Crédit Mobilier Scandal
Jan 6 US Congress begins investigating the Crédit Mobilier scandal, a fraud by the Union Pacific Railroad and Crédit Mobilier of America in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad
Celluloid Trademarked
Jan 14 "Celluloid" registered as a trademark by its inventor John Wesley Hyatt
- Jan 14 Prominent African American Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback elected to US Senate (though never seated due to state elections controversy)
- Jan 17 Modoc warriors defeats the United States Army in the First Battle of the Stronghold, a part of the Modoc War
- Jan 22 British SS Northfleet sinks at Dungeness, England, 300 die
"Around the World in 80 Days"
Jan 30 "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne is published in France by Pierre-Jules Hetzel
Authors
Dictators
Explorers
Outlaws
Queens
Spies