On This Day — January 19

🕰️ Notable Events on January 19

• 2014 — A bomb attack on an army convoy in the city of Bannu kills at least 26 soldiers and injures 38 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — The Hong Kong-based file-sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI. Wikipedia ↗
• 2007 — Turkish-Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink is assassinated in front of his newspaper's Istanbul office by 17-year-old Turkish ultra-nationalist Ogün Samast. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — British Aerospace agrees to acquire the defence subsidiary of the General Electric Company plc, forming BAE Systems in November 1999. Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — The barge North Cape oil spill occurs as an engine fire forces the tugboat Scandia ashore on Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — After being struck by lightning the crew of Bristow Flight 56C are forced to ditch. All 18 aboard are later rescued. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Czech Republic and Slovakia join the United Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Gulf War: Iraq fires a second Scud missile into Israel, causing 15 injuries. Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — The first IBM PC computer virus is released into the wild. A boot sector virus dubbed (c)Brain, it was created by the Farooq Alvi Brothers in Lahore, Pakistan, reportedly to deter unauthorized copying of the software they had written. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie is arrested in Bolivia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — The Apple Lisa, the first commercial personal computer from Apple Inc. to have a graphical user interface and a computer mouse, is announced. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Iran hostage crisis: United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity. Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — The last Volkswagen Beetle made in Germany leaves VW's plant in Emden. Beetle production in Latin America continues until 2003. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — President Gerald Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (a.k.a. "Tokyo Rose"). Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — China gain control over all the Paracel Islands after a military engagement between the naval forces of the People's Republic of China and Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Student Jan Palach dies after setting himself on fire three days earlier in Prague's Wenceslas Square to protest about the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968. His funeral turns into another major protest. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Japan and the United States sign the US-Japan Mutual Security Treaty Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Almost 72% of all television sets in the United States are tuned into I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — General Douglas MacArthur establishes the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo to try Japanese war criminals. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Soviet forces liberate the Łódź Ghetto. Of more than 200,000 inhabitants in 1940, less than 900 had survived the Nazi occupation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: The Japanese conquest of Burma begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: The Greek Triton (Y-5) sinks the Italian submarine Neghelli in Otranto. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — You Nazty Spy!, the very first Hollywood film of any kind to satirize Adolf Hitler and the Nazis premieres, starring The Three Stooges, with Moe Howard as the character "Moe Hailstone" satirizing Hitler. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes, 25 seconds. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — The United States Senate votes against joining the League of Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Seventy-three people are killed and 400 injured in an explosion in a munitions plant in London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Georges Claude patents the neon discharge tube for use in advertising. Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — World War I: German zeppelins bomb the towns of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn in the United Kingdom killing at least 20 people, in the first major aerial bombardment of a civilian target. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1883 — The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires, built by Thomas Edison, begins service at Roselle, New Jersey. Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — Franco-Prussian War: In the Siege of Paris, Prussia wins the Battle of St. Quentin. Meanwhile, the French attempt to break the siege in the Battle of Buzenval will end unsuccessfully the following day. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — American Civil War: Battle of Mill Springs: The Confederacy suffers its first significant defeat in the conflict. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: Georgia joins South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in declaring secession from the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1853 — Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore receives its premiere performance in Rome. Wikipedia ↗
• 1839 — The British East India Company captures Aden. Wikipedia ↗
• 1829 — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy receives its premiere performance. Wikipedia ↗
• 1817 — An army of 5,423 soldiers, led by General José de San Martín, crosses the Andes from Argentina to liberate Chile and then Peru. Wikipedia ↗
• 1812 — Peninsular War: After a ten-day siege, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, orders British soldiers of the Light and third divisions to storm Ciudad Rodrigo. Wikipedia ↗
• 1806 — Britain occupies the Dutch Cape Colony after the Battle of Blaauwberg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1795 — The Batavian Republic is proclaimed in the Netherlands, bringing to an end the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1788 — The second group of ships of the First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay. Wikipedia ↗
• 1764 — John Wilkes is expelled from the British House of Commons for seditious libel. Wikipedia ↗
• 1661 — Thomas Venner is hanged, drawn and quartered in London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1607 — San Agustin Church in Manila is officially completed; it is the oldest church still standing in the Philippines. Wikipedia ↗
• 1520 — Sten Sture the Younger, the Regent of Sweden, is mortally wounded at the Battle of Bogesund. Wikipedia ↗
• 1511 — Mirandola surrenders to the French. Wikipedia ↗
• 1419 — Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England, completing his reconquest of Normandy. Wikipedia ↗
• 649 — Conquest of Kucha: The forces of Kucha surrender after a forty-day siege led by Tang dynasty general Ashina She'er, establishing Tang control over the northern Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. Wikipedia ↗
• 639 — Clovis II, king of Neustria and Burgundy, is crowned. Wikipedia ↗
• 379 — Emperor Gratian elevates Flavius Theodosius at Sirmium to Augustus, and gives him authority over all the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on January 19

