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On This Day in History — January 20
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Highlights of January 20
- 2018 — A group of Taliban gunmen attacked and took hostages at the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul, Afghanistan, sparking a 12-hour battle that left at least 21 people dead. Read more
- 2009 — During a national financial crisis, thousands of people protested (pictured) at the Icelandic parliament in Reykjavík. Read more
- 2009 — In Washington, D.C., Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first African-American president of the United States. Read more
- 1990 — The Soviet Red Army violently cracked down on Azeri pro-independence demonstrations in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR. Read more
- 1969 — Bengali student activist Amanullah Asaduzzaman was shot and killed by East Pakistani police, an event that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War. Read more
- 1968 — The Houston Cougars upset the UCLA Bruins in what became known as the "Game of the Century" (pictured), ending the Bruins' 47-game winning streak and establishing college basketball as a sports commodity on American television. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: In an operation that took nearly two months to complete, Germany began the evacuation of at least 1.8 million people from East Prussia in anticipation of the advancing Soviet Red Army. Read more
- 1942 — The Holocaust: Reinhard Heydrich and other senior Nazi officials met at the Wannsee Conference near Berlin to discuss the implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". Read more
- 1843 — Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná, became the de facto first prime minister of the Empire of Brazil. Read more
- 1726 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of his cantata Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen on the second Sunday after the Epiphany. Read more
- 1356 — Edward Balliol, whose father John was briefly King of Scotland, gave up his claim to the throne in exchange for an English pension. Read more
- 1265 — Simon de Montfort summoned local representatives to the Palace of Westminster to attend a parliament, now considered to be the forerunner of the House of Commons of England. Read more
- 1156 — According to legend, Lalli slew Bishop Henry of Finland with an axe on the ice of Lake Köyliönjärvi in Köyliö. Read more
Events
- 2018 — A group of four or five gunmen attack The Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, sparking a 12-hour battle. The attack kills 40 people and injures many others. Read more
- 2018 — Syrian civil war: The Government of Turkey announces the initiation of the Afrin offensive and begins shelling Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions in Afrin Region. Read more
- 2009 — A protest movement in Iceland culminates as the 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests start. Read more
- 2001 — President of the Philippines Joseph Estrada is ousted in a nonviolent four-day revolution, and is succeeded by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Read more
- 1992 — Air Inter Flight 148, an Airbus A320-111, crashes into a mountain near Strasbourg, France, killing 87 of the 96 people on board. Read more
- 1991 — Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the country's Muslim north and Christian south. Read more
- 1990 — Protests in Azerbaijan, part of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1986 — In the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time. Read more
- 1986 — Leabua Jonathan, Prime Minister of Lesotho, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by General Justin Lekhanya. Read more
- 1981 — Twenty minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States of America, Iran releases 52 American hostages. Read more
- 1974 — China gains control over all the Paracel Islands after a military engagement between the naval forces of China and South Vietnam. Read more
- 1973 — Amílcar Cabral, leader of the independence movement in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, is assassinated in Conakry, Guinea. Read more
- 1972 — Pakistan launches its nuclear weapons program, a few weeks after its defeat in the Bangladesh Liberation War, as well as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Read more
- 1954 — In the United States, the National Negro Network is established with 40 charter member radio stations. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The provisional government of Béla Miklós in Hungary agrees to an armistice with the Allies. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Germany begins the evacuation of 1.8 million people from East Prussia, a task which will take nearly two months. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: At the Wannsee Conference held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee, senior Nazi German officials discuss the implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish question". Read more
