Today in History - History - January 3rd

1900Gerhart Hauptmann's "Schluck und Jau," premieres in Berlin

1862Romney Campaign-Stonewall Jackson moves north from Winchester

1834The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City.

1431Joan of Arc handed over to Bishop Pierre Cauchon

1823Stephen F. Austin receives a grant of land in Texas from the government of Mexico.

1958Edmund Hillary reaches South Pole overland

1962Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro

1496Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine.

1521Martin Luther excommunicated by Pope Leo X from the Roman Catholic Church

1988Margaret Thatcher becomes longest-serving British PM this century

1956Mel Gibson, Peekskill NY, actor (Mad Max, Mrs Soffel, Lethal Weapon)

1892John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, South Africa, philologist/writer (Lord of Rings)

1939Bobby Hull, Pointe Anne Ontario, Canadian NHL forward (Chicago Blackhawk 1957-72)

106 BCCicero, Roman statesman and philosopher (d. 43 BC)

1987Tennis player champ Mats Wilander (22) weds model Sonya Mulholland in South Africa

1783US Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall (27) weds Mary Willis Ambler in Hanover County, Virginia

1923Politician Hermann Goering (30) weds Carin Hulda (34)

2004Singer Britney Spears (22) weds childhood pal Jason Allen Alexander in Las Vegas, Nevada

1986Britain's greatest golfer Nick Faldo (28) weds manager's secretary Gill Bennett

1939MLB catcher Roy Campanella (18) weds Bernice Ray

1967Jack Ruby, assassin who killed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, dies of pulmonary embolism at 55

1980Joy Adamson, Czech conservationist and author (Born Free), killed by her servant at 69