• 1994 — Matthias Ginter, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Erick Torres Padilla, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Shawn Johnson, American gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Logan Lerman, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Corinna Harrer, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Petra Martić, Croatian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Tatiana Búa, Argentine tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Kerry-Anne Tomlinson, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — JaVale McGee, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Tyler Breeze, Canadian wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Edgar Manucharyan, Armenian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Angus Monfries, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Claudio Marchisio, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Oleksandr Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Moussa Sow, Senegalese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jake Allen, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Pascal Behrenbruch, German decathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Benny Feilhaber, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Esteban Guerrieri, Argentinian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Rika Ishikawa, Japanese singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Elliott Ward, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Nikulin, Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Fabio Catacchini, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Karun Chandhok, Indian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jimmy Kébé, Malian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Thomas Vanek, Austrian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Hikaru Utada, American-Japanese singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Mike Komisarek, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Jodie Sweetin, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Shane Tronc, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Kim Yoo-suk, South Korean pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Paolo Bugia, Filipino basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Asier del Horno, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Lucho González, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Jenson Button, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Pasha Kovalev, Russian-American dancer and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Luke Macfarlane, Canadian-American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Arvydas Macijauskas, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Michael Vandort, Sri Lankan cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Wiley, English rapper and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Svetlana Khorkina, Russian gymnast and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Josu Sarriegi, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Benjamin Ayres, Canadian actor, director, and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Natale Gonnella, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tarso Marques, Brazilian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Natalie Cook, Australian volleyball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Noah Georgeson, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Zdeňka Málková, Czech tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Dainius Adomaitis, Lithuanian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Frank Caliendo, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ian Laperrière, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Jaime Moreno, Bolivian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Antero Manninen, Finnish cellist Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Yevgeny Sadovyi, Russian swimmer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Jon Fisher, American businessman and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Ron Killings, American wrestler and rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Troy Wilson, Australian footballer and race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Sergei Zjukin, Estonian chess player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Yoon Hae-young, South Korean actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Tyrone Wheatley, American football player and college football coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Phil Nevin, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Shawn Wayans, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — John Wozniak, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Steffen Freund, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Kathleen Smet, Belgian triathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Udo Suzuki, Japanese comedian and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Edwidge Danticat, Haitian-American novelist and short story writer. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Luc Longley, Australian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Predrag Mijatović, Montenegrin footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Junior Seau, American football player (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Casey Sherman, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Steve Staunton, Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Whitfield Crane, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Floris Jan Bovelander, Dutch field hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Yukiko Duke, Swedish journalist and translator Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Sylvain Côté, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Stefan Edberg, Swedish tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Lena Philipsson, Swedish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Janine Antoni, Bahamian sculptor and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Ricardo Arjona, Guatemalan singer-songwriter and basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Michael Adams, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Martin Bashir, English journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — John Bercow, English politician, Speaker of the House of Commons Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Hans Daams, Dutch cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Chris Sabo, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Jeff Van Gundy, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — William Ragsdale, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Wayne Hemingway, English fashion designer, co-founded Red or Dead Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Danese Cooper, American computer scientist and programmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Jeff Pilson, American bass player, songwriter, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Thomas Kinkade, American painter (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Ottis Anderson, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Roger Ashton-Griffiths, English actor, screenwriter and film director Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rican public servant and politician, 22nd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Carman, American singer-songwriter, actor, and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Susan Solomon, American atmospheric chemist Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Tony Mansfield, English singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Paul Rodriguez, Mexican-American comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Katey Sagal, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Cindy Sherman, American photographer and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Clifford Tabin, American geneticist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Desi Arnaz, Jr., American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Richard Legendre, Canadian tennis player and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Wayne Schimmelbusch, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Dewey Bunnell, British-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Nadiuska, German television actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Bruce Jay Nelson, American computer scientist (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Michel Plante, Canadian ice hockey left winger Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Beau Weaver, American male voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Sébastien Dhavernas, Canadian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Jon Matlack, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Arend Langenberg, Dutch voice actor and radio host (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Robert Palmer, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Nancy Lynch, American computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Frank McKenna, Canadian politician and diplomat, 27th Premier of New Brunswick Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Mal Reilly, English rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Frank Aarebrot, Norwegian political scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Paula Deen, American chef and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Rod Evans, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Julian Barnes, English novelist, short story writer, essayist, and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Dolly Parton, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Trevor Williams, English singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Shelley Fabares, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Thom Mayne, American architect and academic, designed the San Francisco Federal Building and Phare Tower Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Dan Reeves, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Larry Clark, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Janis Joplin, American singer-songwriter (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Michael Crawford, English actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Paul-Eerik Rummo, Estonian poet and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Colin Gunton, English theologian and academic (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Pat Patterson, Canadian wrestler, trainer, and referee Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Paolo Borsellino, Italian lawyer and judge (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Mike Reid, English comedian, actor, and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Phil Everly, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Everly Brothers) (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — John Lions, Australian computer scientist and academic (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Ziaur Rahman, Bangladeshi general and politician, 7th President of Bangladesh (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, American singer, harmonica player, and drummer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Fred J. Lincoln, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Johnny O'Keefe, Australian singer-songwriter (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — George Coyne, American priest, astronomer, and theologian Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Russ Hamilton, English singer-songwriter (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Richard Lester, American-English director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Harry Lonsdale, American chemist, businessman, and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Robert MacNeil, Canadian-American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Tippi Hedren, American model, actress, and animal rights-welfare activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — John Waite, South African cricketer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Hans Massaquoi, German-American journalist and author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Fritz Weaver, American actor (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on January 19 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on January 19

🏛️ Public Holidays

US: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Also in: Wellington Anniversary Day (NZ)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat