On This Day in History — January 1

Highlights of January 1

• 2019 — The NASA space probe New Horizons flew by the trans-Neptunian object Arrokoth, making it the farthest object visited by a spacecraft. Read more
• 2011 — A suicide bombing took place outside a Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt, following a New Year service, killing 23 people. Read more
• 2010 — A suicide bomber killed 105 spectators at a volleyball game in the Lakki Marwat District of Pakistan. Read more
• 2007 — Adam Air Flight 574 crashed into the sea off Polewali, Indonesia, killing all 102 people on board, when the pilots inadvertently disconnected the autopilot. Read more
• 2005 — Jeanna Giese, the first known rabies survivor who did not receive the vaccine, was discharged from Children's Wisconsin. Read more
• 1998 — Argentinian physicist Juan Maldacena published a landmark paper initiating the study of AdS/CFT correspondence, which links string theory and quantum gravity. Read more
• 1995 — The World Trade Organization, the international organization designed to supervise and liberalize international trade, came into being, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Read more
• 1994 — The revolutionary leftist Zapatista Army of National Liberation initiated twelve days of armed conflict in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Read more
• 1978 — Air India Flight 855 (aircraft pictured) crashed into the Arabian Sea seconds after take-off, killing all 213 people. Read more
• 1965 — The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, which later helped the country become a republic, was founded. Read more
• 1960 — Three men were killed and two wounded in a mass shooting at a public house in Sheffield, England. Read more
• 1957 — The revised Thai criminal code came into force, strengthening the law on lèse-majesté in Thailand to include insult and treating it as a crime against national security. Read more
• 1948 — British Railways came into existence when the "Big Four" railway companies were nationalised. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: In retaliation for the massacre of captured Americans by Waffen SS soldiers, U.S. Army personnel killed an estimated 80 Wehrmacht prisoners near Chenogne, Belgium. Read more
• 1945 — Second World War: The Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte in an attempt to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries. Read more
• 1928 — Joseph Stalin's personal secretary, Boris Bazhanov, crossed the Iranian border and defected from the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1926 — Ireland's first broadcaster, 2RN, began broadcasting. Read more
• 1915 — Russia withdraws from its occupation of northwestern Iran, enabling a subsequent Ottoman invasion and massacres of Assyrians and Armenians. Read more
• 1914 — The St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line in the U.S. state of Florida became the first scheduled airline using a winged aircraft. Read more
• 1892 — The immigration station on Ellis Island (pictured) in New York Harbor opened, and would process almost 12 million immigrants to the United States over the course of its existence. Read more
• 1810 — Lachlan Macquarie (pictured) became Governor of New South Wales, eventually playing a major role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony in Australia. Read more
• 1808 — As a result of the lobbying efforts by the abolitionist movement (emblem pictured), the importation of slaves into the United States was officially banned, although slavery itself remained permitted. Read more
• 1801 — Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovered the dwarf planet Ceres, naming it after the Roman goddess of agriculture and of motherly love. Read more
• 1800 — Quasi-War: An American convoy of four merchant vessels escorted by a schooner was attacked by a squadron of armed barges manned by Haitians. Read more
• 1785 — The Times began publication in London as The Daily Universal Register. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: The town of Norfolk, Virginia, was burned and destroyed by the combined actions of British and Whig forces. Read more
• 1773 — The hymn "Amazing Grace" was probably first used in a prayer meeting in Olney, England, without the music familiar to modern listeners. Read more
• 1739 — Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, the most remote island in the world, was discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier. Read more
• 1726 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16, his church cantata for New Year's Day to a libretto by Georg Christian Lehms (pictured). Read more
• 1725 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of his chorale cantata Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, which features trumpet fanfares at the start and end. Read more
• 1068 — Having been pardoned by Eudokia Makrembolitissa, the regent of the Byzantine Empire, for attempting to usurp the throne, Romanos IV Diogenes married her to become Byzantine emperor. Read more
• 417 — Galla Placidia was forced by her brother Honorius into marriage with Constantius III, his magister militum. Read more

