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On This Day in History — January 21

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Highlights of January 21

2025 — A fire at a hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Turkey's Bolu Province results in 78 people killed. Read more
2023 — A shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, California, left 11 people dead and injured nine others. Read more
2017 — Millions of people participated in the Women's March in Washington, D.C., and around the world to advocate for legislation and policies on human rights and other issues. Read more
2011 — Demonstrations against alleged corruption in the Albanian government led to the killings of four protesters in Tirana by the Republican Guard. Read more
1997 — The U.S. House of Representatives voted 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined. Read more
1981 — The DeLorean Motor Company completed the first production car of the DMC DeLorean at its factory in Northern Ireland. Read more
1976 — Concorde, an Anglo-French supersonic airliner, began scheduled commercial flights to London, Paris, Bahrain, and Rio de Janeiro. Read more
1972 — Tripura, formerly part of the independent Twipra Kingdom, became a state of India. Read more
1968 — A B-52 bomber carrying four nuclear weapons crashed onto sea ice near Thule Air Base, Greenland, causing localized radioactive contamination. Read more
1968 — Vietnam War: The People's Army of Vietnam attacked Khe Sanh Combat Base, a U.S. Marines outpost in Quảng Trị province, South Vietnam, starting the Battle of Khe Sanh. Read more
1951 — Mount Lamington, a volcano in Papua New Guinea, erupted (pictured) and killed more than 2,900 people. Read more
1931 — Isaac Isaacs (pictured) became the first Australian-born governor-general of Australia. Read more
1919 — The First Dáil convened at the Mansion House in Dublin and adopted a declaration of independence calling for the establishment of the Irish Republic. Read more
1793 — French Revolution: After being found guilty of high treason by the National Convention, Louis XVI was guillotined in Paris. Read more
1757 — French and Indian War: French regulars, Canadien militia and Indigenous forces ambushed Rogers' Rangers forces in the Battle on Snowshoes. Read more
1326 — King Edward II of England issued a royal charter confirming Adam de Brome's foundation of Oriel College, Oxford. Read more
763 — The Abbasid Caliphate crushed the Alid revolt when a rebel leader was mortally wounded in battle near Basra in present-day Iraq. Read more

Events

2025 — A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu Province, Turkey, results in 78 people dead and 51 injured. Read more
2023 — Huu Can Tran, 72, opens fire in a dance studio in Monterey Park, California, killing eleven people and injuring nine others before later committing suicide. It is the worst mass shooting in Los Angeles County since the 2008 Covina massacre. Read more
2017 — Over 400 cities across America and 160+ countries worldwide participate in a large-scale women's march, including in Portland, on Donald Trump's first full day as President of the United States. Read more
2014 — Rojava conflict: The Jazira Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic. Read more
2011 — Anti-government demonstrations take place in Tirana, Albania. Four people die from gunshots, allegedly fired from armed police protecting the Prime Minister's office. Read more
2009 — Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip, officially ending a three-week war it had with Hamas. However, intermittent fire by both sides continues in the weeks to follow. Read more
2005 — In Belmopan, Belize, the unrest over the government's new taxes erupts into riots. Read more
2004 — NASA's MER-A (the Mars Rover Spirit) ceases communication with mission control. The problem lies in the management of its flash memory and is fixed remotely from Earth on February 6. Read more
2003 — A 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes the Mexican state of Colima, killing 29 and leaving approximately 10,000 people homeless. Read more
2000 — Ecuador: After the Ecuadorian Congress is seized by indigenous organizations, Col. Lucio Gutiérrez, Carlos Solorzano and Antonio Vargas depose President Jamil Mahuad. Gutierrez is later replaced by Gen. Carlos Mendoza, who resigns and allows Vice-President Gustavo Noboa to succeed Mahuad. Read more
1999 — War on drugs: In one of the largest drug busts in American history, the United States Coast Guard intercepts a ship with over 4,300 kilograms (9,500 lb) of cocaine on board. Read more
1997 — The U.S. House of Representatives votes 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined. Read more
1986 — Conservative protestors attack a mock shanty town that had been erected on the Green at Dartmouth College as part of anti-apartheid protests. Read more
1985 — Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 crashes near Reno–Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada, killing 70 people. Read more
1981 — Production of the DeLorean sports car begins in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Read more
1980 — Iran Air Flight 291 crashes in the Alborz Mountains while on approach to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, Iran, killing 128 people. Read more
1976 — Commercial service of Concorde begins with the London-Bahrain and Paris-Rio routes. Read more
1971 — The current Emley Moor transmitting station, the tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom, begins transmitting UHF broadcasts. Read more
1968 — Vietnam War, Battle of Khe Sanh: One of the most publicized and controversial battles of the war begins. Read more
1968 — A B-52 bomber crashes near Thule Air Base, contaminating the area after its nuclear payload ruptures. One of the four bombs remains unaccounted for after the cleanup operation is complete. Read more
1963 — The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad ends operation. Read more
1960 — Little Joe 1B, a Mercury spacecraft, lifts off from Wallops Island, Virginia, with Miss Sam, a female rhesus monkey, on board. Read more
1960 — Avianca Flight 671 crashes at Montego Bay, Jamaica airport, killing 37 people. Read more
1960 — A coal mine collapses at Holly Country, South Africa, killing 435 miners. Read more
1954 — The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States. Read more
1951 — The catastrophic eruption of Mount Lamington in Papua New Guinea claims 2,942 lives. Read more
1950 — American lawyer and government official Alger Hiss is convicted of perjury. Read more
1948 — The Flag of Quebec is adopted and flown for the first time over the National Assembly of Quebec. The day is marked annually as Québec Flag Day. Read more
1945 — The Trade Union Council of Transcarpathian Ukraine is founded in Mukachevo. Read more
1942 — The Jewish resistance organization, Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye, based in the Vilna Ghetto is established. Read more
1941 — Sparked by the murder of a German officer in Bucharest, Romania, the day before, members of the Iron Guard engage in a rebellion and pogrom killing 125 Jews. Read more
1932 — Finland and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression treaty. Read more
1931 — Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia. Read more
1925 — Albania declares itself a republic. Read more
1919 — A revolutionary Irish parliament is founded and declares the independence of the Irish Republic. One of the first engagements of the Irish War of Independence takes place. Read more
1915 — Kiwanis International is founded in Detroit. Read more
1911 — The first Monte Carlo Rally takes place. Read more
1908 — New York City passes the Sullivan Ordinance, making it illegal for women to smoke in public, only to have the measure vetoed by the mayor. Read more
1893 — The Tati Concessions Land, formerly part of Matabeleland, is formally annexed to the Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana. Read more
1854 — The RMS Tayleur sinks off Lambay Island on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Australia with great loss of life. Read more
1824 — The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast during the First Anglo-Ashanti War. Read more
1793 — After being found guilty of treason by the French National Convention, Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine. Read more
1789 — The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth by William Hill Brown, is printed in Boston. Read more
1774 — Abdul Hamid I becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam. Read more
1749 — The Teatro Filarmonico in Verona is destroyed by fire, as a result of a torch being left behind in the box of a nobleman after a performance. It is rebuilt in 1754. Read more
1720 — Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm. Read more
1535 — Following the Affair of the Placards, the French king leads an anti-Protestant procession through Paris. Read more
1525 — The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptize each other in the home of Manz's mother in Zürich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union. Read more
763 — Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa. Read more

Born on January 21

2007 — Luke Littler, English darts player Read more
2005 — IShowSpeed, American YouTuber and online streamer Read more
2004 — Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway Read more
2003 — Hannibal Mejbri, Tunisian footballer Read more
2002 — Moussa Diabaté, French basketball player Read more
2002 — Corey Kiner, American football player Read more
2001 — Baek Jong-bum, South Korean footballer Read more
1999 — Rubina Ali, Indian actress Read more
1999 — Fūju Kamio, Japanese actor Read more
1999 — Alisha Lehmann, Swiss footballer Read more
1998 — Pervis Estupiñán, Ecuadorian footballer Read more
1997 — Mamadi Diakite, Guinean basketball player Read more
1997 — Jeremy Shada, American actor, musician and singer Read more
1997 — Ilia Topuria, German-Georgian mixed martial artist Read more
1996 — Marco Asensio, Spanish footballer Read more
1996 — Cristian Pavón, Argentine footballer Read more
1995 — Jake Elliott, American football player Read more
1995 — Marine Johannès, French basketball player Read more
1995 — Alanna Kennedy, Australian soccer player Read more
1995 — Nguyễn Công Phượng, Vietnamese footballer Read more
1995 — Yuliya Stupak, Russian cross-country skier Read more
1994 — Amin Affane, Swedish footballer Read more
1994 — Laura Robson, Australian-English tennis player Read more
1994 — Booboo Stewart, American actor Read more
1993 — Ronald Blair, former professional American football player Read more
1993 — Muralha, Brazilian footballer Read more
1992 — Sven Erik Bystrøm, Norwegian cyclist Read more
1992 — James Duckworth, Australian tennis player Read more
1992 — Quinton Howden, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1992 — Kwame Karikari, Ghanaian footballer Read more
1992 — Tom Kühnhackl, German ice hockey player Read more
1992 — Nicolás Mezquida, Uruguayan footballer Read more
1992 — Verónica Cepede Royg, Paraguayan tennis player Read more
1992 — Roland Szolnoki, Hungarian footballer Read more
1991 — Ali Al-Busaidi, Omani footballer Read more
1991 — Jan Hirt, Czech cyclist Read more
1991 — Brayden McNabb, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1991 — Marta Pagnini, Italian gymnast Read more
1990 — Knowledge Musona, Zimbabwean footballer Read more
1990 — Kelly Rohrbach, American model and actress Read more

