1885Invention
First skyscraper opens in US
Home Insurance Building, considered first skyscraper, opened in Chicago with 10 stories.
Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Bradley Cooper born (1975) and January Jones born (1978), 3 years apart.
2 / 6 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.
Read on CurioVault.co →Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Deadmau51981- January Jones1978
- Bradley Cooper1975
- Umberto Eco1932
5 January in history
4 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
1919Law
Prohibition ratified in US
18th Amendment to US Constitution ratified, beginning Prohibition era.
1977Songs
David Bowie releases Low album
David Bowie released Low, first of his Berlin Trilogy with Brian Eno.
1978TV
Doctor Who debuts in US
Doctor Who first broadcast in US on PBS.
Showing 1-4 of 4 events
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News
Strange but true headlines of the day
OddlyTrue News Stand
From the archives
Classic headlineEnraged Cow Injures Farmer With Ax
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “Amy Johnson, a 37-year-old pilot and the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia, disappears after bailing out of her plane over the River Thames, and is presumed dead.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
???? First everAmy Johnson, a 37-year-old pilot and the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia, disappears after bailing out of her plane over the River Thames, and is presumed dead.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1869 Oddly trueTe Kooti's War: After surviving a five-day siege in the pā at Ngātapa, Māori leader Te Kooti escaped from New Zealand's Armed Constabulary.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1757 Oddly trueKing Louis XV survived an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, who later became the last person in France to be executed by drawing and quartering.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 5 January — today is 13 October.
Born on this day
4
1932Birth
Umberto Eco born
Italian novelist and semiotician Umberto Eco, author of The Name of the Rose, was born in Alessandria.
1975Birth
Bradley Cooper born
Bradley Cooper was born. American actor.
1978Birth
January Jones born
January Jones was born. American actress.
1981Birth
Deadmau5 born
Deadmau5 was born. Canadian DJ.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Suicide
1962Death
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe, actress and model, died on this day in 1962. Barbiturate overdose. Remembered as: Iconic actress and sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Famous birthdays
22 this weekToday · 5 January
- Deadmau5Canadian music producer and DJ (born 1981)Born 1981 · 45 years ago today
- January JonesAmerican actress (born 1978)Born 1978 · 48 years ago today
- Bradley CooperAmerican actor and filmmaker (born 1975)Born 1975 · 51 years ago today
- Umberto EcoItalian semiotician, philosopher and writer (1932–2016)Born 1932 · 94 years ago today
Coming up this week
Eddie RedmayneEnglish actor (born 1982)6 January · born 1982
Rowan AtkinsonEnglish actor, comedian, and writer (born 1955)6 January · born 1955
Joan of ArcFrench folk heroine and saint (1412–1431)6 January · born 1412
Lewis HamiltonBritish racing driver (born 1985)7 January · born 1985
Nicolas CageAmerican actor (born 1964)7 January · born 1964
Millard FillmorePresident of the United States from 1850 to 18537 January · born 1800
Celebration5 January
National Bird Day
Promotes avian conservation and raises awareness of the world's wild bird species.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 5 January.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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