On Jan. 19, 1736, James Watt, inventor of the steam engine, was born in Scotland.
In 1809 author Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston.
In 1839 painter Paul Cezanne was born in Aix-en-Provence, France.
In 1937 Howard Hughes established a transcontinental air record when he flew across the United States in 7 hours, 28 minutes.
In 1938 700 people died as Gen. Francisco Franco’s nationalist air force bombed the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Valencia.
In 1966 Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister of India.
In 1977 in one of his last acts of office, President Gerald Ford pardoned Iva Toguri D’Aquino, an American who had made wartime broadcasts for Japan.
In 1981 the United States and Iran signed an agreement paving the way for the release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months.
In 1998 rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins died; he was 65.
In 2001, in a deal sparing himself possible indictment, President Bill Clinton acknowledged for the first time making false statements under oath about Monica Lewinsky; he also surrendered his law license for five years.
In 2006 soul singer Wilson Pickett died; he was 64.
