Monday, January 18, 2010

19 January

1886 - Voluntary migration of natives to the Philippine island of Palawan is encouraged by a royal decree issued by the Spanish colonial king; incentives  include exemptions from payments of tax and dues to public treasury, free passage, land gratis (three hectares), etc.

1915 - Frenchman George Claude patents the first electric neon sign, a lighting tube, in the United States.

1942 - Japan is able to take British North Borneo during World War II; the British governor surrenders the island as the Japanese forces come to the Sandakan shore unopposed.

1996 - Indira Gandhi begins to lead India after winning the elections; the only daughter of  the country's very first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira will become the first Indian woman PM.

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