January 3 in history — What Happened Today in History
January 3 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on January 3 in history, who was born on January 3 and who passed away on January 3, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, January 3 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 3 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on January 3 in History 40
- 2026
The United States conducts airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and captures Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.
- 2024
At least 91 people are killed in bombings in Kerman, Iran, during a ceremony commemorating the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani four years earlier.
- 2023
Singapore's Jurong Bird Park permanently closes.
- 2020
Iranian General Qasem Soleimani is killed by an American airstrike near Baghdad International Airport, igniting global concerns of a potential armed conflict.
- 2019
Chang'e 4 makes the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, deploying the Yutu-2 lunar rover.
- 2018
For the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the Netherlands are closed simultaneously in the wake of a storm.
- 2016
In response to the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, Iran ends its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
- 2015
Boko Haram militants destroy the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria, starting the Baga massacre and killing as many as 2,000 people.
- 2009
The first block of the blockchain of the decentralized payment system Bitcoin, called the Genesis block, is established by the creator of the system, Satoshi Nakamoto.
- 2004
Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea, resulting in 148 deaths, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian history.
- 2002
Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Israeli forces seize the Palestinian freighter Karine A in the Red Sea, finding 50 tons of weapons.
- 1999
The Mars Polar Lander is launched by NASA.
All entries for January 3（+28）
- 1994
Baikal Airlines Flight 130 crashes near Mamoney, Irkutsk, Russia, resulting in 125 deaths.
- 1993
In Moscow, Russia, George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
- 1992
CommutAir Flight 4821 crashes on approach to Adirondack Regional Airport, in Saranac Lake, New York, killing two people.
- 1990
United States invasion of Panama: Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, surrenders to American forces.
- 1987
Varig Flight 797 crashes near Akouré in the Ivory Coast, resulting in 50 deaths.
- 1977
Apple Computer is incorporated.
- 1976
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, comes into force.
- 1962
Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro.
- 1961
Cold War: After a series of economic retaliations against one another, the United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba.
- 1961
The SL-1 nuclear reactor, near Idaho Falls, Idaho, is destroyed by a steam explosion in the only reactor incident in the United States to cause immediate fatalities.
- 1961
A protest by agricultural workers in Baixa de Cassanje, Portuguese Angola, turns into a revolt, opening the Angolan War of Independence, the first of the Portuguese Colonial Wars.
- 1961
Aero Flight 311 crashes into the forest in Kvevlax, Finland, killing 25 people.
- 1959
Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state.
- 1958
The West Indies Federation is formed.
- 1957
The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch.
- 1956
A fire damages the top part of the Eiffel Tower.
- 1953
Frances P. Bolton and her son, Oliver from Ohio, become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress.
- 1949
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, is established.
- 1947
Proceedings of the U.S. Congress are televised for the first time.
- 1946
Popular Canadian American jockey George Woolf suffers a concussion during a freak racing accident; he dies from the injury the following day. The annual George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is created to honor him.
- 1944
World War II: US flying ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington is shot down in his Vought F4U Corsair by Captain Masajiro Kawato flying a Mitsubishi A6M Zero.
- 1933
Minnie D. Craig becomes the first woman elected as Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives, the first woman to hold a Speaker position anywhere in the United States.
- 1920
Over 640 are killed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes the Mexican states Puebla and Veracruz.
- 1913
An Atlantic coast storm sets the lowest confirmed barometric pressure reading (955.0 mb (28.20 inHg)) for a non-tropical system in the continental United States.
- 1913
First Balkan War: Greece completes its capture of the eastern Aegean island of Chios, as the last Ottoman forces on the island surrender.
- 1911
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake destroys the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan.
- 1911
A gun battle in the East End of London leaves two dead. It sparked a political row over the involvement of then-Home Secretary Winston Churchill.
- 1885
Sino-French War: Beginning of the Battle of Núi Bop.
Famous Birthdays on January 3 in History 25
- 2008
Raegan Revord, American actor
- 2004
Carlos Baleba, Cameroonian footballer
- 2004
Toby Collyer, English footballer
- 2004
Habib Diarra, Senegalese footballer
- 2003
Kyle Rittenhouse, American conservative personality
- 2003
Greta Thunberg, Swedish environmental activist
- 2003
Alan Virginius, French footballer
- 2002
Nico González, Spanish footballer
- 2001
Deni Avdija, Israeli-Serbian basketball player
- 2000
Leandro Barreiro, Luxembourgish footballer
- 2000
João Mário, Portuguese footballer
- 1998
Patrick Cutrone, Italian footballer
All entries for January 3（+13）
- 1998
Emiru, American online streamer
- 1997
Fodé Ballo-Touré, French-Senegalese footballer
- 1997
Jérémie Boga, French-Ivorian footballer
- 1997
Kyron McMaster, British Virgin Islands hurdler
- 1996
Léo Ortiz, Brazilian footballer
- 1996
Florence Pugh, English actress
- 1995
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, American-Jordanian basketball player
- 1995
Jisoo, South Korean singer and actress
- 1995
Paddy Pimblett, English mixed martial artist
- 1995
Kim Seol-hyun, South Korean singer and actress
- 1995
Tonny Vilhena, Dutch footballer
- 1994
Isaquias Queiroz, Brazilian sprint canoeist
- 1992
Doug McDermott, American basketball player
Notable Deaths on January 3 in History 25
- 2025
Jeff Baena, American filmmaker (born 1977)
- 2025
Brenton Wood, American R&B singer-songwriter and keyboard player (born 1941)
- 2025
Niko Lekishvili, Georgian politician (born 1947)
- 2023
Elena Huelva, Spanish cancer activist and influencer (born 2002)
- 2021
Eric Jerome Dickey, American author (born 1961)
- 2020
Qasem Soleimani, Iranian major general, commander of the Iranian Quds Force (born 1957)
- 2019
Herb Kelleher, American businessman, co-founder of Southwest Airlines (born 1931)
- 2018
Colin Brumby, Australian composer (born 1933)
- 2017
H. S. Mahadeva Prasad, Indian politician (born 1958)
- 2016
Paul Bley, Canadian-American pianist and composer (born 1932)
- 2016
Peter Naur, Danish computer scientist, astronomer, and academic (born 1928)
- 2016
Bill Plager, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1945)
All entries for January 3（+13）
- 2016
Igor Sergun, Russian general and diplomat (born 1957)
- 2015
Martin Anderson, American economist and academic (born 1936)
- 2015
Edward Brooke, American captain and politician, 47th Massachusetts Attorney General (born 1919)
- 2014
Phil Everly, American singer and guitarist (born 1939)
- 2014
George Goodman, American economist and author (born 1930)
- 2014
Saul Zaentz, American film producer (born 1921)
- 2013
Alfie Fripp, English soldier and pilot (born 1913)
- 2013
Ivan Mackerle, Czech cryptozoologist, explorer, and author (born 1942)
- 2013
William Maxson, American general (born 1930)
- 2013
Sergiu Nicolaescu, Romanian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1930)
- 2012
Vicar, Chilean cartoonist (born 1934)
- 2012
Robert L. Carter, American lawyer and judge (born 1917)
- 2012
Winifred Milius Lubell, American author and illustrator (born 1914)
That is the story of January 3 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on January 3 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 3 in history?
The biggest event on January 3 in history is: 2026 — The United States conducts airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and captures Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on January 3?
25 famous people were born on January 3 in history, the best known being 2008 — Raegan Revord, American actor.
Who died on January 3?
25 notable people died on January 3 in history, including 2025 — Jeff Baena, American filmmaker (born 1977).
Why should I read about January 3 in history?
Exploring January 3 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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