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On This Day in History — January 19
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Highlights of January 19
- 2012 — The Hong Kong–based file-sharing website Megaupload was shut down by the FBI. Read more
- 2007 — Turkish-Armenian journalist and human-rights activist Hrant Dink was assassinated by a Turkish nationalist in Istanbul. Read more
- 2007 — A four-man team, using only skis and kites, completed a 1,093-mile (1,759 km) trek to reach the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility, the first people to get there since 1967, and the first to do so on foot. Read more
- 2006 — In the deadliest aviation accident in Slovak history, an Antonov An-24 operated by the Slovak Air Force crashed in northern Hungary, killing 42 of the 43 people on board. Read more
- 1996 — A tank barge and a tug grounded on a beach in Rhode Island, causing a spill of an estimated 828,000 U.S. gallons (3.13 million litres) of home heating oil. Read more
- 1977 — Iva Toguri (pictured), convicted of treason for broadcasting Japanese propaganda, was granted a full pardon by U.S. president Gerald Ford. Read more
- 1975 — An earthquake registering 6.8 Ms struck northern Himachal Pradesh in India, causing extensive damage to the region. Read more
- 1972 — The French newspaper L'Aurore revealed that the former Nazi SS officer Klaus Barbie, the "Butcher of Lyon", had been found to be living in Peru. Read more
- 1920 — The American Civil Liberties Union was founded by the directors of the National Civil Liberties Bureau. Read more
- 1915 — World War I: The first major attack of the German bombing campaign against Britain took place when Zeppelins bombed several towns in Norfolk. Read more
- 1909 — A deed was recorded for David Hanbury to sell Island No. 2 in northern California to his brother John for $10 ($358.33 in .mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}2025). Read more
- 1795 — The Batavian Republic was established the day after William V fled the Dutch Republic as a result of the Batavian Revolution in Amsterdam. Read more
- 1511 — War of the League of Cambrai: Troops led by Pope Julius II captured Mirandola (depicted) after a brief siege. Read more
- 1419 — Hundred Years' War: The siege of Rouen ended with English troops capturing the city from Norman French forces. Read more
Events
- 2025 — Bytedance and sister companies are banned from the United States for "security concerns". Read more
- 2024 — The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's probe lands on the moon, making Japan the 5th country to land a spacecraft on the moon. Read more
- 2014 — A bomb attack on an army convoy in the city of Bannu kills at least 26 Pakistani soldiers and injures 38 others. Read more
- 2012 — The Hong Kong-based file-sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI. Read more
- 2007 — Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink is assassinated in front of his newspaper's Istanbul office by 17-year-old Turkish ultra-nationalist Ogün Samast. Read more
- 2007 — Four-man Team N2i, using only skis and kites, completes a 1,093-mile (1,759 km) trek to reach the Antarctic pole of inaccessibility for the first time since 1965 and for the first time ever without mechanical assistance. Read more
- 2006 — A Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crashes near Hejce, Hungary, killing 42. Read more
- 1999 — British Aerospace agrees to acquire the defence subsidiary of the General Electric Company, forming BAE Systems in November 1999. Read more
- 1997 — Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city. Read more
- 1996 — The barge North Cape oil spill occurs as an engine fire forces the tugboat Scandia ashore on Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Read more
- 1995 — After being struck by lightning the crew of Bristow Helicopters Flight 56C are forced to ditch. All 18 aboard are later rescued. Read more
- 1993 — Czech Republic and Slovakia join the United Nations. Read more
- 1991 — Gulf War: Iraq fires a second Scud missile into Israel, causing 15 injuries. Read more
- 1990 — Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in Indian-administered Kashmir due to an insurgency. Read more
- 1988 — Trans-Colorado Airlines Flight 2286 crashes in Bayfield, Colorado, killing nine. Read more
- 1981 — Iran hostage crisis: United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity. Read more
- 1978 — The last Volkswagen Beetle made in Germany leaves VW's plant in Emden. Beetle production in Latin America continues until 2003. Read more
- 1977 — President Gerald Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (a.k.a. "Tokyo Rose"). Read more
- 1969 — Student Jan Palach dies after setting himself on fire three days earlier in Prague's Wenceslas Square to protest about the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968. His funeral turns into another major protest. Read more
- 1966 — Indira Gandhi becomes India's first female prime minister. Read more
- 1960 — Japan and the United States sign the US–Japan Mutual Security Treaty Read more
- 1960 — Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 871 crashes near Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey, killing all 42 aboard. Read more
- 1953 — Almost 72 percent of all television sets in the United States are tuned into I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth. Read more
