1943Global
Pentagon completed
The Pentagon, world's largest office building, was completed in Virginia.
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Pitbull born (1981) and Dove Cameron born (1996), 15 years apart.
1 / 3 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Milk Drinkers Are Turning to PowderHall of Fame◆
- 1887BLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE.The New York Times◆
- 2022Prince Harry files legal claim over right to pay for UK police protectionThe Guardian◆
- 2018Iceland supermarket vows to eliminate plastic on all own-branded productsThe Guardian◆
- 1991Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system.Wikipedia◆
- 1885Wilson Bentley (pictured) took the first known photograph of a snowflake by attaching a bellows camera to a microscope.Wikipedia◆
- 1865American Civil War: The Union Army captured Fort Fisher, the last seaport of the Confederacy.Wikipedia◆
- 1876The first newspaper in Afrikaans, Die Afrikaanse Patriot, is published in Paarl.Wikipedia◆
- 1947The mutilated corpse of the Black Dahlia, a 22-year-old woman whose murder is one of the most famous unsolved crimes in the United States, was found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.Wikipedia◆
- 1870Thomas Nast publishes a political cartoon symbolizing the Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion") for Harper's Weekly.Wikipedia◆
- 1865American Civil War: Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy.Wikipedia◆
- 1541King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of New France (Canada) and provide for the spread of the "Holy Catholic faith".Wikipedia◆
- 1535King Henry VIII issues letters patent incorporating the title Supreme Head of the Church of England into his royal title.Wikipedia◆
- 1974American serial killer Dennis Rader, also known as the "BTK killer", murdered his first four victims.Wikipedia◆
- Milk Drinkers Are Turning to PowderHall of Fame◆
- 1887BLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE.The New York Times◆
- 2022Prince Harry files legal claim over right to pay for UK police protectionThe Guardian◆
- 2018Iceland supermarket vows to eliminate plastic on all own-branded productsThe Guardian◆
- 1991Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system.Wikipedia◆
- 1885Wilson Bentley (pictured) took the first known photograph of a snowflake by attaching a bellows camera to a microscope.Wikipedia◆
- 1865American Civil War: The Union Army captured Fort Fisher, the last seaport of the Confederacy.Wikipedia◆
- 1876The first newspaper in Afrikaans, Die Afrikaanse Patriot, is published in Paarl.Wikipedia◆
- 1947The mutilated corpse of the Black Dahlia, a 22-year-old woman whose murder is one of the most famous unsolved crimes in the United States, was found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.Wikipedia◆
- 1870Thomas Nast publishes a political cartoon symbolizing the Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion") for Harper's Weekly.Wikipedia◆
- 1865American Civil War: Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy.Wikipedia◆
- 1541King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of New France (Canada) and provide for the spread of the "Holy Catholic faith".Wikipedia◆
- 1535King Henry VIII issues letters patent incorporating the title Supreme Head of the Church of England into his royal title.Wikipedia◆
- 1974American serial killer Dennis Rader, also known as the "BTK killer", murdered his first four victims.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Dove Cameron1996- Pitbull1981
- Martin Luther King Jr1929
15 January in history
2 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
2009Tragedy
Miracle on the Hudson
US Airways Flight 1549 ditched in Hudson River by Captain Sully Sullenberger, all 155 survived.
Showing 1-2 of 2 events
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — January 15
1991 First everElizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1885 First everWilson Bentley (pictured) took the first known photograph of a snowflake by attaching a bellows camera to a microscope.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1865 Oddly trueAmerican Civil War: The Union Army captured Fort Fisher, the last seaport of the Confederacy.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1876 First everThe first newspaper in Afrikaans, Die Afrikaanse Patriot, is published in Paarl.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1947 WeirdThe mutilated corpse of the Black Dahlia, a 22-year-old woman whose murder is one of the most famous unsolved crimes in the United States, was found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2022The GuardianPrince Harry files legal claim over right to pay for UK police protectionDuke of Sussex seeks judicial review of Home Office refusal to let him pay for protection after being chased by photo…
Read on The Guardian →
2018The GuardianIceland supermarket vows to eliminate plastic on all own-branded productsRetailer outlines five-year aim to replace all plastic packaging with trays made of paper and pulp
Read on The Guardian →- 1887The New York Times · Front pageBLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE.
OTTAWA, Jan. 14.--An accident occurred late last night two miles from here, resulting in the destruction of a dwellin…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
OddlyTrue News Stand
From the archives
Classic headlineMilk Drinkers Are Turning to Powder
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 “Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1885 First ever
Wilson Bentley (pictured) took the first known photograph of a snowflake by attaching a bellows camera to a microscope.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1865 Oddly true
American Civil War: The Union Army captured Fort Fisher, the last seaport of the Confederacy.
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 15 January — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1929Birth
Martin Luther King Jr born
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1981Birth
Pitbull born
Pitbull was born. American rapper.
1996Birth
Dove Cameron born
Dove Cameron was born. American actress.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Suicide
2016Death
Prince dies
Prince, musician, died on this day in 2016. Fentanyl overdose. Remembered as: Innovative artist known for his eclectic work and flamboyant stage presence.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Famous birthdays
22 this weekToday · 15 January
- Dove CameronAmerican actress and singer (born 1996)Born 1996 · 30 years ago today
- PitbullType of dogBorn 1981 · 45 years ago today
- Martin Luther King JrAmerican minister and civil rights activist (1929–1968)Born 1929 · 97 years ago today
Coming up this week
Albert PujolsDominican-American baseball player (born 1980)16 January · born 1980
Lin-Manuel MirandaAmerican songwriter, actor, filmmaker and librettist (born 1980)16 January · born 1980
Kate MossEnglish model and businesswoman (born 1974)16 January · born 1974
Michelle ObamaFirst Lady of the United States from 2009 to 201717 January · born 1964
Jim CarreyCanadian and American actor (born 1962)17 January · born 1962
Muhammad AliAmerican boxer and activist (1942–2016)17 January · born 1942
Celebration15 January
Wikipedia Day
Marks the anniversary of the launch of the free online encyclopedia in 2001.
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 15 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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