MOMENTS IN TIME - Jan. 14, 2010

The History Channel

* On Jan. 30, 1835, Andrew Jackson becomes the first American president to experience an assassination attempt. Richard Lawrence, an unemployed house painter, shot at Jackson, but his gun misfired. A furious 67-year-old Jackson confronted his attacker, clubbing Lawrence several times with his walking cane. A second shot also misfired.

* On Jan. 27, 1888, the National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C., for “the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge.” Readership of the magazine did not grow, however, until it changed the format to articles of genera...