✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 3rd day of the year

January 3

A look at January 3 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including J. R. R. Tolkien and Cicero, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2026

    United States

    The United States conducts airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and captures Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.

    Country primarily in North
  2. 2004

    Flash Airlines Flight 604

    Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea, resulting in 148 deaths, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian history.

    2004 aviation accident in
  3. 1990

    United States invasion of Panama

    United States invasion of Panama: Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, surrenders to American forces.

    1989 military action in
  4. 1961

    Aero Flight 311

    Aero Flight 311 crashes into the forest in Kvevlax, Finland, killing 25 people.

    1961 aviation accident in
  5. 1944

    World War II

    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.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1911

    Siege of Sidney Street

    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.

    1911 gunfight in the
  7. 1777

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: American forces under General George Washington defeat British forces at the Battle of Princeton, helping boost patriot morale.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  8. 1749

    Berlingske

    The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, is published.

    Daily newspaper in Denmark
  9. 1521

    Pope Leo X

    Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem.

    Head of the Catholic
  10. 250

    Decius

    Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to make sacrifices to the Roman gods.

    Roman emperor from 249
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 3

J. R. R. Tolkien

b. 1892

English writer, poet, and philologist

Cicero

b. -106

Roman philosopher, lawyer, and politician (died 43 BC)

Michael Schumacher

b. 1969

German racing driver

Ikechi Anya

b. 1988

Scottish-Nigerian footballer

Pietro Metastasio

b. 1698

Italian poet and songwriter

Jonny Evans

b. 1988

Northern Irish footballer

August Macke

b. 1887

German-French painter

Mel Gibson

b. 1956

American-Australian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Deaths

  • 2008Choi Yo-sam, South Korean boxer
  • 1956Joseph Wirth, German educator and politician, Chancellor of Germany
  • 1927Carl Runge, German physicist and mathematician
  • 1923Jaroslav Hašek, Czech journalist and author
  • 1322Philip V of France, king of France
  • 323Emperor Yuan of Jin, Chinese emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Daniel of Padua
  • —Christian feast day: Genevieve
  • —Christian feast day: Holy Name of Jesus
  • —Christian feast day: Kuriakose Elias Chavara (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Pope Anterus
  • —Christian feast day: January 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Tamaseseri Festival (Hakozaki Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan)
  • —The tenth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)

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