- 1941 — A German officer is killed in Bucharest, Romania, sparking a rebellion and pogrom by the Iron Guard, killing 125 Jews and 30 soldiers. Read more
- 1923 — During the Irish Civil War the Irish Free State Army executes 10 members of the anti-treaty Irish Republican Army Read more
- 1921 — The British K-class submarine HMS K5 sinks in the English Channel; all 56 on board die. Read more
- 1921 — The first Constitution of Turkey is adopted, making fundamental changes in the source and exercise of sovereignty by consecrating the principle of national sovereignty. Read more
- 1909 — Newly formed automaker General Motors (GM) buys into the Oakland Motor Car Company, which later becomes GM's long-running Pontiac division. Read more
- 1887 — The United States Senate allows the Navy to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base. Read more
- 1877 — The last day of the Constantinople Conference results in agreement for political reforms in the Balkans. Read more
- 1874 — The Treaty of Pangkor is signed between the British and Sultan Abdullah of Perak, paving the way for further British colonization of Malaya. Read more
- 1841 — Hong Kong Island is occupied by the British during the First Opium War. Read more
- 1839 — In the Battle of Yungay, Chile defeats an alliance between Peru and Bolivia. Read more
- 1788 — The third and main part of First Fleet arrives at Botany Bay, beginning the British colonization of Australia. Arthur Phillip decides that Port Jackson is a more suitable location for a colony. Read more
- 1785 — Invading Siamese forces attempt to exploit the political chaos in Vietnam, but are ambushed and annihilated at the Mekong river by the Tây Sơn in the Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút. Read more
- 1783 — The Kingdom of Great Britain signs preliminary articles of peace with the Kingdom of France, setting the stage for the official end of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War later that year. Read more
- 1726 — J. S. Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen (My sighs, my tears), BWV 13, for the second Sunday after Epiphany. Read more
- 1649 — The High Court of Justice for the trial of Charles I begins its proceedings. Read more
- 1576 — The Mexican city of León is founded by order of the viceroy Don Martín Enríquez de Almanza. Read more
- 1567 — Battle of Rio de Janeiro: Portuguese forces under the command of Estácio de Sá definitively drive the French out of Rio de Janeiro. Read more
- 1523 — Christian II is forced to abdicate as King of Denmark and Norway. Read more
- 1401 — The Taula de canvi (Catalan: "Table of change"), described as Europe's first-ever public bank, began operations inside Barcelona's Llotja de Mar. Read more
- 1356 — Edward Balliol surrenders his claim to the Scottish throne to Edward III in exchange for an English pension. Read more
- 1320 — Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland. Read more
- 1265 — The first English parliament to include not only Lords but also representatives of the major towns holds its first meeting in the Palace of Westminster, now commonly known as the "Houses of Parliament". Read more
- 1156 — Finnish peasant Lalli kills English clergyman Henry, the Bishop of Turku, on the ice of Lake Köyliö. Read more
- 250 — Pope Fabian is martyred during the Decian persecution. Read more
Born on January 20
- 2003 — J. J. McCarthy, American football player Read more
- 2003 — Antonia Ružić, Croatian tennis player Read more
- 2002 — Arnaud Kalimuendo, French footballer Read more
- 2000 — Tyler Herro, American basketball player Read more
- 1995 — Joey Badass, American rapper and actor Read more
- 1995 — Calum Chambers, English footballer Read more
- 1995 — José María Giménez, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1995 — Sergi Samper, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1995 — Kim So-hee, South Korean singer Read more
- 1994 — Seán Kavanagh, Irish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Hampus Lindholm, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1994 — Lucas Piazon, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1993 — Lorenzo Crisetig, Italian footballer Read more
- 1993 — Cat Janice, American singer-songwriter (died 2024) Read more
- 1993 — DeVante Parker, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Tom Cairney, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1991 — Ciara Hanna, American actress and model Read more
- 1991 — Polona Hercog, Slovenian tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Jumpol Adulkittiporn, Thai actor Read more
- 1989 — Nick Foles, American football player Read more
- 1989 — Alex Grant, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1989 — Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1988 — Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé, Nigerian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Jan Muršak, Slovenian ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Evan Peters, American actor Read more
- 1986 — Kevin Parker, Australian singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Read more
- 1985 — Nabil Boukili, Belgian politician Read more
