Captain Scott

 On 18 January 1912 Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole only to find that Roald Amundsen had already been there. Sadly Scott and his men did not make it back to safety. www.localhistories.org/scott.html

King Canute

 King Canute was crowned king of England on 6 January 1017. www.localhistories.org/canute.html

Myanmar

4 January is Myanmar Independence Day. Myanmar (then called Burma) became independent on 4 January 1948) www.localhistories.org/burma.html

Alaska

 On 3 January 1959 Alaska became the 49th state of the USA www.localhistories.org/alaska.html