1. In 1780, the Battle of Jersey Plants in Chesapeake took place between British troops and American militiamen. The American forces, led by General William Woodford, successfully repelled the British attack, marking a significant victory for the Continental Army.

2. On January 4, 1861, Virginia held its secession convention in Richmond. Delegates from across the state gathered to decide whether Virginia should secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. After much debate, the vote was in favor of secession, and Virginia became the eighth state to secede from the Union.

3. In 1959, Virginia-born author William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was honored with a U.S. postage stamp. O. Henry was a prolific writer of short stories, known for his clever plot twists and unexpected endings.

4. On January 4, 1979, the Virginia General Assembly elected John N. Dalton as the state's 63rd governor. Dalton served two terms as governor, from 1978 to 1982, and was known for his conservative policies and focus on economic development.

5. In 2003, Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall was named the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the top defensive back in college football. Hall went on to have a successful career in the NFL, playing for several teams including the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins.