January  

3rd
1958 The West Indies Federation is formed. This organisation lasted until May 31st, 1962.

6th
1941 May Jeffrey-Smith, former Headmistress of Westwood Girls School, is sworn in as a Justice of the Peace for Trelawny. She is the first woman to receive this appointment.

1962 The first shipment of ortaniques (the locally developed orange/tangerine hybrid) arrives in England.

7th
1953 Kelly's Postal Agency, on Hagley Park and Spanish Town Roads in Kingston, becomes the first post office assigned a postal code: Kingston 14. Other post offices in Kingston will shortly be numbered to bring Jamaica in line with international cities.

9th
1973 Sean Paul is born in Kingston to Garth and Frances Henriques.

12th
2010 A 7.0 earthquake hits Haiti killing at least 230,000 and destroying the majority of the capital Port-au-Prince.

14th
1907 At 3:35pm a massive earthquake virtually destroys Kingston.

16th
1948 Workers at J Wray & Nephew, makers of Appleton Rum, begin to receive pay according to the schedule of the new Minimum Wage Law even though it has not yet been passed by Government. The Company has been persuaded to do this by Alexander Bustamante and Hugh Shearer of the BITU.

1962 The first scene of the first James Bond movie, "Dr No," starts shooting at the Palisadoes International Airport. The James Bond novels were written by Ian Fleming at his home, "Goldeneye," in St Mary.

1979 Legislation is passed conferring adult status in legal matters on all Jamaicans of 18 years of age.

17th
1970 The first innings points are scored by the Jamaican team in the first Test Match between Jamaican and English Women.  6,000 spectators view the match at Sabina Park.

18th
1670 Henry Morgan captures Panama.

1955 Rev. Hugh Sherlock is elected head of the Methodist Church in Jamaica. He will later write the words to Jamaica's National Anthem.

1971 Tom Cringle's Cotton Tree at Ferry, between Kingston and Spanish Town, collapses. The well known landmark, mentioned in 18th and 19th century accounts, is at least 300 years old.

1972 The first two attorneys, Norma Greig and Frederick Hamity, are admitted to the bar under the new Legal Profession Act.

19th
1789 Dr Thomas Coke, the first Methodist Missionary to Jamaica, arrives at Port Royal.

1931 The first five pupils are admitted to the Excelsior School by it's founder, Mr A. W. Powell.

22nd
1968 Devon House is declared open as a museum by Minister of Finance and Culture Edward Seaga. The former millionaire's mansion will display Jamaican historical and cultural artifacts. The stables have been converted to a restaurant and two of the outbuildings have been made into craft shops.

1973 George Foreman becomes the new heavyweight champion by knocking out Joe Frazier at the National Stadium. On the way back from the match, he leaves his car and walks down Knutsford Blvd back to his hotel amid cheering crowds.

23rd
1960 The heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Jamaica, 43.63", falls at Bowden Pen in Portland. The previous record of 38.46", also at Bowden, lasted only a day as it had occurred the previous day.

26th
1932 Clement Seymour  Dodd is born in Kingston.

1943 Staff Sergeants Major Philip Rose and S. A. Bailey, of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, are promoted to the Rank of Sub-Inspector. They create history by being the first Black policemen to have attained this rank. Previously Blacks were not allowed to hold a rank above Staff Sergeant Major.

29th
1954 The KSAC call on the National Water Commission to stop disposing of sewerage in Kingston Harbour. They also want Government to enforce legislation barring the discharge of oil in the harbour.