- 1946 — General Douglas MacArthur establishes the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo to try Japanese war criminals. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Soviet forces liberate the Łódź Ghetto. Of more than 200,000 inhabitants in 1940, fewer than 900 had survived the Nazi occupation. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: The Japanese conquest of Burma begins. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: HMS Greyhound and other escorts of convoy AS-12 sink Italian submarine Neghelli with all hands 64 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of Falkonera. Read more
- 1937 — Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in seven hours, 28 minutes, 25 seconds. Read more
- 1920 — The United States Senate votes against joining the League of Nations. Read more
- 1920 — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is founded. Read more
- 1917 — Silvertown explosion: A blast at a munitions factory in London kills 73 and injures over 400. The resulting fire causes over £2,000,000 worth of damage. Read more
- 1915 — Georges Claude patents the neon discharge tube for use in advertising. Read more
- 1915 — German strategic bombing during World War I: German zeppelins bomb the towns of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn in the United Kingdom killing at least 20 people, in the first major aerial bombardment of a civilian target. Read more
- 1901 — Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, is stricken with paralysis. She dies three days later at the age of 81. Read more
- 1899 — Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is formed. Read more
- 1883 — The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires, built by Thomas Edison, begins service at Roselle, New Jersey. Read more
- 1871 — Franco-Prussian War: In the Siege of Paris, Prussia wins the Battle of St. Quentin. Meanwhile, the French attempt to break the siege in the Battle of Buzenval will end unsuccessfully the following day. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: Battle of Mill Springs: The Confederacy suffers its first significant defeat in the conflict. Read more
- 1861 — American Civil War: Georgia joins South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in declaring secession from the United States. Read more
- 1853 — Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore receives its premiere performance in Rome. Read more
- 1839 — The British East India Company captures Aden. Read more
- 1829 — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy receives its premiere performance. Read more
- 1817 — An army of 5,423 soldiers, led by General José de San Martín, crosses the Andes from Argentina to liberate Chile and then Peru. Read more
- 1795 — The Batavian Republic is proclaimed in the Netherlands, replacing the Dutch Republic. Read more
- 1788 — The second group of ships of the First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay. Read more
- 1764 — John Wilkes is expelled from the British House of Commons for seditious libel. Read more
- 1764 — Bolle Willum Luxdorph records in his diary that a mail bomb, possibly the world's first, has severely injured the Danish Colonel Poulsen, residing at Børglum Abbey. Read more
- 1639 — Hämeenlinna (Swedish: Tavastehus) is granted privileges after it separated from the Vanaja parish as its own city in Tavastia. Read more
- 1607 — San Agustin Church in Manila is officially completed; it is the oldest church still standing in the Philippines. Read more
- 1520 — Sten Sture the Younger, the Regent of Sweden, is mortally wounded at the Battle of Bogesund and dies on February 3. Read more
- 1511 — The Italian Duchy of Mirandola surrenders to the Pope. Read more
- 1421 — John VIII Palaiologos marries Sophia of Montferrat and is then crowned Byzantine co-emperor to his father Manuel II Palaiologos. Read more
- 1419 — Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England, completing his reconquest of Normandy. Read more
- 649 — Conquest of Kucha: The forces of Kucha surrender after a forty-day siege led by Tang dynasty general Ashina She'er, establishing Tang control over the northern Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. Read more
- 379 — Emperor Gratian elevates Flavius Theodosius at Sirmium to Augustus, and gives him authority over all the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Read more
Born on January 19
- 2003 — Felix Afena-Gyan, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1999 — Jonathan Taylor, American football player Read more
- 1999 — Donyell Malen, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1998 — Emre Guler, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1996 — Jakub Jankto, Czech footballer Read more
- 1994 — Matthias Ginter, German footballer Read more
- 1994 — Alfie Mawson, English footballer Read more
- 1994 — Marvelous Nakamba, Zimbabwean footballer Read more
- 1993 — Erick Torres Padilla, Mexican footballer Read more
- 1993 — João Mário, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1993 — Ricardo Centurión, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1993 — Walter Benítez, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1993 — Jack Schlossberg, American writer and political candidate Read more
- 1992 — Shawn Johnson East, American gymnast Read more
- 1992 — Logan Lerman, American actor Read more
- 1992 — Mac Miller, American rapper (died 2018) Read more
- 1991 — Petra Martić, Croatian tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Erin Sanders, American actress Read more
- 1990 — Tatiana Búa, Argentine tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Shaunette Renée Wilson, Guyanese-American actress Read more
- 1988 — Tyler Breeze, Canadian wrestler Read more
- 1988 — JaVale McGee, American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Edgar Manucharyan, Armenian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Claudio Marchisio, Italian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Oleksandr Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Moussa Sow, Senegalese footballer Read more
