Today in History for 15th January 2026

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1759 - British Museum opens at Montagu House in London
1942 - US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sends his famed "Green Light Letter" to MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, encouraging baseball to continue playing during World War II
1970 - Nigerian civil war officially ends after 2 1/2 years of fighting when the Republic of Biafra disbands and joins Nigeria
1991 - Dean Jones (76) and Mark Taylor (71) lead Australia to 7 wicket win over New Zealand in cricket's World Series Cup 2nd Final in Melbourne; win series, 2-0
2016 - American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan unveils newest exhibit replica skeleton of a Titanosaur dinosaur (found 2010 Argentina), largest known dinosaur at 70 tons, 37m

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Famous Birthdays

1875 - Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, Founder and first King of Saudi Arabia (1932-53), born in Riyadh, Emirate of Nejd (d. 1953)
1888 - Joseph Henabery, American director (Cobra), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 1976)
1917 - Wang Renzhong, Chinese politician (First Secretary Hubei Province), born in Jing County, Hebei (d. 1992)
1923 - Ivor Cutler, Scottish poet, musician, singer-songwriter, and humorist (John Peel Show; King Cutler), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2006)
1981 - Howie Day, American pop-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Collide"), born in Bangor, Maine

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Famous Deaths

1705 - Walraad, the Young, earl of Nassau-Ottweiler/gov of Nijmegen, dies
1916 - Modest Tchaikovsky, Russian writer (b. 1850)
1978 - Jack Jackson, British trumpeter, dance band bandleader, and influential BBC disc jockey, dies at 71
2008 - Brad Renfro, American actor (The Client), dies of heroin overdose at 25
2023 - Shaye Al-Nafisah, Saudi Arabian soccer forward (32 caps; Al-Kawkab FC), dies at 60

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