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On This Day in History — January 11

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Highlights of January 11

2024 — Several thousand North Korean migrant workers in Helong engaged in civil unrest, including a factory occupation and the taking of managers as hostages, due to unpaid wages. Read more
2013 — French special forces failed in an attempted rescue of a DGSE agent, who had been taken hostage in 2009 by al-Shabaab, in Bulo Marer, Somalia. Read more
2003 — After Chicago police detective Jon Burge was discovered to have extracted forced confessions from more than 200 suspects, the governor of Illinois commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners and pardoned four others. Read more
1986 — The Gateway Bridge (pictured) in Brisbane, Australia, opened as the largest prestressed-concrete, single-box bridge in the world. Read more
1964 — In a landmark report (cover pictured), U.S. surgeon general Luther Terry issued a warning that tobacco smoking may be hazardous to health, concluding that it has a causative role in lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and other illnesses. Read more
1961 — Students at the University of Georgia rioted in an attempt to prevent the attendance of two African-American students. Read more
1946 — The People's Republic of Albania was proclaimed, with Enver Hoxha as the country's de facto head of state. Read more
1943 — Italian-American journalist and trade-union activist Carlo Tresca, a leading public opponent of the Mafia infiltration of unions, was assassinated in New York City. Read more
1927 — Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, hosted 36 people involved in the film industry at a banquet, where he announced the creation of what would become the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Read more
1923 — Troops from France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr to force the Weimar Republic to pay reparations in the aftermath of World War I. Read more
1914 — The Karluk, the flagship of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, sank after being crushed by ice. Read more
1912 — Immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, went on strike in response to a pay cut corresponding to a new state law shortening the working week. Read more
1863 — American Civil War: The Battle of Arkansas Post concluded with the Union Army capturing a fort from Confederate forces near the mouth of the Arkansas River. Read more
1820 — A conflagration in Savannah, Georgia, destroyed more than 400 buildings and caused millions of dollars in damages. Read more
1787 — German-born British astronomer William Herschel discovered two Uranian moons, later named Oberon and Titania by his son John. Read more
1693 — The most powerful earthquake recorded in Italy struck the island of Sicily, causing 60,000 deaths and prompting a period of architectural revival. Read more
1654 — Arauco War: The Mapuche-Huilliche of southern Chile defeated a slave-hunting Spanish army at the Battle of Río Bueno. Read more
1055 — Theodora Porphyrogenita became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire after the death of her brother-in-law Constantine IX Monomachos. Read more

