January 19 in history — What Happened Today in History
January 19 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on January 19 in history, who was born on January 19 and who passed away on January 19, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, January 19 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about January 19 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on January 19 in History 40
- 2025
Bytedance and sister companies are banned from the United States for "security concerns".
- 2024
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's probe lands on the moon, making Japan the 5th country to land a spacecraft on the moon.
- 2014
A bomb attack on an army convoy in the city of Bannu kills at least 26 Pakistani soldiers and injures 38 others.
- 2012
The Hong Kong-based file-sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI.
- 2007
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink is assassinated in front of his newspaper's Istanbul office by 17-year-old Turkish ultra-nationalist Ogün Samast.
- 2007
Four-man Team N2i, using only skis and kites, completes a 1,093-mile (1,759 km) trek to reach the Antarctic pole of inaccessibility for the first time since 1965 and for the first time ever without mechanical assistance.
- 2006
A Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crashes near Hejce, Hungary, killing 42.
- 1999
British Aerospace agrees to acquire the defence subsidiary of the General Electric Company, forming BAE Systems in November 1999.
- 1997
Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city.
- 1996
The barge North Cape oil spill occurs as an engine fire forces the tugboat Scandia ashore on Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
- 1995
After being struck by lightning the crew of Bristow Helicopters Flight 56C are forced to ditch. All 18 aboard are later rescued.
- 1993
Czech Republic and Slovakia join the United Nations.
All entries for January 19（+28）
- 1991
Gulf War: Iraq fires a second Scud missile into Israel, causing 15 injuries.
- 1990
Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in Indian-administered Kashmir due to an insurgency.
- 1988
Trans-Colorado Airlines Flight 2286 crashes in Bayfield, Colorado, killing nine.
- 1981
Iran hostage crisis: United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.
- 1978
The last Volkswagen Beetle made in Germany leaves VW's plant in Emden. Beetle production in Latin America continues until 2003.
- 1977
President Gerald Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (a.k.a. "Tokyo Rose").
- 1969
Student Jan Palach dies after setting himself on fire three days earlier in Prague's Wenceslas Square to protest about the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968. His funeral turns into another major protest.
- 1966
Indira Gandhi becomes India's first female prime minister.
- 1960
Japan and the United States sign the US–Japan Mutual Security Treaty
- 1960
Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 871 crashes near Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey, killing all 42 aboard.
- 1953
Almost 72 percent of all television sets in the United States are tuned into I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth.
- 1946
General Douglas MacArthur establishes the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo to try Japanese war criminals.
- 1945
World War II: Soviet forces liberate the Łódź Ghetto. Of more than 200,000 inhabitants in 1940, fewer than 900 had survived the Nazi occupation.
- 1942
World War II: The Japanese conquest of Burma begins.
- 1941
World War II: HMS Greyhound and other escorts of convoy AS-12 sink Italian submarine Neghelli with all hands 64 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of Falkonera.
- 1937
Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in seven hours, 28 minutes, 25 seconds.
- 1920
The United States Senate votes against joining the League of Nations.
- 1920
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is founded.
- 1917
Silvertown explosion: A blast at a munitions factory in London kills 73 and injures over 400. The resulting fire causes over £2,000,000 worth of damage.
- 1915
Georges Claude patents the neon discharge tube for use in advertising.
- 1915
German strategic bombing during World War I: German zeppelins bomb the towns of Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn in the United Kingdom killing at least 20 people, in the first major aerial bombardment of a civilian target.
- 1901
Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, is stricken with paralysis. She dies three days later at the age of 81.
- 1899
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is formed.
- 1883
The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires, built by Thomas Edison, begins service at Roselle, New Jersey.
- 1871
Franco-Prussian War: In the Siege of Paris, Prussia wins the Battle of St. Quentin. Meanwhile, the French attempt to break the siege in the Battle of Buzenval will end unsuccessfully the following day.
- 1862
American Civil War: Battle of Mill Springs: The Confederacy suffers its first significant defeat in the conflict.
