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On This Day in History — January 22
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Highlights of January 22
- 2012 — Croatia held a referendum in which it voted to become a member of the European Union. Read more
- 2006 — Evo Morales was inaugurated as President of Bolivia, becoming the country's first indigenous president. Read more
- 1987 — After being convicted of receiving bribes, Pennsylvania state treasurer R. Budd Dwyer shot and killed himself in front of television cameras during a press conference. Read more
- 1984 — During Super Bowl XVIII, Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh, the first successful personal computer to use a graphical user interface, with the television commercial "1984". Read more
- 1979 — After surrounding Mutukula the previous day, Tanzanian forces attacked the town and caused Ugandan forces to flee. Read more
- 1973 — The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade struck down laws restricting abortion during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Read more
- 1970 — The Boeing 747, the world's first wide-body commercial airliner, entered service for Pan Am on the New York–London route. Read more
- 1969 — Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev (pictured) survived what was seen as an assassination attempt, an incident that was not revealed to the public until after the fall of the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1968 — Apollo 5 (pictured), the first flight of NASA's Lunar Module, lifted off from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station. Read more
- 1957 — New York City police arrested George Metesky, better known as the "Mad Bomber", for planting over 30 bombs over 16 years throughout the city. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: The Battle of Buna–Gona on New Guinea ended with an Allied victory after two months of fighting in which the Japanese fought with a resolve and tenacity not previously encountered. Read more
- 1924 — Ramsay MacDonald took office as the first prime minister of the United Kingdom from the Labour Party. Read more
- 1906 — The SS Valencia was wrecked off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, in a location so treacherous it was known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. Read more
- 1879 — Anglo-Zulu War: The Zulu forces of King Cetshwayo (pictured) achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Isandlwana. Read more
- 1689 — The Convention Parliament met to decide the fate of the throne after James II, the last Catholic monarch of England, fled to France following the Glorious Revolution. Read more
- 1273 — Muhammad II became Sultan of Granada after his father's death in a riding accident. Read more
- 565 — Eutychius of Constantinople was arrested after he refused Byzantine emperor Justinian I's order to adopt the tenets of the Aphthartodocetae, a sect of non-Chalcedonian Christians. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Ram Mandir is inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute. Read more
- 2009 — U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp; congressional opposition will prevent it being implemented. Read more
- 2007 — At least 88 people are killed when two car bombs explode in the Bab Al-Sharqi market in central Baghdad, Iraq. Read more
- 2006 — Evo Morales is inaugurated as President of Bolivia, becoming the country's first indigenous president. Read more
- 1999 — Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India. Read more
- 1998 — Space Shuttle program: space shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-89 to dock with the Russian space station Mir. Read more
- 1995 — Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid suicide bombing: In central Israel, near Netanya, two Gazans blow themselves up at a military transit point, killing 19 Israeli soldiers. Read more
- 1992 — Space Shuttle program: The space shuttle Discovery launches on STS-42 carrying Dr. Roberta Bondar, who becomes the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist in space. Read more
- 1987 — Philippine security forces open fire on a crowd of 10,000–15,000 demonstrators at Malacañang Palace, Manila, killing 13. Read more
- 1973 — The Supreme Court of the United States delivers its decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, legalizing elective abortion in all fifty states. This decision is subsequently overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022. Read more
- 1973 — The crew of Apollo 17 addresses a joint session of Congress after the completion of the final Apollo Moon landing mission. Read more
- 1973 — A chartered Boeing 707 explodes in flames upon landing at Kano Airport, Nigeria, killing 176. Read more
- 1973 — In a bout for the world heavyweight boxing championship in Kingston, Jamaica, challenger George Foreman knocks down champion Joe Frazier six times in the first two rounds before the fight is stopped by referee Arthur Mercante Sr.. Read more
- 1971 — The Singapore Declaration, one of the two most important documents to the uncodified constitution of the Commonwealth of Nations, is issued. Read more
