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On This Day in History — January 2
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Highlights of January 2
- 2024 — While landing at Haneda Airport, Japan Airlines Flight 516 collided with a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 which killed five people in total. Read more
- 2016 — Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, was executed by the Saudi government along with 46 other people. Read more
- 2009 — Sri Lankan civil war: The Sri Lankan army captured the town of Kilinochchi from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, concluding the Battle of Kilinochchi. Read more
- 2004 — The Stardust space probe flew by the comet Wild 2 and collected particle samples from its coma, which were later returned to Earth. Read more
- 1991 — Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as the mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position. Read more
- 1976 — An extratropical cyclone began affecting parts of western Europe, resulting in coastal flooding around the southern portions of the North Sea and leading to at least 82 deaths. Read more
- 1967 — Ronald Reagan began his career in government when he was sworn in as the 33rd governor of California. Read more
- 1963 — Vietnam War: The Viet Cong won its first major victory at the Battle of Ap Bac. Read more
- 1959 — The Soviet Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, was launched by a Vostok rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: United States and Australian forces successfully landed in Papua New Guinea in an attempt to cut off a Japanese retreat. Read more
- 1941 — Second World War: Llandaff Cathedral (pictured) in Cardiff, Wales, was severely damaged by German bombing during the Cardiff Blitz. Read more
- 1920 — Under the leadership of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer (pictured), U.S. Department of Justice agents launched a series of raids against radical leftists and anarchists in more than 30 cities and towns across 23 states. Read more
- 1865 — Uruguayan War: Brazilian and Colorado Party forces captured the city of Paysandú from its Uruguayan defenders. Read more
- 1860 — French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier (pictured) announced the putative discovery of the planet Vulcan at a meeting at the French Academy of Sciences in Paris. Read more
- 1777 — American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey. Read more
- 1680 — Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram of Java and his courtiers stabbed Trunajaya to death a week after the rebel leader surrendered to VOC forces. Read more
- 533 — Mercurius, a Roman priest, was elected Pope John II; he was likely the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Two aircraft collide on a runway at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, killing 5 and injuring 18. Read more
- 2022 — Massive nationwide protests and unrest break out in Kazakhstan over the sudden increase of liquefied petroleum gas prices, leading to 238 people dead and thousands injured by January 11. Read more
- 2004 — Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth. Read more
- 1993 — Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35–100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon. Read more
- 1991 — Sharon Pratt Dixon becomes the first African American woman mayor of a major city and first woman Mayor of the District of Columbia. Read more
- 1988 — Condor Flugdienst Flight 3782 crashes near Seferihisar, Turkey, killing 16 people. Read more
- 1981 — One of the largest investigations by a British police force ends when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper", is arrested in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Read more
- 1978 — On the orders of the President of Pakistan, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, paramilitary forces opened fire on peaceful protesting workers in Multan, Pakistan; it is known as 1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills. Read more
- 1976 — The Gale of January 1976 begins, resulting in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, affecting countries from Ireland to Yugoslavia and causing at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage. Read more
- 1975 — At the opening of a new railway line, a bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways. Read more
- 1971 — The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football match. Read more
- 1967 — Ronald Reagan, past movie actor and future President of the United States, is sworn in as Governor of California. Read more
- 1963 — Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory, at the Battle of Ap Bac. Read more
- 1959 — Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1955 — Following the assassination of the Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera, his deputy, José Ramón Guizado, takes power, but is quickly deposed after his involvement in Cantera's death is discovered. Read more
- 1954 — India establishes its highest civilian awards, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan. Read more
- 1949 — Luis Muñoz Marín is inaugurated as the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Read more
- 1942 — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtains the conviction of 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history; Also known as the Duquesne Spy Ring. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces, enabling them to control the Philippines. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: The Cardiff Blitz severely damages the cathedral in Cardiff, Wales. Read more
- 1932 — The Young Brothers engaged in a gun battle resulting in the deaths of six law enforcement officers; the worst single killing of US police officers in the 20th century. Read more
- 1921 — World premiere of the science fiction play R.U.R. by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a theater in Hradec Králové. Read more
- 1920 — The second Palmer Raid, ordered by the US Department of Justice, results in 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists being arrested and held without trial. Read more
- 1900 — American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China. Read more
- 1900 — Chicago Canal opens. Read more
- 1865 — Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as the Brazilians and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Stones River ends in a Union victory when the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg are repulsed for the final time by the Army of the Cumberland under General William S. Rosecrans. Read more
- 1818 — The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded by a group of six engineers; Thomas Telford would later become its first president. Read more
- 1791 — Northwest Indian War: The Big Bottom massacre is committed by Lenape and Wyandot warriors in the Ohio Country, North America. Read more
- 1788 — Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution. Read more
- 1777 — American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of General George Washington repulse a British attack led by General Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey. Read more
- 1776 — Empress Maria Theresa of Austria amends the Constitutio Criminalis Theresiana to include the abolition of torture throughout the Habsburg-ruled countries of Austria and Bohemia. Read more
