On This Day: January 29th

Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.

The Bear River Massacre: A detachment of California Volunteers led by Colonel Patrick Edward Connor engage the Shoshone at Bear River, Washington Territory, killing hundreds of men, women and children.

Kansas is admitted as the 34th U.S. state.

Queen Victoria issues a Warrant under the Royal sign-manual that establishes the Victoria Cross to recognise acts of valour by British military personnel during the Crimean War.

Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress.

"The Raven" is published in The Evening Mirror in New York, the first publication with the name of the author, Edgar Allan Poe.

Stamford Raffles lands on the island of Singapore.

War of the Sixth Coalition: France engages Russia and Prussia in the Battle of Brienne.

Caliph al-Mustakfi is blinded and deposed by Mu'izz al-Dawla, ruler of the Buyid Empire. He is succeeded by al-Muti as caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.