January 2 in history — What Happened Today in History
January 2 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on January 2 in history, who was born on January 2 and who passed away on January 2, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, January 2 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 2 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on January 2 in History 33
- 2024
Two aircraft collide on a runway at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, killing 5 and injuring 18.
- 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.
- 2004
Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth.
- 1993
Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35–100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon.
- 1991
Sharon Pratt Dixon becomes the first African American woman mayor of a major city and first woman Mayor of the District of Columbia.
- 1988
Condor Flugdienst Flight 3782 crashes near Seferihisar, Turkey, killing 16 people.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 1975
At the opening of a new railway line, a bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways.
- 1971
The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football match.
- 1967
Ronald Reagan, past movie actor and future President of the United States, is sworn in as Governor of California.
All entries for January 2（+21）
- 1963
Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory, at the Battle of Ap Bac.
- 1959
Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.
- 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.
- 1954
India establishes its highest civilian awards, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan.
- 1949
Luis Muñoz Marín is inaugurated as the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
- 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.
- 1942
World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces, enabling them to control the Philippines.
- 1941
World War II: The Cardiff Blitz severely damages the cathedral in Cardiff, Wales.
- 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.
- 1921
World premiere of the science fiction play R.U.R. by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a theater in Hradec Králové.
- 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.
- 1900
American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China.
- 1900
Chicago Canal opens.
- 1865
Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as the Brazilians and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay.
- 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.
- 1818
The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded by a group of six engineers; Thomas Telford would later become its first president.
- 1791
Northwest Indian War: The Big Bottom massacre is committed by Lenape and Wyandot warriors in the Ohio Country, North America.
- 1788
Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
- 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.
- 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.
- 1680
Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram and his bodyguards execute the rebel leader Trunajaya.
Famous Birthdays on January 2 in History 25
- 2006
Claudio Echeverri, Argentine footballer
- 2003
CJ Egan-Riley, English footballer
- 2003
Elye Wahi, French footballer
- 2001
Cole Caufield, American ice hockey player
- 2001
Luiz Henrique, Brazilian footballer
- 2000
Spencer Arrighetti, American baseball player
- 1999
Georgios Kalaitzakis, Greek basketball player
- 1999
Fernando Tatís Jr., Dominican baseball player
- 1999
Aaron Wiggins, American professional basketball player
- 1998
Tfue, American online streamer
- 1998
Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Dutch footballer
- 1997
Arshad Nadeem, Pakistani javelin thrower
All entries for January 2（+13）
- 1997
Carlos Soler, Spanish footballer
- 1996
Jonah Bolden, Australian-American basketball player
- 1994
Ronald Darby, American football player
- 1993
Bryson Tiller, American singer and rapper
- 1992
Paulo Gazzaniga, Argentine footballer
- 1992
Alexey Marchenko, Russian ice hockey player
- 1992
Teemu Pulkkinen, Finnish ice hockey player
- 1992
Korbin Sims, Australian-Fijian rugby league player
- 1991
Ben Hardy, English actor
- 1988
Germán Cano, Argentine footballer
- 1988
Luke Harangody, American basketball player
- 1988
Damien Tussac, French-German rugby player
- 1987
Shelley Hennig, American actress and model
Notable Deaths on January 2 in History 25
- 2025
Ágnes Keleti, Hungarian Olympic gymnast (born 1921)
- 2025
Francesc Antich, Spanish politician (born 1958)
- 2019
Daryl Dragon, American musician (born 1942)
- 2019
Bob Einstein, American actor and comedian (born 1942)
- 2019
Julia Grant, British transgender activist (born 1954)
- 2019
Gene Okerlund, American wrestling announcer (born 1942)
- 2018
Guida Maria, Portuguese actress (born 1950)
- 2018
Thomas S. Monson, American religious leader, 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (born 1927)
- 2017
Jean Vuarnet, French ski racer (born 1933)
- 2017
John Berger, English art critic, novelist and painter (born 1926)
- 2016
Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan, Indian lawyer and politician (born 1924)
- 2016
Frances Cress Welsing, American psychiatrist and author (born 1935)
All entries for January 2（+13）
- 2016
Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi Arabian religious leader (born 1959)
- 2016
Gisela Mota Ocampo, mayor of Temixco, Morelos, Mexico, assassinated (born 1982)
- 2015
Tihomir Novakov, Serbian-American physicist and academic (born 1929)
- 2014
Bernard Glasser, American director and producer (born 1924)
- 2014
Elizabeth Jane Howard, English author and screenwriter (born 1923)
- 2013
Gerda Lerner, Austrian-American historian, author, and academic (born 1920)
- 2013
Teresa Torańska, Polish journalist and author (born 1944)
- 2012
William P. Carey, American businessman and philanthropist, founded W. P. Carey (born 1930)
- 2012
Silvana Gallardo, American actress and producer (born 1953)
- 2012
Gordon Hirabayashi, American-Canadian sociologist and academic (born 1918)
- 2011
Anne Francis, American actress (born 1930)
- 2011
Bali Ram Bhagat, Indian politician; 16th Governor of Rajasthan (born 1922)
- 2011
Mia Bustam, Indonesian painter, writer, and political prisoner (born 1920)
That is the story of January 2 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on January 2 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 2 in history?
The biggest event on January 2 in history is: 2024 — Two aircraft collide on a runway at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, killing 5 and injuring 18.. In total, 33 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on January 2?
25 famous people were born on January 2 in history, the best known being 2006 — Claudio Echeverri, Argentine footballer.
Who died on January 2?
25 notable people died on January 2 in history, including 2025 — Ágnes Keleti, Hungarian Olympic gymnast (born 1921).
Why should I read about January 2 in history?
Exploring January 2 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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