On This Day
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Melvin H. Evans is inaugurated as the first elected Governor of the Virgin Islands

Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an American politician who served as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands and was the first black person...

Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an American politician who served as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands and was the first black person elected governor in the United States' history. After his tenure as governor, he served as the territory's at-large delegate to the United States House of Representatives and ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.

Evans was born in 1917 in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands, and was the valedictorian of his high-school class. He graduated magna cum laude from Howard University and later the University of California, Berkeley. From 1959 to 1967, he was the health commissioner of the U.S.

Historical Significance

Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an American politician who served as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands and was the first black person elected governor in the United States' history.

Events Before

  1. Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League

    Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.

  2. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nig

    Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nigerian Army, effectively ending the Nigerian Civil War

  3. Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

    Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

  4. Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy

    Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy Awards Best Picture 1971)

  5. South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official in

    South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official international cricket Test for 22 years

Events After

  1. International Book Year begins

    International Book Year begins

  2. LA Lakers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 134-90 for their 33rd straight win, the longest winning streak in major professional

    LA Lakers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 134-90 for their 33rd straight win, the longest winning streak in major professional sports

  3. Bernice Gera wins an anti-discrimination case against the National Baseball Congress, filed on March 15, 1971, allowing

    Bernice Gera wins an anti-discrimination case against the National Baseball Congress, filed on March 15, 1971, allowing her to umpire

  4. Bloody Sunday: 27 unarmed civilians are shot (14 are killed) by the British Army during a civil rights march in Derry, N

    Bloody Sunday: 27 unarmed civilians are shot (14 are killed) by the British Army during a civil rights march in Derry, Northern Ireland; the highest death toll from a single shooting incident during 'The Troubles'

  5. Bob Douglas is the first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame

    The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches, referees, and other major…

More from the 1970s

death

Erroll Garner dies

Erroll Garner dies

birth

Chai Jing is born

Chai Jing, Chinese journalist and environmental activist, known for chinese journalist and environmental activist, was born on 1976-01-01. Chai Jing is a Chinese journalist.

Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League

Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.

Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US

Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 4, 1971?
Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an American politician who served as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands and was the first black person elected governor in the United States' history. After his tenure as governor, he served as the territory's at-large delegate to the United States House of Representatives and ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. Evans was born in 1917 in Christiansted, U.S.
Why is Melvin H. Evans is inaugurated as the first elected Governor of the Virgin Is... significant?
Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an American politician who served as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands and was the first black person elected governor in the United States' history.

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January 4 in HistoryYear 1971