1899 – United States takes possession of Wake Island in the Pacific.
1917 – United States pays Denmark $25 million for Virgin Islands.
1920 – First day of prohibition of alcohol comes into effect in the United States as a result of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
1929 – Popeye makes 1st appearance in comic strip “Thimble Theater”
1934 – New York Giants reward National League MVP pitcher Carl Hubbell with an $18,000 contract.
1943 – Tin Can Drive Day in the United States collects salvage for the war effort.
1952 – 1952 NFL Draft: Bill Wade, University of Vanderbilt quarterback is first pick by Los Angeles Rams.
1955 – US Submarine Nautilus begins first nuclear-powered test voyage.
1961 – 11th NBA All-Star Game, Onondaga County Coliseum, Syracuse, NY: West beats East 153-131. Most Valuable Player is Cincinnati Royals point guard Oscar Robertson, at 22, is the youngest player to receive All-Star honor. He had 23 points and 14 assists.
1970 – 357 baseball players are available in the free-agent draft.
1977 – Gary Gilmore is executed by firing squad in the Utah state prison. He had been convicted of murder.
1982 – “Cold Sunday” in the United States would see temperatures fall to their lowest levels in over 100 years in numerous cities.
1983 – Alabama’s George Wallace becomes governor for a record fourth time.
1987 – President Ronald Reagan signs secret order permitting covert sale of arms to Iran.
1990 – Major League Baseball pitcher Dave Stewart signs record $3.5 million per year contract with the Oakland Athletics.
1999 – NFC Championship, Metrodome, Minneapolis: Atlanta Falcons beat Minnesota Vikings 30-27 in overtime.
2012 – LeBron James becomes youngest player in NBA history to record 20,000 career points during the Miami Heat’s 92-75 victory over Golden State. James was 28 years, 17 days and passes Kobe Bryant, who was 29 years, 122 days.
2017 – President Barack Obama commutes Wikileaks disclosure Army soldier Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence from 35 years to 7 years. Manning was convicted by court-martial in 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses.
2017 – Search for missing aircraft MI-1370 over the Indian Ocean is called off.