On This Day
January 1st 45 B.C. - New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1 for the first time in history as the Julian calendar took effect. 1600 – Scotland began its numbered year on January 1 instead of March 25 for the first time. 1651 – Charles II was crowned King of Scotland. 1772 – The first traveler's cheques, which could be used in 90 European cities, went on sale in London, England. 1801 – The legislative union of Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland was completed to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1808 – The importation of slaves into the United States was banned. 1833 – The United Kingdom claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. 1863 – The first claim under the Homestead Act in America was made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska. 1877 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was proclaimed Empress of India. 1898 – New York annexed land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The four initia...