Events

• 2026 — Bulgaria officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 21st Eurozone country. Read more
• 2026 — A fire at a bar during New Year's Eve celebrations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, kills 41 people and injures 116 others. Read more
• 2025 — Fourteen people are killed and 57 others injured during a vehicle-ramming and shooting attack in New Orleans, Louisiana. Read more
• 2024 — A 7.5 Mww earthquake strikes the western coast of Japan, killing more than 500 people and injuring over 1,000 others. A majority of direct deaths were due to collapsed homes. Read more
• 2024 — Disney's copyright protection on Steamboat Willie and the original Mickey Mouse expires as they enter the public domain. Read more
• 2024 — Artsakh ceases to exist. Read more
• 2023 — Croatia officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 20th Eurozone country, and becomes the 27th member of the Schengen Area. Read more
• 2017 — An attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, during New Year's celebrations, kills 39 people and injures 79 others. Read more
• 2015 — The Eurasian Economic Union comes into effect, creating a political and economic union between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Read more
• 2013 — At least 60 people are killed and 200 injured in a stampede after celebrations at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Read more
• 2011 — A bomb explodes as Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, leave a new year service, killing 23 people. Read more
• 2011 — Estonia officially adopts the Euro currency and becomes the 17th Eurozone country. Read more
• 2010 — A suicide car bomber detonates at a volleyball tournament in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan, killing 105 and injuring 100 more. Read more
• 2009 — Sixty-six people die in a nightclub fire in Bangkok, Thailand. Read more
• 2007 — Bulgaria and Romania join the EU. Read more
• 2007 — Adam Air Flight 574 breaks apart in mid-air and crashes near the Makassar Strait, Indonesia, killing all 102 people on board. Read more
• 2004 — In a vote of confidence, General Pervez Musharraf wins 658 out of 1,170 votes in the Electoral College of Pakistan, and according to Article 41(8) of the Constitution of Pakistan, is "deemed to be elected" to the office of President until October 2007. Read more
• 2001 — Greece adopts the Euro, becoming the 12th Eurozone country. Read more
• 1999 — The Euro currency is introduced in 11 member nations of the European Union (with the exception of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Sweden). Read more
• 1998 — Following a currency reform, Russia begins to circulate new rubles to stem inflation and promote confidence. Read more
• 1998 — Argentinian physicist Juan Maldacena publishes a landmark paper initiating the study of AdS/CFT correspondence, which links string theory and quantum gravity. Read more
• 1995 — The World Trade Organization comes into being. Read more
• 1995 — The Draupner wave in the North Sea in Norway is detected, confirming the existence of freak waves. Read more
• 1995 — Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU. Read more
• 1994 — The Zapatista Army of National Liberation initiates twelve days of armed conflict in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Read more
• 1994 — The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into effect. Read more
• 1993 — Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia is divided into the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. Read more
• 1990 — David Dinkins is sworn in as New York City's first black mayor. Read more
• 1990 — Seven people are killed and one injured in a mass shooting in Narsaq, Greenland. Read more
• 1989 — The Montreal Protocol comes into force, stopping the use of chemicals contributing to ozone depletion. Read more
• 1988 — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America comes into existence, creating the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. Read more
• 1987 — The Isleta Pueblo tribe elect Verna Williamson to be their first female governor. Read more
• 1985 — The first British mobile phone call is made by Michael Harrison to his father Sir Ernest Harrison, chairman of Vodafone. Read more
• 1985 — Eastern Air Lines Flight 980 crashes into Mount Illimani in Bolivia, killing all 29 aboard. Read more
• 1984 — The original American Telephone & Telegraph Company is divested of its 22 Bell System companies as a result of the settlement of the 1974 United States Department of Justice antitrust suit against AT&T. Read more
• 1984 — Brunei becomes independent of the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1983 — The ARPANET officially changes to using TCP/IP, the Internet Protocol, effectively creating the Internet. Read more
• 1982 — Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar becomes the first Latin American to hold the title of Secretary-General of the United Nations. Read more
• 1981 — Greece is admitted into the European Community. Read more
• 1979 — the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Taiwan Relations Act enter into force. Through the Communiqué, the United States establishes normal diplomatic relations with China. Through the Act, the United States guarantees military support for Taiwan. Read more
• 1978 — Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747, crashes into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Bombay, India, due to instrument failure, spatial disorientation, and pilot error, killing all 213 people on board. Read more
• 1976 — A bomb explodes on board Middle East Airlines Flight 438 over Qaisumah, Saudi Arabia, killing all 81 people on board. Read more
• 1973 — Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom are admitted into the European Economic Community. Read more
• 1971 — Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television. Read more
• 1970 — The defined beginning of Unix time, at 00:00:00. Read more
• 1965 — The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul, Afghanistan. Read more
• 1964 — The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia. Read more
• 1962 — Western Samoa achieves independence from New Zealand; its name is changed to the Independent State of Western Samoa. Read more
• 1960 — Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1959 — Cuban Revolution: Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro's forces. Read more
• 1958 — The European Economic Community is established. Read more
• 1957 — George Town, Penang, is made a city by a royal charter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1957 — Lèse majesté in Thailand is strengthened to include "insult" and changed to a crime against national security, after the Thai criminal code of 1956 went into effect.: 6, 18 Read more
• 1956 — Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1949 — United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly. Read more
• 1948 — The British railway network is nationalized to form British Railways. Read more
• 1947 — Cold War: The American and British occupation zones in Allied-occupied Germany, after World War II, merge to form the Bizone, which later (with the French zone) became part of West Germany. Read more
• 1947 — The Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect, converting British subjects into Canadian citizens. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches Operation Bodenplatte, a massive, but failed, attempt to knock out Allied air power in northern Europe in a single blow. Read more
• 1942 — The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations. Read more