Events

2020 — COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei: Municipal health officials in Wuhan announce the first recorded death from COVID-19. Read more
2013 — One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia. Read more
2003 — Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal. Read more
1998 — Over 100 people are killed in the Sidi-Hamed massacre in Algeria. Read more
1996 — Space Shuttle program: STS-72 launches from the Kennedy Space Center marking the start of the 74th Space Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of Endeavour. Read more
1995 — 51 people are killed in a plane crash in María La Baja, Colombia. Read more
1994 — The Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin. Read more
1986 — The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened. Read more
1983 — United Airlines Flight 2885 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, killing three. Read more
1977 — The first episode of Finnish children's TV show Pikku Kakkonen ("Little Number Two") is aired on Yle TV2. Read more
1973 — Major League Baseball owners vote in approval of the American League adopting the designated hitter position. Read more
1972 — East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh. Read more
1966 — The Tbilisi Metro is opened. Read more
1964 — Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Luther Terry, M.D., publishes the landmark report Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking national and worldwide anti-smoking efforts. Read more
1962 — Cold War: While tied to its pier in Polyarny, the Soviet submarine B-37 is destroyed when fire breaks out in its torpedo compartment. Read more
1962 — An avalanche on Huascarán in Peru causes around 4,000 deaths. Read more
1961 — Throgs Neck Bridge over the East River, linking New York City's boroughs of The Bronx and Queens, opens to road traffic. Read more
1959 — 36 people are killed when Lufthansa Flight 502 crashes on approach to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport in Brazil. Read more
1957 — The African Convention is founded in Dakar, Senegal. Read more
1949 — The first "networked" television broadcasts took place as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania goes on the air connecting the east coast and mid-west programming. Read more
1946 — Enver Hoxha, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Albania, declares the People's Republic of Albania with himself as head of state. Read more
1943 — The Republic of China agrees to the Sino-British New Equal Treaty and the Sino-American New Equal Treaty. Read more
1943 — Italian-American anarchist Carlo Tresca is assassinated in New York City. Read more
1942 — World War II: Japanese forces capture Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States. Read more
1942 — World War II: Japanese forces attack Tarakan in Borneo, Netherlands Indies (Battle of Tarakan) Read more
1935 — Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. Read more
1927 — Louis B. Mayer, head of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), announces the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, at a banquet in Los Angeles, California. Read more
1923 — Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments. Read more
1922 — Leonard Thompson becomes the first person to be injected with insulin. Read more
1917 — The Kingsland munitions factory explosion occurs, possibly as a result of German sabotage. Read more
1914 — The Karluk, flagship of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, sinks after being crushed by ice. Read more
1912 — Immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, go on strike when wages are reduced in response to a mandated shortening of the work week. Read more
1908 — Grand Canyon National Monument is created. Read more
1879 — The Anglo-Zulu War begins. Read more
1863 — American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Arkansas Post concludes as General John McClernand and Admiral David Dixon Porter capture Fort Hindman and secure control over the Arkansas River for the Union. Read more
1863 — American Civil War: CSS Alabama encounters and sinks the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse in Texas. Read more
1861 — American Civil War: Alabama secedes from the United States. Read more
1851 — Taiping Rebellion: Hong Xiuquan proclaims the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, starting the Jintian Uprising. Read more
1820 — The Great Savannah Fire of 1820 destroys over 400 buildings in Savannah, Georgia. Read more
1805 — The Michigan Territory is created. Read more
1787 — William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus. Read more
1759 — The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read more
1654 — Arauco War: A Spanish army is defeated by local Mapuche-Huilliches as it tries to cross Bueno River in Southern Chile. Read more
1569 — First recorded lottery in England. Read more
1158 — Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia becomes King of Bohemia. Read more
1055 — Theodora is crowned empress of the Byzantine Empire. Read more
930 — Sack of Mecca by the Qarmatians. Read more
630 — Conquest of Mecca: Muhammad and his followers conquer the city, and the Quraysh association of clans surrenders. Read more
532 — Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence. Read more

Born on January 11

2002 — Elly De La Cruz, Dominican baseball player Read more
2000 — Lee Chae-yeon, South Korean singer-songwriter Read more
1999 — Jeanette Hegg Duestad, Norwegian sport shooter Read more
1999 — Lim Sung-jin, South Korean volleyball player Read more
1999 — Brandon Wakeham, Australian-Fijian rugby league player Read more
1998 — Thomas Mikaele, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
1997 — Cody Simpson, Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Read more
1996 — Leroy Sané, German footballer Read more
1995 — Nick Solak, American baseball player Read more
1993 — Chris Boucher, Saint Lucian-Canadian basketball player Read more
1993 — Park Junghwan, South Korean Go player Read more
1993 — Michael Keane, English footballer Read more
1993 — Will Keane, Irish footballer Read more
1992 — Dani Carvajal, Spanish footballer Read more
1992 — Lee Seung-hoon, South Korean rapper and dancer Read more
1991 — Andrea Bertolacci, Italian footballer Read more
1990 — Malik Jackson, American football player Read more
1989 — Demario Davis, American football player Read more
1988 — Epiphanny Prince, American-Russian basketball player Read more
1987 — Scotty Cranmer, American BMX rider Read more
1987 — Danuta Kozák, Hungarian sprint canoer Read more
1987 — Daniel Semenzato, Italian footballer Read more
1987 — Jamie Vardy, English footballer Read more
1987 — Kim Young-kwang, South Korean actor and model Read more
1985 — Dennis Dixon, American football player Read more
1985 — Newton Faulkner, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
1985 — Aja Naomi King, American actress Read more
1984 — Kevin Boss, American football player Read more
1984 — Dario Krešić, Croatian footballer Read more
1984 — Matt Mullenweg, American web developer and businessman, co-created WordPress Read more
1984 — Stijn Schaars, Dutch footballer Read more
1984 — Glenn Stewart, Australian rugby league player Read more
1983 — André Myhrer, Swedish skier Read more
1983 — Ted Richards, Australian rules footballer Read more
1983 — Adrian Sutil, German racing driver Read more
1982 — Tony Allen, American basketball player Read more
1982 — Clint Greenshields, Australian-French rugby league player Read more
1982 — Son Ye-jin, South Korean actress Read more
1980 — Josh Hannay, Australian rugby league player and coach Read more
1980 — Damien Wilkins, American basketball player Read more

