Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) was an American general who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor, as did his father, was one of only five men to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the U.S. Army, and was the only man to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army. After graduating first in his West Point class in 1903, MacArthur participated in the 1914  occupation of Veracruz and served on the Western Front during World War I, becoming the U.S. Army's youngest major general. Thereafter he held a variety of posts, including Superintendent of West Point and Chief of Staff. He retired in 1937, but was recalled to active duty during World War II. After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, he escaped with his family and staff to Australia, where he became Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area. He fulfilled a famous pledge to return to the Philippines, and officially accepted Japan's surrender on 2 September 1945. Overseeing the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951, he implemented many reforms, and led the United Nations Command in the Korean War until President Harry Truman had him relieved of his commands in April 1951. ( Full article...)

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• Scientists in Brazil identify a new species of river dolphin.
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• Ukrainian police clash with rioters (aftermath pictured) protesting against new anti-protest laws.
• Scientists measure the optical spectrum of ball lightning for the first time.
• Egypt approves a new constitution.
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January 26: Australia Day ( 1788); Liberation Day in Uganda ( 1986)

• 1500 – Spanish navigator, explorer, and conquistador Vicente Yáñez Pinzón reached the north coast of what today is Brazil.
• 1564 – Livonian War: A Lithuanian surprise attack resulted in a decisive defeat of the numerically superior Russian forces.
• 1863 – American Civil War: After the disastrous result of the Battle of Fredericksburg and a failed offensive against Robert E. Lee, Union Army General Ambrose Burnside (pictured) was relieved from command of the Army of the Potomac.
• 1952 – Spontaneous anti-British riots erupted in Cairo following the killings of 50 Egyptian auxiliary police the day before.
• 1991 – Factions led by warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his rebel group, the United Somali Congress, ousted President of Somalia Siad Barre from office.

More anniversaries: January 25 – January 26 – January 27