On this day: 15/01/69
Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaiming himself Emperor of Rome, beginning a reign of only three months.
On this day: 15/01/1541
King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of New France (Canada) and provide for the spread of the "Holy Catholic faith".
On this day: 15/01/1559
Elizabeth I is crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey, London.
On this day: 15/01/1582
Truce of Yam-Zapolsky: Russia cedes Livonia to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
On this day: 15/01/1759
The British Museum opens to the public.
On this day: 15/01/1777
American Revolutionary War: New Connecticut (present-day Vermont) declares its independence.
On this day: 15/01/1782
Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris addresses the U.S. Congress to recommend establishment of a national mint and decimal coinage.
On this day: 15/01/1815
War of 1812: American frigate USSÂ President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured by a squadron of four British frigates.
On this day: 15/01/1818
A paper by David Brewster is read to the Royal Society, belatedly announcing his discovery of what we now call the biaxial class of doubly-refracting crystals. On the same day, Augustin-Jean Fresnel signs a "supplement" (submitted four days later) on reflection of polarized light.
On this day: 15/01/1822
Greek War of Independence: Demetrios Ypsilantis is elected president of the legislative assembly.