January third

Today's Highlight in History:
On January third, 1959, President Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state.

On this date:
In 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1777, General George Washington's army routed the British in the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey.

In 1868, the Meiji Restoration re-established the authority of Japan's emperor and heralded the fall of the military rulers known as %26quot;shoguns.%26quot;

In 1892, J.R.R. Tolkein, author of the %26quot;Lord of the Rings%26quot; trilogy, was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

In 1938, the %26quot;March of Dimes%26quot; campaign to fight polio was organized.