1st January 1772: First traveller’s cheques, known as “circular notes”, put on sale – HistoryPod – Podcast

Episodes

21st January 1908: Sullivan’s Ordinance in New York prohibits women from smoking in public places
21 Jan· HistoryPod
Alderman Timothy Sullivan proposed the ordinance that made it illegal for proprietors or managers of hotels, restaurants, and other public places to allow women to smoke on their premises. Despite public opposition, the New York City Board of Aldermen voted for it ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
20th January 1949: Shirley Temple given a tear gas fountain pen by J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI, during the inauguration of Harry Truman
20 Jan· HistoryPod
Temple's years in the limelight had made her a target for death threats, kidnapping threats, and extortion threats. As a result she formed a close relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI, who gave her a tear-gas fountain pen while they watched the inauguration procession from his office ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
Missing episodes?

Click here to refresh the feed.
19th January 1883: World’s first electric lighting system using overhead wires activated in Roselle, New Jersey
19 Jan· HistoryPod
Designed by Thomas Edison and his team, the system included a central steam-powered generator that supplied electricity to a store and the railroad station, alongside 40 houses and 150 ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
18th January 1871: Wilhelm I of Prussia proclaimed the first German Emperor
18 Jan· HistoryPod
Wilhelm was formally declared the German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles on 18 ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
17th January 1944: Allies launch the Battle of Monte Cassino during the Second World War
17 Jan· HistoryPod
The Battle of Monte Cassino began when Allied forces launched the first of four attacks against the Gustav Line in ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
16th January 1547: Ivan the Terrible formally crowned as the first Tsar of Russia
16 Jan· HistoryPod
The coronation ceremony was an elaborate event designed to emphasize Ivan’s authority and the sanctity of his rule, and he followed it by pursuing a series of reforms and expansionist policies aimed at consolidating his power and strengthening the ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
15th January 1919: Great Molasses Flood kills 21 people in Boston
15 Jan· HistoryPod
21 people were killed and a further 150 were injured after 2.3 million gallons of molasses swept through North End in Boston, Massachusetts after a storage tank ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
14th January 1973: Elvis Presley makes the first solo headline satellite broadcast in Aloha From Hawaii
14 Jan· HistoryPod
Elvis Presley became the first solo entertainer to broadcast a live performance via satellite with Aloha From ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
13th January 532: The Nika riots begin in Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian I
13 Jan· HistoryPod
The riots spread throughout Constantinople and buildings, including the Hagia Sophia and parts of the imperial palace, were set on fire. Much of the city was left in ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
12th January 1967: Dr James Bedford becomes the first cryonically preserved human
12 Jan· HistoryPod
Dr James Hiram Bedford became the first human to be cryonically ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
11th January 1879: Anglo-Zulu War begins when British troops cross the Tugela River into Zululand
11 Jan· HistoryPod
The British plan involved a three-pronged advance into Zululand, with the main column, led by Lord Chelmsford, heading toward the Zulu capital at ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
10th January 1927: Fritz Lang’s pioneering science fiction film Metropolis premieres in Berlin
10 Jan· HistoryPod
Metropolis later gained recognition as a masterpiece of early cinema with Its iconic imagery influencing countless films and works of science ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
9th January 1916: Gallipoli campaign ends with an Ottoman victory following the final withdrawal of Allied forces
9 Jan· HistoryPod
Troops were first withdrawn from the Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove areas in December 1915. The final phase, involving the evacuation of Cape Helles, was completed on 9 January 1916 with the departure of the Newfoundland Regiment and remnants of The Plymouth Battalion, Royal Marine Light ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
8th January 1790: George Washington delivers the first State of the Union Address
8 Jan· HistoryPod
American President George Washington delivered the very first State of the Union address to ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
7th January 1785: First aerial crossing of the English Channel completed in a hydrogen balloon
7 Jan· HistoryPod
The first aerial crossing of the English Channel was conducted by Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries in a gas-filled ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
6th January 1066: Harold Godwinson crowned Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England
6 Jan· HistoryPod
When the Witenaġemot met after the death of Edward the Confessor, the elected Harold to be the new king and his coronation took place the same ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
5th January 1953: Samuel Beckett’s play En Attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot) premieres at the Théâtre de Babylone in Paris
5 Jan· HistoryPod
Beckett originally wrote the play in French, despite being fluent in English, as he believed the language allowed for greater simplicity and precision. It has since became one of the most studied and performed plays of the 20th ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
4th January 1847: Samuel Colt receives the first government order for his firearms
4 Jan· HistoryPod
American inventor Samuel Colt received the first government order for his revolver firearms from Captain Samuel Walker of the Texas ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
3rd January 1870: Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge
3 Jan· HistoryPod
Although numerous suspension bridges had been built prior to the Brooklyn Bridge, nothing came close to the almost 1,600 foot span across the East River from Brooklyn to ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
2nd January 1981: Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, better known as the Yorkshire Ripper, arrested by police
2 Jan· HistoryPod
Sutcliffe was found guilty of murdering 13 women over a six-year period, and of attempting to murder a further ...
- Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
- Listen later Listen later
Show more

Episodes

21st January 1908: Sullivan’s Ordinance in New York prohibits women from smoking in public places

20th January 1949: Shirley Temple given a tear gas fountain pen by J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI, during the inauguration of Harry Truman

19th January 1883: World’s first electric lighting system using overhead wires activated in Roselle, New Jersey

18th January 1871: Wilhelm I of Prussia proclaimed the first German Emperor

17th January 1944: Allies launch the Battle of Monte Cassino during the Second World War

16th January 1547: Ivan the Terrible formally crowned as the first Tsar of Russia

15th January 1919: Great Molasses Flood kills 21 people in Boston

14th January 1973: Elvis Presley makes the first solo headline satellite broadcast in Aloha From Hawaii

13th January 532: The Nika riots begin in Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian I

12th January 1967: Dr James Bedford becomes the first cryonically preserved human

11th January 1879: Anglo-Zulu War begins when British troops cross the Tugela River into Zululand

10th January 1927: Fritz Lang’s pioneering science fiction film Metropolis premieres in Berlin

9th January 1916: Gallipoli campaign ends with an Ottoman victory following the final withdrawal of Allied forces

8th January 1790: George Washington delivers the first State of the Union Address

7th January 1785: First aerial crossing of the English Channel completed in a hydrogen balloon

6th January 1066: Harold Godwinson crowned Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England

5th January 1953: Samuel Beckett’s play En Attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot) premieres at the Théâtre de Babylone in Paris

4th January 1847: Samuel Colt receives the first government order for his firearms

3rd January 1870: Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge

2nd January 1981: Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, better known as the Yorkshire Ripper, arrested by police