1984TV
First episode of The Bill
ITV police drama The Bill first aired, running for 27 years.
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — William McKinley born (1843) and Tom Selleck born (1945), 102 years apart.
1 / 3 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 → Today's headlines
- 1922Corpse Spoils Wake; Refuses to Stay DeadModesto Morning Herald◆
- 1975Last Hired, and Usually the First Let GoThe New York Times◆
- 2022Parallel lines: New looks and lessons from corduroyThe Guardian◆
- 2013Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies wins Costa prize after unanimous voteThe Guardian◆
- 1886Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.Wikipedia◆
- 1891Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ascended the throne.Wikipedia◆
- 1845American poet Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" appeared in The Evening Mirror as the newspaper's first publication attributed to Poe.Wikipedia◆
- 904Sergius III returned from exile to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.Wikipedia◆
- 1971The last of its many UFO sightings is made at Pudasjärvi, Finland.Wikipedia◆
- 1891Liliʻuokalani is proclaimed the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii.Wikipedia◆
- 1845"The Raven" is published in The Evening Mirror in New York, the first publication with the name of the author, Edgar Allan Poe.Wikipedia◆
- 904Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.Wikipedia◆
- 2006India's Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a Test cricket hat-trick in the opening over of a match.Wikipedia◆
- 1991The first major ground engagement of the Gulf War began with the Iraqi invasion of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, recaptured three days later by Coalition forces.Wikipedia◆
- 1922Corpse Spoils Wake; Refuses to Stay DeadModesto Morning Herald◆
- 1975Last Hired, and Usually the First Let GoThe New York Times◆
- 2022Parallel lines: New looks and lessons from corduroyThe Guardian◆
- 2013Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies wins Costa prize after unanimous voteThe Guardian◆
- 1886Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.Wikipedia◆
- 1891Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ascended the throne.Wikipedia◆
- 1845American poet Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" appeared in The Evening Mirror as the newspaper's first publication attributed to Poe.Wikipedia◆
- 904Sergius III returned from exile to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.Wikipedia◆
- 1971The last of its many UFO sightings is made at Pudasjärvi, Finland.Wikipedia◆
- 1891Liliʻuokalani is proclaimed the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii.Wikipedia◆
- 1845"The Raven" is published in The Evening Mirror in New York, the first publication with the name of the author, Edgar Allan Poe.Wikipedia◆
- 904Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.Wikipedia◆
- 2006India's Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a Test cricket hat-trick in the opening over of a match.Wikipedia◆
- 1991The first major ground engagement of the Gulf War began with the Iraqi invasion of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, recaptured three days later by Coalition forces.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Oprah Winfrey1954- Tom Selleck1945
- William McKinley1843
29 January in history
1 eventEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
Showing 1 event
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — January 29
1886 First everKarl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1891 Oddly trueLiliʻuokalani, the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ascended the throne.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1845 First everAmerican poet Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" appeared in The Evening Mirror as the newspaper's first publication attributed to Poe.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
904 Oddly trueSergius III returned from exile to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1971 Weird
The last of its many UFO sightings is made at Pudasjärvi, Finland.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2022The GuardianParallel lines: New looks and lessons from corduroyCorduroy used to conjure up images of elbow patches and geography teachers, but its cooler 70s legacy makes it hard t…
Read on The Guardian →
2013The GuardianHilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies wins Costa prize after unanimous voteJenni Murray, chair of judges, says Mantel novel 'stood more than head and shoulders … on stilts, above the rest'
Read on The Guardian →- 1975The New York TimesLast Hired, and Usually the First Let Go
article on preponderance of Amer cos that have policies or union contract seniority stipulations that adversely affec…
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
Modesto Morning Herald
Verified Real · year hiddenCorpse Spoils Wake; Refuses to Stay Dead
Source: Newspapers.comView clipping source
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1950
Weird history, same day
- 1886 First ever
Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1891 Oddly true
Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ascended the throne.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1845 First ever
American poet Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" appeared in The Evening Mirror as the newspaper's first publication attributed to Poe.
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 29 January — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1843Birth
William McKinley born
William McKinley was born. 25th US president.
1945Birth
Tom Selleck born
Tom Selleck was born. American actor.
1954Birth
Oprah Winfrey born
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey was born in Mississippi, becoming most influential talk-show host in history.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Suicide
30 BCDeath
Cleopatra dies
Cleopatra, queen of the ptolemaic kingdom, died on this day in 30 BC. Suicide (historically debated, asp bite). Remembered as: The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
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.
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
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.
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.
Famous birthdays
26 this weekToday · 29 January
- Oprah WinfreyAmerican actress and media mogul (born 1954)Born 1954 · 72 years ago today
- Tom SelleckAmerican actor (born 1945)Born 1945 · 81 years ago today
- William McKinleyPresident of the United States from 1897 to 1901Born 1843 · 183 years ago today
Coming up this week
Christian BaleEnglish actor (born 1974)30 January · born 1974
Phil CollinsEnglish musician (born 1951)30 January · born 1951
Franklin D. RooseveltPresident of the United States from 1933 to 194530 January · born 1882
Justin TimberlakeAmerican singer, songwriter, and actor (born 1981)31 January · born 1981
Portia de RossiAustralian-American actress (born 1973)31 January · born 1973
Jackie RobinsonAmerican baseball player (1919–1972)31 January · born 1919
Celebration29 January
National Puzzle Day
Celebrates crosswords, jigsaws, and logic puzzles that challenge the brain.
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 29 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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