What Happened on January 15 in History?
January 15 marks several major milestones in global politics, science, and popular culture.
Significant Events
Coronation of Elizabeth I (1559): Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey, beginning the influential 44-year Elizabethan Era.
Super Bowl I (1967): The first AFL-NFL World Championship (later called the Super Bowl) took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10.
The "Miracle on the Hudson" (2009): Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled both engines, saving all 155 people on board.
Wikipedia Launched (2001): Wikipedia went online for the first time, eventually becoming the world's largest reference work.
Great Molasses Flood (1919): A massive tank of molasses burst in Boston, sending a tidal wave of sticky liquid through the streets, killing 21 people and injuring 150.
Democratic Donkey Symbol (1870): Political cartoonist Thomas Nast first used the donkey to represent the Democratic Party in Harper’s Weekly.
The Pentagon Completed (1943): Construction was finished on the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, which remains the world's largest office building.
British Museum Opens (1759): The British Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time.
Notable Birthdays
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968): The iconic American civil rights leader was born in Atlanta, Georgia. While his actual birthday is January 15, the U.S. federal holiday (MLK Day) is observed on the third Monday of January.
Edward Teller (1908–2003): The theoretical physicist known as the "father of the hydrogen bomb".
Regina King (1971): Academy Award-winning actress and director.
Drew Brees (1979): Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback.
Notable Deaths
Elizabeth Short (1947): Known as the "Black Dahlia," her body was discovered in Los Angeles in one of history's most famous cold cases.
Dolores O'Riordan (2018): Lead singer of the Irish rock band The Cranberries.
Rosa Luxemburg (1919): Prominent German socialist revolutionary who was murdered in Berlin.
