Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on January 15th?

Birth of the Roman historian and politician, Gaius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust).

Birth of the Roman poet and philosopher, Gaius Maecenas.

Roman legions in Germania Superior proclaim their commander, Vitellius, as emperor.

The Kingdom of Portugal is recognized by the Kingdom of León.

King Philip II of France and King John of England sign the Treaty of Le Goulet, marking the end of a conflict.

Philip of Swabia becomes King of Germany.

The Council of Siena is convened by Pope Martin V to discuss church reforms and the Crusades.

The Council of Siena convenes to discuss church reforms and address corruption.

Pope Eugenius IV grants the privileges of the University of Leuven in Belgium.

Charles the Bold of Burgundy marries Margaret of York, sister of Edward IV of England, solidifying an alliance.

The German cities of Würzburg and Bamberg surrender to the forces of Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.

Elizabeth I is crowned Queen of England. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn and succeeded to the throne on the death of her half-sister Mary I .1558. Elizabeth's 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it, a secure Church of England was established. Its doctrines were laid down in the 39 Articles of 1563, a compromise between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. More

French explorer Samuel de Champlain discovers Lake Champlain in North America.

Henry Morgan, a Welsh pirate, attacks Panama City, Panama, looting and causing destruction.

The Palace of Versailles in France catches fire, causing substantial damage to the building.

James Francis Edward Stuart, known as the Old Pretender, declares himself King of England and Scotland.

Czar Peter the Great begins a military campaign in Persia, capturing the Persian capital of Isfahan.

The British East India Company captures the city of Madras in India from the French.

The British Museum, established in 1753, opens to the public. The Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone are among its world-renowned antiquities and archaeological holdings.

1777, January 15 - Vermont declares independence from the British crown and from the Colony of New York. They called the territory New Connecticut but when they met in June to write a constitution, they changed the name to Vermont, loosely based on the French term for “green mountain,” or “ montagne verte.” Vermont became the 14th State when it was admitted into the Union on on March 4 1791. More

The first top hat is worn in public by John Etherington in London, England.

Simon Bolivar, the South American revolutionary, proclaims the Republic of Colombia.

Sara Jane Moore is sentenced to life for attempting to assassinate President Gerald Ford.

Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashes in Dallas, Texas, killing 137 people.

Fred Korematsu was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His journey to that day started during World War II when he refused to be forced into a Japanese-American relocation center where families lived in horse stalls at an abandoned race track until they were sent to remote internment camps in the West. Korematsu went on to have a historical impact becoming an American civil rights activist and founder of the Korematsu Institute. On January 30, 2011, California celebrated its first of “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution”—the first day named after an Asian American in the United States. which celebrates the legacy of a courageous man who has left a message not just for one community, but for the entire country. More

US Airways flight 1549, flight makes an emergency landing in the Hudson River. shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. the Airbus A320 airplane flew into a flock of Canada geese. Both engines were severely damaged, causing an almost complete loss of thrust . Repeated attempts to restart the engines were unsuccessful. Five people were seriously injured, but there were no fatalities. On board were 5 crew members, including Capt. Chesley (“Sully”) Sullenberger III, First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, and 150 passengers. The event has been nicknamed "Miracle on the Hudson." More

British Parliament rejects Theresa May's Brexit deal, leading to political uncertainty regarding the UK's departure from the EU.

Uganda holds presidential elections, resulting in a controversial win for incumbent President Yoweri Museveni.