Skip to content

Home arrow Trivia Resources arrow On this day in history

On this day in History Archives
 
At PaulsQuiz.com we aim to provide you with as much information as we possibly can. That's why we have built our On This Day in History section, to do just that. Our database is forever growing, we're adding more and more events from history to help you write your quiz questions.

Simply enter a date using the drop-down boxes below and click the 'Go' button to display events from the past that ocurred on that day.
 

 
01 January, 1966
A twelve day New York City transit strike begins.
01 January, 1966
After a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa assumes power as president of the Central African Republic.
01 January, 1965
The Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan was founded in Kabul.
01 January, 1964
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia.
01 January, 1962
Western Samoa achieves independence from New Zealand; its name is changed to the Independent State of Western Samoa.
01 January, 1962
United States Navy SEALs established.
01 January, 1960
The Republic of Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
01 January, 1959
Cultivars of plants named after this date must be named in a modern language, not in Latin.
01 January, 1959
Fulgencio Batista, president of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castros forces during the Cuban Revolution.
01 January, 1958
The European Community is established.
01 January, 1957
George Town, Penang became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
01 January, 1956
The Republic of the Sudan achieves independence from the Egyptian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
01 January, 1956
Progressing new year event that panic and stampede at Yahiko Shrine, Yahiko, central Niigata, Japan, killing at least 124 people.
01 January, 1950
The state of Ajaigarh acceded to the Government of India.
01 January, 1949
The British Nationality Act 1948 comes into force.
01 January, 1949
United Nation cease-fire orders to operate in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly.
01 January, 1948
British railways are nationalised to form British Rail.
01 January, 1948
After partition, India declines to pay the agreed share of Rs.550 million in cash balances to Pakistan.
01 January, 1948
The Constitution of Italy comes into force.
01 January, 1947
The American and British occupation zones in Germany, after the World War II, merge to form the Bizone, that later became the Federal Republic of Germany.
01 January, 1946
The first civil flight from Heathrow Airport occurs.
01 January, 1945
In retaliation of the Malmedy massacre, U.S. troops massacre 30 SS prisoners at Chenogne.
01 January, 1942
The Declaration by the United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations.
01 January, 1942
The U.S. Office of Production Management prohibited sales of new cars and trucks to civilians.
01 January, 1939
The first Vienna New Years Concert is held.
01 January, 1939
William Hewlett and David Packard found Hewlett-Packard.
01 January, 1939
Sydney, Australia swelters in 45°C (113°F) heat, a record for the city.
01 January, 1937
The first Cotton Bowl game is played in Dallas, Texas. TCU defeats Marquette University 16–6.
01 January, 1937
Safety glass in windshields became mandatory in Great Britain.
01 January, 1935
Bucknell University wins the first Orange Bowl 26–0 over the University of Miami.
01 January, 1934
Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison.
01 January, 1934
Nazi Germany passes the "Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring".
01 January, 1927
Turkey adopts the Gregorian calendar: December 18, 1926 (Julian), is immediately followed by January 1, 1927 (Gregorian).
01 January, 1925
The American astronomer Edwin Hubble announces the discovery of galaxies outside the Milky Way.
01 January, 1923
Britains Railways are grouped into the Big Four, LNER, GWR, SR, LMSR.
01 January, 1922
The Greek Constitution of 1822 is adopted by the First National Assembly of Epidaurus.
01 January, 1920
The Belorussian Communist Organisation is founded as a separate party.
01 January, 1919
Edsel Ford succeeded his father, Henry Ford, as president of the Ford Motor Company.
01 January, 1916
German troops abandon Yaoundé and their Kamerun colony to British forces and begin the long march to Spanish Guinea.
01 January, 1912
The Republic of China is established.
01 January, 1911
Northern Territory is separated from South Australia and transferred to Commonwealth control.
01 January, 1910
Captain David Beatty was promoted to Rear Admiral, and became the youngest admiral in the Royal Navy, except for Royal family members, since Horatio Nelson.
01 January, 1909
Drilling began on the Lakeview Gusher.
01 January, 1908
For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York Citys Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight.
01 January, 1906
British India officially adopts the Indian Standard Time
01 January, 1902
The first Rose Bowl game is played in Pasadena, California, with the University of Michigan beating Stanford University by a score of 49-0.
01 January, 1901
The first official Mummers Parade is held.
01 January, 1901
The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton is appointed the first Prime Minister.
01 January, 1901
Nigeria becomes a British protectorate.
01 January, 1901
The French rugby team play their first Test against the New Zealand All Blacks.

Choose another day in history

January

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

February

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29

March

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

April

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

May

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

June

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

July

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

August

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

September

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

October

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

November

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

December

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

PaulsQuiz.com Exclusive: Free Questions in Your Inbox

Join the PaulsQuiz.com Facebook Group
Copyright © 2008 - Paul Abrook and Dave Small
RSS Feed RSS Feed | Free Quiz Questions | Pub Quiz Questions - at our Sister site