What Happened on January 13 in History?
January 13 has been a significant date for major political shifts, tragic accidents, and cultural milestones throughout history.
Major Historical Events
Trump's Second Impeachment (2021): In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump for "incitement of insurrection" following the January 6 Capitol attack, making him the only U.S. president to be impeached twice.
"J'accuse…!" Published (1898): French author Émile Zola published his famous open letter denouncing the French government for its role in the wrongful treason conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer.
First Elected Black Governor (1990): L. Douglas Wilder was inaugurated as the Governor of Virginia in 1990, becoming the first popularly elected African American governor in United States history.
National Geographic Society Founded (1888): A group of scholars and explorers met in Washington, D.C., to found the society dedicated to the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge.
Nika Riots Begin (532 AD): The most violent riots in the history of Constantinople broke out at the Hippodrome, nearly toppling the Emperor Justinian I.
Tragedies and Disasters
Air Florida Flight 90 Crash (1982): During a snowstorm, a Boeing 737 crashed into Washington, D.C.'s 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the Potomac River, killing 78 people.
Costa Concordia Disaster (2012): The Italian cruise ship ran aground and capsized off the coast of Italy due to the captain's negligence, resulting in 32 deaths.
El Salvador Earthquake (2001): A massive magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck El Salvador, killing more than 800 people and causing widespread destruction.
Avezzano Earthquake (1915): One of the deadliest earthquakes in Italian history hit the town of Avezzano, claiming approximately 30,000 lives.
Cultural and Scientific Milestones
Mickey Mouse Comic Strip (1930): The first Mickey Mouse comic strip, written by Walt Disney and drawn by Ub Iwerks, made its debut in newspapers.
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (1968): Johnny Cash performed two live shows for inmates at Folsom State Prison in California, leading to one of the most iconic live albums in music history.
Discovery of Callisto (1610): Astronomer Galileo Galilei discovered Callisto, the fourth of Jupiter's major "Galilean" moons.
First Use of Ejector Seat (1942): German test pilot Helmut Schenk became the first person to use an aircraft ejection seat during a flight in a Heinkel He 280 jet fighter.
Notable Births and Deaths
Births: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1961), Patrick Dempsey (1966), Shonda Rhimes (1970), Orlando Bloom (1977), and Liam Hemsworth (1990).
Deaths: Irish novelist James Joyce (1941), Wild West lawman Wyatt Earp (1929), and U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey (1978).
