Events
Pre-1600
*
598 –
Avar–Byzantine wars
The Avar–Byzantine wars were a series of conflicts between the Byzantine Empire and the Avar Khaganate. The conflicts were initiated in 568, after the Avars arrived in Pannonia, and claimed all the former land of the Gepids and Lombards as the ...
: The
Avars lift the
siege
A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...
at the
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
stronghold of
Tomis. Their leader
Bayan I
Bayan I reigned as the first khagan of the Avar Khaganate between 562 and 602.
As the Göktürk Empire expanded westwards on the Eurasian Steppe during the 6th century, peoples such as the Avars (also known as the ''Pseudo-Avars'', ''Obri'', ...
retreats north of the
Danube River
The Danube ( ; see also other names) is the second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest south into the Black Sea. A large and historically important riv ...
after the
Avaro-
Slavic army is decimated by the
plague.
*
1282 – The people of
Sicily
Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
rebel against the
Angevin king
King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
Charles I Charles I may refer to:
Kings and emperors
* Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings
* Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily
* Charles I of ...
, in what becomes known as the
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers (; ) was a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out at Easter 1282 against the rule of the French-born king Charles I of Anjou. Since taking control of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1266, the Capetian House ...
.
*
1296
Year 1296 ( MCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.
Events
January–December
* March 30 – Capture of Berwick: King Edward I of England storms and captures Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking what is at this t ...
–
Edward I
Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 125 ...
sacks Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census recor ...
, during armed conflict between
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
and
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
.
1601–1900
*
1699 –
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh (; born Gobind Das; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the tenth and last human Sikh gurus, Sikh Guru. He was a warrior, poet, and philosopher. In 1675, at the age of nine he was formally installed as the leader of the ...
establishes the
Khalsa
The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,[Khalsa: Sikhism< ...]
in
Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib, also referred simply as Anandpur (), is a city in Rupnagar district (Ropar), on the edge of Shivalik Hills, in the Indian state of Punjab. Located near the Sutlej River, the city is one of the most sacred religious places in Si ...
,
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
.
*
1815
Events
January
* January 2 – Lord Byron marries Anna Isabella Milbanke in Seaham, county of Durham, England.
* January 3 – Austria, Britain, and Bourbon-restored France form a secret defensive alliance treaty against Pr ...
–
Joachim Murat
Joachim Murat ( , also ; ; ; 25 March 1767 – 13 October 1815) was a French Army officer and statesman who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Under the French Empire he received the military titles of Marshal of the ...
issues the
Rimini Proclamation
The Rimini Proclamation () was a proclamation by Joachim Murat, King of Naples, calling for the establishment of a united, self-governing Italy ruled by constitutional law. Its text is widely attributed to Pellegrino Rossi, later Papal Minister ...
, among the earliest calls for
Italian unification
The unification of Italy ( ), also known as the Risorgimento (; ), was the 19th century political and social movement that in 1861 ended in the annexation of various states of the Italian peninsula and its outlying isles to the Kingdom of ...
.
*
1818
Events
January–March
* January 1
** Battle of Koregaon: Troops of the British East India Company score a decisive victory over the Maratha Confederacy, Maratha Empire.
** English author Mary Shelley publishes the novel ''Frankenstein ...
– Physicist
Augustin Fresnel
Augustin-Jean Fresnel (10 May 1788 – 14 July 1827) was a French civil engineer and physicist whose research in optics led to the almost unanimous acceptance of the wave theory of light, excluding any remnant of Isaac Newton, Newton's c ...
reads a memoir on
optical rotation
Optical rotation, also known as polarization rotation or circular birefringence, is the rotation of the orientation of the plane of polarization about the optical axis of linearly polarized light as it travels through certain materials. Circul ...
to the
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences (, ) is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French Scientific method, scientific research. It was at the forefron ...
, reporting that when polarized light is "depolarized" by a
Fresnel rhomb
A Fresnel rhomb is an optical prism that introduces a 90° phase difference between two perpendicular components of polarization, by means of two total internal reflections. If the incident beam is linearly polarized at 45° to the plane of in ...
, its properties are preserved in any subsequent passage through an optically-rotating crystal or liquid.
*
1822
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The Greek Constitution of 1822 is adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.
* January 3 – The famous French explorer, Aimé Bonpland, is imprisoned in Paraguay on charges of espionage. ...
– The
Florida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the state of Florida. Originally the major portion of the Spanish ...
is created in the United States.
*
1841
Events
January–March
* January 20 – Charles Elliot of the United Kingdom and Qishan of the Qing dynasty agree to the Convention of Chuenpi.
* January 26 – Britain occupies Hong Kong. Later in the year, the first census of the ...
– The
National Bank of Greece
The National Bank of Greece (NBG; ) is a banking and financial services company with its headquarters in Athens, Greece. Founded in 1841 as the newly independent country's first financial institution, it has long been the largest Greek bank, a ...
is founded in
Athens
Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
.
*
1842
Events
January–March
* January 6– 13 – First Anglo-Afghan War – Massacre of Elphinstone's army (Battle of Gandamak): British East India Company troops are destroyed by Afghan forces on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad, Afghan ...
–
Ether
In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group, a single oxygen atom bonded to two separate carbon atoms, each part of an organyl group (e.g., alkyl or aryl). They have the general formula , where R and R� ...
anesthesia
Anesthesia (American English) or anaesthesia (British English) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prev ...
is used for the first time, in an operation by the American surgeon
Dr. Crawford Long
Crawford Williamson Long (November 1, 1815 – June 16, 1878) was an American surgeon and pharmacist best known for his first use of inhaled sulfuric ether as an anesthetic. Life and work
Long was born in Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia ...
.
*
1844
In the Philippines, 1844 had only 365 days, when Tuesday, December 31 was skipped as Monday, December 30 was immediately followed by Wednesday, January 1, 1845, the next day after. The change also applied to Caroline Islands, Guam, Marian ...
– One of the most
important battles of the
Dominican War of Independence
The Dominican War of Independence () was a war of independence that began when the Dominican Republic declared independence from the Republic of Haiti on February 27, 1844 and ended on January 24, 1856. Before the war, the island of Hispaniola ...
from
Haiti
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...
takes place near the city of
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros ("James, son of Zebedee, Saint James of the Knights"), often shortened to Santiago, is the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic and the fourth-largest city in the Caribbean by population. It is the capital of ...
.
*
1855
Events
January–March
* January 1 – Ottawa, Ontario, is incorporated as a city.'
* January 5 – Ramón Castilla begins his third term as President of Peru.
* January 23
** The first bridge over the Mississippi River o ...
–
Origins of the American Civil War
The origins of the American Civil War were rooted in the desire of the Southern United States, Southern states to preserve and expand the Slavery in the United States, institution of slavery. Historians in the 21st century overwhelmingly agree ...
: "
Border Ruffian
Border ruffians were Proslavery thought, proslavery raiders who crossed into the Kansas Territory from Missouri during the mid-19th century to help ensure the territory entered the United States as a Slave states and free states, slave state. ...
s" from
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
invade
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
and force election of a pro-
slavery
Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
legislature.
*
1856
Events
January–March
* January 8 – Borax deposits are discovered in large quantities by John Veatch in California.
* January 23 – The American sidewheel steamer SS ''Pacific'' leaves Liverpool (England) for a transatl ...
– The
Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the
Crimean War
The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...
.
*
1861
This year saw significant progress in the Unification of Italy, the outbreak of the American Civil War, and the emancipation reform abolishing serfdom in the Russian Empire.
Events
January
* January 1
** Benito Juárez captures Mexico Ci ...
–
Discovery of the chemical elements
The discoveries of the 118 chemical elements known to exist as of 2025 are presented here in chronological order. The elements are listed generally in the order in which each was first defined as the pure element, as the exact date of discovery o ...
: Sir
William Crookes
Sir William Crookes (; 17 June 1832 – 4 April 1919) was an English chemist and physicist who attended the Royal College of Chemistry, now part of Imperial College London, and worked on spectroscopy. He was a pioneer of vacuum tubes, inventing ...
announces his discovery of
thallium
Thallium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Tl and atomic number 81. It is a silvery-white post-transition metal that is not found free in nature. When isolated, thallium resembles tin, but discolors when exposed to air. Che ...
.
*
1863
Events
January
* January 1 – Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation during the third year of the American Civil War, making the abolition of slavery in the Confederate States of America an official war goal. The signing ...
– Danish prince
Wilhelm Georg is chosen as King George of Greece.
*
1867
There were only 354 days this year in the newly purchased territory of Alaska. When the territory transferred from the Russian Empire to the United States, the calendric transition from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar was made with only 1 ...
–
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
is
purchased from
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
for $7.2 million, about two cents/acre ($4.19/km
2), by
United States Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state (SecState) is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State.
The secretary of state serves as the principal advisor to the ...
William H. Seward
William Henry Seward (; May 16, 1801 – October 10, 1872) was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869, and earlier served as governor of New York and as a United States senator. A determined opp ...
.
*
1870
Events
January
* January 1
** The first edition of ''The Northern Echo'' newspaper is published in Priestgate, Darlington, England.
** Plans for the Brooklyn Bridge are completed.
* January 3 – Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge be ...
–
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
is readmitted to the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
following
Reconstruction
Reconstruction may refer to:
Politics, history, and sociology
*Reconstruction (law), the transfer of a company's (or several companies') business to a new company
*''Perestroika'' (Russian for "reconstruction"), a late 20th century Soviet Union ...
.
*
1885 – The
Battle for Kushka triggers the
Panjdeh Incident
The Panjdeh incident (spelled Penjdeh in older accounts, and known in Russian historiography as the battle of the Kushka) was an armed engagement between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the Russian Empire in 1885 that led to a diplomatic crisi ...
which nearly gives rise to war between the
Russian
Russian(s) may refer to:
*Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*A citizen of Russia
*Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages
*''The Russians'', a b ...
and
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...
s.
*
1899
Events January
* January 1
** Spanish rule formally ends in Cuba with the cession of Spanish sovereignty to the U.S., concluding 400 years of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.''The American Monthly Review of Reviews'' (February 1899), p ...
– German Society of Chemistry issues an invitation to other national scientific organizations to appoint delegates to the
International Committee on Atomic Weights.
*
1900
As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15 ...
–
Archaeologists
Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...
in
Knossos
Knossos (; , ; Linear B: ''Ko-no-so'') is a Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete. The site was a major centre of the Minoan civilization and is known for its association with the Greek myth of Theseus and the minotaur. It is located on th ...
,
Crete
Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...
, discover the first
clay tablet
In the Ancient Near East, clay tablets (Akkadian language, Akkadian ) were used as a writing medium, especially for writing in cuneiform, throughout the Bronze Age and well into the Iron Age.
Cuneiform characters were imprinted on a wet clay t ...
with
hieroglyph
Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs ( ) were the formal writing system used in Ancient Egypt for writing the Egyptian language. Hieroglyphs combined ideographic, logographic, syllabic and alphabetic elements, with more than 1,000 distinct characters. ...
ic writing in a script later called
Linear B
Linear B is a syllabary, syllabic script that was used for writing in Mycenaean Greek, the earliest Attested language, attested form of the Greek language. The script predates the Greek alphabet by several centuries, the earliest known examp ...
.
1901–present
*
1912
This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15.
In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...
–
Sultan
Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...
Abd al-Hafid signs the
Treaty of Fez
The Treaty of Fes (, ), officially the Treaty Concluded Between France and Morocco on 30 March 1912, for the Organization of the French Protectorate in the Sharifian Empire ( French: ), was signed by Sultan Abd al-Hafid of Morocco under duress a ...
, making
Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...
a French
protectorate
A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over ...
.
*
1918
The ceasefire that effectively ended the World War I, First World War took place on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of this year. Also in this year, the Spanish flu pandemic killed 50–100 million people wor ...
– Beginning of the bloody
March Events in
Baku
Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...
and other locations of
Baku Governorate.
*
1939
This year also marks the start of the World War II, Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history.
Events
Events related to World War II have a "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1
** Coming into effect in Nazi Ger ...
– The
Heinkel He 100 fighter sets a
world airspeed record of 463 mph (745 km/h).
*
1940
A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280.
Events
Below, events related to World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
*Janu ...
–
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was fought between the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China and the Empire of Japan between 1937 and 1945, following a period of war localized to Manchuria that started in 1931. It is considered part ...
: Japan declares
Nanking
Nanjing or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400.
Situated in the Yan ...
capital of a new
Chinese puppet government, nominally controlled by
Wang Jingwei
Wang Zhaoming (4 May 188310 November 1944), widely known by his pen name Wang Jingwei, was a Chinese politician who was president of the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, a puppet state of the Empire of Japan. He was in ...
.
*
1944
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 2 – WWII:
** Free France, Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command First Army (France), French Army B, part of the Sixt ...
–
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
:
Allied bombers conduct their most severe
bombing run on
Sofia
Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...
,
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
.
* 1944 – Out of 795
Lancasters,
Halifaxes and
Mosquito
Mosquitoes, the Culicidae, are a Family (biology), family of small Diptera, flies consisting of 3,600 species. The word ''mosquito'' (formed by ''Musca (fly), mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish and Portuguese for ''little fly''. Mos ...
s sent to
attack Nuremberg, 95 bombers do not return, making it the largest RAF Bomber Command loss of the war.
*
1945
1945 marked the end of World War II, the fall of Nazi Germany, and the Empire of Japan. It is also the year concentration camps were liberated and the only year in which atomic weapons have been used in combat.
Events
World War II will be ...
– World War II:
Soviet forces invade Austria and
capture Vienna.
Polish and Soviet forces
liberate Danzig.
*
1949
Events
January
* January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2025
* January 2 – Luis ...
–
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
: A
riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...
, when
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
joins
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
.
*
1959
Events
January
* January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance.
* January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...
–
Tenzin Gyatso
The 14th Dalai Lama (born 6 July 1935; full spiritual name: Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, shortened as Tenzin Gyatso; ) is the incumbent Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism. He served a ...
, the 14th
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama (, ; ) is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The term is part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama" (圣 识一切 瓦齐尔达喇 达赖 喇嘛) given by Altan Khan, the first Shu ...
, flees
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...
for
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
.
*
1961
Events January
* January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union.
* January 3
** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
– The
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (Single Convention, 1961 Convention, or C61) is an international treaty that controls activities (cultivation, production, supply, trade, transport) involving specific narcotic drugs and lays down a ...
is signed in New York City.
*
1965
Events January–February
* January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years.
* January 20
** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...
–
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
: A
car bomb
A car bomb, bus bomb, van bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles.
Car bombs can be roug ...
explodes in front of the
United States Embassy, Saigon, killing 22 and wounding 183 others.
*
1967
Events January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...
–
Delta Air Lines Flight 9877 crashes at
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is an international airport under Class B airspace in the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is west of downtown New ...
, killing 19.
*
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...
– Vietnam War: The
Easter Offensive
The Easter Offensive, also known as the 1972 spring–summer offensive (') by North Vietnam, or the Red Fiery Summer (') as romanticized in South Vietnamese literature, was a military campaign conducted by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN, t ...
begins after
North Vietnam
North Vietnam, officially the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV; ; VNDCCH), was a country in Southeast Asia from 1945 to 1976, with sovereignty fully recognized in 1954 Geneva Conference, 1954. A member of the communist Eastern Bloc, it o ...
ese forces cross into the
Demilitarized Zone
A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between states, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or boundary ...
(DMZ) of
South Vietnam
South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...
.
*
1976
Events January
* January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 18 – Full diplomatic ...
–
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israelis (; ) are the citizens and nationals of the State of Israel. The country's populace is composed primarily of Jews and Arabs, who respectively account for 75 percent and 20 percent of the national figure, followed by other ethnic and ...
: in the first organized response against Israeli policies by a Palestinian collective since
1948
Events January
* January 1
** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated.
** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...
, Palestinians create the first
Land Day.
*
1979
Events
January
* January 1
** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...
–
Airey Neave
Lieutenant Colonel Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave, () (23 January 1916 – 30 March 1979) was a British soldier, lawyer and Member of Parliament (MP) from 1953 until his assassination in 1979.
During the Second World War he was the first ...
, a British
Member of Parliament (MP), is
killed by a car bomb as he exits the
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative ch ...
. The Irish National Liberation Army claims responsibility.
*1981 – U.S. President Ronald Reagan is Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley Jr.; three others are wounded in the same incident.
*1982 – Space Shuttle program: STS-3 mission is completed with the landing of ''Space Shuttle Columbia, Columbia'' at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
*2002 – The 2002 Lyon synagogue attack, 2002 Lyon car attack takes place.
*2006 – Cyclone Glenda, one of the strongest tropical cyclones in the Australian region makes landfall near Onslow, Western Australia.
*2008 – Drolma Kyi arrested by Chinese authorities.
*2009 – Twelve gunmen 2009 Lahore police academy attack, attack the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan.
*2011 – Min Aung Hlaing is appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Commander-in-Chief of Tatmadaw, Myanmar's armed forces.
*2017 – SpaceX conducts the world's first Reusable launch vehicle, reflight of an orbital class rocket.
*2018 – The Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Army kills 17 Palestinians and wounds 1,400 in Gaza during
Land Day 2018–2019 Gaza border protests, protests.
*2019 – Pope Francis visits
Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...
.
*2023 – Donald Trump becomes the first former United States president to be Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York, indicted by a grand jury.
Births
Pre-1600
* 892 – Shi Jingtang, founder of the Later Jin (Five Dynasties), Later Jin Dynasty (died 942)
*1135 – Maimonides, Spanish rabbi and philosopher (April 6 also proposed, d. 1204)
*1326 – Ivan II of Moscow (died 1359)
*1432 – Mehmed the Conqueror, Ottoman sultan (died 1481)
*1510 – Antonio de Cabezón, Spanish composer and organist (died 1566)
*1551 – Salomon Schweigger, German theologian (died 1622)
1601–1900
*1606 – Vincentio Reinieri, Italian mathematician and astronomer (died 1647)
*1640 – John Trenchard (politician), John Trenchard, English politician, Secretary of State for the Northern Department (died 1695)
*1727 – Tommaso Traetta, Italian composer and educator (died 1779)
*1746 – Francisco Goya, Spanish-French painter and sculptor (died 1828)
*1750 – John Stafford Smith, English organist and composer (died 1836)
*1793 – Juan Manuel de Rosas, Argentinian soldier and politician, 13th Governor of Buenos Aires Province (died 1877)
*1805 – Ferdinand Johann Wiedemann, German-Swedish linguist and botanist (died 1887)
*1811 – Robert Bunsen, German chemist and academic (died 1899)
*1820 – Anna Sewell, English author (died 1878)
* 1820 – James Whyte (Australian politician), James Whyte, Scottish-Australian politician, 6th Premier of Tasmania (died 1882)
*
1844
In the Philippines, 1844 had only 365 days, when Tuesday, December 31 was skipped as Monday, December 30 was immediately followed by Wednesday, January 1, 1845, the next day after. The change also applied to Caroline Islands, Guam, Marian ...
– Paul Verlaine, French poet (died 1896)
*1853 – Vincent van Gogh, Dutch-French painter and illustrator (died 1890)
*1853 – Arnoldo Sartorio, German composer, pianist, and teacher (died 1936)
*1857 – Léon Charles Thévenin, French engineer (died 1926)
*1858 – Siegfried Alkan, German composer (died 1941)
*
1863
Events
January
* January 1 – Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation during the third year of the American Civil War, making the abolition of slavery in the Confederate States of America an official war goal. The signing ...
– Mary Calkins, American philosopher and psychologist (died 1930)
*1864 – Franz Oppenheimer, German-American sociologist and economist (died 1943)
*1874 – Charles Lightoller, English 2nd officer on the RMS Titanic, RMS ''Titanic'' (died 1952)
* 1874 – Josiah McCracken, American hammer thrower, shot putter, and football player (died 1962)
* 1874 – Nicolae Rădescu, Romanian general and politician, Prime Minister of Romania (died 1953)
*1875 – Thomas Xenakis, Greek-American gymnast (died 1942)
*1879 – Coen de Koning, Dutch speed skater (died 1954)
*1880 – Seán O'Casey, Irish dramatist, playwright, and memoirist (died 1964)
*1882 – Melanie Klein, Austrian-English psychologist and author (died 1960)
*1888 – J. R. Williams, Canadian-born cartoonist (died 1957)
*1891 – Chunseong, Korean monk, writer and philosopher (died 1977)
*1892 – Stefan Banach, Polish mathematician and academic (died 1945)
* 1892 – Fortunato Depero, Italian painter and sculptor (died 1960)
* 1892 – Erhard Milch, German field marshal (died 1972)
* 1892 – Johannes Pääsuke, Estonian photographer and director (died 1918)
* 1892 – Erwin Panofsky, German historian and academic (died 1968)
*1894 – Tommy Green (athlete), Tommy Green, English race walker (died 1975)
* 1894 – Sergey Ilyushin, Russian engineer, founded Ilyushin, Ilyushin Design Bureau (died 1977)
*1895 – Jean Giono, French author and poet (died 1970)
* 1895 – Carl Lutz, Swiss vice-consul to Hungary during WWII, credited with saving over 62,000 Jews (died 1975)
* 1895 – Charlie Wilson (footballer, born 1895), Charlie Wilson, English footballer (died 1971)
*
1899
Events January
* January 1
** Spanish rule formally ends in Cuba with the cession of Spanish sovereignty to the U.S., concluding 400 years of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.''The American Monthly Review of Reviews'' (February 1899), p ...
– Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, Indian author, playwright, and screenwriter (died 1970)
1901–present
*1902 – Brooke Astor, American socialite and philanthropist (died 2007)
* 1902 – Ted Heath (bandleader), Ted Heath, English trombonist and composer (died 1969)
*1903 – Joy Ridderhof, American missionary (died 1984)
*1904 – Ripper Collins (baseball), Ripper Collins, American baseball player and coach (died 1970)
*1905 – Archie Birkin, English motorcycle racer (died 1927)
* 1905 – Mikio Oda, Japanese triple jumper and academic (died 1998)
* 1905 – Albert Pierrepoint, English hangman (died 1992)
*1907 – Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte, German general (died 1994)
*1910 – Józef Marcinkiewicz, Polish soldier, mathematician, and academic (died 1940)
*1911 – Ekrem Akurgal, Turkish archaeologist and academic (died 2002)
*
1912
This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15.
In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...
– Jack Cowie, New Zealand cricketer (died 1994)
* 1912 – Alvin Hamilton, Canadian lieutenant and politician, 18th Minister of Agriculture (Canada), Canadian Minister of Agriculture (died 2004)
*1913 – Marc Davis (animator), Marc Davis, American animator (died 2000)
* 1913 – Richard Helms, American soldier and diplomat, 8th Director of Central Intelligence (died 2002)
* 1913 – Frankie Laine, American singer-songwriter (died 2007)
* 1913 – Ċensu Tabone, Maltese general, physician, and politician, 4th President of Malta (died 2012)
*1914 – Sonny Boy Williamson I, American singer-songwriter and harmonica player (died 1948)
*1915 – Pietro Ingrao, Italian journalist and politician (died 2015)
*1917 – Els Aarne, Ukrainian-Estonian pianist, composer, and educator (died 1995)
*1919 – McGeorge Bundy, American intelligence officer and diplomat, 6th United States National Security Advisor (died 1996)
* 1919 – Robin Williams (mathematician), Robin Williams, New Zealand mathematician, university administrator and public servant (died 2013)
*1921 – André Fontaine, French historian and journalist (died 2013)
*1922 – Turhan Bey, American actor (died 2012)
* 1922 – Arthur Wightman, American physicist and academic (died 2013)
*1923 – Milton Acorn, Canadian poet and playwright (died 1986)
*1925 – Hans Reichelt, German politician (died 2025)
*1926 – Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish businessman, founded IKEA (died 2018)
*1927 – Wally Grout, Australian cricketer (died 1968)
*1928 – Robert Badinter, French lawyer and politician, Ministry of Justice (France), French Minister of Justice (died 2024)
* 1928 – Colin Egar, Australian cricket umpire (died 2008)
* 1928 – Tom Sharpe, English-Spanish author and educator (died 2013)
*1929 – Richard Dysart, American actor (died 2015)
* 1929 – Ray Musto, American soldier and politician (died 2014)
* 1929 – István Rózsavölgyi, Hungarian runner (died 2012)
*1930 – John Astin, American actor
* 1930 – Rolf Harris, Australian singer-songwriter (died 2023)
*1933 – Jean-Claude Brialy, French actor and director (died 2007)
* 1933 – Joe Ruby, American animator (died 2020)
*1934 – Paul Crouch, American broadcaster, co-founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (died 2013)
* 1934 – Hans Hollein, Austrian architect and academic, designed Haas House (died 2014)
*1935 – Karl Berger, German pianist and composer (died 2023)
* 1935 – Willie Galimore, American football player (died 1964)
* 1935 – Gordon Mumma, American composer
*1937 – Warren Beatty, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
* 1937 – Ian MacLaurin, Baron MacLaurin of Knebworth, English businessman
*1938 – John Barnhill (basketball), John Barnhill, American basketball player and coach (died 2013)
* 1938 – Klaus Schwab, German economist and engineer, founded the World Economic Forum
*
1940
A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280.
Events
Below, events related to World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
*Janu ...
– Norman Gifford, English cricketer
* 1940 – Jerry Lucas, American basketball player and educator
* 1940 – Hans Ragnemalm, Swedish lawyer and judge (died 2016)
* 1940 – David Earle Bailey, American Episcopal priest (died 2024)
*1941 – Graeme Edge, English singer-songwriter and drummer (died 2021)
* 1941 – Ron Johnston (geographer), Ron Johnston, English geographer and academic (died 2020)
* 1941 – Wasim Sajjad, Pakistani lawyer and politician, President of Pakistan
* 1941 – Bob Smith (New Hampshire politician), Bob Smith, American soldier and politician
*1942 – Ruben Kun, Nauruan lawyer and politician, 14th President of Nauru (died 2014)
* 1942 – Tane Norton, New Zealand rugby player (died 2023)
* 1942 – Kenneth Welsh, Canadian actor (died 2022)
*1943 – Jay Traynor, American pop and doo-wop singer (died 2014)
*
1944
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 2 – WWII:
** Free France, Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command First Army (France), French Army B, part of the Sixt ...
– Mark Wylea Erwin, American businessman and diplomat
* 1944 – Brian Wilshire, Australian radio host
*
1945
1945 marked the end of World War II, the fall of Nazi Germany, and the Empire of Japan. It is also the year concentration camps were liberated and the only year in which atomic weapons have been used in combat.
Events
World War II will be ...
– Eric Clapton, English guitarist and singer-songwriter
*1947 – Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, American activist, writer, and black anarchist
* 1947 – Dick Roche, Irish politician, Minister of State for European Affairs
* 1947 – Terje Venaas, Norwegian bassist
*1948 – Nigel Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham, English computer programmer and politician (died 2022)
* 1948 – Eddie Jordan, Irish racing driver and team owner, founded Jordan Grand Prix (died 2025)
* 1948 – Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury, Mervyn King, English economist and academic
* 1948 – Jim "Dandy" Mangrum, American rock singer
*
1949
Events
January
* January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2025
* January 2 – Luis ...
– Liza Frulla, Canadian talk show host and politician, 3rd Minister of Canadian Heritage
* 1949 – Dana Gillespie, English singer-songwriter and actress
* 1949 – Naomi Sims, American model and author (died 2009)
*1950 – Janet Browne, English-American historian and academic
* 1950 – Robbie Coltrane, Scottish actor (died 2022)
* 1950 – Grady Little, American baseball player, coach, and manager
*1952 – Stuart Dryburgh, English-New Zealand cinematographer
* 1952 – Peter Knights, Australian footballer and coach
*1955 – Randy VanWarmer, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2004)
*1956 – Bill Butler (politician), Bill Butler, Scottish educator and politician
* 1956 – Juanito Oiarzabal, Spanish mountaineer
* 1956 – Paul Reiser, American actor and comedian
* 1956 – Shahla Sherkat, Iranian journalist and author
*1957 – Marie-Christine Koundja, Chadian author and diplomat
*1958 – Maurice LaMarche, Canadian voice actor and stand-up comedian
* 1958 – Joey Sindelar, American golfer
*
1959
Events
January
* January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance.
* January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...
– Martina Cole, English television host and author
*1960 – Laurie Graham, Canadian skier
* 1960 – Bill Johnson (skier), Bill Johnson, American skier (died 2016)
*
1961
Events January
* January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union.
* January 3
** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
– Mike Thackwell, New Zealand racing driver
* 1961 – Doug Wickenheiser, Canadian-American ice hockey player (died 1999)
*1962 – Mark Begich, American politician
* 1962 – MC Hammer, American rapper and actor
* 1962 – Gary Stevens (footballer, born 1962), Gary Stevens, English international footballer and manager
*1963 – Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Mongolian journalist and politician, 4th President of Mongolia
* 1963 – Panagiotis Tsalouchidis, Greek footballer
*1964 – Vlado Bozinovski, Macedonian-Australian footballer and manager
* 1964 – Tracy Chapman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
*
1965
Events January–February
* January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years.
* January 20
** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...
– Piers Morgan, English journalist and talk show host
*1966 – Efstratios Grivas, Greek chess player and author
* 1966 – Dmitry Volkov (swimmer), Dmitry Volkov, Russian swimmer (died 2025)
* 1966 – Leonid Voloshin, Russian triple jumper
*
1967
Events January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...
– Christopher Bowman, American figure skater and coach (died 2008)
* 1967 – Richard Hutten, Dutch furniture designer
* 1967 – Julie Richardson, New Zealand tennis player
*1968 – Celine Dion, Canadian singer-songwriter
*1969 – Troy Bayliss, Australian motorcycle racer
*1970 – Tobias Hill, English poet and author (died 2023)
* 1970 – Sylvain Charlebois, Canadian food/agriculture researcher and author
*1971 – Mari Holden, American cyclist
* 1971 – Mark Consuelos, American actor and television personality
*
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...
– Mili Avital, Israeli-American actress
* 1972 – Emerson Thome, Brazilian footballer and scout
* 1972 – Karel Poborský, Czech footballer
*1973 – DJ AM, Adam Goldstein, American keyboard player, DJ, and producer (died 2009)
* 1973 – Jan Koller, Czech footballer
* 1973 – Kareem Streete-Thompson, Caymanian-American long jumper
*1974 – Martin Love, Australian cricketer
*1975 – Paul Griffen, New Zealand-Italian rugby player
*
1976
Events January
* January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 18 – Full diplomatic ...
– Ty Conklin, American ice hockey player
* 1976 – Obadele Thompson, Barbadian sprinter
* 1976 – Troels Lund Poulsen, Danish politician, Minister for Education of Denmark
*1977 – Abhishek Chaubey, Indian director and screenwriter
*1978 – Paweł Czapiewski, Polish runner
* 1978 – Chris Paterson, Scottish rugby player and coach
* 1978 – Bok van Blerk, South African singer-songwriter and actor
*
1979
Events
January
* January 1
** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...
– Norah Jones, American singer-songwriter and pianist
* 1979 – Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian footballer
*1980 – Katrine Lunde, Norwegian handball goalkeeper
* 1980 – Kristine Lunde-Borgersen, Norwegian handball player
* 1980 – Ricardo Osorio, Mexican footballer
*1981 – Jammal Brown, American football player
* 1981 – Andrea Masi, Italian rugby player
*1982 – Mark Hudson (footballer, born 1982), Mark Hudson, English footballer
* 1982 – Philippe Mexès, French footballer
* 1982 – Javier Portillo (Spanish footballer), Javier Portillo, Spanish footballer
* 1982 – Jason Dohring, American actor
*1983 – Jérémie Aliadière, French footballer
*1984 – Mario Ančić, Croatian tennis player
* 1984 – Samantha Stosur, Australian tennis player
*1985 – Giacomo Ricci, Italian racing driver
*1986 – Sergio Ramos, Spanish footballer
*1987 – Trent Barreta, American wrestler
* 1987 – Calum Elliot, Scottish footballer
* 1987 – Kwok Kin Pong, Hong Kong footballer
* 1987 – Marc-Édouard Vlasic, Canadian ice hockey player
*1988 – Will Matthews (rugby league), Will Matthews, Australian rugby league player
* 1988 – Thanasis Papazoglou, Greek footballer
* 1988 – Richard Sherman (American football), Richard Sherman, American football player
* 1988 – Larisa Yurkiw, Canadian alpine skier
*1989 – Chris Sale, American baseball player
* 1989 – João Sousa, Portuguese tennis player
*1990 – Thomas Rhett, American country music singer and songwriter
* 1990 – Michal Březina, Czech figure skater
*1991 – NF (rapper), NF, American rapper
*1992 – Palak Muchhal, Indian playback singer
*1993 – Anitta (singer), Anitta, Brazilian singer and entertainer
*1994 – Alex Bregman, American baseball player
* 1994 – Jetro Willems, Dutch footballer
*1995 – Zay Jones, American football player
*1996 – Ryan Noda, American baseball player
*1997 – Cha Eun-woo, South Korean singer, actor, and model
*1998 – Kalyn Ponga, Australian rugby league player
*2000 – Colton Herta, American race car driver
*2001 – Anastasia Potapova, Russian tennis player
Deaths
Pre-1600
*AD 116, 116 – Quirinus of Neuss, Roman martyr and saint
*AD 365, 365 – Emperor Ai of Jin, Ai of Jin, emperor of the Jin dynasty (265–420), Jin Dynasty (born 341)
* 943 – Li Bian, emperor of Southern Tang (born 889)
* 987 – Arnulf II, Count of Flanders (born 960)
*1180 – Al-Mustadi, Caliph (born 1142)
*1202 – Joachim of Fiore, Italian mystic and theologian (born 1135)
*1465 – Isabella of Clermont, queen consort of Naples (born c. 1424)
*1472 – Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy (born 1435)
*1486 – Thomas Bourchier (cardinal), Thomas Bourchier, English cardinal (born 1404)
*1526 – Konrad Mutian, German humanist (born 1471)
*1540 – Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg, German cardinal (born 1469)
*1559 – Adam Ries, German mathematician and academic (born 1492)
*1587 – Ralph Sadler, English politician, Secretary of State (England), Secretary of State for England (born 1507)
1601–1900
*1662 – François le Métel de Boisrobert, French poet and playwright (born 1592)
*1689 – Kazimierz Łyszczyński, Polish atheist and philosopher (born 1634)
*1707 – Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, French general and engineer (born 1633)
*1764 – Pietro Locatelli, Italian violinist and composer (born 1695)
*1783 – William Hunter (anatomist), William Hunter, Scottish anatomist and physician (born 1718)
*1804 – Victor-François, 2nd duc de Broglie, French general and politician, Secretary of State for War (France), French Secretary of State for War (born 1718)
*1806 – Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (born 1757)
*1830 – Louis I, Grand Duke of Baden (born 1763)
*1840 – Beau Brummell, English-French fashion designer (born 1778)
*
1842
Events
January–March
* January 6– 13 – First Anglo-Afghan War – Massacre of Elphinstone's army (Battle of Gandamak): British East India Company troops are destroyed by Afghan forces on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad, Afghan ...
– Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, French painter (born 1755)
*1864 – Louis Schindelmeisser, German clarinet player, composer, and conductor (born 1811)
*1873 – Bénédict Morel, Austrian-French psychiatrist and physician (born 1809)
*1874 – Carl Julian (von) Graba, German lawyer and ornithologist who visited and studied the Faroe Islands (born 1799)
*1879 – Thomas Couture, French painter and educator (born 1815)
*1886 – Joseph-Alfred Mousseau, Canadian judge and politician, 6th Premier of Quebec (born 1838)
*1896 – Charilaos Trikoupis, Greek politician, 55th Prime Minister of Greece (born 1832)
1901–present
*
1912
This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15.
In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...
– Karl May, German author (born 1842)
*1925 – Rudolf Steiner, Austrian philosopher and author (born 1861)
*1935 – Romanos Melikian, Armenian composer (born 1883)
*1936 – Conchita Supervía, Spanish soprano and actress (born 1895)
*
1940
A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280.
Events
Below, events related to World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
*Janu ...
– Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet Scottish soldier and politician, Secretary of State for Scotland (born 1876)
*1943 – Jan Bytnar, Polish lieutenant; WWII resistance fighter (born 1921)
* 1943 – Maciej Aleksy Dawidowski, Polish sergeant; WWII resistance fighter (born 1920)
*
1945
1945 marked the end of World War II, the fall of Nazi Germany, and the Empire of Japan. It is also the year concentration camps were liberated and the only year in which atomic weapons have been used in combat.
Events
World War II will be ...
– Béla Balogh, Hungarian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1885)
*
1949
Events
January
* January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2025
* January 2 – Luis ...
– Friedrich Bergius, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1884)
* 1949 – Dattaram Hindlekar, Indian cricketer (born 1909)
*1950 – Léon Blum, French lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of France (born 1872)
*1952 – Nikos Beloyannis, Greek resistance leader and politician (born 1915)
* 1952 – Jigme Wangchuck, Bhutanese king (born 1905)
*1955 – Harl McDonald, American pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1899)
*1956 – Edmund Clerihew Bentley, English author and poet (born 1875)
*
1959
Events
January
* January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance.
* January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...
– Daniil Andreyev, Russian mystic and poet (born 1906)
* 1959 – John Auden, English solicitor, deputy coroner and a territorial soldier (born 1894)
* 1959 – Riccardo Zanella, Italian politician (born 1875)
*1960 – Joseph Haas, German composer and educator (born 1879)
*
1961
Events January
* January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union.
* January 3
** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
– Philibert Jacques Melotte, English astronomer (born 1880)
*1963 – Aleksandr Gauk, Russian conductor and composer (born 1893)
*1964 – Nella Larsen, American nurse and author (born 1891)
*
1965
Events January–February
* January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years.
* January 20
** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...
– Philip Showalter Hench, American physician and academic, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1896)
*1966 – Newbold Morris, American lawyer and politician (born 1902)
* 1966 – Maxfield Parrish, American painter and illustrator (born 1870)
* 1966 – Erwin Piscator, German director and producer (born 1893)
*
1967
Events January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...
– Frank Thorpe (public servant), Frank Thorpe, Australian public servant (born 1885)
* 1967 – Jean Toomer, American poet and novelist (born 1894)
*1969 – Lucien Bianchi, Belgian racing driver (born 1934)
*1970 – Heinrich Brüning, German economist and politician, Chancellor of Germany (born 1885)
*
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...
– Mahir Çayan, Turkish politician (born 1946)
* 1972 – Gabriel Heatter, American radio commentator (born 1890)
*1973 – Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, Scottish pilot and politician (born 1903)
* 1973 – Yves Giraud-Cabantous, French racing driver (born 1904)
*1975 – Peter Bamm, German journalist and author (born 1897)
*1977 – Levko Revutsky, Ukrainian composer and educator (born 1889)
*1978 – George Paine (cricketer), George Paine, English cricketer and coach (born 1908)
* 1978 – Memduh Tağmaç, Turkish general (born 1904)
*
1979
Events
January
* January 1
** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...
–
Airey Neave
Lieutenant Colonel Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave, () (23 January 1916 – 30 March 1979) was a British soldier, lawyer and Member of Parliament (MP) from 1953 until his assassination in 1979.
