Poor Gabriel's Almanac

Interesting things that happened January 4th:

Birthdays on this date:

In 1785 Jacob Grimm (in Germany), storyteller
In 1809 Louis Braille, developed reading system for the blind
In 1813 Sir Issac Pitman, shorthand inventor
In 1838 Charles Stratton (alias General Tom Thumb, famous short person)
In 1914 Jane Wyman (in St. Joseph, MO), actor (Dynasty) and the first Mrs. Ronald Reagan
In 1927 Barbara Rush (in Denver, CO), actor (All My Children, 7th Heaven)
In 1935 Floyd Patterson, boxer
In 1937 Dyan Cannon (in Tacoma, WA), actor (Heaven Can Wait, Ally McBeal)

Events worth noting:

+ National Trivia Day.
In 1754 Columbia University opened.
In 1862 Romney Campaign. Stonewall Jackson occupies Bath.
In 1863 Four-wheeled roller skates patented by James Plimpton of New York.
In 1896 Utah becomes the 45th state.
In 1948 Burmese National Day.
In 1962 First subway train to run automatically (unmanned) - NY City.
In 1965 Pres. Johnson delivers his "Great Society" State of the Union address.
In 1979 In an out-of-court settlement, $675,000 is awarded to the victims of the 1970 Kent State University shootings.
In 1980 U.S. President Jimmy Carter cancels grain shipments to the USSR in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1982 Golden Gate Bridge closed for the third time by fierce storm.

And remember ...

National Celebration of Life Month

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Although efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, several errors have been found in the past. Don't place any bets on the basis of what you find here. If you spot an error, write to Poor Gabriel at poorgabriel@mystery.com .