On This Day — January 5

🕰️ Notable Events on January 5

• 2014 — A launch of the communication satellite GSAT-14 aboard the GSLV MK.II D5 marks the first successful flight of an Indian cryogenic engine. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Eris, the most massive and second-largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System, is discovered by the team of Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Tamil politician Kumar Ponnambalam is shot dead in Colombo. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — The oil tanker MV Braer runs aground on the coast of the Shetland Islands, spilling 84,700 tons of crude oil. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Georgian forces enter Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, Georgia, opening the 1991-92 South Ossetia War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — The United States Embassy to Somalia in Mogadishu is evacuated by helicopter airlift days after violence enveloped Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — The Khmer Rouge proclaim the Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — The Troubles: Gunmen shoot dead ten Protestant civilians after stopping their minibus at Kingsmill in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK. Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, killing twelve people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Warmest reliably measured temperature below the Antarctic Circle of +59 °F (+15 °C) recorded at Vanda Station Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — United States President Richard Nixon orders the development of a Space Shuttle program. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — The 7.1 Mw Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Between 10,000-15,621 were killed and 26,783 were injured. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Alexander Dubček comes to power; "Prague Spring" begins in Czechoslovakia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — In a speech given to the United States Congress, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces the establishment of what will later be called the Eisenhower Doctrine. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — The play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is first performed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — In the Sverdlovsk air disaster, all 19 of those on board were killed, including almost the entire national ice hockey team (VVS Moscow) of the Soviet Air Force - 11 players, as well as a team doctor and a masseur. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — United States President Harry S. Truman unveils his Fair Deal program. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — The Daily Mail becomes the first transoceanic newspaper. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay. Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — The German Workers' Party, which would become the Nazi Party, is founded. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — The Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday, but entitlement to the higher was subject to various restrictions.[1] Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — First Balkan War: During the Battle of Lemnos, Greek admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis forces the Turkish fleet to retreat to its base within the Dardanelles, from which it did not venture for the rest of the war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — The Prague Party Conference takes place. Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Kappa Alpha Psi, the world's third oldest and largest black fraternity, is founded at Indiana University. Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Dreyfus affair: French army officer Alfred Dreyfus is stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. Wikipedia ↗
• 1882 — Charles J. Guiteau is found guilty of assassinating US President James A. Garfield, and is sentenced to death by hanging. Wikipedia ↗
• 1875 — The Palais Garnier, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is inaugurated in Paris. Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Territory with the United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1781 — American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold. Wikipedia ↗
• 1757 — Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering, the traditional and gruesome form of capital punishment used for regicides. Wikipedia ↗
• 1675 — Battle of Colmar: The French army beats Brandenburg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1554 — A great fire occurs in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1527 — Felix Manz, a leader of the Anabaptist congregation in Zürich, Switzerland, is executed by drowning. Wikipedia ↗
• 1500 — Duke Ludovico Sforza conquers Milan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1477 — Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1066 — Edward the Confessor dies childless, sparking a succession crisis that will eventually lead to the Norman conquest of England. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on January 5

• 1994 — Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Tyrone Phillips, Australian-Fijian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Denis Alibec, Romanian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Soner Aydoğdu, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Eric Fisher, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Daniel Pacheco, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Mark Nicholls, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Krisztián Németh, Hungarian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Azizulhasni Awang, Malaysian track cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Luke Daniels, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Mario de Luna, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Diego Vera, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Derrick Atkins, Bahamian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Diego Gómez, Argentine-French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Matt Ballin, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Takashi Aizawa, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Benoît Vaugrenard, French cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Luke Bailey, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Brad Meyers, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Sebastian Deisler, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Kyle Calder, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Giuseppe Gibilisco, Italian pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — January Jones, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Franck Montagny, French race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Gavin Lester, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Diego Tristán, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Matt Wachter, American bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Bradley Cooper, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Warrick Dunn, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Mike Grier, American ice hockey player and scout Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Iwan Thomas, Welsh sprinter and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Philip Davies, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Sakis Rouvas, Greek singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Stian Carstensen, Norwegian banjo player and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Marilyn Manson, American singer-songwriter, actor, and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Shaun Micheel, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Carrie Ann Inaba, American actress, dancer, and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Joé Juneau, Canadian ice hockey player and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Joe Flanigan, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Kate Schellenbach, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Steve Tuttle, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ricky Paull Goldin, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Vinnie Jones, English footballer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Patrik Sjöberg, Swedish high jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Grant Young, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Jeff Fassero, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Suzy Amis, American actress and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Danny Jackson, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Andrew Rawnsley, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Iris DeMent, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Rachel Hardiman, Irish cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Steve Jones, English captain and pilot Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Glenn Strömberg, Swedish footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Clancy Brown, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Nancy Delahunt, Canadian curler Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Ron Kittle, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Kevin Hastings, Australian rugby league player and trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German academic and politician, 14th Vice-Chancellor of Germany Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Mamata Banerjee, Indian lawyer and politician, Chief Minister of West Bengal Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Jacob Hård, Swedish journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Mohsen Sazegara, Iranian journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Alex English, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — László Krasznahorkai, Hungarian author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Pamela Sue Martin, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Mike Rann, English-Australian journalist and politician, 44th Premier of South Australia Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — George Tenet, American civil servant and academic, 18th Director of Central Intelligence Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Uli Hoeneß, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Ioan P. Culianu, Romanian historian, philosopher, and author (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Peter Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith, English lawyer and politician, Attorney General for England and Wales Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — John Manley, Canadian lawyer and politician, 8th Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Charlie Richmond, Canadian sound designer and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Chris Stein, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Krzysztof Wielicki, Polish mountaineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Ted Lange, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Mike DeWine, American lawyer and politician, 59th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Diane Keaton, American actress, director, and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Chuck McKinley, American tennis player (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Roger Spottiswoode, Canadian-English director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Sam Wyche, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Ed Rendell, American lieutenant and politician, 45th Governor of Pennsylvania Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Mary Gaudron, Australian lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Murtaz Khurtsilava, Georgian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Maurizio Pollini, Italian pianist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Charlie Rose, American journalist and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Bob Cunis, New Zealand cricketer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Chuck McKinley, American tennis player (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese animator, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Indian cricketer and coach (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Athol Guy, Australian singer-songwriter and bassist Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — M. E. H. Maharoof, Sri Lankan politician (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Juan Carlos I of Spain Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Kenyan author and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Florence King, American journalist and memoirist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Terry Lineen, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Phil Ramone, South African-American songwriter and producer, co-founded A & R Recording (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Umberto Eco, Italian novelist, literary critic, and philosopher (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Chuck Noll, American football player and coach (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Alvin Ailey, American dancer and choreographer, founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Alfred Brendel, Austrian pianist, poet, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Robert Duvall, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Al Masini, American screenwriter and producer (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Wilbert Harrison, American R&B singer, pianist, guitarist and harmonica player (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Aulis Rytkönen, Finnish footballer and manager (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Imtiaz Ahmed, Pakistani cricketer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistani lawyer and politician, 4th President of Pakistan (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Walter Mondale, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 42nd Vice President of the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, American guru and author, founded Iraivan Temple (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Veikko Karvonen, Finnish runner (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — W. D. Snodgrass, American poet (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Hosea Williams, American businessman and activist (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Sam Phillips, American radio host and producer, founded Sun Records (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Anthony Synnot, Australian admiral (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Swiss author and playwright (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Luxembourgish soldier and aristocrat Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — John H. Reed, American politician and diplomat, 67th Governor of Maine (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Italian pianist and educator (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Hector Abhayavardhana, Sri Lankan theorist and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Severino Gazzelloni, Italian flute player (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Herb Peterson, American businessman (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Lucienne Day, English textile designer (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Francis L. Kellogg, American businessman and diplomat (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Wieland Wagner, German director and producer (d. 1966) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Jane Wyman, American actress (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Arthur H. Robinson, Canadian geographer and cartographer (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Nicolas de Staël, Russian-French painter and illustrator (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — George Reeves, American actor and director (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Nejat Eczacıbaşı, Turkish-American chemist, businessman, and philanthropist, founded Eczacıbaşı (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Jean-Pierre Aumont, French actor and screenwriter (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Hugh Brannum, American actor and singer (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Jack Lovelock, New Zealand runner and journalist (d. 1949) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Lucienne Bloch, Swiss-American sculptor, painter, and photographer (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Stephen Cole Kleene, American mathematician and computer scientist (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — George Dolenz, Italian-American actor (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Kathleen Kenyon, English archaeologist and academic (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Jeane Dixon, American astrologer and psychic (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Erika Morini, Austrian violinist (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Harold Gatty, Australian pilot and navigator (d. 1957) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Hubert Beuve-Méry, French journalist (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Stella Gibbons, English journalist and author (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Yves Tanguy, French-American painter (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — Kiyoshi Miki, Japanese philosopher and author (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Alberto Massimino, Italian automotive engineer (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Paramahansa Yogananda, Indian-American guru and philosopher (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Agnes von Kurowsky, American nurse (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1886 — Markus Reiner, Israeli physicist and engineer (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Humbert Wolfe, Italian-English poet and civil servant (d. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 1882 — Herbert Bayard Swope, American journalist (d. 1958) Wikipedia ↗
• 1882 — Dorothy Levitt, English racing driver and journalist (d. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Pablo Gargallo, Spanish sculptor and painter (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 1880 — Nikolai Medtner, Russian pianist and composer (d. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Hans Eppinger, Austrian physician and academic (d. 1946) Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Marcel Tournier, French harp player and composer (d. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — Konrad Adenauer, German lawyer and politician, Chancellor of West Germany (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — Joseph Erlanger, American physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — Frederick Converse, American composer and academic (d. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — Dimitrios Gounaris, Greek lawyer and politician, 94th Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Julio Garavito Armero, Colombian astronomer, mathematician, and engineer (d. 1920) Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Ban Johnson, American businessman, founded the Western League (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — Bob Caruthers, American baseball player and manager (d. 1911) Wikipedia ↗
• 1855 — King Camp Gillette, American businessman, founded the Gillette Company (d. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — Rudolf Christoph Eucken, German philosopher and author, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1926) Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — Mariam Baouardy, Syrian Roman Catholic nun; later canonized (d. 1878) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on January 5 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on January 5

🏛️ Public Holidays

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