- 1985 — Pascal Behrenbruch, German decathlete Read more
- 1985 — Damien Chazelle, American film director, screenwriter, and producer Read more
- 1985 — Benny Feilhaber, American soccer player Read more
- 1985 — Esteban Guerrieri, Argentinian racing driver Read more
- 1985 — Rika Ishikawa, Japanese singer and actress Read more
- 1985 — Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Nikulin, Russian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Elliott Ward, English footballer Read more
- 1984 — Johnny Boychuk, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Fabio Catacchini, Italian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Karun Chandhok, Indian racing driver Read more
- 1984 — Elvis Dumervil, American football player Read more
- 1984 — Jimmy Kébé, Malian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Thomas Vanek, Austrian ice hockey player Read more
- 1983 — Hikaru Utada, American-Japanese singer-songwriter and producer Read more
Died on January 19
- 2026 — Valentino, Italian fashion designer, founder of Valentino (born 1932) Read more
- 2025 — Jeff Torborg, American baseball player and manager (born 1941) Read more
- 2017 — Miguel Ferrer, American actor (born 1955) Read more
- 2016 — Richard Levins, American ecologist and geneticist (born 1930) Read more
- 2016 — Ettore Scola, Italian director and screenwriter (born 1931) Read more
- 2016 — Sheila Sim (Lady Attenborough), English actress (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Justin Capră, Romanian engineer and academic (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — Michel Guimond, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1953) Read more
- 2015 — Ward Swingle, American-French singer-songwriter and conductor (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Azaria Alon, Ukrainian-Israeli environmentalist, co-founded the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (born 1918) Read more
- 2014 — Christopher Chataway, English runner, journalist, and politician (born 1931) Read more
- 2013 — Taihō Kōki, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 48th Yokozuna (born 1940) Read more
- 2013 — Stan Musial, American baseball player and manager (born 1920) Read more
- 2013 — Frank Pooler, American conductor and composer (born 1926) Read more
- 2013 — Earl Weaver, American baseball player and manager (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Toktamış Ateş, Turkish academician, political commentator, columnist and writer (born 1944) Read more
- 2012 — Peter Åslin, Swedish ice hockey player (born 1962) Read more
- 2012 — Sarah Burke, Canadian skier (born 1982) Read more
- 2012 — Winston Riley, Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer (born 1943) Read more
- 2012 — Rudi van Dantzig, Dutch ballet dancer and choreographer (born 1933) Read more
- 2010 — Bill McLaren, Scottish rugby player and sportscaster (born 1923) Read more
- 2008 — Suzanne Pleshette, American actress (born 1937) Read more
- 2008 — John Stewart, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1939) Read more
- 2008 — Don Wittman, Canadian sportscaster (born 1936) Read more
- 2007 — Hrant Dink, Turkish-Armenian journalist and activist (born 1954) Read more
- 2007 — Denny Doherty, Canadian singer-songwriter (born 1940) Read more
- 2007 — Murat Nasyrov, Russian singer-songwriter (born 1969) Read more
- 2006 — Anthony Franciosa, American actor (born 1928) Read more
- 2006 — Wilson Pickett, American singer-songwriter (born 1941) Read more
- 2005 — K. Sello Duiker, South African author and screenwriter (born 1974) Read more
- 2004 — Harry E. Claiborne, American lawyer and judge (born 1917) Read more
- 2004 — David Hookes, Australian cricketer and coach (born 1955) Read more
- 2003 — Milton Flores, Honduran footballer (born 1974) Read more
- 2003 — Françoise Giroud, French journalist, screenwriter, and politician, French Minister of Culture (born 1916) Read more
- 2002 — Vavá, Brazilian footballer and manager (born 1934) Read more
- 2000 — Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, a Baháʼí Faith Hand of the Cause of God and wife of Shoghi Effendi (born 1910) Read more
- 2000 — Bettino Craxi, Italian lawyer and politician, 45th Prime Minister of Italy (born 1934) Read more
- 2000 — Hedy Lamarr, Austrian-American actress, singer, and mathematician (born 1914) Read more
- 1999 — Ivan Francescato, Italian rugby player (born 1967) Read more
- 1999 — Robert Eugene Brashers, American serial killer and rapist (born 1958) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Bassianus of Lodi; Christian feast day:
Faustina and Liberata of Como; Christian feast day:
Henry of Uppsala; Christian feast day:
Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum; Christian feast day:
Mark of Ephesus (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Pontianus of Spoleto; Christian feast day:
Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester; Christian feast day:
January 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Confederate Heroes Day (Texas), and its related observance:
Robert E. Lee Day (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi); Husband's Day (Iceland); Kokborok Day (Tripura, India); Theophany / Epiphany (Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy), and its related observances:
Timkat, or 20 during Leap Year (Ethiopian Orthodox); Theophany / Epiphany (Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy), and its related observances:
Vodici or Baptism of Jesus (North Macedonia)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 19”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.