Died on January 21

2026 — Virginia Oliver (born 1920), American lobster fisherwoman Read more
2025 — Mauricio Funes, Salvadoran politician, 79th President of El Salvador (born 1959) Read more
2025 — Garth Hudson, Canadian keyboard player, songwriter, and producer (born 1937) Read more
2022 — Louie Anderson, American actor and comedian (born 1953) Read more
2022 — Leonor Oyarzún, Chilean socialite, First Lady of Chile (born 1919) Read more
2020 — Terry Jones, Welsh actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1942) Read more
2020 — Morgan Wootten, American high school basketball coach (born 1931) Read more
2019 — Kaye Ballard, American actress (born 1925) Read more
2019 — Henri, Count of Paris, Head of the House of Orléans (born 1933) Read more
2019 — Emiliano Sala, Argentine footballer (born 1990) Read more
2019 — Harris Wofford, American politician, author and civil rights activist (born 1926) Read more
2016 — Bill Johnson, American skier (born 1960) Read more
2016 — Mrinalini Sarabhai, a 1992-Padma Bhushan award winner Indian classical dancer, choreographer and instructor. (born 1918) Read more
2015 — Marcus Borg, American scholar, theologian, and author (born 1942) Read more
2015 — Leon Brittan, English lawyer and politician, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (born 1939) Read more
2015 — Johnnie Lewis, Liberian lawyer and politician, 18th Chief Justice of Liberia (born 1946) Read more
2015 — Canek Sánchez Guevara, Cuban author and dissident (born 1974) Read more
2013 — Ahmet Mete Işıkara, Turkish geophysicist and academic (born 1941) Read more
2013 — Chumpol Silpa-archa, Thai academic and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (born 1940) Read more
2013 — Michael Winner, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1935) Read more
2012 — Jonathan Idema, American soldier, mercenary, con artist, vigilante, and criminal (born 1956) Read more
2011 — Theoni V. Aldredge, Greek-American costume designer (born 1922) Read more
2011 — Dennis Oppenheim, American sculptor and photographer (born 1938) Read more
2011 — E. V. V. Satyanarayana, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1958) Read more
2010 — Paul Quarrington, Canadian author, playwright, guitarist, and composer (born 1953) Read more
2009 — Krista Kilvet, Estonian journalist, politician and diplomat (born 1946) Read more
2006 — Ibrahim Rugova, Kosovo journalist and politician, 1st President of Kosovo (born 1944) Read more
2005 — Theun de Vries, Dutch author and poet (born 1907) Read more
2005 — John L. Hess, American journalist and critic (born 1917) Read more
2005 — Kaljo Raid, Estonian cellist, composer, and pastor (born 1921) Read more
2004 — Yordan Radichkov, Bulgarian author and playwright (born 1929) Read more
2003 — Paul Haines, American-Canadian poet and songwriter (born 1933) Read more
2003 — Paul Kuusberg, Estonian journalist and author (born 1916) Read more
2002 — Peggy Lee, American singer (born 1920) Read more
1999 — Susan Strasberg, American actress (born 1938) Read more
1998 — Jack Lord, American actor, director, and producer (born 1920) Read more
1994 — Bassel al-Assad, Son of the former President of the Syrian Arab Republic Hafez al-Assad (born 1962) Read more
1993 — Charlie Gehringer, American baseball player and manager (born 1903) Read more
1992 — Eddie Mabo, Australian land rights activist (born 1936) Read more
1989 — Carl Furillo, American baseball player (born 1922) Read more

Holidays & observances

Babinden (Bulgaria, Serbia); Christian feast day: Agnes; Christian feast day: Demiana (Coptic Church); Christian feast day: Fructuosus; Christian feast day: John Yi Yun-il (one of The Korean Martyrs); Christian feast day: Meinrad of Einsiedeln; Christian feast day: January 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Errol Barrow Day (Barbados); Flag Day (Quebec); Grandmother's Day (Poland); Lady of Altagracia Day (Dominican Republic); Lincoln Alexander Day (Canada); National Hugging Day (United States); Squirrel Appreciation Day

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 21”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.