January in history according to an eternal pessimist.

1st January 1979

The US and China officially began a diplomatic relationship. It was the result of the so-called ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ – an act of political courtship kick-started by the 1971 ping-pong matches between the two nations. Now that’s a long shot!

2nd January 1839

French photographer Louis Daguerre took the first picture of the Moon. It should have been one of the most famous photographs in history! Sadly, it perished in a fire that destroyed the inventor’s laboratory.

3rd January 1866

Scottish traveller and missionary David Livingstone began his last journey across Africa. Little did he know that the trip would bring him so much fame… with his sudden disappearance along the way.

4th January 1847

Samuel Colt sold his first revolver, ordered by the US government. That’s