On This Day in History — December 28

Highlights of December 28

• 2018 — Netflix released Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, its first interactive content for adults. Read more
• 2014 — The passenger ferry Norman Atlantic caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, killing an estimated 28 people. Read more
• 2014 — Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashed into the Java Sea after the pilots mishandled a non-critical error in the cockpit, which resulted in all 162 people on board being killed in the crash. Read more
• 2011 — Kurdish–Turkish conflict: Acting on information that Kurdish militants were crossing the border from Iraqi territory, two Turkish F-16 jets fired at a group of villagers, killing 34 people. Read more
• 2009 — A suicide bomber attacked a Shia procession commemorating the day of Ashura in Karachi, Pakistan, causing 43 deaths. Read more
• 2009 — Tibetan dissident filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen was imprisoned for subversion by Chinese authorities after a secret trial. Read more
• 2006 — Somali Civil War: Troops of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government and their Ethiopian allies captured Mogadishu unopposed. Read more
• 1991 — An unidentified body, later identified as Vivianne Ruiz, was found in garbage bags. Read more
• 1967 — American businesswoman Muriel Siebert became the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Read more
• 1964 — Vietnam War: Viet Cong regiments penetrated the eastern perimeters of the village of Bình Giã, beginning the Battle of Binh Gia. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: After eight days of brutal house-to-house fighting, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division captured the Italian town of Ortona (pictured). Read more
• 1925 — The Tokyo Grand Sumo Association became the All Japan Sumo Association at the instigation of Prince-Regent Hirohito, laying the foundations for the world's sole professional sumo association. Read more
• 1918 — At the general election in Ireland, Constance Markievicz was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom as the first female member of Parliament, although she never took her seat. Read more
• 1916 — Up to 1,000 lumber workers initiated a labor strike against the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company in Minnesota, United States, which lasted over a month. Read more
• 1908 — An earthquake registering 7.1 Mw struck near Messina, which, along with the subsequent tsunami, killed at least 75,000 people in southern Italy. Read more
• 1907 — The last confirmed sighting of the now-extinct huia occurred in the Tararua Range on New Zealand's North Island. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Union forces defeated a Confederate cavalry unit in the Van Buren raid, capturing three steamboats, Confederate troops, and various supplies. Read more
• 1767 — Taksin the Great was crowned king of the newly established Thonburi Kingdom at the new capital of Thonburi in present-day Thailand. Read more
• 1612 — Galileo Galilei became the first person to observe the planet Neptune (pictured), although he mistakenly catalogued it as a fixed star. Read more
• 1065 — Westminster Abbey, built by Edward the Confessor as the first Romanesque church in England, was first consecrated. Read more
• 893 — An earthquake destroyed the city of Dvin, Armenia, resulting in about 30,000 casualties. Read more
• 484 — Alaric II (depicted) succeeded his father Euric as King of the Visigoths. Read more

Events

• 2025 — Unrest in the form of mass protests erupt across Iran, the largest uprising in the country since the Iranian Revolution. Read more
• 2019 — A truck bomb is detonated in Mogadishu, Somalia, killing at least 85 people and injuring over 140 more. The militant group Al-Shabaab claims responsibility. Read more
• 2014 — Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Karimata Strait en route from Surabaya to Singapore, killing all 162 people aboard. Read more
• 2014 — Nine people die and another 19 are reported missing, when the MS Norman Atlantic catches fire in the Strait of Otranto, in the Adriatic Sea, in Italian waters. Read more
• 2009 — Forty-three people die in a suicide bombing in Karachi, Pakistan, where Shia Muslims are observing the Day of Ashura. Read more
• 2006 — War in Somalia: The militaries of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government and Ethiopian troops capture Mogadishu unopposed. Read more
• 1989 — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hits Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, killing 13 people. Read more
• 1978 — United Airlines Flight 173 crashes in a residential neighborhood near Portland International Airport, killing 10 people. Read more
• 1973 — The United States Endangered Species Act is signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Read more
• 1972 — The last scheduled day for induction into the military by the Selective Service System. Due to the fact that President Richard Nixon declared this day a national day of mourning due to former President Harry S Truman's death, approximately 300 men were not able to report due to most Federal offices being closed. Since the draft was not resumed in 1973, they were never drafted. Read more
• 1967 — American businesswoman Muriel Siebert becomes the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Read more
• 1958 — "Greatest Game Ever Played": The Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants in the first ever National Football League sudden death overtime game at New York's Yankee Stadium to win the NFL Championship. Read more
• 1956 — Chin Peng, David Marshall and Tunku Abdul Rahman meet in Baling, Malaya to try to resolve the Malayan Emergency situation. Read more
• 1948 — The DC-3 airliner NC16002 disappears 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Miami. Read more
• 1944 — Maurice Richard becomes the first player to score eight points in one game of NHL ice hockey. Read more
• 1943 — Soviet authorities launch Operation Ulussy, beginning the deportation of the Kalmyk nation to Siberia and Central Asia. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: After eight days of brutal house-to-house fighting, the Battle of Ortona concludes with the victory of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division over the German 1st Parachute Division and the capture of the Italian town of Ortona. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: Operation Anthropoid, the plot to assassinate high-ranking Nazi officer Reinhard Heydrich, commences. Read more
• 1918 — Constance Markievicz, while detained in Holloway prison, becomes the first woman to be elected Member of Parliament (MP) to the British House of Commons. Read more
• 1912 — The first municipally owned streetcars take to the streets in San Francisco. Read more
• 1908 — The 7.1 Mw Messina earthquake shakes Southern Italy with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing between about 80,000. Read more
• 1902 — The Syracuse Athletic Club defeat the New York Philadelphians, 5–0, in the first indoor professional football game, which was held at Madison Square Garden. Read more
• 1895 — The Lumière brothers perform for their first paying audience at the Grand Cafe in Boulevard des Capucines. Read more
• 1895 — Wilhelm Röntgen publishes a paper detailing his discovery of a new type of radiation, which later will be known as x-rays. Read more
• 1885 — The Indian National Congress is founded in Bombay Presidency, British India. Read more
• 1879 — Tay Bridge disaster: The central part of the Tay Rail Bridge in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom collapses as a train passes over it, killing 75. Read more
• 1846 — Iowa is admitted as the 29th U.S. state. Read more
• 1836 — South Australia and Adelaide are founded. Read more
• 1836 — Spain recognizes the independence of Mexico with the signing of the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty. Read more
• 1835 — Osceola leads his Seminole warriors in Florida into the Second Seminole War against the United States Army. Read more
• 1832 — John C. Calhoun becomes the first Vice President of the United States to resign. He resigned after being elected Senator from South Carolina. Read more
• 1795 — Construction of Yonge Street, formerly recognized as the longest street in the world, begins in York, Upper Canada (present-day Toronto). Read more
• 1768 — King Taksin's coronation achieved through conquest as a king of Thailand and established Thonburi as a capital. Read more
• 1688 — William III of Orange enters London with a Dutch army during the 1688 invasion of England. Read more
• 1659 — The Marathas defeat the Adilshahi forces in the Battle of Kolhapur. Read more
• 1308 — The reign of Emperor Hanazono of Japan begins. Read more
• 1065 — Edward the Confessor's Romanesque monastic church at Westminster Abbey is consecrated. Read more
• 893 — An earthquake destroys the city of Dvin, Armenia. Read more
• 484 — Alaric II succeeds his father Euric and becomes king of the Visigoths. He establishes his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour (Southern Gaul). Read more
• 457 — Majorian is acclaimed as Western Roman emperor. Read more
• 418 — A papal election begins, resulting in the election of Pope Boniface I. Read more

Born on December 28

• 2002 — Tom Cannon, British-Irish footballer Read more
• 2001 — Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Canadian actress Read more
• 1999 — Iqbaal Ramadhan, Indonesian actor and singer Read more
• 1996 — Tanguy Ndombele, French footballer Read more
• 1995 — Dylan Cease, American baseball player Read more
• 1995 — Mauricio Lemos, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1995 — Nahitan Nández, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1994 — Adam Peaty, English swimmer Read more
• 1992 — Tomáš Jurčo, Slovak ice hockey player Read more
• 1990 — Ayele Abshero, Ethiopian runner Read more
• 1990 — Marcos Alonso, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1990 — David Archuleta, American singer Read more
• 1990 — John Henson, American basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Bastiaan Lijesen, Dutch swimmer Read more
• 1989 — Austin Barnes, American baseball player Read more
• 1989 — Mackenzie Rosman, American actress Read more
• 1987 — Thomas Dekker, American actor and musician Read more
• 1986 — Tom Huddlestone, English footballer Read more
• 1984 — Martin Kaymer, German golfer Read more
• 1984 — Duane Solomon, American runner Read more
• 1982 — Cedric Benson, American football player (died 2019) Read more
• 1982 — Beau Garrett, American actress and model Read more
• 1982 — François Gourmet, Belgian decathlete Read more
• 1982 — Curtis Glencross, Canadian hockey player Read more
• 1981 — Khalid Boulahrouz, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1981 — Elizabeth Jordan Carr, American journalist Read more
• 1981 — Sienna Miller, American-British actress and fashion designer Read more
• 1981 — David Moss, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1981 — Narsha, South Korean singer and dancer Read more
• 1981 — Frank Turner, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1981 — Mika Väyrynen, Finnish footballer Read more
• 1980 — Lomana LuaLua, Congolese footballer Read more
• 1980 — Ryta Turava, Belarusian race walker Read more
• 1979 — James Blake, American tennis player Read more
• 1979 — Senna Gammour, German singer-songwriter Read more
• 1979 — Bill Hall, American baseball player Read more
• 1979 — Zach Hill, American musician and artist Read more
• 1979 — André Holland, American actor Read more
• 1979 — Noomi Rapace, Swedish actress Read more
• 1978 — Chris Coyne, Australian footballer and manager Read more

Died on December 28

• 2025 — Brigitte Bardot, French actress, singer and activist (born 1934) Read more
• 2024 — Charles Dolan, American businessman, founded Cablevision and HBO (born 1926) Read more
• 2023 — Vijayakanth, Indian actor and politician (born 1952) Read more
• 2022 — Philomena Franz, German Romani author (born 1922) Read more
• 2021 — Grichka Bogdanoff, French television presenter and scientific essayist (born 1949) Read more
• 2021 — John Madden, American football Hall of Fame coach and commentator (born 1936) Read more
• 2021 — Harry Reid, American lawyer, politician, and former Senate majority leader (born 1939) Read more
• 2017 — Rose Marie, American actress and comedienne (born 1923) Read more
• 2016 — Debbie Reynolds, American actress, singer and dancer (born 1932) Read more
• 2016 — Jean-Christophe Victor, French political scientist (born 1947) Read more
• 2015 — John Bradbury, English drummer and songwriter (born 1953) Read more
• 2015 — Eloy Inos, Mariana Islander businessman and politician, 8th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (born 1949) Read more
• 2015 — Lemmy, English musician, singer, and songwriter (born 1945) Read more
• 2014 — Leelah Alcorn, American transgender teenager (born 1997) Read more
• 2014 — Vahan Hovhannisyan, Armenian politician (born 1956) Read more
• 2014 — Frankie Randall, American singer-songwriter (born 1938) Read more
• 2013 — Halton Arp, American-German astronomer and critic (born 1927) Read more
• 2013 — Esther Borja, Cuban soprano and actress (born 1913) Read more
• 2013 — Andrew Jacobs, Jr., American soldier, lawyer, and politician (born 1932) Read more
• 2013 — Alfred Marshall, American businessman, founded Marshalls (born 1919) Read more
• 2013 — Joseph Ruskin, American actor and producer (born 1924) Read more
• 2013 — Ilya Tsymbalar, Ukrainian-Russian footballer and manager (born 1969) Read more
• 2012 — Nicholas Ambraseys, Greek-English seismologist and engineer (born 1929) Read more
• 2012 — Mark Crispin, American computer scientist and academic, designed the IMAP (born 1956) Read more
• 2012 — Václav Drobný, Czech footballer (born 1980) Read more
• 2012 — Frankie Walsh, Irish hurler and manager (born 1936) Read more
• 2010 — Billy Taylor, American pianist and composer (born 1921) Read more
• 2010 — Terry Peder Rasmussen, American serial killer (born 1943) Read more
• 2009 — Jimmy Sullivan, American musician, composer and songwriter. Known by his stage name The Rev (born 1981) Read more
• 2008 — Irene Lieblich, Polish-American painter and illustrator (born 1923) Read more
• 2006 — Jamal Karimi-Rad, Iranian politician, Iranian Minister of Justice (born 1956) Read more
• 2004 — Jerry Orbach, American actor and singer (born 1935) Read more
• 2004 — Susan Sontag, American novelist, essayist, critic, and playwright (born 1933) Read more
• 2003 — Benjamin Thurman Hacker, American admiral (born 1935) Read more
• 2001 — Samuel Abraham Goldblith, American lieutenant, biologist, and engineer (born 1919) Read more
• 2001 — William X. Kienzle, American priest and author (born 1928) Read more
• 1999 — Clayton Moore, American actor (born 1914) Read more
• 1994 — Jean-Louis Lévesque, Canadian businessman and philanthropist (born 1911) Read more
• 1993 — William L. Shirer, American journalist and historian (born 1904) Read more
• 1992 — Sal Maglie, American baseball player and coach (born 1917) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Abel (Coptic Church); Christian feast day: Caterina Volpicelli; Christian feast day: Feast of the Holy Innocents or Childermas; in Spain and Latin American countries the festival is celebrated with pranks (inocentadas), similar to April Fools' Day (Catholic Church, Church of England, Lutheran Church), and its related observances: Els Enfarinats (Ibi, Spain); Christian feast day: Simon the Athonite; Christian feast day: December 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); King Taksin Memorial Day (Thailand); Proclamation Day (South Australia), celebration started on the day following Christmas (South Australia); Republic Day (South Sudan); The fourth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)

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