Europa
- 1991: The January Events in Lithuania
On 13 January 1991, the most violent day of the “January Events” occurred in Lithuania, known as the Vilnius massacre. Soviet forces violently repressed peaceful demonstrators supporting Lithuanian independence, resulting in 14 civilian deaths and over 140 injuries. This day is now commemorated in Lithuania as the Day of the Defenders of Freedom (Laisvės Gynėjų Diena). - 1898: Émile Zola Publishes “J’accuse” in France
On this day in 1898, French author Émile Zola published his famous open letter “J’accuse” in the newspaper L’Aurore. The letter denounced the French general staff for its role in the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus, a pivotal moment in the Dreyfus Affair and in French history. - 1939: Hungary Joins the Anti-Comintern Pact
On 13 January 1939, Hungary agreed to join the Anti-Comintern Pact, aligning itself with Germany, Italy, and Japan against the Communist International. On the same day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain led a delegation to meet Pope Pius XI, discussing the need for democracies to resist dangerous regimes and address racial persecution and refugee crises. - 1691: Death of George Fox, the English founder of the Quakers (Society of Friends).
- 1832: Death of Thomas Lord, founder of Lord’s Cricket Ground.
- 1842: Dr. William Brydon, assistant surgeon, became the only survivor of the British retreat from Kabul during the First Anglo-Afghan War, reaching Jalalabad on this date.
America
- 2021: President Donald Trump Impeached for a Second Time
The U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” following the January 6 Capitol riot, making him the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. - 1982: Air Florida Flight 90 Crash
An Air Florida Boeing 737 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., during a snowstorm, plunging into the Potomac River and killing 78 people. Four passengers and a flight attendant survived. - 1968: Johnny Cash Performs at Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash gave his iconic live performance at Folsom State Prison in California. The recording became a landmark album in American music history. - 1941: Puerto Ricans Granted U.S. Birthright Citizenship
A new law went into effect granting birthright citizenship to residents of Puerto Rico, expanding their rights as U.S. citizens. - 1888: National Geographic Society Founded
The National Geographic Society was established in Washington, D.C., becoming a major institution for science, exploration, and education. - 1794: U.S. Flag Modified
President George Washington approved adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag after Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union. The number of stripes was later reverted to the original thirteen. - 1815: Battle of Fort Peter
During the War of 1812, British forces captured Fort Peter in St. Marys, Georgia—the only battle of the war fought in that state. - 1966: First African American Cabinet Member
Robert C. Weaver was appointed as the first African American to hold a U.S. cabinet-level position, serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. - 1990: First Elected Black Governor
L. Douglas Wilder was sworn in as the first elected Black governor in U.S. history, taking office in Virginia.
Asia
- Lohri Festival: Celebrated predominantly in northern India (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi) and parts of Pakistan, Lohri marks the end of the winter solstice and the harvest of the Rabi crops. It is a major cultural and agricultural festival in the region.
- 1964 Calcutta Riots: Anti-Muslim riots broke out in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, as a reaction to anti-Hindu riots in East Pakistan. Over 100 people were killed, and thousands were injured or arrested, marking one of the most tragic communal incidents in the city’s history.
- 1849 Battle of Chillianwala: Part of the Second Anglo-Sikh War, this battle occurred in what is now Pakistan. It was one of the bloodiest battles fought between the British East India Company and the Sikh Empire, with heavy casualties on both sides.
- 1538: Udai Singh of Marwar, later a key figure in Jodhpur’s history, became prominent on this date.
- 1950: Soviet Union Boycotts the United Nations over China: On January 13, 1950, the Soviet Union began its boycott of the UN Security Council after its motion to replace the Republic of China (Taiwan) with the People’s Republic of China was rejected. This was a pivotal moment in post-war Asian and international politics, reflecting the struggle for diplomatic recognition of the new Chinese government.
- 1950: Finland Establishes Diplomatic Relations with the People’s Republic of China: Marking a step in the global recognition of the PRC, Finland became one of the first Western countries to establish such ties.
- 1933: Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act Passed (Philippines): The U.S. Congress passed this act, which was the first law to set a process for Philippine independence, though it was later replaced by the Tydings-McDuffie Act.
Africa
- 1963: Assassination of President Sylvanus Olympio in Togo
On 13 January 1963, Togo’s first democratically elected president, Sylvanus Olympio, was assassinated during a military coup led by former soldiers from the French colonial army. Among them was Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who later assumed power and established a family dictatorship that would dominate Togo for decades. This event marked the end of Togo’s early democratic aspirations and the beginning of one of sub-Saharan Africa’s longest-running autocratic regimes. - 1972: Military Coup in Ghana
Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia and President Edward Akufo-Addo of Ghana were ousted in a bloodless military coup by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. This marked another episode in Ghana’s turbulent post-independence political history. - 1985: Ethiopia’s Worst Train Disaster
A passenger train in Ethiopia plunged into a ravine, killing 428 people in what remains the deadliest railroad disaster in African history. - 1915: South African Troops Occupy Swakopmund
During World War I, South African forces occupied the town of Swakopmund in German South-West Africa (now Namibia), marking a key moment in the region’s colonial-era conflicts.
This day in history: 13 january