Events

• 98 – Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva.

• 661 – The Rashidun Caliphate ends with death of Ali.

• 1142 – Execution, believed wrongful, of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei.

• 1186 – Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, marries Constance of Sicily.

• 1343 – Pope Clement VI issues the Bull Unigenitus.

• 1593 – The Vatican opens seven year trial of scholar Giordano Bruno.

• 1606 – Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, ending with their execution on January 31.

• 1695 – Mustafa II becomes the Ottoman sultan in Istanbul on the death of Ahmed II. Mustafa rules until his abdication in 1703.

• 1785 – The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States.

• 1825 – The U.S. Congress approves Indian Territory (in what is present-day Oklahoma), clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians on the "Trail of Tears".

• 1870 – The Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity is founded at DePauw University.

• 1888 – The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C..

• 1909 – The Young Left is founded in Norway.

• 1918 – The first hostilities occur in the Finnish Civil War.

• 1939 – First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

• 1943 – World War II: The VIII Bomber Command dispatched ninety-one B-17s and B-24s to attack the U-Boat construction yards at Wilhemshafen, Germany. The first American bombing attack on Germany.

• 1944 – World War II: The 900-day Siege of Leningrad is lifted.

• 1945 – World War II: The Red Army liberates the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

• 1951 – Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site begins with a one-kiloton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flat.

• 1967 – Apollo program: Apollo 1 – Astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee are killed in a fire during a test of their spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center.

• 1967 – More than sixty nations sign the Outer Space Treaty banning nuclear weapons in space.

• 1973 – The Paris Peace Accords officially end the Vietnam War. Colonel William Nolde is killed in action becoming the conflict's last recorded American combat casualty.

• 1974 – The Brisbane River breaches its banks causing the largest flood to affect the city of Brisbane in the 20th Century

• 1980 – Through cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian governments, six American diplomats secretly escape hostilities in Iran in the culmination of the Canadian caper.

• 1983 – The pilot shaft of the Seikan Tunnel, the world's longest sub-aqueous tunnel (53.85 km) between the Japanese islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō, breaks through.

• 1984 – Pop singer Michael Jackson suffers second and third degree burns to his scalp during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in the Shrine Auditorium.

• 1996 – In a military coup Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara deposes the first democratically elected president of Niger, Mahamane Ousmane.

• 1996 – Germany first observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

• 2003 – The first selections for the National Recording Registry are announced by the Library of Congress.

• 2006 – Western Union discontinues its Telegram and Commercial Messaging services.

Births

• 1443 – Albert, Duke of Saxony (d. 1500)

• 1546 – Joachim Friedrich, Elector of Brandenburg (d. 1608)

• 1585 – Hendrick Avercamp, Dutch painter (d. 1634)

• 1603 – Harbottle Grimston, English politician (d. 1685)

• 1621 – Thomas Willis, English physician (d. 1675)

• 1662 – Richard Bentley, English classical scholar (d. 1742)

• 1687 – Balthasar Neumann, German architect (d. 1753)

• 1701 – Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, German historian (d. 1790)

• 1708 – Anna Petrovna of Russia (d. 1728)

• 1720 – Samuel Foote, English dramatist (d. 1777)

• 1741 – Hester Thrale, Welsh diarist (d. 1821)

• 1756 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer (d. 1791)

• 1774 – Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, German philosopher (d. 1854)

• 1805 – Samuel Palmer, English artist (d. 1881)

• 1805 – Sophie of Bavaria, Archduchess of Austria (d. 1872)

• 1805 – Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen consort of Saxony (d. 1877)

• 1806 – Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, Spanish composer (d. 1826)

• 1807 – David Strauss, German theologian and writer (d. 1874)

• 1814 – Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, French architect (d. 1879)

• 1821 – John Chivington, American officer (d. 1892)

• 1823 – Edouard Lalo, French composer (d. 1892)

• 1826 – Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Russian writer (d. 1889)

• 1826 – Richard Taylor, American confederate general (d. 1879)

• 1827 – Nakahama Manjirō, Japanese translator (d. 1898)

• 1832 – Lewis Carroll, English author (d. 1898)

• 1836 – Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Austrian writer (d. 1895)

• 1841 – Arkhip Kuindzhi, Russian painter (d. 1910)

• 1848 – Togo Heihachiro, Japanese admiral (d. 1934)

• 1850 – John Collier, British writer and painter (d. 1934)

• 1850 – Samuel Gompers, American labor leader (d. 1924)

• 1850 – Edward J. Smith, English captain of the RMS Titanic (d. 1912)

• 1859 – Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany (d. 1941)

• 1875 – Elizabeth Israel, Purported world's oldest person (d. 2003)

• 1885 – Jerome Kern, American composer (d. 1945)

• 1885 – Eduard Künneke, German composer (d. 1953)

• 1885 – Maeda Seison, Japanese painter (d. 1977)

• 1886 – Radhabinod Pal, Indian jurist (d. 1967)

• 1891 – Ilya Ehrenburg, Russian writer (d. 1967)

• 1893 – Soong Ching-ling, Chinese wife of Sun Yat-sen (d. 1981)

• 1895 – Joseph Rosenstock, Polish conductor (d. 1985)

• 1895 – Harry Ruby, American composer (d. 1974)

• 1900 – Hyman Rickover, American admiral (d. 1986)

• 1901 – Willy Fritsch, German actor (d. 1973)

• 1901 – Art Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers founder and owner (d. 1988)

• 1903 – John Carew Eccles, Australian neuropsychologist, Nobel laureate (d. 1997)

• 1903 – Otto P. Weyland, American military figure (d. 1979)

• 1904 – James J. Gibson, American ecological psychologist (d. 1973)

• 1905 – Howard McNear, American actor (d. 1969)

• 1908 – William Randolph Hearst, Jr., American newspaper magnate (d. 1993)

• 1908 – Oran Page, American musician (d. 1954)

• 1910 – Edvard Kardelj, Yugoslav Communist politician (d. 1979)

• 1912 – Arne Næss, Norwegian philosopher (d. 2009)

• 1912 – Francis Rogallo, American aeronautical engineer (d. 2009)

• 1915 – Jacques Hnizdovsky, Ukrainian-born artist (d. 1985)

• 1918 – Skitch Henderson, English bandleader (d. 2005)

• 1918 – Elmore James, American blues musician (d. 1963)

• 1918 – William Seawell, United States Army Brigadier General (d. 2005)

• 1919 – Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., American musician (d. 1972)

• 1920 – John Box, British film production designer and art director (d. 2005)

• 1920 – Helmut Zacharias, German violinist (d. 2002)

• 1921 – Donna Reed, American actress (d. 1986)

• 1924 – Sabu Dastagir, Indian actor (d. 1963)

• 1926 – Fritz Spiegl, Austrian journalist (d. 2003)

• 1926 – Ingrid Thulin, Swedish actress (d. 2004)

• 1928 – Michael Craig, British actor

• 1928 – Hans Modrow, German politician, premier of East Germany

• 1929 – Gastón Suárez, Bolivian novelist (d. 1984)

• 1930 – Bobby Blue Bland, American singer

• 1931 – Mordecai Richler, Canadian author (d. 2001)

• 1932 – Boris Shakhlin, Soviet gymnast

• 1933 – Mohamed Al-Fayed, Egyptian businessman

• 1934 – George Follmer, American racecar driver

• 1936 – Troy Donahue, American actor (d. 2001)

• 1936 – Samuel C. C. Ting, American physicist, Nobel laureate

• 1937 – John Ogdon, English pianist (d. 1989)

• 1940 – James Cromwell, American actor

• 1940 – Terry Harper, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1940 – Petru Lucinschi, second President of Moldova

• 1941 – Beatrice Tinsley, New Zealand astronomer and cosmologist (d. 1981)

• 1942 – Stewart Raffill, American film director

• 1942 – John Witherspoon, American actor

• 1942 – Kate Wolf, American folk singer and songwriter (d. 1986)

• 1944 – Peter Akinola, Nigerian religious leader

• 1944 – Mairéad Corrigan, Irish activist, Nobel laureate

• 1944 – Nick Mason, English drummer (Pink Floyd)

• 1945 – Harold Cardinal, Cree political leader (d. 2005)

• 1946 – Nedra Talley, American singer (Ronettes)

• 1947 – Björn Afzelius, Swedish singer (d. 1999)

• 1947 – Vyron Polydoras, Greek politician

• 1947 – Cal Schenkel, American artist

• 1948 – Mikhail Baryshnikov, Russian-born dancer

• 1948 – Valeri Brainin, Russian/German musicologist, music manager, composer, and poet

• 1948 – Jean-Philippe Collard, French pianist

• 1949 – Ethan Mordden, American author

• 1950 – Derek Acorah, English spirit medium

• 1950 – Amos Grunebaum, Israeli-born physician

• 1951 – Brian Downey, Irish musician (Thin Lizzy)

• 1952 – "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player

• 1954 – Ed Schultz, American radio talk show host

• 1954 – Peter Laird, American comic book artist

• 1954 – Jōkō Ninomiya, Japanese martial artist

• 1955 – Brian Engblom, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1955 – John G. Roberts, 17th Chief Justice of the United States

• 1955 – Alexander Stuart, British author

• 1955 – Koji Ushikubo, Japanese racing driver

• 1956 – Mimi Rogers, American actress

• 1957 – Janick Gers, British guitarist (Iron Maiden)

• 1957 – Frank Miller, American comic book author and film director

• 1957 – Frank Skinner, English writer and comedian

• 1958 – James Grippando, American novelist

• 1958 – Kadri Mälk, Estonian artist and jewelry designer

• 1958 – Susanna Thompson, American actress

• 1959 – Keith Olbermann, American news anchor & commentator

• 1959 – Göran Hägglund, Swedish politician

• 1959 – Cris Collinsworth, American football player

• 1961 – Dina Bonnevie, Filipino actress

• 1961 – Gillian Gilbert, British musician (New Order)

• 1961 – Narciso Rodriguez, American fashion designer

• 1961 – Margo Timmins, Canadian singer (Cowboy Junkies)

• 1961 – Karen Velez, American model

• 1962 – Roberto Paci Dalò, Italian director and composer

• 1964 – Bridget Fonda, American actress

• 1964 – Jack Haley, American basketball player

• 1965 – Alan Cumming, Scottish actor

• 1965 – Mike Newell, English football manager

• 1967 – Bobby Deol, Indian actor

• 1967 – Byron Mann, Hong Kong actor

• 1967 – Dave Manson, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1968 – Patrick Blondeau, French footballer

• 1968 – Mike Patton, American singer (Faith No More)

• 1968 – Tricky, English rapper

• 1969 – Cornelius, Japanese musician and producer (Flipper's Guitar)

• 1969 – Marc Forster, German-Swiss filmmaker

• 1969 – Michael Kulas, Canadian singer (James)

• 1969 – Patton Oswalt, American actor and writer

• 1970 – Emmanuel Pahud, Swiss-born flautist

• 1971 – Patrice Brisebois, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1971 – Lil Jon, American rapper and producer

• 1971 – Fann Wong, Singapore actor

• 1972 – Wynne Evans, Welsh operatic tenor

• 1972 – Janine Ilitch, Australian netballer

• 1972 – Mark Owen, English pop singer

• 1972 – Josh Randall, American actor

• 1972 – Keith Wood, Irish rugby player

• 1974 – Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Nordic biathlete

• 1974 – Andrei Pavel, Romanian tennis player

• 1974 – Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lankan cricketer

• 1976 – Ahn Jung-Hwan, Korean football player

• 1976 – Clint Ford, American voice actor

• 1976 – Ruby Lin, Taiwanese actress and singer

• 1976 – Todd MacCulloch, American basketball player

• 1976 – Zoriah Miller, American photojournalist

• 1976 – Fred Taylor, American football player

• 1978 – Pete Laforest, Canadian baseball player

• 1978 – Jake Pavelka, American reality TV star (The Bachelor)

• 1979 – Mario Fatafehi, American football player

• 1979 – Rosamund Pike, British actress

• 1979 – Liesbet Van Breedam, Belgian beach volleyball player

• 1979 – Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer

• 1980 – Chanda Gunn, American ice hockey player

• 1980 – Marat Safin, Russian tennis player

• 1981 – Alicia Molik, Australian tennis player

• 1981 – Tony Woodcock, New Zealand rugby union player

• 1983 – Carlo Colaiacovo, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1983 – Paulo Colaiacovo, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1983 – Gavin Floyd, American baseball player

• 1983 – Tim Kasten, German rugby player

• 1983 – Mike Zagurski, American baseball player

• 1984 – Davetta Sherwood, American actress

• 1987 – Lily Donaldson, British model

• 1987 – Katy Rose, American pop singer

• 1988 – Kerlon, Brazilian footballer

• 1988 – Liu Wen, Chinese model

Deaths

• 98 – Nerva, Roman Emperor (b. 35)

• 661 – Ali, the final Sunni Rashidun and first Shia Imam

• 1490 – Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Japanese shogun (b. 1435)

• 1540 – Saint Angela Merici, Italian religious leader and saint (b. 1474)

• 1595 – Sir Francis Drake, English explorer (b. c.1540)

• 1629 – Hieronymus Praetorius, German composer (b. 1560)

• 1638 – Gonzalo de Céspedes y Meneses, Spanish novelist (b. 1585?)

• 1689 – Robert Aske, merchant whose charitable foundation operates Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School and Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls (b. 1619)

• 1731 – Bartolomeo Cristofori, Italian musical instrument maker (b. 1655)

• 1740 – Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (b. 1692)

• 1794 – Antoine Philippe de La Trémoille, French royalist commander and counterrevolutionary (b. 1765)

• 1814 – Johann Gottlieb Fichte, German philosopher (b. 1762)

• 1816 – Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, British admiral (b. 1724)

• 1837 – Alexandr Pushkin, Russian poet (b. 1799)

• 1851 – John James Audubon, French-born naturalist and ornithologist (b. 1789)

• 1857 – Dorothea Lieven, Russian noblewoman (b. 1785)

• 1860 – János Bolyai, Hungarian mathematician (b. 1802)

• 1880 – Edward Middleton Barry, English architect (b. 1830)

• 1901 – Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer (b. 1813)

• 1910 – Thomas Crapper, English inventor (b. 1836)

• 1919 – Endre Ady, Hungarian poet (b. 1877)

• 1921 – Maurice Vincent Buckley, Australian soldier (b. 1891)

• 1922 – Nellie Bly, American journalist and writer (b. 1864)

• 1927 – Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis-Matulevičius (Matulewicz), Lithuanian bishop (b. 1871)

• 1931 – Nishinoumi Kajirō II, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 25^th Yokozuna (b. 1880)

• 1940 – Isaac Babel, Ukrainian writer (b. 1894)

• 1942 – Kaarel Eenpalu, Estonian Prime Minister (b. 1888)

• 1956 – Erich Kleiber, Austrian conductor (b. 1890)

• 1967 – Roger Chaffee – Crew of Apollo 1 (b. 1935)

• 1967 – Virgil "Gus" Grissom – Crew of Apollo 1 (b. 1926)

• 1967 – Edward White – Crew of Apollo 1 (b. 1930)

• 1967 – Alphonse Juin, Marshal of France (b. 1888)

• 1970 – Rita Angus, New Zealand painter (b. 1908)

• 1971 – Jacobo Arbenz, President of Guatemala (b. 1913)

• 1972 – Mahalia Jackson, American singer (b. 1911)

• 1972 – Richard Courant, German-American mathematician (b. 1888)

• 1973 – William Nolde, last American combat casualty of Vietnam War (b. 1929)

• 1974 – Georgios Grivas, Cyprus-born general in the Greek Army (b. 1898)

• 1975 – Bill Walsh, American producer and writer (b. 1913)

• 1979 – Qalander Ba Ba Auliya, Sufi master (b. 1898)

• 1983 – Louis de Funès, French actor (b. 1914)

• 1986 – Lilli Palmer, German-born actress (b. 1914)

• 1988 – Massa Makan Diabaté, Malian author (b. 1938)

• 1989 – Thomas Sopwith, British aviation pioneer (b. 1888)

• 1989 – Bayani Casimiro, Filipino dancer and actor (b. 1918)

• 1992 – Clara Solovera, Chilean folk musician (b. 1909)

• 1993 – André the Giant, French professional wrestler and actor (b. 1946)

• 1994 – Claude Akins, American actor (b. 1918)

• 1996 – Ralph Yarborough, American politician (b. 1903)

• 1997 – Gerald Marks, American songwriter (All of Me) (b. 1900)

• 2000 – Friedrich Gulda, Austrian pianist (b. 1930)

• 2001 – Stavros Damianides, Greek musician (b. 1941)

• 2003 – Henryk Jabłoński, President of Poland (b. 1909)

• 2003 – Louis Archambault, Quebec sculptor (b. 1915)

• 2004 – Jack Paar, American television show host (b. 1918)

• 2004 – Salvador Laurel, Vice President of the Philippines (b. 1928)

• 2006 – Johannes Rau, 8th President of Germany (b. 1931)

• 2006 – Gene McFadden, American singer and songwriter (b. 1948).

• 2006 – Jean-Christophe Lafaille, French mountaineer (disappeared) (b. 1965)

• 2007 – Tige Andrews, American actor (b. 1920)

• 2007 – Yang Chuan-kwang, Taiwanese athlete (b. 1933)

• 2007 – Alberta Davis, American supercentenerian

• 2008 – Suharto, President of Indonesia (b. 1921)

• 2008 – Louie Welch, mayor of Houston (b. 1918)

• 2009 – John Updike, American novelist (b. 1932)

• 2009 – R. Venkataraman, 8th President of India (b. 1910)

• 2010 – J. D. Salinger, American novelist (b. 1919)

• 2010 – Howard Zinn, American historian (b. 1922)

• 2010 – Zelda Rubinstein, American actress (b. 1933)

Holidays and observances

• Christian Feast Day

• *Day of Saint Devota (local veneration in Monaco)

• *Saint Sava Day (Serbia)

• *January 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

• Holocaust Remembrance

• *Holocaust Memorial Day (United Kingdom)

• *International Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN)