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On This Day in History — January 29

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Highlights of January 29

2017 — A lone gunman carried out a mass shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada, killing six people and injuring up to nineteen others. Read more
2013 — Twenty-one people died when SCAT Airlines Flight 760 crashed near Almaty, Kazakhstan. Read more
2009 — The Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt ruled that people who did not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions were also eligible to receive government identity documents. Read more
2006 — India's Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a Test cricket hat-trick in the opening over of a match. Read more
1991 — The first major ground engagement of the Gulf War began with the Iraqi invasion of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, recaptured three days later by Coalition forces. Read more
1967 — The Mantra-Rock Dance (poster pictured), called the "ultimate high" of the hippie era, took place in San Francisco, featuring Swami Bhaktivedanta, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, and Allen Ginsberg. Read more
1944 — World War II: At least 38 civilians were killed and about a dozen others injured when the Polish village of Koniuchy was attacked by a Soviet partisan unit with a contingent of Jewish partisans. Read more
1943 — World War II: The Battle of Rennell Island, the last major naval engagement between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal campaign, began. Read more
1911 — Mexican Revolution: The Magonista rebellion began when Mexican Liberal Party troops captured the town of Mexicali. Read more
1907 — Charles Curtis (pictured) of Kansas, a citizen of the Kaw Nation, became the first Native American U.S. Senator. Read more
1891 — Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ascended the throne. Read more
1856 — Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross, originally to recognise acts of valour by British military personnel during the Crimean War. Read more
1845 — American poet Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" appeared in The Evening Mirror as the newspaper's first publication attributed to Poe. Read more
1814 — War of the Sixth Coalition: At the Battle of Brienne, both sides' commanders, Napoleon and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, were nearly captured. Read more
946 — The Abbasid caliph, al-Mustakfi, was deposed, and went on to spend the rest of his life as a prisoner in the caliphal palace. Read more
904 — Sergius III returned from exile to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher. Read more
757 — An Lushan, leader of a revolt against the Tang dynasty and emperor of Yan, was assassinated in a plot involving his own son, An Qingxu. Read more

Events

2025 — American Eagle Flight 5342 collided mid-air with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk operated by the United States Army and crashed into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. Read more
2025 — A chartered Beechcraft 1900 crashes near the Unity oilfield in South Sudan, killing 20 people. Read more
2022 — Canadian truck drivers and pedestrians gathered to rally and protest on Parliament Hill against Canadian COVID-19 restrictions, which caused traffic and closures around the city. Read more
2020 — A plinth breaks between Coral Edge and Riviera in Singapore, Coral Edge closes one platform. Read more
2017 — A gunman opens fire at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, killing six people and wounding 19 others in a spree shooting. Read more
2014 — Rojava conflict: The Afrin Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic. Read more
2013 — SCAT Airlines Flight 760 crashes near the Kazakh city of Almaty, killing 21 people. Read more
2009 — Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is removed from office following his conviction of several corruption charges, including solicitation of personal benefit in exchange for an appointment to the United States Senate as a replacement for then-U.S. president-elect Barack Obama. Read more
2008 — An Egyptian court rules that people who do not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions, while not allowed to list any belief outside of those three, are still eligible to receive government identity documents. Read more
2005 — The first direct commercial flights from mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines flight lands in Beijing. Read more
2002 — In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush describes "regimes that sponsor terror" as an Axis of evil, in which he includes Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Read more
2001 — Thousands of student protesters in Indonesia storm parliament and demand that President Abdurrahman Wahid resign due to alleged involvement in corruption scandals. Read more
1996 — President Jacques Chirac announces a "definitive end" to French nuclear weapons testing. Read more
1991 — Gulf War: The Battle of Khafji, the first major ground engagement of the war, as well as its deadliest, begins between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Read more
1989 — Cold War: Hungary establishes diplomatic relations with South Korea, making it the first Eastern Bloc nation to do so. Read more
1983 — Singapore cable car crash: Panamanian-registered oil rig, Eniwetok, strikes the cables of the Singapore Cable Car system linking the mainland and Sentosa Island, causing two cabins to fall into the water and killing seven people and leaving thirteen others trapped for hours. Read more
1973 — EgyptAir Flight 741 crashes into the Kyrenia Mountains in Cyprus, killing 37 people. Read more
1971 — The last of its many UFO sightings is made at Pudasjärvi, Finland. Read more
1959 — The first Melodifestivalen is held at Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden. Read more
1944 — World War II: Approximately 38 people are killed and about a dozen injured when the Polish village of Koniuchy (present-day Kaniūkai, Lithuania) is attacked by Soviet partisan units. Read more
1944 — World War II: In Bologna, Italy, the Anatomical theatre of the Archiginnasio is completely destroyed in an air-raid. Read more
1943 — World War II: The first day of the Battle of Rennell Island, USS Chicago (CA-29) is torpedoed and heavily damaged by Japanese bombers. Read more
1940 — Three trains on the Nishinari Line; present Sakurajima Line, in Osaka, Japan, collide and explode while approaching Ajikawaguchi Station. One hundred and eighty-one people are killed. Read more
1936 — The first inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame are announced. Read more
1918 — Ukrainian–Soviet War: The Bolshevik Red Army, on its way to besiege Kyiv, is met by a small group of military students at the Battle of Kruty. Read more
1918 — Ukrainian–Soviet War: An armed uprising organized by the Bolsheviks in anticipation of the encroaching Red Army begins at the Kiev Arsenal, which will be put down six days later. Read more
1911 — Mexican Revolution: Mexicali is captured by the Mexican Liberal Party, igniting the Magonista rebellion of 1911. Read more
1907 — Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first Native American U.S. Senator. Read more
1891 — Liliʻuokalani is proclaimed the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Read more
1886 — Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile. Read more
1863 — The Bear River Massacre: A detachment of California Volunteers led by Colonel Patrick Edward Connor engage the Shoshone at Bear River, Washington Territory, killing hundreds of men, women and children. Read more
1861 — Kansas is admitted as the 34th U.S. state. Read more
1856 — Queen Victoria issues a Warrant under the Royal sign-manual that establishes the Victoria Cross to recognise acts of valour by British military personnel during the Crimean War. Read more
1850 — Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress. Read more
1845 — "The Raven" is published in The Evening Mirror in New York, the first publication with the name of the author, Edgar Allan Poe. Read more
1819 — Stamford Raffles lands on the island of Singapore. Read more
1814 — War of the Sixth Coalition: France engages Russia and Prussia in the Battle of Brienne. Read more
946 — Caliph al-Mustakfi is blinded and deposed by Mu'izz al-Dawla, ruler of the Buyid Empire. He is succeeded by al-Muti as caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate. Read more
904 — Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher. Read more

Born on January 29

2003 — Jarell Quansah, English footballer Read more
2001 — Lee Dae-hwi, South Korean singer Read more
1997 — Joel Eriksson Ek, Swedish ice hockey player
1997 — Jack Roslovic, American ice hockey player Read more
1993 — Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Japanese singer Read more
1992 — Markel Brown, American basketball player Read more
1992 — Maxi Kleber, German basketball player Read more
1989 — Mohamed Abou Gabal, Egyptian footballer Read more
1989 — Kevin Shattenkirk, American ice hockey player Read more
1988 — Ayobami Adebayo, Nigerian author Read more
1988 — Jake Auchincloss, American politician, businessman, and Marine veteran Read more
1988 — Hank Conger, American baseball player Read more
1988 — Shay Logan, English footballer Read more
1987 — José Abreu, Cuban baseball player Read more
1987 — Alex Avila, American baseball player Read more
1987 — Jessica Burkhart, American author Read more
1987 — Vladimír Mihálik, Slovak ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Chris Bourque, American ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Thomas Greiss, German ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Jair Jurrjens, Curaçaoan baseball player Read more
1985 — Marc Gasol, Spanish basketball player Read more
1985 — Isabel Lucas, Australian actress and model Read more
1985 — Rag'n'Bone Man, English singer-songwriter Read more
1983 — Tim Gleason, American ice hockey player Read more
1982 — Adam Lambert, American singer, songwriter and actor Read more
1981 — Tenoch Huerta, Mexican actor Read more
1981 — Jonny Lang, American singer, songwriter and guitarist Read more
1980 — Jason James Richter, American actor and musician Read more
1979 — Andrew Keegan, American actor Read more
1979 — Christina Koch, American engineer and astronaut Read more
1977 — Justin Hartley, American actor Read more
1977 — Sam Jaeger, American actor and screenwriter Read more
1975 — Sharif Atkins, American actor Read more
1975 — Sara Gilbert, American actress, producer, and talk show host Read more
1975 — Kelly Packard, American actress Read more
1973 — Megan McArdle, American journalist Read more
1973 — Jason Schmidt, American baseball player Read more
1972 — Brian Wood, American writer, illustrator and graphic designer Read more
1971 — Clare Balding, English broadcaster, journalist and author Read more
1970 — Heather Graham, American actress Read more

Died on January 29

2025 — Salwan Momika, Iraqi refugee and anti-Islam activist (born 1986) Read more
2025 — Richard Williamson, British Catholic traditionalist bishop (born 1940) Read more
2025 — Victims in the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision: Read more
2025 — Victims in the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision: Read more
2025 — Victims in the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision: Read more
2025 — Victims in the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision: Read more
2023 — Hazel McCallion, Canadian businesswoman and politician, 5th Mayor of Mississauga (born 1921) Read more
2023 — Will Steffen, American-Australian chemist (born 1947) Read more
2023 — Gero Storjohann, German politician (born 1958) Read more
2022 — Howard Hesseman, American actor (born 1940) Read more
2021 — Walker Boone, Canadian actor (born 1944) Read more
2019 — George Fernandes, Indian politician (born 1930) Read more
2019 — James Ingram, American musician (born 1952) Read more
2016 — Jean-Marie Doré, Guinean lawyer and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Guinea (born 1938) Read more
2016 — Jacques Rivette, French director, screenwriter, and critic (born 1928) Read more
2015 — Colleen McCullough, Australian neuroscientist, author, and academic (born 1937) Read more
2015 — Rod McKuen, American singer-songwriter and poet (born 1933) Read more
2015 — Alexander Vraciu, American commander and pilot (born 1918) Read more
2012 — Ranjit Singh Dyal, Indian general and politician, 10th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (born 1928) Read more
2012 — Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, Italian lawyer and politician, 9th President of Italy (born 1918) Read more
2012 — Camilla Williams, American soprano and educator (born 1919) Read more
2011 — Milton Babbitt, American composer, educator, and theorist (born 1916) Read more
2009 — Hélio Gracie, Brazilian martial artist (born 1913) Read more
2009 — John Martyn, British singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1948) Read more
2008 — Margaret Truman, American singer and author (born 1924) Read more
2006 — Nam June Paik, South Korean-American artist (born 1932) Read more
2005 — Ephraim Kishon, Israeli author, screenwriter, and director (born 1924) Read more
2004 — Janet Frame, New Zealand author and poet (born 1924) Read more
2003 — Frank Moss, American lawyer and politician (born 1911) Read more
2002 — Harold Russell, Canadian-American soldier and actor (born 1914) Read more
1999 — Lili St. Cyr, American model and dancer (born 1918) Read more
1994 — Ulrike Maier, Austrian skier (born 1967) Read more
1993 — Adetokunbo Ademola, Nigerian lawyer and jurist, 2nd Chief Justice of Nigeria (born 1906) Read more
1992 — Willie Dixon, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1915) Read more
1991 — Yasushi Inoue, Japanese author and poet (born 1907) Read more
1989 — Morton DaCosta, American theatre and film director, film producer, writer and actor (born 1914) Read more
1988 — James Rhyne Killian, American educator, scientist and White House advisor (born 1904) Read more
1987 — Vincent R. Impellitteri, American politician and judge, 101st Mayor of New York City (born 1900) Read more
1984 — Frances Goodrich, American actress, dramatist and screenwriter (born 1890) Read more
1984 — John Macnaghten Whittaker, British mathematician (born 1905) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Aphrahat; Christian feast day: Gildas; Christian feast day: Sabinian of Troyes; Christian feast day: Sulpitius I of Bourges; Christian feast day: Blessed Villana de' Botti; Christian feast day: January 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Earliest day on which Fat Thursday can fall, while March 4 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday before Ash Wednesday. (Christianity); Kansas Day (Kansas, United States)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 29”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.