Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
January 21 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 21 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
1951
Disaster 75 years ago
The catastrophic eruption of Mount Lamington in Papua New Guinea claims 2,942 lives.
Mount Lamington erupts catastrophically in Papua New Guinea, claiming 2,942 lives in one of the deadliest volcanic disasters of the 20th century.
History
What happened on January 21
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 763War
Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa.
The Alid rebellion against Abbasid rule ends with Ibrahim's death following the Battle of Bakhamra near Kufa.
- 1525Religion
The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptize each other in the home of Manz's mother in Zürich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union.
Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptize each other in Zürich, founding the Swiss Anabaptist Movement.
- 1535Religion
Following the Affair of the Placards, the French king leads an anti-Protestant procession through Paris.
King Louis XIV leads a procession through Paris to demonstrate his opposition to Protestantism following the Affair of the Placards.
- 1774World history
Abdul Hamid I becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam.
Abdul Hamid I ascends to become the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam.
- 1793UK history
After being found guilty of treason by the French National Convention, Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine.
Louis XVI is executed by guillotine after being convicted of treason by the French National Convention.
- 1854Disaster
The RMS Tayleur sinks off Lambay Island on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Australia with great loss of life.
The RMS Tayleur sinks off Lambay Island during its first voyage from Liverpool to Australia, resulting in significant loss of life.
- 1893UK history
The Tati Concessions Land, formerly part of Matabeleland, is formally annexed to the Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana.
The Tati Concessions Land becomes part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, which later forms modern-day Botswana.
- 1941WWII
Sparked by the murder of a German officer in Bucharest, Romania, the day before, members of the Iron Guard engage in a rebellion and pogrom killing 125 Jews.
Members of the Iron Guard rebel, killing 125 Jews in a pogrom following the murder of a German officer in Bucharest.
- 1951Disaster
The catastrophic eruption of Mount Lamington in Papua New Guinea claims 2,942 lives.
Mount Lamington erupts catastrophically in Papua New Guinea, claiming 2,942 lives in one of the deadliest volcanic disasters of the 20th century.
- 2004Science
NASA's MER-A (the Mars Rover Spirit) ceases communication with mission control. The problem lies in the management of its flash memory and is fixed remotely from Earth on February 6.
NASA fixes Spirit's flash memory issue remotely, but the Mars rover eventually stops communicating with mission control.
- 2017Politics
Over 400 cities across America and 160+ countries worldwide participate in a large-scale women's march, including in Portland, on Donald Trump's first full day as President of the United States.
Women's marches take place in over 400 American cities and 160 countries worldwide.
- 2025Disaster
A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu Province, Turkey, results in 78 people dead and 51 injured.
A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey's Kartalkaya ski resort kills 78 people and injures 51.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 21
7 this date All birthdays
Lola Flores
Spanish singer, dancer, and actress
Lola Flores, the Spanish singer, dancer, and actress known for her overwhelming personality onstage, was born today in 1923 in Jerez de la Frontera.
Born
1923
Died
1995
Ernest Holmes
American New Thought writer
1887 – 1960
Daniel Chalonge
French astrophysicist and astronomer
1895 – 1977
Clive Churchill
Australian rugby league player and coach
1927 – 1985
Radley Metzger
American filmmaker
1929 – 2017
Plácido Domingo
Spanish tenor and conductor
b. 1941 · 85
Nana Mizuki
Japanese singer-songwriter and voice actress
b. 1980 · 46
Music
The number one songs on January 21
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on January 21, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 21, 1911
The first Monte Carlo Rally takes place.
The first Monte Carlo Rally begins, marking the start of a prestigious international automobile event.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 21, 1954
The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States.
Mamie Eisenhower launches the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, in Groton, Connecticut.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Babinden (Bulgaria, Serbia)
International
Babinden is a traditional Bulgarian feast, celebrated on 8 January, in honour of the women practicing midwifery
Errol Barrow Day (Barbados)
International
Errol Barrow Day is a Barbadian public holiday celebrated on 21 January, to commemorate Errol Barrow, the former Prime Minister of Barbados, who helped lead his country to independence from the United
Flag Day (Quebec)
International
The flag of Quebec, called the Fleurdelisé in French, represents the Canadian province of Quebec
Grandmother's Day (Poland)
International
Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries; it is celebrated to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren
Lady of Altagracia Day (Dominican Republic)
International
Día de la Altagracia, or Altagracia Day, is a day commemorating the patronal image and protector of the people of the Dominican Republic
Lincoln Alexander Day (Canada)
International
Lincoln MacCauley Alexander was a Canadian lawyer and politician who became the first Black Canadian to be a member of Parliament in the House of Commons, a federal Cabinet Minister, a Chair of the Wo