What Happened on January 3?

What Happened on January 3?

On this day in 1970, missionary Gladys Aylward died in Taiwan after many years of missionary service. She had originally desired to go to China with China Inland Mission, but was denied the opportunity for not meeting the educational requirements of China Inland Mission.

She later was able to go as an assistant to Mrs. Jeannie Lawson and was involved in a number of exploits while serving in China - including a bit of spying on the Japanese in the years just prior to World War II, leading a group of almost 100 children through a dangerous trek and many other events. They even made a movie about her life (which took the typical "Holywood liberties" and presented some things that were untrue and an embarrasment to Miss Aylward.

To read more about Gladys Aylward and missions, consider the following books.









Historical Events on January 3

1431 - Leonardo Da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine.

1521 - Pope Leo X issues papal bull to excommunicate reformer Martin Luther

1777 - General George Washington defeats British General Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton

1870 - Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge

1947 - Proceedings of the U.S. Congress televised for the first time (we now have two channels dedicated to this all of the time.)

1959 - Alaska is admitted into the union as the 49th state

1977 - Apple Computer is incorporate.



Births on January 3

106 - Roman statesman and orator Cicero born

1733 - Sir Richard Arkwright - Englishman credited with being the creator of the modern factory system

1892 - J. R. R. Tolkien - author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1916 - Maxene Angelyn Andrews - one of the singing Andrews sisters



Deaths on January 3

1641 - English astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks - predicted the orbit of Venus

1895 - James Merritt Ives - lithographer of "Currier and Ives" fame

1967 - Jack Ruby - American killer of John F. Kennedy assasin Lee Harvey Oswald



Sports Events on January 3

1923 - Birth of Hank Stram, fomer coach of the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs - coached them to victory in Super Bowl IV. Also credited with bringing Gatorade to the NFL (without it, coaches would be just wet instead of wet and sticky!)


1939 - Birth of Bobby Hull, Hockey Hall of Famer and one of the best hockey players of all time.

1980 and 1981 - In successive years on this date, New York Giants Wide Receiver David Tyree and New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning were born. The two later teamed up for one of the most memorable catches in football history during Super Bowl XLII to keep the drive alive that ended up giving the NY Giants the victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots.


Religious Events on January 3

January 3, 1521 - Pope Leo X creates a bull of excommunication for Martin Luther. Being given sanctuary by the Holy Roman Emporer, Luther soon begins translating the Bible into German.

January 3, 1934 - 320 German pastors (including theologian Karl Barth) draw up statement opposing the Nazi Germany Nationalist Church.