1559⚡ Event
Elizabeth I is crowned queen of England
Elizabeth I is crowned at Westminster Abbey, beginning one of the most influential reigns in English history.
politicsroyalty
This Week in History: Week 3
January 15 – January 21
Over 110 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.
Explore the Full Daily Timelines
Major Events (January 15 – January 21)(20)
1919⚡ Event
Great Molasses Flood strikes Boston
A massive storage tank bursts in Boston's North End, sending a deadly wave of molasses through city streets.
disasterurban-history
1929⚡ Event
Martin Luther King Jr. born
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta, Georgia. He would become the most prominent leader of the civil rights movement.
politicslaw
1964⚡ Event
Hello, Dolly! opens on Broadway
The musical Hello, Dolly! opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway. It went on to win ten Tony Awards, a record that stood for 37 years.
artsentertainmentmusic
1969⚡ Event
Police storm University of Tokyo
In response to months of nationwide student protests, thousands of Japanese police stormed the University of Tokyo on January 18, 1969. This action was a response to widespread student demonstrations.
politics
1975⚡ Event
Alvor Agreement Signed
Portugal and nationalist factions UNITA, MPLA, and FNLA signed the Alvor Agreement, ending the Angolan War of Independence.
politicswarlaw
1981⚡ Event
Hill Street Blues Pilot Episode Airs
The American serial police-procedural television show Hill Street Blues aired its pilot episode, "Hill Street Station".
entertainment
1983⚡ Event
Jim Thorpe's medals posthumously recognized
Thirty years after his death, the International Olympic Committee presented commemorative medals to the family of American athlete Jim Thorpe. Thorpe had been stripped of his gold medals for playing semi-professional baseball before the 1912 Summer Olympics.
sports
1989⚡ Event
Stockton schoolyard shooting
Patrick Purdy opened fire in an elementary school in Stockton, California, killing 5 and wounding 32 others.
law
1991⚡ Event
Victoria Cross for Australia Instituted
The Victoria Cross for Australia was instituted, making Australia the first Commonwealth realm with a separate Victoria Cross award.
lawpolitics
1998⚡ Event
Drudge Report Breaks Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
The Drudge Report became the first news source to publicly break the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal.
politicslaw
1999⚡ Event
Little Saigon Protests
In Little Saigon, California, protests began after the owner of a video rental store displayed an image of Ho Chi Minh.
politics
2001⚡ Event
Wikipedia launched
Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger launch Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
technology
2001⚡ Event
First Wikipedia Edit
The first edit to the internet encyclopedia Wikipedia was made.
technology
2002⚡ Event
Mount Nyiragongo Eruption
Mount Nyiragongo, a volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, began an eruption that killed hundreds and left about 120,000 people homeless.
disaster
2009⚡ Event
US Airways Flight 1549 lands on Hudson River
A miracle on the Hudson occurred when a commercial airliner made an emergency landing on the Hudson River after striking a flock of geese.
disaster
2010⚡ Event
Jos Riots
The first spate of violence between Muslims and Christians began in Jos, Nigeria, resulting in over 200 deaths.
religiondisaster
2016⚡ Event
Ouagadougou hostage crisis
Government commandos stormed a restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to end a hostage situation initiated by gunmen the previous night.
lawpolitics
2017⚡ Event
Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crash
Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crashed in Manas International Airport after overflying the runway, resulting in 39 deaths. The aftermath of the crash was pictured.
disastertechnology
2018⚡ Event
Mrauk U protest deaths
In Mrauk U, Myanmar, police fired into a crowd protesting a ban on an event, resulting in seven deaths and twelve injuries. The event was to mark the anniversary of the end of the Kingdom of Mrauk U.
politicslaw
Famous Birthdays This Week(15)
1622🎂 Birth
Molière born
French playwright and actor Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, is born in Paris.
artsliterature
2004🎂 Birth
Grace VanderWaal
Grace VanderWaal, American singer-songwriter, was born.
musicentertainment
Notable Deaths This Week(15)
1919🕊️ Death
Rosa Luxemburg dies
German revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg is killed in Berlin during the Spartacist uprising.
politicswarmilitary
2022🕊️ Death
Alexa McDonough
Alexa McDonough, a pioneering Canadian politician and former leader of the federal New Democratic Party, has died. She was born in 1944.
politics
2023🕊️ Death
Lucile Randon dies
Lucile Randon, a French supercentenarian, has died at the age of 118. She was born in 1904.
2025🕊️ Death
David Lynch
David Lynch, American television and film director, visual artist and musician, died from complications from emphysema.
entertainmentarts
2025🕊️ Death
Melba Montgomery
Melba Montgomery, American country music singer-songwriter, died.
musicentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Linda Nolan
Linda Nolan, Irish singer and actress, has died. She was born in 1959.
entertainmentmusic
2025🕊️ Death
Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker is an American former professional baseball catcher and sportscaster.
sportsentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Didier Guillaume
Didier Guillaume was a French politician and the 25th Minister of State of Monaco.
politics
2025🕊️ Death
Jules Feiffer
Jules Feiffer was an American cartoonist, playwright, screenwriter, and educator.
artsliteratureentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat
Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat was a Mongolian politician and the 1st President of Mongolia.
politics
Trending Topics This Week
History, Delivered Daily.
Join thousands of history buffs. Get a curated 1-minute read of the day's most fascinating historical events sent straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy.