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On This Day in History — January 3

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Highlights of January 3

2026 — The United States launches a military operation in Venezuela, capturing president Nicolás Maduro (pictured) and his wife. Read more
2009 — The cryptocurrency network of bitcoin was created when Satoshi Nakamoto mined the first block of the chain. Read more
2004 — Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashed shortly after departure from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport which killed all 148 occupants on board. Read more
2002 — Second Intifada: Israeli forces seized MV Karine A, which was carrying 50 tons of smuggled weapons on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Read more
1990 — United States invasion of Panama: Manuel Noriega, the deposed strongman of Panama, surrendered to American forces outside the apostolic nunciature in Panama City. Read more
1973 — CBS announced the sale of the New York Yankees professional baseball team to a group of investors headed by American businessman George Steinbrenner. Read more
1961 — All 25 people on board Aero Flight 311 died in Finland's worst civilian air accident when the aircraft crashed near Kvevlax. Read more
1941 — Second World War: As part of Operation Compass, Australian and United Kingdom forces attacked Italian forces at the Battle of Bardia in Egypt. Read more
1938 — The American health charity March of Dimes was founded as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to help raise money for polio research. Read more
1911 — An earthquake registering 7.7 Mw destroyed Almaty in Russian Turkestan. Read more
1911 — A gun battle in the East End of London left two dead and sparked a political row over the operational involvement of Winston Churchill, then Home Secretary. Read more
1777 — American Revolutionary War: American forces commanded by George Washington defeated British troops at the Battle of Princeton (depicted). Read more
1749 — The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, was published. Read more
1521 — Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, excommunicating Martin Luther for refusing to retract 41 alleged errors found in his 95 Theses and other writings. Read more
250 — Decius ordered all people in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods, resulting in widespread persecution of Christians. Read more

Events

2026 — The United States conducts airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and captures Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores. Read more
2024 — At least 91 people are killed in bombings in Kerman, Iran, during a ceremony commemorating the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani four years earlier. Read more
2023 — Singapore's Jurong Bird Park permanently closes. Read more
2020 — Iranian General Qasem Soleimani is killed by an American airstrike near Baghdad International Airport, igniting global concerns of a potential armed conflict. Read more
2019 — Chang'e 4 makes the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, deploying the Yutu-2 lunar rover. Read more
2018 — For the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the Netherlands are closed simultaneously in the wake of a storm.
2016 — In response to the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, Iran ends its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. Read more
2015 — Boko Haram militants destroy the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria, starting the Baga massacre and killing as many as 2,000 people. Read more
2009 — The first block of the blockchain of the decentralized payment system Bitcoin, called the Genesis block, is established by the creator of the system, Satoshi Nakamoto. Read more
2004 — Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea, resulting in 148 deaths, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian history. Read more
2002 — Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Israeli forces seize the Palestinian freighter Karine A in the Red Sea, finding 50 tons of weapons. Read more
1999 — The Mars Polar Lander is launched by NASA. Read more
1994 — Baikal Airlines Flight 130 crashes near Mamoney, Irkutsk, Russia, resulting in 125 deaths. Read more
1993 — In Moscow, Russia, George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Read more
1992 — CommutAir Flight 4821 crashes on approach to Adirondack Regional Airport, in Saranac Lake, New York, killing two people. Read more
1990 — United States invasion of Panama: Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, surrenders to American forces. Read more
1987 — Varig Flight 797 crashes near Akouré in the Ivory Coast, resulting in 50 deaths. Read more
1977 — Apple Computer is incorporated. Read more
1976 — The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, comes into force. Read more
1962 — Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro. Read more
1961 — Cold War: After a series of economic retaliations against one another, the United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba. Read more
1961 — The SL-1 nuclear reactor, near Idaho Falls, Idaho, is destroyed by a steam explosion in the only reactor incident in the United States to cause immediate fatalities. Read more
1961 — A protest by agricultural workers in Baixa de Cassanje, Portuguese Angola, turns into a revolt, opening the Angolan War of Independence, the first of the Portuguese Colonial Wars. Read more
1961 — Aero Flight 311 crashes into the forest in Kvevlax, Finland, killing 25 people. Read more
1959 — Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state. Read more
1958 — The West Indies Federation is formed. Read more
1957 — The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch. Read more
1956 — A fire damages the top part of the Eiffel Tower. Read more
1953 — Frances P. Bolton and her son, Oliver from Ohio, become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress. Read more
1949 — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, is established. Read more
1947 — Proceedings of the U.S. Congress are televised for the first time. Read more
1946 — Popular Canadian American jockey George Woolf suffers a concussion during a freak racing accident; he dies from the injury the following day. The annual George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is created to honor him. Read more
1944 — World War II: US flying ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington is shot down in his Vought F4U Corsair by Captain Masajiro Kawato flying a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Read more
1933 — Minnie D. Craig becomes the first woman elected as Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives, the first woman to hold a Speaker position anywhere in the United States. Read more
1920 — Over 640 are killed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes the Mexican states Puebla and Veracruz. Read more
1913 — An Atlantic coast storm sets the lowest confirmed barometric pressure reading (955.0 mb (28.20 inHg)) for a non-tropical system in the continental United States. Read more
1913 — First Balkan War: Greece completes its capture of the eastern Aegean island of Chios, as the last Ottoman forces on the island surrender. Read more
1911 — A magnitude 7.7 earthquake destroys the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan. Read more
1911 — A gun battle in the East End of London leaves two dead. It sparked a political row over the involvement of then-Home Secretary Winston Churchill. Read more
1885 — Sino-French War: Beginning of the Battle of Núi Bop. Read more
1871 — In the Battle of Bapaume, an engagement in the Franco-Prussian War, General Louis Faidherbe's forces bring about a Prussian retreat. Read more
1870 — Construction work begins on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, United States. Read more
1868 — Meiji Restoration in Japan: The Tokugawa shogunate is abolished; agents of Satsuma and Chōshū seize power. Read more
1861 — American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States. Read more
1848 — Joseph Jenkins Roberts is sworn in as the first president of Liberia. Read more
1833 — Captain James Onslow, in the Clio, reasserts British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Read more
1815 — Austria, the United Kingdom, and France form a secret defensive alliance against Prussia and Russia. Read more
1777 — American Revolutionary War: American forces under General George Washington defeat British forces at the Battle of Princeton, helping boost patriot morale. Read more
1749 — Benning Wentworth issues the first of the New Hampshire Grants, leading to the establishment of Vermont. Read more
1749 — The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, is published. Read more
1653 — By the Coonan Cross Oath, the Eastern Church in India cuts itself off from colonial Portuguese tutelage. Read more
1521 — Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. Read more
250 — Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to make sacrifices to the Roman gods. Read more
69 — The Roman legions on the Rhine refuse to declare their allegiance to Galba, instead proclaiming their legate, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor. Read more

Born on January 3

2008 — Raegan Revord, American actor Read more
2004 — Carlos Baleba, Cameroonian footballer Read more
2004 — Toby Collyer, English footballer Read more
2004 — Habib Diarra, Senegalese footballer Read more
2003 — Kyle Rittenhouse, American conservative personality Read more
2003 — Greta Thunberg, Swedish environmental activist Read more
2003 — Alan Virginius, French footballer Read more
2002 — Nico González, Spanish footballer Read more
2001 — Deni Avdija, Israeli-Serbian basketball player Read more
2000 — Leandro Barreiro, Luxembourgish footballer Read more
2000 — João Mário, Portuguese footballer Read more
1998 — Patrick Cutrone, Italian footballer Read more
1998 — Emiru, American online streamer Read more
1997 — Fodé Ballo-Touré, French-Senegalese footballer Read more
1997 — Jérémie Boga, French-Ivorian footballer Read more
1997 — Kyron McMaster, British Virgin Islands hurdler Read more
1996 — Léo Ortiz, Brazilian footballer Read more
1996 — Florence Pugh, English actress Read more
1995 — Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, American-Jordanian basketball player Read more
1995 — Jisoo, South Korean singer and actress Read more
1995 — Paddy Pimblett, English mixed martial artist Read more
1995 — Kim Seol-hyun, South Korean singer and actress Read more
1995 — Tonny Vilhena, Dutch footballer Read more
1994 — Isaquias Queiroz, Brazilian sprint canoeist Read more
1992 — Doug McDermott, American basketball player Read more
1992 — Sio Siua Taukeiaho, New Zealand-Tongan rugby league player Read more
1991 — Jerson Cabral, Dutch footballer Read more
1991 — Özgür Çek, Turkish footballer Read more
1991 — Ryan Ellis, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1991 — Sébastien Faure, French footballer Read more
1991 — Dane Gagai, Australian rugby league player Read more
1991 — Goo Hara, South Korean singer and actress (died 2019) Read more
1991 — Darius Morris, American basketball player (died 2024) Read more
1991 — Joonas Nättinen, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
1990 — Yoichiro Kakitani, Japanese footballer Read more
1989 — Jordi Masip, Spanish footballer Read more
1989 — Eric Sim, American baseball player and YouTuber Read more
1989 — Kōhei Uchimura, Japanese artistic gymnast Read more
1988 — Ikechi Anya, Scottish-Nigerian footballer Read more
1988 — The Completionist, American YouTuber Read more

Died on January 3

2025 — Jeff Baena, American filmmaker (born 1977) Read more
2025 — Brenton Wood, American R&B singer-songwriter and keyboard player (born 1941) Read more
2025 — Niko Lekishvili, Georgian politician (born 1947) Read more
2023 — Elena Huelva, Spanish cancer activist and influencer (born 2002) Read more
2021 — Eric Jerome Dickey, American author (born 1961) Read more
2020 — Qasem Soleimani, Iranian major general, commander of the Iranian Quds Force (born 1957) Read more
2019 — Herb Kelleher, American businessman, co-founder of Southwest Airlines (born 1931) Read more
2018 — Colin Brumby, Australian composer (born 1933) Read more
2017 — H. S. Mahadeva Prasad, Indian politician (born 1958) Read more
2016 — Paul Bley, Canadian-American pianist and composer (born 1932) Read more
2016 — Peter Naur, Danish computer scientist, astronomer, and academic (born 1928) Read more
2016 — Bill Plager, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1945) Read more
2016 — Igor Sergun, Russian general and diplomat (born 1957) Read more
2015 — Martin Anderson, American economist and academic (born 1936) Read more
2015 — Edward Brooke, American captain and politician, 47th Massachusetts Attorney General (born 1919) Read more
2014 — Phil Everly, American singer and guitarist (born 1939) Read more
2014 — George Goodman, American economist and author (born 1930) Read more
2014 — Saul Zaentz, American film producer (born 1921) Read more
2013 — Alfie Fripp, English soldier and pilot (born 1913) Read more
2013 — Ivan Mackerle, Czech cryptozoologist, explorer, and author (born 1942) Read more
2013 — William Maxson, American general (born 1930) Read more
2013 — Sergiu Nicolaescu, Romanian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1930) Read more
2012 — Vicar, Chilean cartoonist (born 1934) Read more
2012 — Robert L. Carter, American lawyer and judge (born 1917) Read more
2012 — Winifred Milius Lubell, American author and illustrator (born 1914) Read more
2012 — Josef Škvorecký, Czech-Canadian author and publisher (born 1924) Read more
2010 — Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt, Chilean-German composer and academic (born 1925) Read more
2010 — Mary Daly, American theologian and scholar (born 1928) Read more
2009 — Betty Freeman, American philanthropist and photographer (born 1921) Read more
2009 — Pat Hingle, American actor (born 1923) Read more
2009 — Hisayasu Nagata, Japanese politician (born 1969) Read more
2008 — Jimmy Stewart, Scottish racing driver (born 1931) Read more
2008 — Choi Yo-sam, South Korean boxer (born 1972) Read more
2007 — William Verity, Jr., American businessman and politician, 27th United States Secretary of Commerce (born 1917) Read more
2006 — Bill Skate, Papua New Guinean politician, 5th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (born 1954) Read more
2005 — Koo Chen-fu, Taiwanese businessman and diplomat (born 1917) Read more
2005 — Egidio Galea, Maltese Roman Catholic priest, missionary, and educator (born 1918) Read more
2005 — Jyotindra Nath Dixit, Indian diplomat, 2nd Indian National Security Adviser (born 1936) Read more
2004 — Des Corcoran, Australian politician, 37th Premier of South Australia (born 1928) Read more
2003 — Sid Gillman, American football player and coach (born 1911) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Daniel of Padua; Christian feast day: Genevieve; Christian feast day: Holy Name of Jesus; Christian feast day: Kuriakose Elias Chavara (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Pope Anterus; Christian feast day: January 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Tamaseseri Festival (Hakozaki Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan); The tenth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 3”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.