1. On January 26, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the American Revolutionary War. This treaty granted independence to the United States and established its borders, including New Jersey.

2. In 1838, New Jersey became the first state to pass a law that required all railroads operating in the state to be equipped with brakes. This law helped improve the safety of rail travel and served as a model for other states.

3. On January 26, 1920, Prohibition went into effect in the United States, making the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol illegal. This led to a rise in organized crime and black-market activity in New Jersey and throughout the country.

4. New Jersey native Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, was born on January 26, 1930. Aldrin was raised in Montclair, New Jersey, and attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point before joining NASA.

5. On January 26, 1996, a blizzard hit New Jersey, dumping up to 30 inches of snow in some areas and causing widespread power outages. The storm, which became known as the Blizzard of '96, was one of the largest and most severe winter storms in the state's history.