Died on January 11

2026 — Richard Codey, American politician, 53rd Governor of New Jersey (born 1946) Read more
2023 — Carole Cook, American actress and singer (born 1924) Read more
2019 — Michael Atiyah, British-Lebanese mathematician (born 1929) Read more
2018 — Edgar Ray Killen, American murderer (born 1925) Read more
2017 — Adenan Satem, Malaysian politician and Chief Minister of Sarawak, Malaysia (born 1944) Read more
2016 — Monte Irvin, American baseball player (born 1919) Read more
2016 — David Margulies, American actor (born 1937) Read more
2015 — Jenő Buzánszky, Hungarian footballer and coach (born 1925) Read more
2015 — Anita Ekberg, Swedish-Italian model and actress (born 1931) Read more
2015 — Chashi Nazrul Islam, Bangladeshi director and producer (born 1941) Read more
2015 — Vernon Benjamin Mountcastle, American neuroscientist and academic (born 1918) Read more
2014 — Keiko Awaji, Japanese actress (born 1933) Read more
2014 — Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Indian-Bangladeshi jurist and politician, Prime Minister of Bangladesh (born 1928) Read more
2014 — Chai Trong-rong, Taiwanese educator and politician (born 1935) Read more
2014 — Ariel Sharon, Israeli general and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Israel (born 1928) Read more
2013 — Guido Forti, Italian businessman, founded the Forti Racing Team (born 1940) Read more
2013 — Nguyễn Khánh, Vietnamese general and politician, 3rd President of South Vietnam (born 1927) Read more
2013 — Mariangela Melato, Italian actress (born 1941) Read more
2013 — Tom Parry Jones, Welsh chemist, invented the breathalyzer (born 1935) Read more
2013 — Alemayehu Shumye, Ethiopian runner (born 1988) Read more
2013 — Aaron Swartz, American programmer and activist (born 1986) Read more
2012 — Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, Iranian physicist and academic (born 1980) Read more
2012 — Gilles Jacquier, French journalist and photographer (born 1968) Read more
2012 — Edgar Kaiser, Jr, American-Canadian businessman and philanthropist (born 1942) Read more
2012 — Wally Osterkorn, American basketball player (born 1928) Read more
2012 — Steven Rawlings, English astrophysicist, astronomer, and academic (born 1961) Read more
2012 — David Whitaker, English composer and conductor (born 1931) Read more
2011 — David Nelson, American actor, director, and producer (born 1936) Read more
2010 — Miep Gies, Austrian-Dutch humanitarian (born 1909) Read more
2010 — Éric Rohmer, French director, screenwriter, and critic (born 1920) Read more
2008 — Edmund Hillary, New Zealand mountaineer and explorer (born 1919) Read more
2008 — Carl Karcher, American businessman, co-founded Carl's Jr. (born 1917) Read more
2007 — Solveig Dommartin, French-German actress (born 1961) Read more
2007 — Robert Anton Wilson, American psychologist, author, poet, and playwright (born 1932) Read more
2004 — Spalding Gray, American actor, writer, and performance artist (born 1941) Read more
2003 — Jože Pučnik, Slovenian sociologist and politician (born 1932) Read more
2002 — Henri Verneuil, French-Armenian director and playwright (born 1920) Read more
2001 — Denys Lasdun, English architect, co-designed the Royal National Theatre (born 1914) Read more
2000 — Ivan Combe, American businessman, invented Clearasil (born 1911) Read more
2000 — Bob Lemon, American baseball player and manager (born 1920) Read more

Holidays & observances

Children's Day (Tunisia); Christian feast day: Anastasius of Suppentonia (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day: Leucius of Brindisi (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day: Paulinus II of Aquileia; Christian feast day: Pope Hyginus; Christian feast day: Theodosius the Cenobiarch; Christian feast day: Thomas of Cori; Christian feast day: Vitalis of Gaza (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day: January 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Eugenio María de Hostos Day (Puerto Rico); Independence Resistance Day (Morocco); Kagami biraki (Japan); National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (United States); Republic Day (Albania); Carmentalia (January 11th and January 15th) (Rome); Prithvi Jayanti (Nepal)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 11”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.