This Day In History

On January 17, 1944, the Allies launched a brutal struggle in Italy that would test their endurance and reshape the course of the war in Europe. The Battle of Monte Cassino became one of World War II’s longest and bloodiest campaigns, marked by sacrifice, controversy, and hard-won victory.

Born on January 16, 1910, in Lucas, Arkansas, Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball history. A Hall of Famer and multiple-time All-Star, Dean’s blazing fastball and fearless style helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to World Series glory and earned him a reputation as one of the greatest pitchers of the 1930s.

On January 15, 1896, America lost one of its most influential visual storytellers—Mathew Brady. Known as the father of American war photography, Brady brought the distant battlefields of the Civil War into the public eye, using his camera to reveal the real cost of conflict in a way words never could.

In the dark days of World War II, when victory was far from certain, Allied leaders gathered in secret to make decisions that would shape the course of the conflict—and the world that followed. Beginning on January 14, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco, for a high-stakes conference that set the direction of the war in Europe and beyond. What was decided would influence battles, alliances, and the meaning of victory itself.

On January 13, 1864, Stephen Foster—the man often called the “father of American music”—died alone in a New York City boardinghouse. He was just 37 years old, yet the songs he left behind would echo for generations. Long after his death, Americans would still be singing his melodies at home, on stage, and at public events, often without realizing they were hearing the work of one of the nation’s earliest and most influential songwriters.

After a yearlong campaign, the USPS held a special midnight first-day ceremony on January 8, 1993, for the long-awaited Elvis Presley stamp.

On December 21, 1937, Walt Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world’s first full-length animated feature film, forever changing the landscape of cinema. What began as a daring experiment became a cultural phenomenon that launched Disney into global fame.

Famed American conductor Arthur Fiedler was born on December 17, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts. Best known for his long leadership of the Boston Pops Orchestra, Fiedler transformed classical music from a formal concert hall tradition into an experience enjoyed by millions. Through radio broadcasts, recordings, and outdoor performances, he helped make orchestral music accessible, entertaining, and deeply popular in American culture.

On January 18, 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European to reach the Hawaiian islands. The Hawaiians believed Cook had divine powers and considered him a great chief.

Actor Archibald Alexander Leach (aka Cary Grant) was born on January 18, 1904, in Horfield, Bristol, United Kingdom. He was a versatile actor known for his comedies, dramas, and acclaimed films with Alfred Hitchcock.

On January 18, 1919, composer-turned statesman Ignacy Paderewski was sworn in as the first prime minister of newly independent Poland.

Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire on January 18, 1782.  A successful lawyer and statesman, he negotiated an important treaty with Canada and served as Secretary of State under three presidents.