✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 15th day of the year

January 15

A look at January 15 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Molière and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2009

    US Airways Flight 1549

    US Airways Flight 1549 ditches safely in the Hudson River after the plane collides with birds less than two minutes after take-off. This becomes known as "The Miracle on the Hudson" as all 155 people on board were rescued.

    2009 aviation accident in
  2. 2001

    Wikipedia

    Wikipedia, a free wiki content encyclopedia, is launched (Wikipedia Day).

    Free online crowdsourced encyclopedia
  3. 1962

    Derveni papyrus

    The Derveni papyrus, Europe's oldest surviving manuscript dating to 340 BC, is found in northern Greece.

    Oldest surviving European manuscript
  4. 1947

    Black Dahlia

    The Black Dahlia murder: The dismembered corpse of Elizabeth Short is found in Los Angeles.

    American murder victim (1924–1947)
  5. 1943

    World War II

    World War II: The Soviet counter-offensive at Voronezh begins.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1937

    Spanish Civil War

    Spanish Civil War: Nationalists and Republicans both withdraw after suffering heavy losses, ending the Second Battle of the Corunna Road.

    1936–1939 civil war in
  7. 1934

    1934 Nepal–India earthquake

    The 8.0 Mw Nepal–Bihar earthquake strikes Nepal and Bihar with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing an estimated 6,000–10,700 people.

    1934 earthquake in South
  8. 1910

    Buffalo Bill Dam

    Construction ends on the Buffalo Bill Dam in Wyoming, United States, which was the highest dam in the world at the time, at 99 m (325 ft).

    Dam on the Shoshone
  9. 1865

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  10. 1815

    War of 1812

    War of 1812: American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured by a squadron of four British frigates.

    1812–1815 conflict in North
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 15

Molière

b. 1622

French actor and playwright

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

b. 1809

French economist and politician

Edward Teller

b. 1908

Hungarian-American physicist and academic

Martin Luther King Jr.

b. 1929

American minister and activist, Nobel Prize laureate

Alexander Griboyedov

b. 1795

Russian playwright, composer, and poet

Tsegaye Kebede

b. 1987

Ethiopian runner

Skrillex

b. 1988

American DJ and producer

Drew Brees

b. 1979

American football player

Deaths

  • 2025David Lynch, American television and film director, visual artist and musician, complications from emphysema
  • 2013Nagisa Ōshima, Japanese director and screenwriter
  • 2005Walter Ernsting, German author
  • 1919Rosa Luxemburg, German economist, theorist, and philosopher
  • 1919Karl Liebknecht, German politician
  • 69AD 69, Roman emperor (born 3 BC)

Holidays & observances

  • —Arbor Day (Egypt)
  • —Armed Forces Remembrance Day (Nigeria)
  • —Army Day (India)
  • —Christian feast day: Abeluzius (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Arnold Janssen
  • —Christian feast day: Francis Ferdinand de Capillas (one of Martyr Saints of China)
  • —Christian feast day: Ita
  • —Christian feast day: Our Lady of the Poor

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