Jan27 

1906  Fire broke out on the River Thames when oil on the surface ignited

Jan28 

1969  Barbara Jo Ruben was the first female jockey to win a race in North America

Jan29 

1985  The Scottish comedian Chic Murray died

1963  Britain was refused entry in to the Common Market

1942  Desert Island Discs was first broadcast - the first castaway was the comedian Vic Oliver

1886  The German engineer Karl Benz patented the first successful petrol driven car

1856  The Victoria Cross was instituted

Jan30 

1790  The first purpose-built lifeboat was launched

Jan31 

1788  Prince Charles Edward Stuart, 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' and 'The Young Pretender', died

1606  Guy Fawkes, Robert Winter, Ambrose Rokewood and Robert Keyes, four of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators were executed