On This Day, Jan. 23: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes 1st woman to earn medical degree in U.S.

On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell, pictured sometime between 1850 and 1860, became the first woman in U.S. history to receive a medical degree. File Photo courtesy of the Schlesinger Library/Wikimedia
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell, pictured sometime between 1850 and 1860, became the first woman in U.S. history to receive a medical degree. File Photo courtesy of the Schlesinger Library/Wikimedia
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1789, Georgetown College was founded in Georgetown, Md., which later would be part of the District of Columbia.

In 1845, the U.S. Congress decided that all national elections would take place on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in U.S. history to receive a medical degree.

In 1912, the Standard Oil Company of New York was fined $55,000 for violating the Elkins Act in accepting rebates from the New York Central and Pennsylvania railroads during 1904 and 1905.

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright briefs reporters on President Bill Clinton's trip to the Middle East on December 11, 1998, at the White House. On January 23, 1997, Albright was sworn into office as the first female U.S. secretary of state. File Photo by Ian Wagreich/UPI
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright briefs reporters on President Bill Clinton's trip to the Middle East on December 11, 1998, at the White House. On January 23, 1997, Albright was sworn into office as the first female U.S. secretary of state. File Photo by Ian Wagreich/UPI

In 1948, U.S. Army Gen. Dwight Eisenhower said he couldn't accept a presidential nomination from either party. Four years later, he ran as a Republican and was elected as the 34th president.

UPI File Photo
UPI File Photo
Pedestrians wear protective respiratory masks in Beijing on January 23, 2020, the same day the government issued lockdown orders for the city of Wuhan over a coronavirus outbreak. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI
Pedestrians wear protective respiratory masks in Beijing on January 23, 2020, the same day the government issued lockdown orders for the city of Wuhan over a coronavirus outbreak. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

In 1968, the USS Pueblo was seized in the Sea of Japan by North Korea, which alleged the ship was on a spy mission. The crew was held for 11 months before being released.

In 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced that U.S. troops would cease fighting in Vietnam at midnight Jan. 27.

President Jimmy Carter receives a telephone call on March 28, 1980, in the Oval Office. On January 23, 1980, Carter reinstated the Selective Service System. UPI File Photo
President Jimmy Carter receives a telephone call on March 28, 1980, in the Oval Office. On January 23, 1980, Carter reinstated the Selective Service System. UPI File Photo

In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter reinstated the Selective Service System. President Richard Nixon had ended the draft at the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1973.

In 1986, the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.

Rock and Roll legend Chuck Berry performs during a free concert in Kiener Plaza in St. Louis on July 29, 2010. On January 23, 1986, the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Rock and Roll legend Chuck Berry performs during a free concert in Kiener Plaza in St. Louis on July 29, 2010. On January 23, 1986, the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

In 1997, Madeleine Albright was sworn into office as the first female U.S. secretary of state.

In 2005, Johnny Carson, host of TV's Tonight Show for 30 years and a powerful presence in American entertainment, died of emphysema at age 79.

On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, crew pictured upon their release, was seized in the Sea of Japan by North Korea, which alleged the ship was on a spy mission. File Photo courtesy of the Navy
On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, crew pictured upon their release, was seized in the Sea of Japan by North Korea, which alleged the ship was on a spy mission. File Photo courtesy of the Navy
File Photo by Mike Hill/UPI
File Photo by Mike Hill/UPI

In 2015, Saudi Arabia's King Salman was crowned one day after the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah.

Then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelose holds a Georgetown University T-shirt that she was presented with when she attended a NCAA basketball game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgetown Hoyas on January 6, 2007, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. On January 23, 1789, Georgetown University was founded in Georgetown, Md., which later would be part of the District of Columbia. It was originally called Georgetown College. File Photo by Mark Goldman/UPI

In 2020, the Chinese government issued a travel ban for all residents of Wuhan, the epicenter of a novel coronavirus outbreak that would come to cause a pandemic. As of this day, the disease -- later called COVID-19 -- had killed about 17 people.

In 2022, Buffalo Bills receiver Gabriel Davis became the first player in NFL history to catch four touchdowns in a postseason game in a 42-36 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Voters fill out their ballots at Mt. Vernon Center in Alexandria, Va., on November 8, 2016. On January 23, 1845, the U.S. Congress decided that all national elections would take place on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI
Voters fill out their ballots at Mt. Vernon Center in Alexandria, Va., on November 8, 2016. On January 23, 1845, the U.S. Congress decided that all national elections would take place on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI

In 2023, a federal jury found four members of the far-right group Oath Keepers guilty on charges of seditious conspiracy after they participated in the 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI