This Day In History, January 28th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on January 28th.
Portuguese adventurer Ferdinand Magellan is killed at the Battle of Mactan in 1521 by the locals of Mactan Island in the Philippines, headed by Lapu-Lapu.
The first gaslight is turned on in London's Pall Mall in 1807, heralding the start of the widespread use of gas for city illumination.
1915: The Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service are combined to form the United States Coast Guard by an act of the US Congress.
Christa McAuliffe, a teacher, was one of the seven crew members who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff in 1986.
2002: A crucial turning point in the history of cross-strait relations is reached as the first commercial direct flights between mainland China and Taiwan since 1949 are conducted.
1521: The Battle of Mactan - Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is killed by the indigenous people of Mactan Island in the Philippines, led by Lapu-Lapu.
One of the most important moments in Philippine history is thought to have been the Battle of Mactan. In an effort to settle the islands, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who was conducting an expedition for Spain, landed in the Philippines in 1521. But he met with fierce opposition from the natives of Mactan Island, who were commanded by a local leader by the name of Lapu-Lapu. The next combat saw the defeat of Magellan and his soldiers, and Magellan was slain. This incident is frequently viewed as a representation of Filipinos' struggle against foreign colonialism and imperialism.
1807: London's Pall Mall is lit by gaslight for the first time, marking the beginning of the widespread use of gas for lighting in cities.
The first public demonstration of gas illumination took place on Pall Mall in London on January 28th, 1807. It was much brighter and more dependable than the oil lamps that had been used in the past since the gas used for illumination was created by heating coal. Gas lighting quickly gained popularity in cities all over the world, greatly enhancing both urban growth and public safety. Although electric lighting finally took the place of gas lighting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, gas lighting still marks a significant turning point in the development of urban technology.
1915: The United States Coast Guard is created by an act of the US Congress, merging the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service.
The United States Coast Guard was created on January 28th, 1915, as a result of a US Congress legislation that combined the Revenue Cutter Service (founded in 1790) with the Life-Saving Service (founded in 1878). In addition to other duties, the new agency was charged with maintaining navigational aids and lighthouses, carrying out search and rescue operations, and enforcing maritime legislation. Since then, the Coast Guard has been essential in defending US maritime interests and advancing maritime safety and security globally.
1986: The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster - The space shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.
On January 28th, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but exploded just 73 seconds later, killing all seven crew members on board. Among the crew members was Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher who had been selected to participate in NASA's "Teacher in Space" program. The disaster was a major setback for NASA's space program and led to a two-and-a-half-year hiatus in the shuttle program while safety improvements were made. The Challenger disaster also raised questions about the safety of space travel and the potential risks involved in human spaceflight.
2002: The first direct commercial flights between mainland China and Taiwan since 1949 take place, marking a significant milestone in the history of cross-strait relations.
The first commercial direct flights between Taiwan and mainland China since 1949 were conducted on January 28th, 2002, marking a key turning point in cross-strait relations. The flights, which were run by China Airlines of Taiwan and Air China of China, were the first commercial flights between the two countries since the Chinese Civil War's 1949 end. The resumption of direct flights was viewed as a good step towards repairing the historically tense ties between China and Taiwan caused by ideological and political divides. Although direct flights have resumed, tensions between the two sides have persisted, and the matter is still divisive in the area.