Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, January 8, 2025.  I am Dom Einhorn, your lead curator, and here are your insights into what makes this day in history relevant today. First time reading? Join our community of intellectually curious readers who explore the history behind every day. [Sign up here]

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Today in History

Marquee Event of the Day

> January 8, 1877: Crazy Horse Fights Last Battle.

On this day, Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse and his outnumbered men, struggling with limited ammunition and outdated weapons, fought their final, ultimately losing battle against the U.S. Cavalry in Montana.

Why this matters: The final battle of Crazy Horse and his Oglala Lakota warriors against the U.S. Cavalry marked a pivotal moment in the struggle of Native American tribes to resist U.S. expansion and defend their lands, culture, and sovereignty. This event symbolizes the broader conflict between Indigenous peoples and the U.S. government during the late 19th century, as westward expansion and policies like the Indian Removal Act forced Native tribes into increasingly desperate situations. Crazy Horse’s resistance and ultimate surrender represent both the resilience of the Lakota people and the tragic consequences of colonial encroachment, including the loss of lives, land, and traditional ways of life. 

Find out how much you know about the Crazy Horse with this special quiz.

Notable Events

• January 8, 2016 - Mexican criminal Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was recaptured in Los Mochis after escaping from prison six months earlier; he was later extradited to the United States, where he was convicted of multiple crimes.

• January 8, 2011 - U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords survived an assassination attempt in which six others tragically lost their lives.

• January 8, 1998 - Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, convicted for masterminding the 1993 terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center in New York, was sentenced to life in prison.

In partnership with Masters of Trivia 
Knowledge Gamified

A recent MSN article titled “Top 10 Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Turned Vision into Reality” featured Dom Einhorn, founder of Intelligent Games, in the #3 spot. For transparency, Intelligent Games is the parent company of both the KRONIKL newsletter and Masters of Trivia, the quiz platform linked to many topics featured in this newsletter. Additionally, the November 2024 issue of New York Weekly Magazine describes Masters of Trivia as follows:

Einhorn points to the company’s slogan to explain the value of Masters of Trivia’s platform. “Our slogan is ‘Knowledge Gamified’ and not ‘Gamified Knowledge’ for a good reason,” he explains. “We aim to educate and inform first and foremost, but we also know that most people need to be deeply engaged in the learning process. Hence, we added a heavy dose of entertainment and incentives to the mix.”

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Echoes in Time

Here are two events from January 8 that continue to resonate in the present day.

1. Event: January 8, 1642 - Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei dies in Italy at age 77. 

Lasting Significance: Galileo, often called the “father of modern astronomy,” “father of modern physics,” and “father of science,” revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. As the first to use a telescope for celestial observation, he discovered Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings, sunspots, and the Sun's rotation.

2. Event:  January 8, 1867 - African American men were granted the right to vote in Washington, D.C.

Lasting Significance: The granting of voting rights to African American men in Washington, D.C., marked a significant step forward in the fight for racial equality and civil rights during the Reconstruction era. It symbolized a broader effort to extend democratic participation to formerly enslaved individuals following the Civil War. This milestone reflected the transformative impact of the 15th Amendment, which sought to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. Although progress was later undermined by systemic disenfranchisement and segregation laws, this moment remains a critical chapter in the struggle for full citizenship and equality for African Americans in the United States.

In the Spotlight

Birthdays, Passings & Milestones
Highlighting the influential figures who were born or died on this day, along with their legacies.

• January 8, 1992 - President George H.W. Bush accidentally vomits on the Japanese Prime Minister during a state dinner.

• January 8, 1963 - Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, is displayed in America for the first time at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

• January 8, 1946 - 11-year-old Elvis Presley wanted a rifle or a bicycle for his birthday, but his protective mother, Gladys, chooses a $7.75 guitar from Tupelo Hardware Store—a gift that would shape music history.

Science & Discovery

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• January 8, 1942 - English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, known for his groundbreaking theory of exploding black holes that combined relativity and quantum mechanics, was born.

• January 8, 1610 - German astronomer Simon Marius independently discovered Jupiter's first three moons, just a day after Galileo.

• January 8, 1806 - Explorer William Clark discovers the skeleton of a 105-foot whale on Cannon Beach, home to the Tillamook Nation in what is now Oregon.

• January 8, 1816 - Sophie Germain becomes the first woman to win a prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences for her groundbreaking work on elasticity.

Today in Finance

Brought to you by Born2Invest.
Curated reads and interesting tidbits from the world of finance.

• January 8, 1675 - The New York Fishing Company becomes the first commercial corporation chartered in America.

• January 8, 1870 - The U.S. Mint in Carson City, Nevada, begins issuing coins.

• January 8, 1964 - President Lyndon B. Johnson announces his "War on Poverty."

Today in Sports

Brought to you by The Hunslet Wolves, a new UK-based rugby franchise coached by the former defensive head coach of the French National Team, David Ellis.

• January 8, 1972 - The NCAA approves freshmen eligibility for basketball and football, with strong support for basketball and a narrower margin for football.

• January 8, 1955 - Georgia Tech ends Kentucky's 130-game home basketball winning streak.

• January 8, 1962 - 21-year-old Jack Nicklaus, future Hall of Fame golfer, makes his professional debut, finishing tied for 50th at the Los Angeles Open.

In the Arts Today

• January 8, 1935 - Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on this day. Elvis revolutionized music as the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," leaving a lasting legacy as a cultural icon and one of the best-selling solo artists in history.

• January 8, 1947 - David Bowie was born in London. Bowie redefined music, fashion, and artistry with his genre-defying sound and iconic personas, leaving an enduring legacy as a visionary cultural pioneer.

• January 8, 1941 - Newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst bans ads for Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane in his publications, fueling their legendary feud.

The Rest of the Story

• January 8, 1959 - Charles de Gaulle was sworn in as the first president of France's Fifth Republic.

• January 8, 2002 - President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act, setting new standards for public schools and imposing strict measures on those failing to meet them.

• January 8, 1997 - On this day in 1997, Monaco launched a yearlong celebration marking 700 years of Grimaldi rule, which began with their seizure of power in 1297 and solidified in 1419.

Quote of the Day

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Why KRONIKL? Inspired by the timeless concept of chronicles, KRONIKL is dedicated to bringing you the most intriguing, thought-provoking stories from this date. Culture, science, politics, and more — all condensed for a quick, insightful read that connects your present with our past.

*Disclosure: Masters of Trivia is a quiz platform founded by Dom Einhorn and owned by Intelligent Games LLC—the same company that brings you the KRONIKL newsletter.