Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Historical Events in January 1831

  • Jan 1 Slave plantation owner Charles Farquharson begins his diary at Prospect Hill Plantation, Watlings Island (San Salvador). Only plantation diary to survive from the Bahamas (ends Dec 1832). [1]

"The Liberator"

Jan 1 William Lloyd Garrison publishes 1st issue of abolitionist newspaper "The Liberator" in Boston; publication continued until the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1865

  • Jan 3 1st US building & loan association organized, Frankford, Penn
  • Jan 15 1st US railroad honeymoon trip, Mr & Mrs Pierson, Charleston, South Carolina
  • Jan 15 1st US-built locomotive to pull a passenger train makes 1st run
  • Jan 21 In Portsmouth, Ohio, African Americans forcibly deported

Darwin Takes Cambridge Exam

Jan 22 Charles Darwin takes his Bachelors of Art exam at Christ's College, Cambridge, coming tenth out of 171 candidates