January 22

Historic Events

2024

Ram Mandir is inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute. ›

2009

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp; congressional opposition will prevent it being implemented. ›

2007

At least 88 people are killed when two car bombs explode in the Bab Al-Sharqi market in central Baghdad, Iraq. ›

2006

Evo Morales is inaugurated as President of Bolivia, becoming the country's first indigenous president. ›

1999

Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India. ›

1998

Space Shuttle program: space shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-89 to dock with the Russian space station Mir. ›

1995

Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid suicide bombing: In central Israel, near Netanya, two Gazans blow themselves up at a military transit point, killing 19 Israeli soldiers. ›

1992

Space Shuttle program: The space shuttle Discovery launches on STS-42 carrying Dr. Roberta Bondar, who becomes the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist in space. ›

1987

Philippine security forces open fire on a crowd of 10,000–15,000 demonstrators at Malacañang Palace, Manila, killing 13. ›

1973

The Supreme Court of the United States delivers its decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, legalizing elective abortion in all fifty states. This decision is subsequently overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022. ›

1973

The crew of Apollo 17 addresses a joint session of Congress after the completion of the final Apollo Moon landing mission. ›

1973

A chartered Boeing 707 explodes in flames upon landing at Kano Airport, Nigeria, killing 176. ›

1973

In a bout for the world heavyweight boxing championship in Kingston, Jamaica, challenger George Foreman knocks down champion Joe Frazier six times in the first two rounds before the fight is stopped by referee Arthur Mercante Sr.. ›

1971

The Singapore Declaration, one of the two most important documents to the uncodified constitution of the Commonwealth of Nations, is issued. ›

1970

The Boeing 747, the world's first "jumbo jet", enters commercial service for launch customer Pan American Airways with its maiden voyage from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport. ›

1968

Apollo Program: Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space. ›

1968

Operation Igloo White, a US electronic surveillance system to stop communist infiltration into South Vietnam begins installation. ›

1967

Between dozens and hundreds of anti-Somocista demonstrators are killed by the Nicaraguan National Guard in Managua. ›

1963

The Élysée Treaty of cooperation between France and West Germany is signed by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer. ›

1957

Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula. ›

1947

KTLA, the first commercial television station west of the Mississippi River, begins operation in Hollywood. ›

1946

In Iran, Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people's Republic of Mahabad at Chahar Cheragh Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad; he becomes the new president and Haji Baba Sheikh becomes the prime minister. ›

1946

Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency. ›

1944

World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. ›

1943

World War II: Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in the bitterly fought Battle of Buna–Gona. ›

1941

World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass. ›

1927

Teddy Wakelam gives the first live radio commentary of a football match, between Arsenal F.C. and Sheffield United at Highbury. ›

1924

Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ›

1919

Act Zluky is signed, unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic. ›

1917

American entry into World War I: President Woodrow Wilson of the still-neutral United States calls for "peace without victory" in Europe. ›

1915

Over 600 people are killed in Guadalajara, Mexico, when a train plunges off the tracks into a deep canyon. ›

1906

SS Valencia runs aground on rocks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, killing more than 130. ›

1905

Bloody Sunday occurs in Saint Petersburg, beginning the 1905 revolution. ›

1901

Edward VII is proclaimed King of the United Kingdom after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. ›

1890

The United Mine Workers of America is founded in Columbus, Ohio. ›

1879

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Isandlwana results in a Zulu victory. ›

1879

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Rorke's Drift, just some 15 km (9.3 mi) away from Isandlwana, results in a British victory. ›

1863

The January Uprising breaks out in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. The aim of the national movement is to regain Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth from occupation by Russia. ›

1849

Second Anglo-Sikh War: The Siege of Multan ends after nine months when the last Sikh defenders of Multan, Punjab, surrender. ›

1808

The Portuguese royal family arrives in Brazil after fleeing the French army's invasion of Portugal two months earlier. ›

1689

The Convention Parliament convenes to determine whether James II and VII, the last Roman Catholic monarch of England, Ireland and Scotland, had vacated the thrones of England and Ireland when he fled to France in 1688. ›

1555

The Ava Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in what is now Myanmar. ›

1517

The Ottoman Empire under Selim I defeats the Mamluk Sultanate and captures present-day Egypt at the Battle of Ridaniya. ›

1506

The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican. ›

871

Battle of Basing: The West Saxons led by King Æthelred I are defeated by the Danelaw Vikings at Basing. ›

613

Eight-month-old Heraclius Constantine is crowned as co-emperor (Caesar) by his father Heraclius at Constantinople. ›