Historical Events on January 2, Facts & Special Events On This Day

366

The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire.

533

Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy.

1492

Reconquista: the Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders.

1777

American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey.

1788

Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

1791

Big Bottom massacre in the Ohio Country, marking the beginning of the Northwest Indian War.

1818

The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded.

1833

Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

1860

The discovery of the planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France.

1863

American Civil War: The Battle of Stones River (a.k.a. Battle of Murfreesboro) resumes in central Tennessee after a day's respite, resulting in a significant Union victory.

1865

Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as Brazilian and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay.

1900

American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China.

1905

Russo-Japanese War: The Russian garrison surrenders at Port Arthur, China.

1920

The second Palmer Raid takes place with another 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists arrested and held without trial. These raids take place in several U.S. cities.

1941

World War II: German bombing severely damages the Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

1942

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.

1942

World War II: Manila, Philippines is captured by Japanese forces.

1945

World War II: Nuremberg, Germany is severely bombed by Allied forces.

1949

Luis Muñoz Marín becomes the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.

1955

Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera is assassinated.

1959

Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.

1963

Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory.

1967

Ronald Reagan sworn in as Governor of California

1971

The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football (soccer) match.

1974

United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo.

1975

A bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways

1976

The Gale of January 1976 begins, which results in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, resulting in at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.

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.

1992

Leaders of armed opposition declare the President Zviad Gamsakhurdia deposed during a military coup in Georgia.

1993

Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35-100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon.

1999

A brutal snowstorm smashes into the Midwestern United States, causing 14 inches (359 mm) of snow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 19 inches (487 mm) in Chicago, where temperatures plunge to -13 °F (-25 °C); 68 deaths are reported.

2004

Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth.

2006

January 2 in History

Historical Events on January 2

The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire.

Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy.

Reconquista: the Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders.

American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey.

Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

Big Bottom massacre in the Ohio Country, marking the beginning of the Northwest Indian War.

The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded.

Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

The discovery of the planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France.

American Civil War: The Battle of Stones River (a.k.a. Battle of Murfreesboro) resumes in central Tennessee after a day's respite, resulting in a significant Union victory.

Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as Brazilian and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay.

American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China.

Russo-Japanese War: The Russian garrison surrenders at Port Arthur, China.

The second Palmer Raid takes place with another 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists arrested and held without trial. These raids take place in several U.S. cities.

World War II: German bombing severely damages the Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.

World War II: Manila, Philippines is captured by Japanese forces.

World War II: Nuremberg, Germany is severely bombed by Allied forces.

Luis Muñoz Marín becomes the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.

Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera is assassinated.

Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.

Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory.

Ronald Reagan sworn in as Governor of California

The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football (soccer) match.

United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo.

A bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways

The Gale of January 1976 begins, which results in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, resulting in at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.

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.

Leaders of armed opposition declare the President Zviad Gamsakhurdia deposed during a military coup in Georgia.

Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35-100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon.

A brutal snowstorm smashes into the Midwestern United States, causing 14 inches (359 mm) of snow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 19 inches (487 mm) in Chicago, where temperatures plunge to -13 °F (-25 °C); 68 deaths are reported.

Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth.

An explosion in a coal mine in Sago, West Virginia traps and kills 12 miners, leaving only one survivor.

Choose Another Date