Born on January 1

• 2007 — Ian Subiabre, Argentine footballer Read more
• 2004 — Lamine Camara, Senegalese footballer Read more
• 2003 — Daria Trubnikova, Russian rhythmic gymnast Read more
• 2002 — Simon Adingra, Ivorian footballer Read more
• 2001 — Angourie Rice, Australian actress Read more
• 2001 — Winter, South Korean singer Read more
• 2000 — Nicolas Kühn, German footballer Read more
• 2000 — Ice Spice, American rapper Read more
• 1999 — Tomás Chancalay, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1999 — Azmy Qowimuramadhoni, Indonesian-Azerbaijani badminton player Read more
• 1998 — Cristina Bucșa, Moldovan-Spanish tennis player Read more
• 1998 — Edwuin Cetré, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1998 — Enock Mwepu, Zambian footballer Read more
• 1998 — Frank Onyeka, Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Noah Kahan, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1997 — Keegan Hipgrave, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1997 — Gonzalo Montiel, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1996 — Andreas Pereira, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1996 — Mahmoud Dahoud, German footballer Read more
• 1996 — Mathias Jensen, Danish footballer Read more
• 1995 — Sardar Azmoun, Iranian footballer Read more
• 1995 — Poppy, American singer and YouTube personality Read more
• 1994 — Brendan Elliot, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1994 — LaMonte Wade Jr., American baseball player Read more
• 1993 — Larry Nance Jr., American basketball player Read more
• 1993 — Abdoulaye Doucouré, Malian footballer Read more
• 1992 — Nathaniel Peteru, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1992 — Shane Duffy, Irish footballer Read more
• 1991 — Glen Rice Jr., American basketball player Read more
• 1991 — Darius Slay, American football player Read more
• 1991 — Xavier Su'a-Filo, American football player Read more
• 1990 — Julia Glushko, Israeli tennis player Read more
• 1990 — Ali Maâloul, Tunisian football player Read more
• 1989 — Jason Pierre-Paul, American football player Read more
• 1988 — Marcel Gecov, Czech footballer Read more
• 1988 — Dallas Keuchel, American baseball player Read more
• 1987 — Gia Coppola, American director and screenwriter Read more
• 1987 — Gilbert Brulé, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Meryl Davis, American ice dancer Read more
• 1987 — Patric Hörnqvist, Swedish ice hockey player Read more

