Today in History- 3rd January

International Events:

1431                 Joan of Arc is handed over to Bishop Pierre Cauchon.

1777                 American General George Washington defeats British General Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton.

1833                 Britain seized control of the Falkland Islands.

1925                 Benito Mussolini begins his dictatorial powers over Italy.

1958                 The West Indies Federation is formed.

1958                 Sir Edmund Hillary reached the South Pole overland.

1959                 Alaska became the 49th state in the United States.

1993                 US President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin sign the Start II arms reduction treaty in Moscow.

1999                 The Mars Polar Lander is launched.