The History Place - This Month in History  Jump to: January 5
 10  15  20  25  January 1  New Year's Day - The most celebrated
holiday around the world.  January 1, 1502 - Portuguese
explorers landed at Guanabara Bay on the coast of South America
and named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January). Rio de Janeiro
is currently Brazil's second largest city.  January 1, 1660 -
Samuel Pepys began his famous diary in which he chronicled life
in London including the Great Plague of 1664-65 and the Great
Fire of 1666.  January 1, 1776 - During the American Revolution,
George Washington unveiled the Grand Union Flag, the first
national flag in America.  January 1, 1801 - Ireland was added
to Great Britain by an Act of Union thus creating the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.  January 1, 1863 - The
Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln freed the
slaves in the states rebelling against the Union.  January 1,
1877 - Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India.  January
1, 1892 - Ellis Island in