Died on January 1

• 2025 — David Lodge, English author and critic (born 1935) Read more
• 2025 — Chad Morgan, Australian musician (born 1933) Read more
• 2025 — Wayne Osmond, American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1951) Read more
• 2024 — Lynja, American celebrity chef and YouTuber (born 1956) Read more
• 2023 — Fred White, American musician and songwriter (born 1955) Read more
• 2022 — Gary Burgess, British broadcaster and journalist (born 1975) Read more
• 2022 — Dan Reeves, American football player and coach (born 1944) Read more
• 2021 — Carlos do Carmo, Portuguese fado singer (born 1939) Read more
• 2021 — Mark Eden, English actor (born 1928) Read more
• 2021 — Elmira Minita Gordon, Belizean educator and psychologist (born 1930) Read more
• 2021 — Floyd Little, American football player (born 1942) Read more
• 2020 — Lexii Alijai, American rapper (born 1998) Read more
• 2020 — Alexander Frater, British travel writer and journalist (born 1937) Read more
• 2020 — Don Larsen, American baseball player (born 1929) Read more
• 2020 — Barry McDonald, Australian rugby union player (born 1940) Read more
• 2020 — David Stern, American lawyer and businessman (born 1942) Read more
• 2019 — Paul Neville, Australian politician (born 1940) Read more
• 2019 — Pegi Young, American singer, songwriter, environmentalist, educator and philanthropist (born 1952) Read more
• 2019 — George, last known Achatinella apexfulva (born c. 2004) Read more
• 2018 — Robert Mann, American violinist (born 1920) Read more
• 2018 — Jon Paul Steuer, American actor (born 1984) Read more
• 2017 — Tony Atkinson, British economist (born 1944) Read more
• 2017 — Yvon Dupuis, Canadian politician (born 1926) Read more
• 2016 — Fazu Aliyeva, Russian poet and journalist (born 1932) Read more
• 2016 — Dale Bumpers, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 38th Governor of Arkansas (born 1925) Read more
• 2016 — Vilmos Zsigmond, Hungarian-American cinematographer and producer (born 1930) Read more
• 2015 — Ulrich Beck, German sociologist (born 1944) Read more
• 2015 — Mario Cuomo, American lawyer and politician, 52nd Governor of New York (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Donna Douglas, American actress (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Omar Karami, Lebanese lawyer and politician, 58th Prime Minister of Lebanon (born 1934) Read more
• 2015 — Boris Morukov, Russian physician and astronaut (born 1950) Read more
• 2015 — William Lloyd Standish, United States District Judge (born 1930) Read more
• 2014 — Higashifushimi Kunihide, Japanese monk and educator (born 1910) Read more
• 2014 — William Mgimwa, Tanzanian banker and politician, 13th Tanzanian Minister of Finance (born 1950) Read more
• 2014 — Juanita Moore, American actress (born 1914) Read more
• 2013 — Christopher Martin-Jenkins, English journalist (born 1945) Read more
• 2013 — Patti Page, American singer and actress (born 1927) Read more
• 2012 — Bob Anderson, English fencer (born 1922) Read more
• 2012 — Kiro Gligorov, Macedonian lawyer and politician, 1st President of the Republic of Macedonia (born 1917) Read more
• 2012 — Nay Win Maung, Burmese physician, businessman, and activist (born 1962) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Basil the Great (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: Feast of the Circumcision of Christ Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church); Christian feast day: Fulgentius of Ruspe; Christian feast day: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; and its related observances: World Day of Peace; Christian feast day: January 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); The last day of Kwanzaa (African Americans); The eighth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity); Global Family Day; Jump-up Day (Montserrat); New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar) Japanese New Year; New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar) Novy God Day (Russia); Polar Bear Swim Day; Public Domain Day (multiple countries); Triumph of the Revolution (Cuba)

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