January 3Painting of the Battle of Princeton250 Decius ordered all people in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods, resulting in widespread persecution of Christians.1777 American Revolutionary War: American forces commanded by George Washington defeated British troops at the Battle of Princeton (depicted).1959 As a result of the Alaska Statehood Act, the Territory of Alaska became the 49th U.S. state, and the first outside the contiguous United States.1990 United States invasion of Panama: Manuel Noriega, the deposed strongman of Panama, surrendered to American forces outside the apostolic nunciature in Panama City.2002 Second Intifada: Israeli forces seized MVKarineA, which was carrying 50 tons of smuggled weapons on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (d.1670)Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie (b.1810)Savitribai Phule (b.1831)Frenchy Bordagaray (b.1910)More anniversaries: January 2January 3January 4ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout