1. On January 15, 1841, the Texas Senate finally approved the annexation of Texas by the United States. It had been a contentious issue for years, as many Texans favored joining the United States while others preferred that Texas remain an independent republic.

2. In 1908, the first oil well in the East Texas Oilfield was brought in on January 15. The oilfield would become the largest in the United States at the time, producing over 5 billion barrels of oil by the time it was depleted in the 1970s.

3. On January 15, 1919, the Brazoria County oilfield was discovered in southeast Texas. The discovery led to a boom in oil exploration throughout the area and helped solidify Texas's reputation as an oil-producing state.

4. In 1927, E. H. Thornton became the first Texas Ranger to die in the line of duty on January 15. Thornton had been leading a posse to capture a bootlegger in San Angelo when he was shot and killed.

5. On January 15, 1991, the Persian Gulf War began when the United States launched an air campaign against Iraq. Over 50,000 Texans served in the war, and 116 Texans lost their lives in the conflict. The war would end just a month and a half later with the liberation of Kuwait.