During the Second World War he was the first ...
, English colonel, lawyer, and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (born 1916)
* 1979 – Ray Ventura (pianist), Ray Ventura, French pianist and bandleader (born 1908)
*1981 – DeWitt Wallace, American publisher, co-founded ''Reader's Digest'' (born 1889)
*1984 – Karl Rahner, German-Austrian priest and theologian (born 1904)
*1985 – Harold Peary, American actor and singer (born 1908)
*1986 – James Cagney, American actor and dancer (born 1899)
* 1986 – John Ciardi, American poet and etymologist (born 1916)
*1988 – Edgar Faure, French historian and politician, Prime Minister of France (born 1908)
*1990 – Harry Bridges, Australian-born American activist and trade union leader (born 1901)
*1991 – Athanasios Ragazos, Greek long-distance runner (born 1913)
*1992 – Manolis Andronikos, Greek archaeologist and academic (born 1919)
*1993 – S. M. Pandit, Indian painter (born 1916)
* 1993 – Richard Diebenkorn, American painter (born 1922)
*1995 – Rozelle Claxton, American pianist (born 1913)
* 1995 – Tony Lock, English-Australian cricketer and coach (born 1929)
* 1995 – Paul A. Rothchild, American record producer (born 1935)
*1996 – Hugh Falkus, English pilot and author (born 1917)
* 1996 – Ryoei Saito, Japanese businessman (born 1916)
*2000 – Rudolf Kirchschläger, Austrian judge and politician, 8th President of Austria (born 1915)
*2002 – Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother of the United Kingdom (born 1900)
* 2002 – Anand Bakshi, Indian poet and lyricist (born 1930)
*2003 – Michael Jeter, American actor (born 1952)
* 2003 – Valentin Pavlov, Russian banker and politician, 11th Prime Minister of the Soviet Union (born 1937)
*2004 – Alistair Cooke, English-American journalist and author (born 1908)
* 2004 – Michael King (historian), Michael King, New Zealand historian and author (born 1945)
* 2004 – Timi Yuro, American singer and songwriter (born 1940)
*2005 – Robert Creeley, American novelist, essayist, and poet (born 1926)
* 2005 – Milton Green, American hurdler and soldier (born 1913)
* 2005 – Fred Korematsu, American political activist (born 1919)
* 2005 – Chrysanthos Theodoridis, Greek singer and songwriter (born 1934)
* 2005 – O. V. Vijayan, Indian author and illustrator (born 1930)
* 2005 – Mitch Hedberg, American stand-up comedian (born 1968)
*2006 – Red Hickey, American football player and coach (born 1917)
* 2006 – John McGahern, Irish author and educator (born 1934)
*2007 – John Roberts (Canadian politician), John Roberts, Canadian political scientist, academic, and politician, 46th Secretary of State for Canada (born 1933)
*2008 – Roland Fraïssé, French mathematical logician (born 1920)
* 2008 – David Leslie (racing driver), David Leslie, Scottish racing driver (born 1953)
* 2008 – Richard Lloyd (racing driver), Richard Lloyd, English racing driver (born 1945)
* 2008 – Dith Pran, Cambodian-American photographer and journalist (born 1942)
*2010 – Jaime Escalante, Bolivian-American educator (born 1930)
* 2010 – Morris R. Jeppson, American lieutenant and physicist (born 1922)
* 2010 – Martin Sandberger, German SS officer (born 1911)
*2012 – Janet Anderson Perkin, Canadian baseball player and curler (born 1921)
* 2012 – Aquila Berlas Kiani, Indian-Canadian sociologist and academic (born 1921)
* 2012 – Francesco Mancini (footballer, born 1968), Francesco Mancini, Italian footballer and coach (born 1968)
* 2012 – Granville Semmes, American businessman, founded 1-800-Flowers (born 1928)
* 2012 – Leonid Shebarshin, Russian KGB officer (born 1935)
*2013 – Daniel Hoffman, American poet and academic (born 1923)
* 2013 – Bobby Parks, American basketball player and coach (born 1962)
* 2013 – Phil Ramone, South African-American songwriter and producer, co-founded A & R Recording (born 1934)
* 2013 – Edith Schaeffer, Chinese-Swiss religious leader and author, co-founded L'Abri (born 1914)
* 2013 – Bob Turley, American baseball player and coach (born 1930)
*2014 – Kate O'Mara, English actress (born 1939)
*2014 – Alice Raftary, American educator of blind adults (born 1927)
*2015 – Helmut Dietl, German director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1944)
* 2015 – Roger Slifer, American author, illustrator, screenwriter, and producer (born 1954)
* 2015 – Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld, Dutch astronomer and academic (born 1921)
*2018 – Bill Maynard, English actor (born 1928)
*2020 – Manolis Glezos, Greek left-wing politician, journalist, author, and folk hero (born 1922)
* 2020 – Bill Withers, American singer-songwriter (born 1938)
*2021 – G. Gordon Liddy, chief operative in the Watergate scandal (born 1930)
* 2021 – Myra Frances, British actress (born 1942)
*2023 – Doug Mulray, Australian radio and television host (born 1951)
*2024 – Tim McGovern, American visual effects artist (born 1955)
*2024 – Chance Perdomo, British-American actor (born 1996)
Holidays and observances
*Christian feast day:
**Blessed Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy
**Blessed Maria Restituta Kafka
**John Climacus
**Mamertinus of Auxerre
**Quirinus of Neuss
**Thomas Son Chasuhn, Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy (part of The Korean Martyrs)
**Tola of Clonard
**March 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
*
Land Day (Palestine (region), Palestine)
*National Doctors' Day (United States)
*Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day (Trinidad and Tobago)
*School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain)
References
External links
BBC: On This Day*
Historical Events on March 30
{{months
Days of March