On This Day: 15 January

15 January in Indian history

• 1934At least 10,700 people died when a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck Nepal and the Indian state of Bihar.India

15 January in world history

• 2019Somali militants attack the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya killing at least 21 people and injuring 19.
• 2016The Kenyan Army suffers its worst defeat ever in a battle with Al-Shabaab Islamic insurgents in El-Adde, Somalia. An estimated 150 Kenyan soldiers are killed in the battle.
• 2009US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese during its climb out from New York City and made an emergency landing in the Hudson River (featured).
• 2005ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the Moon.
• 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.
• 1977Linjeflyg Flight 618 crashes in Kälvesta near Stockholm Bromma Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, killing 22 people.
• 1975Portugal and the nationalist factions UNITA, the MPLA and the FNLA signed the Alvor Agreement, ending the Angolan War of Independence.
• 1973Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam.
• 1970Nigerian Civil War: Biafran rebels surrender following an unsuccessful 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria.
• 1967The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the American football championship game now known as Super Bowl I.
• 1962The Derveni papyrus, the oldest surviving manuscript in Europe, was discovered in Macedonia in northern Greece.
• 1962Netherlands New Guinea Conflict: Indonesian Navy fast patrol boat RI Macan Tutul commanded by Commodore Yos Sudarso sunk in Arafura Sea by the Dutch Navy.
• 1937Spanish Civil War: Nationalist and Republican forces both withdrew after suffering heavy losses at the Second Battle of the Corunna Road.
• 1919Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, two of the most prominent communists in Germany, are clubbed and then shot to death by members of the Freikorps at the end of the Spartacist uprising.
• 1865American Civil War: The Union Army captured Fort Fisher, the last seaport of the Confederacy.
• 1818A paper by David Brewster is read to the Royal Society, belatedly announcing his discovery of what we now call the biaxial class of doubly-refracting crystals. On the same day, Augustin-Jean Fresnel signs a "supplement" (submitted four days later) on reflectio
• 1815War of 1812: The American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, was captured by a squadron of four British frigates.

Born on 15 January

• 1956Mayawati, Indian educator and politician, 23rd Chief Minister of Uttar PradeshIndia
• 1943Margaret Beckett, English metallurgist and politician, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• 1938Chuni Goswami, Indian footballer and cricketer (died 2020)India
• 1934V. S. Ramadevi, Indian civil servant and politician, 13th Governor of Karnataka (died 2013)India
• 1877Lewis Terman, American psychologist, eugenicist, and academic (died 1956)
• 1869Ruby Laffoon, American lawyer and politician, 43rd Governor of Kentucky (died 1941)

Died on 15 January

• 2002Michael Anthony Bilandic, American politician, 49th Mayor of Chicago (born 1923)
• 1998Gulzarilal Nanda, Indian economist and politician, Prime Minister of India (born 1898)India
• 1994Harilal Upadhyay, Indian author, poet, and astrologist (born 1916)India
• 1775Giovanni Battista Sammartini, Italian organist and composer (born 1700)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 15 January in history?

2019: Somali militants attack the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya killing at least 21 people and injuring 19. 2016: The Kenyan Army suffers its worst defeat ever in a battle with Al-Shabaab Islamic insurgents in El-Adde, Somalia. An estimated 150 Kenyan soldiers are killed in the battle. 2009: US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese during its climb out from New York City and made an emergency landing in the Hudson River (featured). 2005: ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the Moon.

What happened on 15 January in Indian history?

1934: At least 10,700 people died when a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck Nepal and the Indian state of Bihar.

Which famous people were born on 15 January?

Mayawati, Indian educator and politician, 23rd Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1956); Margaret Beckett, English metallurgist and politician, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1943); Chuni Goswami, Indian footballer and cricketer (died 2020) (1938); V. S. Ramadevi, Indian civil servant and politician, 13th Governor of Karnataka (died 2013) (1934).

Which day is observed on 15 January?

Indian Army Day; Army Day (India); Arbor Day (Egypt); Armed Forces Remembrance Day (Nigeria); John Chilembwe Day (Malawi).