January 21, 2013

1,250 years ago
763

War
In what is now part of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, forces of the Abbasid Caliphate (founded by Muhammad's youngest uncle Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib) defeated Alid forces (dynasties descended from Muhammad's son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib) in the Battle of Bakhamra, hastening the end of the Alid Revolt.

675 years ago
1338

Born on this date
Charles V. King of France, 1364-1380. Charles V, nicknamed "Charles the Wise," acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Jean II. He reigned during the Hundred Years' War, and his armies recovered much of the territory lost to English forces by his predecessors. King Charles V died on September 16, 1380 at the age of 42, and was succeeded by his son Charles VI.

375 years ago
1638

Died on this date
Ignazio Donati, 67 or 68. Italian composer. Mr. Donati was a pioneer in composing concertato motets.

370 years ago
1643

Exploration
Abel Tasman became the first European to reach Tonga.

275 years ago
1738

Born on this date
Ethan Allen. U.S. military leader and politician. Mr. Allen, a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, servedas Colonial Commandant of the militia organization known as the Green Mountain Boys in the 1760s and '70s. He and Benedict Arnold led the attack that captured Fort Ticonderoga, New York in the Revolutionary War in 1775. After being captured by British forces and imprisoned until 1778, Mr. Allen served as a judge in the Vermont Republic. He died of a a fit of apoplexy on February 12, 1789 at the age of 51.

220 years ago
1793

Died on this date
Louis XVI, 38. King of France and Navarre, 1774-1791; King of the French, 1791-1792. Five months after being arrested and four months after the abolition of the monarchy, Louis was beheaded by guillotine, having been convicted of treason by the National Convention six days earlier.

200 years ago
1813

Born on this date
John C. Frémont. U.S. explorer and politician. Mr. Frémont led several expeditions to the western United States in the 1830s and '40s. After serving as lieutenant colonel of the California Battalion in the U.S.-Mexican War from 1845-1847, he was Military Governor of California briefly in 1847, and was one of the first two United States Senators from that state, holding office for six months in 1850-1851. Mr. Frémont was the Republican Party's first candidate for President of the United States, but was defeated by Democratic nominee James Buchanan in 1856. Mr. Frémont then served as Governor of Arizona Territory from 1878-1881. He died in New York City on July 13, 1890 at the age of 77.

150 years ago
1863

War
In the U.S. Civil War, the Confederates captured Sabine Pass along the Gulf Coast of Texas as two Confederate ships drove away two Union ships.

120 years ago
1893

Africana
The Tati Concessions Land, formerly part of Matabeleland, was formally annexed to the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now known as Botswana).

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Georges Méliès, 76. French film producer and director. One of the pioneers of motion pictures, Mr. Méliès produced and directed such films as A Trip to the Moon (1902) and An Impossible Voyage (1904).

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Jim Braddock (51-26-7-3), in his first fight since losing the title to Joe Louis seven months earlier, ended his professional career by winning a 10-round split decision over British heavyweight champion Tommy Farr (68-27-17-2) at Madison Square Garden in New York (see video). It was Mr. Farr's fight since losing a 15-round decision to Mr. Louis in a challenge for the world title five months earlier.

60 years ago
1953

On the radio
I Was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews
Tonight’s episode: Capital City Square Dance

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club (7th week at #1)

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Never Can Say Goodbye--The Communards (2nd week at #1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Nahkatakkinen tyttö--Dingo

Died on this date
Charlie Gehringer, 89. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gehringer played 19 seasons (1924-1942) as a second baseman with the Detroit Tigers, batting .320 with 2,839 hits, 184 home runs, and 1,427 runs batted in in 2,323 games, and having 200 hits in 7 different seasons. He led the American League in 1937 with a .371 batting percentage and was named the AL's Most Valuable Player that year. Mr. Gehringer batted .321 in 3 World Series (1934, 1935, 1940), including a .375 mark in the Tigers' win over the Chicago Cubs in 6 games in 1935. Mr. Gehringer was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949 and served as the Tigers' general manager from 1951-1953.

10 years ago
2003

Society
The United States Census Bureau reported that Hipanics had surpassed Negroes as the nation's largest minority group.

Disasters
An earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the Mexican state of Colima, killing 29 people and leaving about 10,000 homeless.