- 1970 — The Boeing 747, the world's first "jumbo jet", enters commercial service for launch customer Pan American Airways with its maiden voyage from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport. Read more
- 1968 — Apollo Program: Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space. Read more
- 1968 — Operation Igloo White, a US electronic surveillance system to stop communist infiltration into South Vietnam begins installation. Read more
- 1967 — Between dozens and hundreds of anti-Somocista demonstrators are killed by the Nicaraguan National Guard in Managua. Read more
- 1963 — The Élysée Treaty of cooperation between France and West Germany is signed by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer. Read more
- 1957 — Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula. Read more
- 1947 — KTLA, the first commercial television station west of the Mississippi River, begins operation in Hollywood. Read more
- 1946 — In Iran, Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people's Republic of Mahabad at Chahar Cheragh Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad; he becomes the new president and Haji Baba Sheikh becomes the prime minister. Read more
- 1946 — Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in the bitterly fought Battle of Buna–Gona. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass. Read more
- 1927 — Teddy Wakelam gives the first live radio commentary of a football match, between Arsenal F.C. and Sheffield United at Highbury. Read more
- 1924 — Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1919 — Act Zluky is signed, unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic. Read more
- 1917 — American entry into World War I: President Woodrow Wilson of the still-neutral United States calls for "peace without victory" in Europe. Read more
- 1915 — Over 600 people are killed in Guadalajara, Mexico, when a train plunges off the tracks into a deep canyon. Read more
- 1906 — SS Valencia runs aground on rocks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, killing more than 130. Read more
- 1905 — Bloody Sunday occurs in Saint Petersburg, beginning the 1905 revolution. Read more
- 1901 — Edward VII is proclaimed King of the United Kingdom after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. Read more
- 1890 — The United Mine Workers of America is founded in Columbus, Ohio. Read more
- 1879 — Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Isandlwana results in a Zulu victory. Read more
- 1879 — Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Rorke's Drift, just some 15 km (9.3 mi) away from Isandlwana, results in a British victory. Read more
- 1863 — The January Uprising breaks out in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. The aim of the national movement is to regain Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth from occupation by Russia. Read more
- 1849 — Second Anglo-Sikh War: The Siege of Multan ends after nine months when the last Sikh defenders of Multan, Punjab, surrender. Read more
- 1808 — The Portuguese royal family arrives in Brazil after fleeing the French army's invasion of Portugal two months earlier. Read more
- 1689 — The Convention Parliament convenes to determine whether James II and VII, the last Roman Catholic monarch of England, Ireland and Scotland, had vacated the thrones of England and Ireland when he fled to France in 1688. Read more
- 1555 — The Ava Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in what is now Myanmar. Read more
- 1517 — The Ottoman Empire under Selim I defeats the Mamluk Sultanate and captures present-day Egypt at the Battle of Ridaniya. Read more
- 1506 — The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican. Read more
- 871 — Battle of Basing: The West Saxons led by King Æthelred I are defeated by the Danelaw Vikings at Basing. Read more
- 613 — Eight-month-old Heraclius Constantine is crowned as co-emperor (Caesar) by his father Heraclius at Constantinople. Read more
Born on January 22
- 2025 — Athena Mapelli Mozzi, daughter of Princess Beatrice, born 11th in line of succession to the British throne Read more
- 2007 — Pau Cubarsí, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2002 — Caitlin Clark, American basketball player Read more
- 2000 — Laia Codina, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1999 — Andrew Thomas, American football player Read more
- 1998 — Walid Cheddira, Moroccan footballer Read more
- 1997 — Fan Zhendong, Chinese table tennis player Read more
- 1996 — Dillon Brooks, Canadian basketball player Read more
- 1996 — Sami Gayle, American actress Read more
- 1996 — Joshua Ho-Sang, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1996 — Kumi Sasaki, Japanese singer and model Read more
- 1994 — Tyrone Taylor, American baseball player Read more
- 1992 — Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroonian footballer Read more
- 1991 — Stefan Kolb, German footballer Read more
- 1990 — Alizé Cornet, French tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Mike Hauschild, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Logic, American rapper Read more
- 1989 — Oscar Möller, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1989 — Theo Robinson, English footballer Read more
