On This Day — January 3

🕰️ Notable Events on January 3

• 2015 — Boko Haram militants raze the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria, starting the 2015 Baga massacre and killing as many as 2,000 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — The first block of the blockchain of the decentralized payment system Bitcoin, called the Genesis block, was established by the creator of the system, Satoshi Nakamoto. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea, resulting in 148 deaths, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian history. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — Israeli forces seize the Palestinian freighter Karine A in the Red Sea, finding 50 tons of weapons. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Final daily Peanuts comic strip. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — The Mars Polar Lander is launched. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — More than seven million people from the former apartheid Homelands receive South African citizenship. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — In Moscow, Russia, George Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, surrenders to American forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Apple Computer is incorporated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — The United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba over the latter's nationalization of American assets. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — The SL-1 nuclear reactor is destroyed by a steam explosion in the only reactor incident in the United States to cause immediate fatalities. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — A protest by agricultural workers in Baixa de Cassanje, Portuguese Angola, turns into a revolt, opening the Angolan War of Independence, the first of the Portuguese Colonial Wars. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — The West Indies Federation is formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch. Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — A fire damages the top part of the Eiffel Tower. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Frances P. Bolton and her son, Oliver from Ohio, become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, is established. Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Proceedings of the U.S. Congress are televised for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Popular Canadian American jockey George Woolf dies in a freak accident during a race; the annual George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is created to honor him. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz is placed in command of all U.S. Naval forces in preparation for planned assaults against Iwo Jima and Okinawa in Japan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Top Ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington is shot down in his Vought F4U Corsair by Captain Masajiro Kawato flying a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — The March of Dimes is established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Minnie D. Craig becomes the first woman elected as Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives, the first woman to hold a Speaker position anywhere in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Martial law is declared in Honduras to stop a revolt by banana workers fired by the United Fruit Company. Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Benito Mussolini announces he is taking dictatorial powers over Italy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — At the Paris Peace Conference, Emir Faisal I of Iraq signs an agreement with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann on the development of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — An Atlantic coast storm sets the lowest confirmed barometric pressure reading for a non-tropical system in the continental United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — A magnitude 7.7 earthquake destroys the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — A gun battle in the East End of London left two dead and sparked a political row over the involvement of then-Home Secretary Winston Churchill. Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — The James Lick telescope at the Lick Observatory, measuring 91 cm in diameter, is used for the first time. It was the largest refracting telescope in the world at the time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Sino-French War: Beginning of the Battle of Núi Bop Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — Battle of Bapaume, a battle in the Franco-Prussian war occurs. Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1868 — Meiji Restoration in Japan: The Tokugawa shogunate is abolished; agents of Satsuma and Chōshū seize power. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Joseph Jenkins Roberts is sworn in as the first president of Liberia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1823 — Stephen F. Austin receives a grant of land in Texas from the government of Mexico. Wikipedia ↗
• 1815 — Austria, the United Kingdom, and France form a secret defensive alliance against Prussia and Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1777 — American General George Washington defeats British General Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton. Wikipedia ↗
• 1749 — Benning Wentworth issues the first of the New Hampshire Grants, leading to the establishment of Vermont. Wikipedia ↗
• 1749 — The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, is published. Wikipedia ↗
• 1653 — By the Coonan Cross Oath, the Eastern Church in India cuts itself off from colonial Portuguese tutelage. Wikipedia ↗
• 1521 — Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on January 3

