Today is the 20th day of 2023 and the 31st day of winter.

T ODAY’S HISTORY: In 1841, China ceded the island of Hong Kong to the British.

In 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union was founded.

In 1981, the Iran hostage crisis ended as 52 American captives were released in Tehran, just after President Jimmy Carter left office.

In 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the first African American president.

In 2021, Joe Biden, 78, was sworn in as the oldest firstterm U.S. president, and Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first female U.S. vice president.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: George Burns (1896-1996), actor/comedian; Federico Fellini (1920-1993), director; DeForest Kelley (19201999), actor; Slim Whitman (1923-2013), singer-songwriter; Patricia Neal (19262010), actress; Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930- ), astronaut; David Lynch (1946- ), director; Paul Stanley (1952- ), singer-songwriter; Bill Maher (1956- ), comedian/TV host; R.A. Salvatore (1959- ), author; Ozzie Guillen (1964), baseball player/manager; Rainn Wilson (1966- ), actor; Questlove (1971- ), musician.

TODAY’S FACT: Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time on this day in 1986.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1892, the first official basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts. The two nine-man teams used a soccer ball and peach baskets.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Bravery comes along as a gradual accumulation of discipline.” -- Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin

TODAY’S NUMBER: 444 days the hostages were held in the U.S. embassy in Iran.

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Jan. 14) and new moon (Jan. 21).