- 1984 — Toni Gonzaga, Filipino singer and television personality Read more
- 1984 — Bonnie McKee, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1983 — Geovany Soto, Puerto Rican baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Ruchi Sanghvi, Indian computer engineer Read more
- 1982 — Fredrik Strømstad, Norwegian footballer Read more
- 1981 — Freddy Guzmán, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1981 — Owen Hargreaves, English footballer Read more
- 1981 — Jason Richardson, American basketball player Read more
- 1980 — Karl Anderson, American wrestler Read more
- 1980 — Philippe Cousteau, Jr., American-French oceanographer and journalist Read more
- 1980 — Philippe Gagnon, Canadian swimmer Read more
- 1980 — Kim Jeong-hoon, South Korean singer and actor Read more
- 1979 — Rob Bourdon, American musician and songwriter Read more
Died on January 20
- 2025 — Lynn Ban, Singaporean jewelry designer (born 1972) Read more
- 2025 — Cecile Richards, American activist and former Planned Parenthood president (born 1957) Read more
- 2024 — Norman Jewison, Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1926) Read more
- 2022 — Meat Loaf, American singer and actor (born 1947) Read more
- 2021 — Sibusiso Moyo, Zimbabwean politician, army general (born 1960) Read more
- 2021 — Mira Furlan, Croatian actress and singer (born 1955) Read more
- 2020 — Jaroslav Kubera, Czech politician (born 1947) Read more
- 2020 — Tom Fisher Railsback, American politician, member of the Illinois and U.S. House of Representatives (born 1932) Read more
- 2018 — Paul Bocuse, French chef (born 1926) Read more
- 2018 — Naomi Parker Fraley, American naval machiner, considered the model for the "We Can Do It!" posters of World War II (born 1921) Read more
- 2016 — Mykolas Burokevičius, Lithuanian carpenter and politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2016 — Edmonde Charles-Roux, French journalist and author (born 1920) Read more
- 2014 — Claudio Abbado, Italian conductor (born 1933) Read more
- 2014 — Otis G. Pike, American judge and politician (born 1921) Read more
- 2014 — Jonas Trinkūnas, Lithuanian ethnologist and academic (born 1939) Read more
- 2013 — Pavlos Matesis, Greek author and playwright (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Toyo Shibata, Japanese poet and author (born 1911) Read more
- 2012 — Etta James, American singer-songwriter (born 1938) Read more
- 2012 — John Levy, American bassist and manager (born 1912) Read more
- 2012 — Ioannis Kefalogiannis, Greek politician, Greek Minister of the Interior (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — Alejandro Rodriguez, Venezuelan-American pediatrician and psychiatrist (born 1918) Read more
- 2009 — Stéphanos II Ghattas, Egyptian patriarch (born 1920) Read more
- 2005 — Per Borten, Norwegian lawyer and politician, 18th Prime Minister of Norway (born 1913) Read more
- 2005 — Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, Polish journalist and politician (born 1914) Read more
- 2005 — Miriam Rothschild, English zoologist, entomologist, and author (born 1908) Read more
- 2004 — Alan Brown, English racing driver (born 1919) Read more
- 2004 — T. Nadaraja, Sri Lankan lawyer and academic (born 1917) Read more
- 2003 — Al Hirschfeld, American painter and illustrator (born 1903) Read more
- 2003 — Nedra Volz, American actress (born 1908) Read more
- 2002 — Carrie Hamilton, American actress and singer (born 1963) Read more
- 1998 — Bobo Brazil, American professional wrestler (born 1924) Read more
- 1996 — Gerry Mulligan, American saxophonist and composer (born 1927) Read more
- 1994 — Matt Busby, Scottish footballer and coach (born 1909) Read more
- 1994 — Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, first Kenyan Vice-President (born 1911) Read more
- 1993 — Audrey Hepburn, British actress and humanitarian activist (born 1929) Read more
- 1990 — Barbara Stanwyck, American actress (born 1907) Read more
- 1989 — Alamgir Kabir, Bangladeshi director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1938) Read more
- 1988 — Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Pakistani activist and politician (born 1890) Read more
- 1988 — Dora Stratou, Greek dancer and choreographer (born 1903) Read more
- 1984 — Johnny Weissmuller, American swimmer and actor (born 1904) Read more
Holidays & observances
Armed Forces Day (Mali); Army Day (Laos); Christian feast day:
Abadios; Christian feast day:
Blessed Basil Moreau; Christian feast day:
Eustochia Smeralda Calafato; Christian feast day:
Euthymius the Great; Christian feast day:
Fabian; Christian feast day:
Manchán of Lemanaghan; Christian feast day:
Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception Brando; Christian feast day:
Richard Rolle (Church of England); Christian feast day:
Sebastian; Christian feast day:
Stephen Min Kuk-ka (one of The Korean Martyrs); Christian feast day:
January 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Heroes' Day (Cape Verde); Martyrs' Day (Azerbaijan); Presidential inaugurations (United States)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 20”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.