- 1861
American Civil War: Georgia joins South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in declaring secession from the United States.
- 1853
Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore receives its premiere performance in Rome.
Famous Birthdays on January 19 in History 25
- 2003
Felix Afena-Gyan, Ghanaian footballer
- 1999
Jonathan Taylor, American football player
- 1999
Donyell Malen, Dutch footballer
- 1998
Emre Guler, Australian rugby league player
- 1996
Jakub Jankto, Czech footballer
- 1994
Matthias Ginter, German footballer
- 1994
Alfie Mawson, English footballer
- 1994
Marvelous Nakamba, Zimbabwean footballer
- 1993
Erick Torres Padilla, Mexican footballer
- 1993
João Mário, Portuguese footballer
- 1993
Ricardo Centurión, Argentine footballer
- 1993
Walter Benítez, Argentine footballer
All entries for January 19（+13）
- 1993
Jack Schlossberg, American writer and political candidate
- 1992
Shawn Johnson East, American gymnast
- 1992
Logan Lerman, American actor
- 1992
Mac Miller, American rapper (died 2018)
- 1991
Petra Martić, Croatian tennis player
- 1991
Erin Sanders, American actress
- 1990
Tatiana Búa, Argentine tennis player
- 1990
Shaunette Renée Wilson, Guyanese-American actress
- 1988
Tyler Breeze, Canadian wrestler
- 1988
JaVale McGee, American basketball player
- 1987
Edgar Manucharyan, Armenian footballer
- 1986
Claudio Marchisio, Italian footballer
- 1986
Oleksandr Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian footballer
Notable Deaths on January 19 in History 25
- 2026
Valentino, Italian fashion designer, founder of Valentino (born 1932)
- 2025
Jeff Torborg, American baseball player and manager (born 1941)
- 2017
Miguel Ferrer, American actor (born 1955)
- 2016
Richard Levins, American ecologist and geneticist (born 1930)
- 2016
Ettore Scola, Italian director and screenwriter (born 1931)
- 2016
Sheila Sim (Lady Attenborough), English actress (born 1922)
- 2015
Justin Capră, Romanian engineer and academic (born 1933)
- 2015
Michel Guimond, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1953)
- 2015
Ward Swingle, American-French singer-songwriter and conductor (born 1927)
- 2014
Azaria Alon, Ukrainian-Israeli environmentalist, co-founded the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (born 1918)
- 2014
Christopher Chataway, English runner, journalist, and politician (born 1931)
- 2013
Taihō Kōki, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 48th Yokozuna (born 1940)
All entries for January 19（+13）
- 2013
Stan Musial, American baseball player and manager (born 1920)
- 2013
Frank Pooler, American conductor and composer (born 1926)
- 2013
Earl Weaver, American baseball player and manager (born 1930)
- 2013
Toktamış Ateş, Turkish academician, political commentator, columnist and writer (born 1944)
- 2012
Peter Åslin, Swedish ice hockey player (born 1962)
- 2012
Sarah Burke, Canadian skier (born 1982)
- 2012
Winston Riley, Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer (born 1943)
- 2012
Rudi van Dantzig, Dutch ballet dancer and choreographer (born 1933)
- 2010
Bill McLaren, Scottish rugby player and sportscaster (born 1923)
- 2008
Suzanne Pleshette, American actress (born 1937)
- 2008
John Stewart, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1939)
- 2008
Don Wittman, Canadian sportscaster (born 1936)
- 2007
Hrant Dink, Turkish-Armenian journalist and activist (born 1954)
That is the story of January 19 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on January 19 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on January 19 in history?
The biggest event on January 19 in history is: 2025 — Bytedance and sister companies are banned from the United States for "security concerns".. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on January 19?
25 famous people were born on January 19 in history, the best known being 2003 — Felix Afena-Gyan, Ghanaian footballer.
Who died on January 19?
25 notable people died on January 19 in history, including 2026 — Valentino, Italian fashion designer, founder of Valentino (born 1932).
Why should I read about January 19 in history?
Exploring January 19 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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