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On This Day in History — January 30
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Highlights of January 30
- 2020 — The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic to be a public health emergency of international concern. Read more
- 2013 — The Korea Aerospace Research Institute launched Naro-1, South Korea's first carrier rocket and their first launch vehicle to achieve Earth orbit. Read more
- 2005 — Forty-six years to the day after the sinking of the Danish ocean liner MS Hans Hedtoft, Queen Margrethe II unveiled a memorial in Copenhagen to the 95 passengers and crew who perished. Read more
- 2000 — Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Ivory Coast shortly after takeoff, killing 169 on board. Read more
- 1979 — Varig Flight 967 disappeared shortly after takeoff from Tokyo's Narita International Airport en route to Rio de Janeiro. Read more
- 1972 — The Troubles: On Bloody Sunday, members of the British Parachute Regiment shot 26 civil-rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland, killing at least 13 people. Read more
- 1968 — Vietnam War: Forces of the Viet Cong and the Vietnamese People's Army launched the Tet Offensive to strike military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. Read more
- 1964 — In a bloodless coup, Nguyễn Khánh overthrew Dương Văn Minh's military junta in South Vietnam, less than three months after Minh's own coup. Read more
- 1959 — Danish ocean liner MS Hans Hedtoft sank, resulting in the deaths of all 95 passengers and crew. Read more
- 1948 — Mahatma Gandhi (pictured), the political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement, was fatally shot by Nathuram Godse at Birla House in Delhi. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Allied forces liberated more than 500 prisoners of war (pictured) from a Japanese POW camp near Cabanatuan in the Philippines. Read more
- 1939 — In a speech to the Reichstag, Adolf Hitler threatened the "annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe". Read more
- 1862 — The United States Navy launched USS Monitor (pictured), the first American ironclad warship. Read more
- 1835 — Richard Lawrence became the first person to attempt to assassinate a sitting US president when he failed to kill Andrew Jackson at the US Capitol (assassination attempt pictured) and was subdued by the crowd. Read more
- 1661 — Two years after his death, Oliver Cromwell's remains were exhumed for a posthumous execution and his head was placed on a spike above Westminster Hall in London, where it remained until 1685. Read more
- 1649 — King Charles I, who was defeated in both the First and the Second English Civil Wars, was beheaded for high treason in front of the Banqueting House in London. Read more
- 1607 — Low-lying areas flooded around the coasts of the Bristol Channel in southwest England and south Wales, resulting in around 2,000 deaths. Read more
- 1287 — Wareru created the Hanthawaddy Kingdom in today's Lower Burma and declared himself king following the collapse of the Pagan Empire. Read more
- 1018 — Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Bolesław I, the Piast ruler of Poland, signed the Peace of Bautzen to end the German–Polish War. Read more
Events
- 2020 — The World Health Organization declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Read more
- 2013 — Naro-1 becomes the first carrier rocket launched by South Korea. Read more
- 2007 — Microsoft Corporation releases Windows Vista, a major release of the operating system Microsoft Windows and the NT based kernel. Read more
- 2006 — The Goleta postal facility shootings occur, killing seven people before the perpetrator took her own life. Read more
- 2000 — Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ivory Coast, killing 169. Read more
- 1995 — Hydroxycarbamide becomes the first approved preventive treatment for sickle cell disease. Read more
- 1989 — The American embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan is closed. Read more
- 1982 — Richard Skrenta writes the first PC virus code, which is 400 lines long and disguised as an Apple boot program called "Elk Cloner". Read more
- 1979 — A Varig Boeing 707-323C freighter, flown by the same commander as Flight 820, disappears over the Pacific Ocean 30 minutes after taking off from Tokyo. Read more
- 1975 — The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is established as the first United States National Marine Sanctuary. Read more
