# What happened on January 15 in history?

**Date:** January 15  
**Events recorded:** 56  
**Years spanned:** 69 – 2023  
**Full page:** https://thisday.info/events/january/15/

---

## Featured Event

**2022** — The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupts, cutting off communications with Tonga and causing a tsunami across the Pacific.

[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Hunga_Tonga%E2%80%93Hunga_Ha%CA%BBapai_eruption_and_tsunami)

---

## Events on this date

- **69** — Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaiming himself Emperor of Rome, beginning a reign of only three months. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AD_69))
- **1535** — King Henry VIII issues letters patent incorporating the title Supreme Head of the Church of England into his royal title. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII))
- **1541** — King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of New France (Canada) and provide for the spread of the "Holy Catholic faith". ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_I_of_France))
- **1559** — Elizabeth I is crowned Queen of England and Ireland in Westminster Abbey, London. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I))
- **1582** — Truce of Yam-Zapolsky: Russia cedes Livonia to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truce_of_Yam-Zapolsky))
- **1759** — The British Museum opens to the public. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Museum))
- **1777** — American Revolutionary War: New Connecticut (present-day Vermont) declares its independence. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War))
- **1782** — Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris addresses the U.S. Congress to recommend establishment of a national mint and decimal coinage. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Morris_(financier)))
- **1815** — War of 1812: American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured by a squadron of four British frigates. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812))
- **1818** — A paper by David Brewster is read to the Royal Society, belatedly announcing his discovery of what we now call the biaxial class of doubly-refracting crystals. On the same day, Augustin-Jean Fresnel signs a "supplement" (submitted four days later) on reflection of polarized light. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Brewster))
- **1822** — Greek War of Independence: Demetrios Ypsilantis is elected president of the legislative assembly. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence))
- **1865** — American Civil War: Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War))
- **1867** — Forty people die when ice covering the boating lake at Regent's Park, London, collapses. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent's_Park_skating_disaster))
- **1870** — Thomas Nast publishes a political cartoon  symbolizing the Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion") for Harper's Weekly. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nast))
- **1876** — The first newspaper in Afrikaans, Die Afrikaanse Patriot, is published in Paarl. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans))
- **1889** — The Coca-Cola Company, then known as the Pemberton Medicine Company, is incorporated in Atlanta. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company))
- **1892** — James Naismith publishes the rules of basketball. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Naismith))
- **1908** — The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority becomes the first Greek-letter organization founded and established by African American college women. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Kappa_Alpha))
- **1910** — Construction ends on the Buffalo Bill Dam in Wyoming, United States, which was the highest dam in the world at the time, at 99 m (325 ft). ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bill_Dam))
- **1911** — Palestinian Arabic-language Falastin newspaper founded. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_Arabic))
- **1919** — Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, two of the most prominent communists in Germany, are clubbed and then shot to death by members of the Freikorps at the end of the Spartacist uprising. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Luxemburg))
- **1919** — Great Molasses Flood: A wave of molasses released from an exploding storage tank sweeps through Boston, Massachusetts, killing 21 and injuring 150. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood))
- **1934** — The 8.0 Mw  Nepal–Bihar earthquake strikes Nepal and Bihar with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing an estimated 6,000–10,700 people. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1934_Nepal%E2%80%93India_earthquake))
- **1936** — The first building to be completely covered in glass, built for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company, is completed in Toledo, Ohio. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-I_Glass))
- **1937** — Spanish Civil War: Nationalists and Republicans both withdraw after suffering heavy losses, ending the Second Battle of the Corunna Road. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War))
- **1943** — World War II: The Soviet counter-offensive at Voronezh begins. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II))
- **1943** — The Pentagon is dedicated in Arlington County, Virginia. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon))
- **1947** — The Black Dahlia murder: The dismembered corpse of Elizabeth Short is found in Los Angeles. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Dahlia))
- **1949** — Chinese Civil War: The Communist forces take over Tianjin from the Nationalist government. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War))
- **1962** — The Derveni papyrus, Europe's oldest surviving manuscript dating to 340 BC, is found in northern Greece. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derveni_papyrus))
- **1962** — Netherlands New Guinea Conflict: Indonesian Navy fast patrol boat RI Macan Tutul commanded by Commodore Yos Sudarso sunk in Arafura Sea by the Dutch Navy. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_New_Guinea))
- **1966** — The First Nigerian Republic, led by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is overthrown in a military coup d'état. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nigerian_Republic))
- **1967** — The first Super Bowl is played in Los Angeles. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl))
- **1969** — The Soviet Union launches Soyuz 5. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union))
- **1970** — Nigerian Civil War: Biafran rebels surrender following an unsuccessful 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War))
- **1970** — Muammar Gaddafi is proclaimed premier of Libya. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_Gaddafi))
- **1973** — Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War))
- **1975** — The Alvor Agreement is signed, ending the Angolan War of Independence and giving Angola independence from Portugal. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvor_Agreement))
- **1976** — Gerald Ford's would-be assassin, Sara Jane Moore, is sentenced to life in prison. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford))
- **1977** — Linjeflyg Flight 618 crashes in Kälvesta near Stockholm Bromma Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, killing 22 people. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linjeflyg_Flight_618))
- **1981** — Pope John Paul II receives a delegation from the Polish trade union Solidarity at the Vatican led by Lech Wałęsa. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II))
- **1991** — The United Nations deadline for the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from occupied Kuwait expires, preparing the way for the start of Operation Desert Storm. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations))
- **1991** — Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II))
- **2001** — Wikipedia, a free wiki content encyclopedia, is launched (Wikipedia Day). ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia))
- **2005** — ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the Moon. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Space_Agency))
- **2009** — US Airways Flight 1549 ditches safely in the Hudson River after the plane collides with birds less than two minutes after take-off. This becomes known as "The Miracle on the Hudson" as all 155 people on board were rescued. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549))
- **2013** — A train carrying Egyptian Army recruits derails near Giza, Greater Cairo, killing 19 and injuring 120 others. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badrashin_railway_accident))
- **2015** — The Swiss National Bank abandons the cap on the Swiss franc's value relative to the euro, causing turmoil in international financial markets. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_National_Bank))
- **2016** — The Kenyan Army suffers its worst defeat ever in a battle with Al-Shabaab Islamic insurgents in El-Adde, Somalia. An estimated 150 Kenyan soldiers are killed in the battle. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Defence_Forces))
- **2018** — British multinational construction and facilities management services company Carillion goes into liquidation – officially, "the largest ever trading liquidation in the UK". ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction))
- **2019** — Somali militants attack the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya killing at least 21 people and injuring 19. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia))
- **2019** — Theresa May's UK government suffers the biggest government defeat in modern times, when 432 MPs voting against the proposed European Union withdrawal agreement, giving her opponents a majority of 230. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_May))
- **2020** — The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirms the first case of COVID-19 in Japan. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Health%2C_Labour_and_Welfare))
- **2021** — A 6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia's Sulawesi island killing at least 105 and injuring 3,369 people. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_West_Sulawesi_earthquake))
- **2022** — The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupts, cutting off communications with Tonga and causing a tsunami across the Pacific. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Hunga_Tonga%E2%80%93Hunga_Ha%CA%BBapai_eruption_and_tsunami))
- **2023** — Yeti Airlines Flight 691 crashes near Pokhara International Airport, killing all 72 people on board. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeti_Airlines_Flight_691))

---

## Notable births on January 15

- **2004** — **Grace VanderWaal** — American singer-songwriter ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_VanderWaal))
- **2002** — **Tim Stützle** — German ice hockey player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_St%C3%BCtzle))
- **2000** — **Triston Casas** — American baseball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triston_Casas))
- **1998** — **Alexandra Eade** — Australian artistic gymnast ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Eade))
- **1998** — **Ben Godfrey** — English footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Godfrey))
- **1998** — **Chloe Kelly** — English footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloe_Kelly))
- **1996** — **Dove Cameron** — American actress and singer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_Cameron))
- **1996** — **Deebo Samuel** — American football player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deebo_Samuel))
- **1994** — **Eric Dier** — English footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Dier))
- **1993** — **Kadeem Allen** — American basketball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadeem_Allen))

---

## Notable deaths on January 15

- **2025** — **Paul Danan** — English actor and television personality (born 1978) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Danan))
- **2025** — **David Lynch** — American television and film director, visual artist and musician, complications from emphysema (born 1946) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch))
- **2025** — **Melba Montgomery** — American country music singer-songwriter (born 1938) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melba_Montgomery))
- **2025** — **Linda Nolan** — Irish singer and actress (born 1959) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Nolan))
- **2022** — **Alexa McDonough** — first female politician to lead a major provincial political party in Canada, former leader of the federal New Democratic Party. (born 1944) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexa_McDonough))
- **2020** — **Rocky Johnson** — Canadian professional wrestler (born 1944) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Johnson))
- **2020** — **Lloyd Cowan** — British athlete and coach (born 1962) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Cowan))
- **2019** — **Carol Channing** — American actress (born 1921) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Channing))
- **2019** — **Ida Kleijnen** — Dutch chef (born 1936) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_Kleijnen))
- **2018** — **Dolores O'Riordan** — Irish pop singer (born 1971) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_O'Riordan))

---

## About this page

This is a machine-readable Markdown summary of [thisday.info/events/january/15/](https://thisday.info/events/january/15/).  
Historical data is sourced from [Wikipedia/Wikimedia](https://www.wikipedia.org) under [CC BY-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).  
Editorial framing and site content © thisday.info.