in a few days. “Nice rooms have been neatly fitted up in the old court house and a choice collection of standard works covering a wide range of literature gathered for the entertainment and instruction of patrons.” Miss Mann was the librarian.

Jan. 26, 1915 – The Rocky Mountain National Park was established by an act of the U.S. Congress.

Jan. 26, 1915 – Liston A. Hixon passed away at his home in Monroeville, Ala. on this Tuesday night. A former farmer and merchant, he was about 63 years old. He was buried in Hamilton Hill Cemetery.

Jan. 26, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Adrien F. Hardy of Brewton, Ala. was killed in action.

Jan. 26, 1919 – William E. Molett was born in Orrville, Ala. He would go on to graduate from Evergreen High School and then joined the military, became a master navigator, recorded 6,000 hours as an aircraft navigator, including 91 flights over the North Pole. He also taught polar aviation for three years and returned as a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. In 1996, he wrote a book called “Robert Peary and Matthew Henson at the North Pole.”

Jan. 26, 1966 - The most notorious unsolved crime in Australian history took place, when three children went missing while on a trip to Glenelg Beach near Adelaide, South Australia. The case saw numerous twists and turns, including failed input from psychics and a series of hoaxed letters alleged to have come from the missing Beaumont children.

Jan. 26, 1979 - The first episode of "The Dukes of Hazzard" aired on CBS.

Jan. 26, 1983 - Alabamians were shocked and saddened when retired University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant died suddenly from a heart attack. Bryant began coaching at Alabama in 1958 and went on to win six national championships with the team. In 1981 he became football's "winningest" coach with 315 victories.

Jan. 26, 1986 - In New Orleans, La., the Chicago Bears scored a Super Bowl record number of points to defeat the New England Patriots, 46-10, and win their first championship since 1963.

Jan. 26, 1989 – The Andalusia (Ala.) Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Jan. 26, 1997 - ZZ Top, James Brown and the Blues Brothers performed at the Super Bowl XXXI halftime show. The Green Bay Packers won, 35-21, over the New England Patriots. It was the third Super Bowl win for the Packers.

Jan. 26, 2003 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders, 48-21, in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden became the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl. It was the first Super Bowl appearance for the Buccaneers.

Jan. 26, 2004 – A whale exploded in the town of Tainan, Taiwan. A build-up of gas in the decomposing sperm whale was suspected of causing the explosion.