- 1988 — Greg Oden, American basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Marcel Schmelzer, German footballer Read more
- 1987 — Astrid Jacobsen, Norwegian skier Read more
- 1987 — Shane Long, Irish footballer Read more
- 1987 — Angel Olsen, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1987 — Ray Rice, American football player Read more
- 1986 — Maher Magri, Tunisian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Matt Simon, Australian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Nicklas Grossmann, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Fotios Papoulis, Greek footballer Read more
- 1985 — Yan Xu, Singaporean table tennis player Read more
- 1984 — Ben Eager, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Ubaldo Jiménez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1984 — Maceo Rigters, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1983 — Étienne Bacrot, French chess player Read more
- 1982 — Fabricio Coloccini, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1982 — Jason Peters, American football player Read more
- 1981 — Willa Ford, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Read more
- 1981 — Beverley Mitchell, American actress Read more
- 1981 — Ben Moody, American musician, songwriter, and producer Read more
- 1981 — Ibrahima Sonko, French footballer Read more
Died on January 22
- 2026 — Hifumi Katō, Japanese professional shogi player (born 1940) Read more
- 2023 — Lin Brehmer, American disc jockey (born 1954) Read more
- 2022 — Thích Nhất Hạnh, Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, and founder of the Plum Village Tradition (born 1926) Read more
- 2021 — Hank Aaron, American baseball player (born 1934) Read more
- 2018 — Ursula K. Le Guin, American sci-fi and fantasy novelist (born 1929) Read more
- 2018 — William B. Jordan, American art historian (born 1940) Read more
- 2017 — Masaya Nakamura, Japanese businessman (born 1925) Read more
- 2017 — Yordano Ventura, Dominican baseball player (born 1991) Read more
- 2016 — Homayoun Behzadi, Iranian footballer and coach (born 1942) Read more
- 2016 — Cecil Parkinson, English politician (born 1931) Read more
- 2016 — Lois Ramsey, Australian actress (born 1922) Read more
- 2016 — Kamer Genç, Turkish politician (born 1940) Read more
- 2015 — Fabrizio de Miranda, Italian engineer and academic, co-designed the Rande Bridge (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Wendell H. Ford, American lieutenant and politician, 53rd Governor of Kentucky (born 1924) Read more
- 2015 — Margaret Bloy Graham, Canadian author and illustrator (born 1920) Read more
- 2014 — Maziar Partow, Iranian cinematographer (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Robert Bonnaud, French historian and academic (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — Hinton Mitchem, American businessman and politician (born 1938) Read more
- 2012 — Simon Marsden, English photographer and author (born 1948) Read more
- 2012 — Joe Paterno, American football player and coach (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Clarence Tillenius, Canadian painter and environmentalist (born 1913) Read more
- 2012 — Dick Tufeld, American actor (born 1926) Read more
- 2010 — Louis R. Harlan, American historian and author (born 1922) Read more
- 2010 — Jean Simmons, English-American actress (born 1929) Read more
- 2009 — Billy Werber, American baseball player (born 1908) Read more
- 2008 — Heath Ledger, Australian actor and director (born 1979) Read more
- 2008 — Miles Lerman, Polish Holocaust survivor and activist (born 1920) Read more
- 2007 — Ngô Quang Trưởng, Vietnamese general (born 1929) Read more
- 2007 — Abbé Pierre, French priest and activist (born 1912) Read more
- 2007 — Liz Renay, American actress, author and performer (born 1926) Read more
- 2006 — Aydın Güven Gürkan, Turkish academic and politician, Turkish Minister of Labor and Social Security (born 1941) Read more
- 2005 — César Gutiérrez, Venezuelan baseball player, coach, and manager (born 1943) Read more
- 2005 — Carlo Orelli, Italian soldier (born 1894) Read more
- 2005 — Consuelo Velázquez, Mexican pianist and songwriter (born 1924) Read more
- 2004 — Billy May, American trumpet player and composer (born 1916) Read more
- 2004 — Tom Mead, Australian journalist and politician (born 1918) Read more
- 2004 — Ann Miller, American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1923) Read more
- 2003 — Bill Mauldin, American soldier and cartoonist (born 1921) Read more
- 2001 — Tommie Agee, American baseball player (born 1942) Read more
- 2001 — Roy Brown, American clown and puppeteer (born 1932) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Anastasius of Persia; Christian feast day:
Gaudentius of Novara; Christian feast day:
László Batthyány-Strattmann; Christian feast day:
Laura Vicuna; Christian feast day:
Vincent Pallotti; Christian feast day:
Vincent of Saragossa; Christian feast day:
Vincent, Orontius, and Victor; Christian feast day:
Blessed William Joseph Chaminade; Christian feast day:
January 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Unity of Ukraine (Ukraine); Grandfather's Day (Poland)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 22”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.