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 30 Friday, January 30, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 30 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
6
Holidays
1933
WWII 93 years ago
Adolf Hitler's rise to power: Hitler takes office as the Chancellor of Germany.
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, marking the beginning of Nazi control and the end of the Weimar Republic.
History
What happened on January 30
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1018European history
Poland and the Holy Roman Empire conclude the Peace of Bautzen.
Poland and the Holy Roman Empire reach a peace agreement, ending their conflict.
- 1287World history
King Wareru founds the Hanthawaddy kingdom, and proclaims independence from the Pagan Kingdom.
King Wareru establishes the Hanthawaddy kingdom and declares independence from the Pagan Kingdom.
- 1648European history
Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster and Osnabrück is signed, ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain.
The Treaty of Münster and Osnabrück ends the Eighty Years' War, concluding hostilities between the Netherlands and Spain.
- 1661UK history
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, is ritually executed more than two years after his death, on the 12th anniversary of the execution of the monarch he himself deposed.
Oliver Cromwell's body is exhumed and ritually executed, more than two years after his death.
- 1789World history
Tây Sơn forces emerge victorious against Qing armies and liberate the capital Thăng Long.
Tây Sơn forces defeat Qing armies and liberate the capital Thăng Long, ending a brief Chinese occupation of northern Vietnam.
- 1847US history
Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco, California.
The small Mexican settlement of Yerba Buena is officially renamed San Francisco, reflecting its growing importance during the California Gold Rush era.
- 1889Royalty
Archduke Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown, is found dead with his mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera in the Mayerling.
Archduke Crown Prince Rudolf and Baroness Mary Vetsera are found dead at Mayerling.
- 1902UK history
The first Anglo-Japanese Alliance is signed in London.
Britain and Japan sign a mutual defense treaty, marking their alliance against Russia.
- 1933WWII
Adolf Hitler's rise to power: Hitler takes office as the Chancellor of Germany.
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, marking the beginning of Nazi control and the end of the Weimar Republic.
- 2000Disaster
Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ivory Coast, killing 169.
Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean off Ivory Coast, killing all 169 on board.
- 2007Technology
Microsoft Corporation releases Windows Vista, a major release of the operating system Microsoft Windows and the NT based kernel.
Microsoft releases Windows Vista, a significant update to its operating system with an NT-based kernel.
- 2020World history
The World Health Organization declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The World Health Organization declares the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 30
7 this date All birthdays
Werner Hartmann
German physicist and academic
Werner Hartmann, the German physicist who introduced microelectronics to East Germany, was born today in 1912.
Born
1912
Died
1988
Charles De Geer
Swedish entomologist and archaeologist
1720 – 1778
S. N. Goenka
Burmese-Indian author and educator
1924 – 2013
Jack Newton
Australian golfer
1950 – 2022
Lena Hall
American actress and singer
b. 1980 · 46
Gisela Dulko
Argentinian tennis player
b. 1985 · 41
Jack Laugher
English diver
b. 1995 · 31
Music
The number one songs on January 30
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on January 30, 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 30, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 30, 1982
Richard Skrenta writes the first PC virus code, which is 400 lines long and disguised as an Apple boot program called "Elk Cloner".
Richard Skrenta creates the first personal computer virus, a 400-line program masquerading as an Apple boot game called "Elk Cloner."
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Day of Azerbaijani customs (Azerbaijan)
International
There are several public holidays in Azerbaijan
Day of Saudade (Brazil)
International
Saudade
Fred Korematsu Day (California, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia)
International
The Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution is celebrated in some parts of the USA on January 30 each year
Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances: Martyrs' Day (India)
International
Martyrs' Day are days declared in India to honour recognised martyrs of the nation
Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances: School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain)
International
The School Day of Non-violence and Peace is an observance founded by the Spanish poet Llorenç Vidal Vidal in Majorca in 1964 as a starting point and support for a pacifying and non-violent education o
Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances: Start of the Season for Nonviolence (January 30, April 4)
International
The Season for Nonviolence was established in 1998 by Arun Gandhi, Mohandas Gandhi's grandson, as a yearly event celebrating the philosophies and lives of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr