# What happened on January 2 in history?

**Date:** January 2  
**Events recorded:** 38  
**Years spanned:** 69 – 2024  
**Full page:** https://thisday.info/events/january/2/

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## Featured Event

**2022** — Massive nationwide protests and unrest break out in Kazakhstan over the sudden increase of liquefied petroleum gas prices, leading to 238 people dead and thousands injured by January 11.

[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Kazakh_unrest)

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## Events on this date

- **69** — The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AD_69))
- **366** — The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alemanni))
- **533** — Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_II))
- **1444** — Christian forces defeat the Turks in the battle of Kunovica. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kunovica))
- **1492** — Reconquista: The Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista))
- **1680** — Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram and his bodyguards execute the rebel leader Trunajaya. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trunajaya_rebellion))
- **1776** — Empress Maria Theresa of Austria amends the Constitutio Criminalis Theresiana to include the abolition of torture throughout the Habsburg-ruled countries of Austria and Bohemia. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Theresa))
- **1777** — American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of General George Washington repulse a British attack led by General Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War))
- **1788** — Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(U.S._state)))
- **1791** — Northwest Indian War: The Big Bottom massacre is committed by Lenape and Wyandot warriors in the Ohio Country, North America. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Indian_War))
- **1818** — The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded by a group of six engineers; Thomas Telford would later become its first president. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institution_of_Civil_Engineers))
- **1863** — American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Stones River ends in a Union victory when the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg are repulsed for the final time by the Army of the Cumberland under General William S. Rosecrans. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War))
- **1865** — Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as the Brazilians and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_War))
- **1900** — American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hay))
- **1900** — Chicago Canal opens. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal))
- **1920** — The second Palmer Raid, ordered by the US Department of Justice, results in 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists being arrested and held without trial. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_raids))
- **1921** — World premiere of the science fiction play R.U.R. by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a theater in Hradec Králové. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.R.))
- **1932** — The Young Brothers engaged in a gun battle resulting in the deaths of six law enforcement officers; the worst single killing of US police officers in the 20th century. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Brothers_massacre))
- **1941** — World War II: The Cardiff Blitz severely damages the cathedral in Cardiff, Wales. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II))
- **1942** — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtains the conviction of 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history; Also known as the Duquesne Spy Ring. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation))
- **1942** — World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces, enabling them to control the Philippines. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila))
- **1949** — Luis Muñoz Marín is inaugurated as the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Mu%C3%B1oz_Mar%C3%ADn))
- **1954** — India establishes its highest civilian awards, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India))
- **1955** — Following the assassination of the Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera, his deputy, José Ramón Guizado, takes power, but is quickly deposed after his involvement in Cantera's death is discovered. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama))
- **1959** — Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_1))
- **1963** — Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory, at the Battle of Ap Bac. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War))
- **1967** — Ronald Reagan, past movie actor and future President of the United States, is sworn in as Governor of California. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan))
- **1971** — The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football match. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Ibrox_disaster))
- **1975** — At the opening of a new railway line, a bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samastipur))
- **1976** — The Gale of January 1976 begins, resulting in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, affecting countries from Ireland to Yugoslavia and causing at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_of_January_1976))
- **1978** — On the orders of the President of Pakistan, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, paramilitary forces opened fire on peaceful protesting workers in Multan, Pakistan; it is known as 1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Pakistan))
- **1981** — One of the largest investigations by a British police force ends when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper", is arrested in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom))
- **1988** — Condor Flugdienst Flight 3782 crashes near Seferihisar, Turkey, killing 16 people. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor_Flugdienst_Flight_3782))
- **1991** — Sharon Pratt Dixon becomes the first African American woman mayor of a major city and first woman Mayor of the District of Columbia. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Pratt))
- **1993** — Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35–100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_civil_war))
- **2004** — Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust_(spacecraft)))
- **2022** — Massive nationwide protests and unrest break out in Kazakhstan over the sudden increase of liquefied petroleum gas prices, leading to 238 people dead and thousands injured by January 11. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Kazakh_unrest))
- **2024** — Two aircraft collide on a runway at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, killing 5 and injuring 18. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Haneda_Airport_runway_collision))

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## Notable births on January 2

- **2006** — **Claudio Echeverri** — Argentine footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Echeverri))
- **2003** — **CJ Egan-Riley** — English footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CJ_Egan-Riley))
- **2003** — **Elye Wahi** — French footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elye_Wahi))
- **2001** — **Cole Caufield** — American ice hockey player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cole_Caufield))
- **2001** — **Luiz Henrique** — Brazilian footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_Henrique_(footballer%2C_born_2001)))
- **2000** — **Spencer Arrighetti** — American baseball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Arrighetti))
- **1999** — **Georgios Kalaitzakis** — Greek basketball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgios_Kalaitzakis))
- **1999** — **Fernando Tatís Jr.** — Dominican baseball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Tat%C3%ADs_Jr.))
- **1999** — **Aaron Wiggins** — American professional basketball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Wiggins))
- **1998** — **Tfue** — American online streamer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tfue))

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## Notable deaths on January 2

- **2025** — **Ágnes Keleti** — Hungarian Olympic gymnast (born 1921) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81gnes_Keleti))
- **2025** — **Francesc Antich** — Spanish politician (born 1958) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesc_Antich))
- **2019** — **Daryl Dragon** — American musician (born 1942) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Dragon))
- **2019** — **Julia Grant** — British transgender activist (born 1954) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Grant_(transgender_activist)))
- **2019** — **Bob Einstein** — American actor and comedian (born 1942) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Einstein))
- **2019** — **Gene Okerlund** — American wrestling announcer (born 1942) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Okerlund))
- **2018** — **Guida Maria** — Portuguese actress (born 1950) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guida_Maria))
- **2018** — **Thomas S. Monson** — American religious leader, 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (born 1927) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_S._Monson))
- **2017** — **Jean Vuarnet** — French ski racer (born 1933) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Vuarnet))
- **2017** — **John Berger** — English art critic, novelist and painter (born 1926) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Berger))

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## About this page

This is a machine-readable Markdown summary of [thisday.info/events/january/2/](https://thisday.info/events/january/2/).  
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.