In History, Today on January 13

Pope Honorius II grants a papal sanction to the military order known as the Knights Templar, declaring it to be an army of God.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, is sentenced to death for treason, marking the end of the Howard family's influence in the English court.

Dr. William Brydon, an assistant surgeon in the British East India Company Army, becomes famous for being the only European survivor of the retreat from Kabul, part of the First Anglo-Afghan War.

The Independent Labour Party of the United Kingdom holds its first meeting, marking a significant development in the British labor movement.

The first public radio broadcast takes place; a live performance of the operas Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci is sent out over the airwaves from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

A plebiscite in the Saarland shows that 90.3% of those voting wish to join Nazi Germany, leading to its reintegration into Germany.

Henry Ford patents a plastic automobile, which is 30% lighter than a regular car.

Johnny Cash performs live at Folsom State Prison, California; the recording becomes one of the most famous live albums in music history.

Douglas Wilder becomes the first African American governor as he takes office in Virginia.

A historic nuclear disarmament agreement is signed in Paris by France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, and China, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck El Salvador, causing widespread damage and resulting in the deaths of at least 944 people.

The cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Italy, resulting in the deaths of 32 people.

A false ballistic missile alert was issued in Hawaii, causing widespread panic before being corrected 38 minutes later.