- 1975 — Turkish Airlines Flight 345 crashes into the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport, killing 42. Read more
- 1974 — Pan Am Flight 806 crashes near Pago Pago International Airport in American Samoa, killing 97. Read more
- 1972 — The Troubles: Bloody Sunday: British paratroopers open fire on anti-internment marchers in Derry, Northern Ireland, killing 13 people; another person later dies of injuries sustained. Read more
- 1972 — Pakistan leaves the Commonwealth of Nations in protest of its recognition of breakaway Bangladesh. Read more
- 1969 — The Beatles' last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records in London. The impromptu concert is broken up by the police. Read more
- 1968 — Vietnam War: Tet Offensive launch by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. Read more
- 1964 — In a bloodless coup, General Nguyễn Khánh overthrows General Dương Văn Minh's military junta in South Vietnam. Read more
- 1960 — The African National Party is founded in Chad, through the merger of traditionalist parties. Read more
- 1959 — The forces of the Sultanate of Muscat occupy the last strongholds of the Imamate of Oman, Saiq and Shuraijah, marking the end of Jebel Akhdar War in Oman. Read more
- 1959 — MS Hans Hedtoft, specifically designed to operate in icebound seas, strikes an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sinks, killing all 95 aboard. Read more
- 1956 — In the United States, Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s home is bombed in retaliation for the Montgomery bus boycott. Read more
- 1948 — British South American Airways' Tudor IV Star Tiger disappears over the Bermuda Triangle. Read more
- 1948 — Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in his home compound, India's prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, broadcasts to the nation, saying "The light has gone out of our lives". The date of the assassination becomes observed as "Martyrs' Day" in India. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The Wilhelm Gustloff, overfilled with German refugees, sinks in the Baltic Sea after being torpedoed by a Soviet submarine, killing approximately 9,500 people. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Raid at Cabanatuan: One hundred and twenty-six American Rangers and Filipino resistance fighters liberate over 500 Allied prisoners from the Japanese-controlled Cabanatuan POW camp. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Cisterna, part of Operation Shingle, begins in central Italy. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Japanese forces invade the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies. Some 300 captured Allied troops are killed after the surrender. One-quarter of the remaining POWs remain alive at the end of the war. Read more
- 1939 — During a speech in the Reichstag, Adolf Hitler makes a prediction about the end of the Jewish race in Europe if another world war were to occur. Read more
- 1933 — Adolf Hitler's rise to power: Hitler takes office as the Chancellor of Germany. Read more
- 1930 — The Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union orders the confiscation of lands belonging to the Kulaks in a campaign of Dekulakization, resulting in the executions and forced deportations of millions. Read more
- 1925 — The Government of Turkey expels Patriarch Constantine VI from Istanbul. Read more
- 1920 — Japanese carmaker Mazda is founded, initially as a cork-producing company. Read more
- 1911 — The destroyer USS Terry makes the first airplane rescue at sea saving the life of Douglas McCurdy 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Havana, Cuba. Read more
- 1908 — Indian pacifist and leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is released from prison by Jan C. Smuts after being tried and sentenced to two months in jail earlier in the month. Read more
- 1902 — The first Anglo-Japanese Alliance is signed in London. Read more
- 1889 — Archduke Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown, is found dead with his mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera in the Mayerling. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched. Read more
- 1858 — The first Hallé concert is given in Manchester, England, marking the official founding of The Hallé orchestra as a full-time, professional orchestra. Read more
- 1847 — Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco, California. Read more
- 1835 — In the first assassination attempt against a President of the United States, Richard Lawrence attempts to shoot president Andrew Jackson, but fails and is subdued by a crowd, including several congressmen as well as Jackson himself. Read more
- 1826 — The Menai Suspension Bridge, considered the world's first modern suspension bridge, connecting the Isle of Anglesey to the northwest coast of Wales, is opened. Read more
- 1820 — Edward Bransfield sights the Trinity Peninsula and claims the discovery of Antarctica. Read more
- 1806 — The original Lower Trenton Bridge (also called the Trenton Makes the World Takes Bridge), which spans the Delaware River between Morrisville, Pennsylvania and Trenton, New Jersey, is opened. Read more
- 1789 — Tây Sơn forces emerge victorious against Qing armies and liberate the capital Thăng Long. Read more
- 1667 — The Truce of Andrusovo is signed, ending the Russian-Polish War of 1654-1667. Read more
- 1661 — Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, is ritually executed more than two years after his death, on the 12th anniversary of the execution of the monarch he himself deposed. Read more
- 1649 — Charles I of England is executed in Whitehall, London. Read more
- 1648 — Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster and Osnabrück is signed, ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain. Read more
- 1607 — An estimated 200 square miles (51,800 ha) along the coasts of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary in England are destroyed by massive flooding, resulting in an estimated 2,000 deaths. Read more
- 1287 — King Wareru founds the Hanthawaddy kingdom, and proclaims independence from the Pagan Kingdom. Read more
- 1018 — Poland and the Holy Roman Empire conclude the Peace of Bautzen. Read more
Born on January 30
- 2005 — Prince Hashem, second son of King Abdullah II of Jordan Read more
- 2003 — Amen Thompson, American basketball player Read more
- 2003 — Ausar Thompson, American basketball player Read more
- 2002 — Tyla, South African singer and songwriter. Read more
- 2002 — Bijan Robinson, American football player Read more
- 2001 — Curtis Jones, English footballer Read more
- 2000 — Markella Kavenagh, Australian actress Read more
- 2000 — Bryan Woo, American baseball player Read more
- 1997 — Thomas Chabot, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1997 — Colin White, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1996 — Dafne Navarro, Mexican trampoline gymnast Read more
- 1995 — Danielle Campbell, American actress Read more
- 1995 — Jack Laugher, English diver Read more
- 1995 — Marcos Llorente, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Amelia Dimoldenberg, English comedian, writer and presenter Read more
- 1993 — Katy Marchant, English track cyclist Read more
- 1993 — Kodai Senga, Japanese baseball player Read more
- 1993 — Thitipoom Techaapaikhun, Thai actor Read more
- 1991 — Stefan Elliott, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Jason Gastrow, American YouTuber Read more
- 1990 — Melissa Duncan, Australian track and field athlete Read more
- 1990 — Eiza González, Mexican actress and singer Read more
- 1990 — Luca Sbisa, Italian-Swiss ice hockey player and coach Read more
- 1990 — Mitchell Starc, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1990 — Jake Thomas, American actor Read more
- 1989 — Jahvid Best, American football player and athlete Read more
- 1989 — Kylie Bunbury, Canadian-American actress Read more
- 1989 — Misha Zilberman, Israeli Olympic badminton player Read more
- 1987 — Becky Lynch, Irish wrestler Read more
- 1987 — Phil Lester, English Youtuber Read more
- 1987 — Renato Santos, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Arda Turan, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1985 — Gisela Dulko, Argentinian tennis player Read more
- 1984 — Kid Cudi, American entertainer Read more
- 1984 — Junior dos Santos, Brazilian mixed martial artist Read more
- 1984 — Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
- 1983 — Drake Maverick, English wrestler Read more
- 1983 — Slavko Vraneš, Montenegrin basketball player Read more
- 1982 — Jorge Cantú, American-Mexican baseball player Read more
- 1982 — DeSagana Diop, Senegalese basketball player and coach Read more
Died on January 30
- 2026 — Catherine O'Hara, Canadian-American actress, comedian and screenwriter (born 1954) Read more
- 2025 — Dick Button, American figure skater and actor (born 1929) Read more
- 2025 — Julius Chan, Papua New Guinean politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (born 1939) Read more
- 2025 — Marianne Faithfull, English singer-songwriter and actress (born 1946) Read more
- 2025 — Edcel Lagman, Filipino politician (born 1942) Read more
- 2024 — Chita Rivera, American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1933) Read more
- 2023 — Bobby Beathard, American Pro Football Hall of Fame executive (born 1937) Read more
- 2023 — Bobby Hull, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1939) Read more
- 2022 — Cheslie Kryst, American television presenter and model (born 1991) Read more
- 2021 — Sophie, Scottish musician (born 1986) Read more
- 2019 — Dick Miller, American actor (born 1928) Read more
- 2018 — Mark Salling, American actor and musician (born 1982) Read more
- 2016 — Frank Finlay, English actor (born 1926) Read more
- 2016 — Francisco Flores Pérez, Salvadorian politician, President of El Salvador (born 1959) Read more
- 2016 — Georgia Davis Powers, American activist and politician (born 1923) Read more
- 2016 — Gaston Mialaret, French pedagogist and professor (born 1918) Read more
- 2015 — Carl Djerassi, Austrian-American chemist, author, and playwright (born 1923) Read more
- 2015 — Ülo Kaevats, Estonian academic, philosopher, and politician (born 1947) Read more
- 2015 — Geraldine McEwan, English actress (born 1932) Read more
- 2015 — Gerrit Voorting, Dutch cyclist (born 1923) Read more
- 2015 — Zhelyu Zhelev, Bulgarian philosopher and politician, 2nd President of Bulgaria (born 1935) Read more
- 2014 — Stefan Bałuk, Polish general and photographer (born 1914) Read more
- 2014 — The Mighty Hannibal, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1939) Read more
- 2014 — Russell D. Hemenway, American political activist (born 1925) Read more
- 2014 — William Motzing, American composer and conductor (born 1937) Read more
- 2014 — Arthur Rankin Jr., American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Greater, oldest known greater flamingo and Feast Festival 2021 mascot (h. c.1919–1933) Read more
- 2013 — Gamal al-Banna, Egyptian author and scholar (born 1920) Read more
- 2013 — Patty Andrews, American singer (born 1918) Read more
- 2013 — George Witt, American baseball player and coach (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — Frank Aschenbrenner, American football player and soldier (born 1925) Read more
- 2012 — Doeschka Meijsing, Dutch author (born 1947) Read more
- 2011 — John Barry, English composer and conductor (born 1933) Read more
- 2010 — Fadil Ferati, Kosovar accountant and politician (born 1960) Read more
- 2009 — H. Guy Hunt, American soldier, pastor, and politician, 49th Governor of Alabama (born 1933) Read more
- 2008 — Marcial Maciel, Mexican-American priest, founded the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi (born 1920) Read more
- 2007 — Sidney Sheldon, American author and screenwriter (born 1917) Read more
- 2006 — Coretta Scott King, American author and activist (born 1927) Read more
- 2006 — Wendy Wasserstein, American playwright and academic (born 1950) Read more
- 2005 — Martyn Bennett, Canadian-Scottish violinist (born 1971) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian Feast Day:
Adelelmus of Burgos; Christian Feast Day:
Aldegonde; Christian Feast Day:
Anthony the Great (Coptic Church); Christian Feast Day:
Armentarius of Pavia; Christian Feast Day:
Balthild; Christian Feast Day:
Charles, King and Martyr (various provinces of the Anglican Communion); Christian Feast Day:
Hyacintha Mariscotti; Christian Feast Day:
Martina; Christian Feast Day:
Matthias of Jerusalem; Christian Feast Day:
Mutien-Marie Wiaux; Christian Feast Day:
Savina; Christian Feast Day:
Three Holy Hierarchs (Eastern Orthodox), and its related observances:
Teacher's Day (Greece); Christian Feast Day:
January 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Azerbaijani customs (Azerbaijan); Day of Saudade (Brazil); Fred Korematsu Day (California, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia); Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances:
Martyrs' Day (India); Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances:
School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain); Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances:
Start of the Season for Nonviolence (January 30 – April 4)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 30”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.