- 1680 — Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram and his bodyguards execute the rebel leader Trunajaya. Read more
- 1492 — Reconquista: The Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders. Read more
- 1444 — Christian forces defeat the Turks in the battle of Kunovica. Read more
- 533 — Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy. Read more
- 366 — The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire. Read more
- 69 — The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor. Read more
Born on January 2
- 2006 — Claudio Echeverri, Argentine footballer Read more
- 2003 — CJ Egan-Riley, English footballer Read more
- 2003 — Elye Wahi, French footballer Read more
- 2001 — Cole Caufield, American ice hockey player Read more
- 2001 — Luiz Henrique, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 2000 — Spencer Arrighetti, American baseball player Read more
- 1999 — Georgios Kalaitzakis, Greek basketball player Read more
- 1999 — Fernando Tatís Jr., Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1999 — Aaron Wiggins, American professional basketball player Read more
- 1998 — Tfue, American online streamer Read more
- 1998 — Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1997 — Arshad Nadeem, Pakistani javelin thrower Read more
- 1997 — Carlos Soler, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1996 — Jonah Bolden, Australian-American basketball player Read more
- 1994 — Ronald Darby, American football player Read more
- 1993 — Bryson Tiller, American singer and rapper Read more
- 1992 — Paulo Gazzaniga, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1992 — Alexey Marchenko, Russian ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Teemu Pulkkinen, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Korbin Sims, Australian-Fijian rugby league player Read more
- 1991 — Ben Hardy, English actor Read more
- 1988 — Germán Cano, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1988 — Luke Harangody, American basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Damien Tussac, French-German rugby player Read more
- 1987 — Shelley Hennig, American actress and model Read more
- 1987 — Robert Milsom, English footballer Read more
- 1987 — Loïc Rémy, French footballer Read more
- 1983 — Kate Bosworth, American actress Read more
- 1983 — Anthony Carrigan, American actor Read more
- 1981 — Kirk Hinrich, American basketball player Read more
- 1981 — Maxi Rodríguez, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1980 — Kemi Badenoch, English politician Read more
- 1980 — David Gyasi, British actor Read more
- 1979 — Jonathan Greening, English footballer Read more
- 1977 — Brian Boucher, American ice hockey player and sportscaster Read more
- 1977 — Stefan Koubek, Austrian tennis player Read more
- 1976 — Paz Vega, Spanish actress Read more
- 1975 — Chris Cheney, Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Read more
- 1975 — Dax Shepard, American actor Read more
- 1975 — Jeff Suppan, American baseball player Read more
Died on January 2
- 2025 — Ágnes Keleti, Hungarian Olympic gymnast (born 1921) Read more
- 2025 — Francesc Antich, Spanish politician (born 1958) Read more
- 2019 — Daryl Dragon, American musician (born 1942) Read more
- 2019 — Bob Einstein, American actor and comedian (born 1942) Read more
- 2019 — Julia Grant, British transgender activist (born 1954) Read more
- 2019 — Gene Okerlund, American wrestling announcer (born 1942) Read more
- 2018 — Guida Maria, Portuguese actress (born 1950) Read more
- 2018 — Thomas S. Monson, American religious leader, 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (born 1927) Read more
- 2017 — Jean Vuarnet, French ski racer (born 1933) Read more
- 2017 — John Berger, English art critic, novelist and painter (born 1926) Read more
- 2016 — Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan, Indian lawyer and politician (born 1924) Read more
- 2016 — Frances Cress Welsing, American psychiatrist and author (born 1935) Read more
- 2016 — Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi Arabian religious leader (born 1959) Read more
- 2016 — Gisela Mota Ocampo, mayor of Temixco, Morelos, Mexico, assassinated (born 1982) Read more
- 2015 — Tihomir Novakov, Serbian-American physicist and academic (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Bernard Glasser, American director and producer (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Elizabeth Jane Howard, English author and screenwriter (born 1923) Read more
- 2013 — Gerda Lerner, Austrian-American historian, author, and academic (born 1920) Read more
- 2013 — Teresa Torańska, Polish journalist and author (born 1944) Read more
- 2012 — William P. Carey, American businessman and philanthropist, founded W. P. Carey (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Silvana Gallardo, American actress and producer (born 1953) Read more
- 2012 — Gordon Hirabayashi, American-Canadian sociologist and academic (born 1918) Read more
- 2011 — Anne Francis, American actress (born 1930) Read more
- 2011 — Bali Ram Bhagat, Indian politician; 16th Governor of Rajasthan (born 1922) Read more
- 2011 — Mia Bustam, Indonesian painter, writer, and political prisoner (born 1920) Read more
- 2011 — Pete Postlethwaite, English actor (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — David R. Ross, Scottish historian and author (born 1958) Read more
- 2009 — Inger Christensen, Danish poet and author (born 1935) Read more
- 2008 — George MacDonald Fraser, Scottish journalist and author (born 1925) Read more
- 2008 — Lee S. Dreyfus, American politician, Governor of Wisconsin (born 1926) Read more
- 2007 — A. Richard Newton, Australian-American engineer and academic (born 1951) Read more
- 2007 — Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, American historian and author (born 1941) Read more
- 2007 — Teddy Kollek, Hungarian-Israeli politician, Mayor of Jerusalem (born 1911) Read more
- 2006 — Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, Filipino lawyer and jurist (born 1913) Read more
- 2006 — Osa Massen, Danish-American actress (born 1914) Read more
- 2005 — Maclyn McCarty, American geneticist and physician (born 1911) Read more
- 2001 — William P. Rogers, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician, 55th United States Secretary of State (born 1913) Read more
- 2000 — Elmo Zumwalt, American admiral (born 1920) Read more
- 2000 — Patrick O'Brian, English author and translator (born 1914) Read more
- 1999 — Rolf Liebermann, Swiss-French composer and manager (born 1910) Read more
Holidays & observances
Ancestry Day (Haiti); Berchtold's Day (Switzerland); Christian feast day:
Basil the Great (Catholic Church and Church of England); Christian feast day:
Gregory of Nazianzus (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
John the Good; Christian feast day:
Macarius of Alexandria; Christian feast day:
Blessed Marie Anne Blondin; Christian feast day:
Seraphim of Sarov (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Theodore of Marseille; Christian feast day:
Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day:
January 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); The Day after New Year's Day (New Zealand); Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town, South Africa); The first day of Blacks and Whites' Carnival, celebrated until January 7 (Colombia); The ninth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity); Bank holiday (Scotland)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 2”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.