Vintage News · Odd history for January 11

What Happened On January 11

Q: What happened on January 11?

1569: First recorded lottery in England. 1935: Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. 1693: The most powerful earthquake recorded in Italy struck the island of Sicily, causing 60,000 deaths and prompting a period of architectural revival. 2020: COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei: Municipal health officials in Wuhan announce the first recorded death from COVID-19. 1759: The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 532: Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence. 2013: French special forces failed in an attempted rescue of a DGSE agent, who had been taken hostage in 2009 by al-Shabaab, in Bulo Marer, Somalia. 1961: Students at the University of Georgia rioted in an attempt to prevent the attendance of two African-American students. 2013: One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia. 2003: Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal.

49 events and 229 births, refreshed daily. OddlyTrue's own archive for 11 January →

January 10 January 12

10 odd things that happened on January 11

1569 First ever
First recorded lottery in England.
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Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1935 First ever
Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1693 Oddly true
The most powerful earthquake recorded in Italy struck the island of Sicily, causing 60,000 deaths and prompting a period of architectural revival.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2020 First ever
COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei: Municipal health officials in Wuhan announce the first recorded death from COVID-19.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1759 First ever
The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
532 Oddly true
Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2013 Oddly true
French special forces failed in an attempted rescue of a DGSE agent, who had been taken hostage in 2009 by al-Shabaab, in Bulo Marer, Somalia.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1961 Oddly true
Students at the University of Georgia rioted in an attempt to prevent the attendance of two African-American students.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2013 Oddly true
One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2003 Oddly true
Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2020COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei: Municipal health officials in Wuhan announce the first recorded death from COVID-19. Wikipedia →
2013One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia. Wikipedia →
2003Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal. Wikipedia →
1998Over 100 people are killed in the Sidi-Hamed massacre in Algeria. Wikipedia →
1996Space Shuttle program: STS-72 launches from the Kennedy Space Center marking the start of the 74th Space Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of Endeavour. Wikipedia →
199551 people are killed in a plane crash in María La Baja, Colombia. Wikipedia →
1994The Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin. Wikipedia →
1986The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened. Wikipedia →
1983United Airlines Flight 2885 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, killing three. Wikipedia →
1977The first episode of Finnish children's TV show Pikku Kakkonen ("Little Number Two") is aired on Yle TV2. Wikipedia →
1973Major League Baseball owners vote in approval of the American League adopting the designated hitter position. Wikipedia →
1972East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh. Wikipedia →
1966The Tbilisi Metro is opened. Wikipedia →
1964Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Luther Terry, M.D., publishes the landmark report Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking national and worldwide anti-smoking efforts. Wikipedia →
1962Cold War: While tied to its pier in Polyarny, the Soviet submarine B-37 is destroyed when fire breaks out in its torpedo compartment. Wikipedia →
1962An avalanche on Huascarán in Peru causes around 4,000 deaths. Wikipedia →
1961Throgs Neck Bridge over the East River, linking New York City's boroughs of The Bronx and Queens, opens to road traffic. Wikipedia →
195936 people are killed when Lufthansa Flight 502 crashes on approach to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport in Brazil. Wikipedia →
1957The African Convention is founded in Dakar, Senegal. Wikipedia →
1949The first "networked" television broadcasts took place as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania goes on the air connecting the east coast and mid-west programming. Wikipedia →
1946Enver Hoxha, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Albania, declares the People's Republic of Albania with himself as head of state. Wikipedia →
1943The Republic of China agrees to the Sino-British New Equal Treaty and the Sino-American New Equal Treaty. Wikipedia →
1943Italian-American anarchist Carlo Tresca is assassinated in New York City. Wikipedia →
1942World War II: Japanese forces capture Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States. Wikipedia →
1942World War II: Japanese forces attack Tarakan in Borneo, Netherlands Indies (Battle of Tarakan) Wikipedia →
1935Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. Wikipedia →
1927Louis B. Mayer, head of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), announces the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, at a banquet in Los Angeles, California. Wikipedia →
1923Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments. Wikipedia →
1922Leonard Thompson becomes the first person to be injected with insulin. Wikipedia →
1917The Kingsland munitions factory explosion occurs, possibly as a result of German sabotage. Wikipedia →
1914The Karluk, flagship of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, sinks after being crushed by ice. Wikipedia →
1912Immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, go on strike when wages are reduced in response to a mandated shortening of the work week. Wikipedia →
1908Grand Canyon National Monument is created. Wikipedia →
1879The Anglo-Zulu War begins. Wikipedia →
1863American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Arkansas Post concludes as General John McClernand and Admiral David Dixon Porter capture Fort Hindman and secure control over the Arkansas River for the Union. Wikipedia →
1863American Civil War: CSS Alabama encounters and sinks the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse in Texas. Wikipedia →
1861American Civil War: Alabama secedes from the United States. Wikipedia →
1851Taiping Rebellion: Hong Xiuquan proclaims the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, starting the Jintian Uprising. Wikipedia →
1820The Great Savannah Fire of 1820 destroys over 400 buildings in Savannah, Georgia. Wikipedia →
1805The Michigan Territory is created. Wikipedia →
1787William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus. Wikipedia →
1759The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wikipedia →
1654Arauco War: A Spanish army is defeated by local Mapuche-Huilliches as it tries to cross Bueno River in Southern Chile. Wikipedia →
1569First recorded lottery in England. Wikipedia →
1158Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia becomes King of Bohemia. Wikipedia →
1055Theodora is crowned empress of the Byzantine Empire. Wikipedia →
930Sack of Mecca by the Qarmatians. Wikipedia →
630Conquest of Mecca: Muhammad and his followers conquer the city, and the Quraysh association of clans surrenders. Wikipedia →
532Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence. Wikipedia →

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

2024The Guardian
Tennessee after-school Satan club holds first meeting despite protests
Club flyer says Satanic Temple is a non-theistic religion and does ‘not attempt to convert children to any religious…
Read on The Guardian →
2017The Guardian
Behind the scenes of reality TV: 'You're a little bit daft to apply'
Manipulation is rife on reality TV, with producers often lying to contestants, depriving them of sleep and exploiting…
Read on The Guardian →
1968The New York Times
News of Dogs
THE rising demand for pure-bred dogs, partly attributable to the success of dog shows, has led to new business and se…
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.