• 1995 — Kim Seol-hyun, South Korean singer and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Kevin Ware, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Doug McDermott, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Sio Siua Taukeiaho, New Zealand-Tongan rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Sandra Zaniewska, Polish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Jerson Cabral, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Özgür Çek, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Sébastien Faure, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Dane Gagai, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Yoichiro Kakitani, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Adas Juškevičius, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Ben Matulino, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Kōhei Uchimura, Japanese artistic gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Anthony Wordsworth, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Ikechi Anya, Scottish-Nigerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Rodrigo de la Cadena, Mexican singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Jonny Evans, Northern Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Matt Frattin, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — J. R. Hildebrand, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Reto Berra, Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Leonidas Panagopoulos, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Dana Hussain, Iraqi sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Greg Nwokolo, Indonesian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Jessica O'Rourke, American footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Dmitry Starodubtsev, Russian pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Jacob Timpano, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Allan Walker, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Linas Kleiza, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Evan Moore, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Miloš Juhász, Slovak footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Billy Mehmet, English-Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Lee Wan, South Korean actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Katie McGrath, Irish actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Peter Clarke, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Lasse Nilsson, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Park Ji-yoon, South Korean singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Eli Manning, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Bryan Clay, American decathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Angela Ruggiero, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — David Tyree, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Kurt Vile, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Mary Wineberg, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Dimitra Kalentzou, Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Park Sol-mi, South Korean actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Dominic Wood, English comedian and former magician Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Lee Bowyer, English footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — A. J. Burnett, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Mayumi Iizuka, Japanese voice actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Angelos Basinas, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Nicholas Gonzalez, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Thomas Bangalter, French DJ and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Jun Maeda, Japanese businessman, co-founded the Key Company Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Danica McKellar, American actress, writer, and mathematician Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Robert-Jan Derksen, Dutch golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Alessandro Petacchi, Italian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Shin Eun-jung, South Korean actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Dan Harmon, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Janek Kiisman, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Cory Cross, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Lee Il-hwa, South Korean actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Jarmo Lehtinen, Finnish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Michael Schumacher, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Gerda Weissensteiner, Italian luger and bobsledder Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Lorenzo Fertitta, American entrepreneur, casino executive and sports promoter Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Chetan Sharma, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Bruce LaBruce, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Cheryl Miller, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Stewart Hosie, Scottish businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Aamer Malik, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Alex Wheatle, English author and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Darren Daulton, American baseball player (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Gavin Hastings, Scottish rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Russell Spence, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — James J. Greco, American businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Shim Hyung-rae, South Korean actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Dave Dobbyn, New Zealand singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Mel Gibson, American-Australian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Justin Fleming, Australian playwright and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Mohammed Waheed Hassan, Maldivian educator and politician, 5th President of the Maldives Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Esperanza Aguirre, Spanish civil servant and politician, 3rd President of the Community of Madrid Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Gianfranco Fini, Italian journalist and politician, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jim Ross, Professional wrestling commentator Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Linda Dobbs, English lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Gary Nairn, Australian surveyor and politician, 14th Special Minister of State Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Victoria Principal, American actress and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Linda Steiner, American journalist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Ian Nankervis, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Fran Cotton, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Zulema, American singer-songwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — John Paul Jones, English bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Michalis Kritikopoulos, Greek footballer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — David Starkey, English historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Stephen Stills, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — David Atherton, English conductor, co-founded London Sinfonietta Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Raewyn Connell, Australian sociologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Blanche d'Alpuget, Australian author Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Chris von Saltza, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Jarl Alfredius, Swedish journalist (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Van Dyke Parks, American singer-songwriter, musician, composer, author, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — John Marsden, Australian lawyer and activist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — John Thaw, English actor and producer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Malcolm Dick, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Leo de Berardinis, Italian actor and director (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Bernard Blaut, Polish footballer and coach (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Arik Einstein, Israeli singer-songwriter and actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Bobby Hull, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell, English academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — K. Ganeshalingam, Sri Lankan accountant and politician, Mayor of Colombo (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Glen A. Larson, American director, producer, and screenwriter, created Battlestar Galactica (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Michael Layard, English admiral Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Raymond Garneau, Canadian businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Marpessa Dawn, American-French actress, singer, and dancer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Carla Anderson Hills, American lawyer and politician, 5th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Geoffrey Bindman, English lawyer Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Anya Linden, English ballerina Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Anne Stevenson, American-English poet and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Dabney Coleman, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Eeles Landström, Finnish pole vaulter and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Yashawant Dinkar Phadke, Indian historian and activist (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Robert Loggia, American actor and director (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Sergio Leone, Italian director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Ernst Mahle, German-Brazilian composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Gordon Moore, American businessman, co-founder of Intel Corporation Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Michael Barratt, English television host and announcer Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, Malaysian lawyer and politician, 3rd Chief Minister of Sarawak (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — W. Michael Blumenthal, American economist and politician, 64th United States Secretary of the Treasury Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — George Martin, English composer, conductor, and producer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Jill Balcon, English actress (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Otto Beisheim, German businessman and philanthropist, founded Metro AG (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — André Franquin, Belgian author and illustrator (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Nell Rankin, American soprano and educator (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Hank Stram, American football coach and sportscaster (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Bill Travers, English actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Chetan Anand, Indian director and screenwriter (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Siegfried Buback, German lawyer and politician, Attorney General of Germany (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Renato Carosone, Italian singer-songwriter and pianist (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Dorothy Morrison, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Herbie Nichols, American pianist and composer (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Albert Mol, Dutch author and actor (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Vernon A. Walters, American general and diplomat, 17th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Roger Williams Straus, Jr., American journalist and publisher, co-founded Farrar, Straus and Giroux (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Maxene Andrews, American singer (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Betty Furness, American actress and television journalist (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Fred Haas, American golfer (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Jack Levine, American painter and soldier (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Federico Borrell García, Spanish soldier (d. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Renaude Lapointe, Canadian journalist and politician (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Armand Lohikoski, American-Finnish actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — John Sturges, American director and producer (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Frenchy Bordagaray, American baseball player and manager (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Victor Borge, Danish-American pianist and conductor (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Ray Milland, Welsh-American actor and director (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Dante Giacosa, Italian engineer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on January 3 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on January 3

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: New Year holiday (RU) · Новогодние каникулы (RU)