Events on Jan 28
- 1077German King Henry IV petitions Pope Gregory VII for forgiveness
- 1077Pope Gregory VII pardons German Emperor Heinrich IV
- 10991st Crusaders begins siege of Hosn-el-Akrad Syria
- 1262Flemish / Dutch coast ravaged by north western storm
- 1393Fire during Royal Ball at Paris, 4 die (Ball of the Ardents)
- 1495Pope gives his son Cesare Borgia as hostage to Charles VIII of France
- 15479-year-old Edward VI succeeds Henry VIII as King of England
- 1561By Edict of Orleans persecution of French Huguenots is suspended
- 1581James VI signs 2nd Confession of Faith in Scotland
- 1613Galileo may have unknowingly viewed undiscovered planet Neptune
- 1689English parliament ends King Charles II reign
- 1788Captain Arthur Phillip forms English colony at Sydney, Botany Bay, New South Wales
- 1788Lord Gordon found guilty of libel of Queen of France
- 1819Sir Stamford Raffles 1st lands in Singapore
- 1821Bellingshausen discovers Alexander Island off Antarctica
- 1824William Kneass becomes 3rd US chief engraver (1824-40)
- 1830Opera "Fra Diavolo, " premieres in Paris
- 1846Battle of Allwal, Brits beat Sikhs in Punjab (India)
- 1848King of Naples grants his subjects a constitution
- 1851Northwestern University (Chicago) chartered
- 1860Britain formally returns Mosquito Coast to Nicaragua
- 1864Battle of New Bern, North Carolina
- 1865President Jefferson Davis names 3 peace commissioners
- 1871Paris surrenders to Prussians
- 18781st telephone exchange (New Haven, CT)
- 1878George W Coy hired as 1st full-time telephone operator
- 1878Yale Daily News published, 1st college daily newspaper
- 1887England all out for 45 vs. Aust SCG, their lowest total ever
- 1899American Social Science Association incorporated by Congress
- 1902Carnegie Institute founded in Washington DC
Born on Jan 28
- 1457Henry VII: Pembroke Castle -- 1st Tudor King of England (1485-1509)
- 1578Cornelis Haga: Dutch lawyer / ambassador to Constantinople (1611-39)
- 1600Clement IX [Giulio Rospigliosi]: Pistoia, Italy -- 238th Pope (1667-69)
- 1608Giovanni Alfonso Borelli: Naples, Italy -- Mathematician / astronomer
- 1611Johannes Hevelius: Danzig -- Astronomer (star cataloger)
- 1627Alfonso Marsh: Composer
- 1645Gottfried Vopelius: Composer
- 1688Jan Maurits Quinkhard: Dutch portrait painter
- 1691Johann Balthasar Konig: Composer
- 1693Anna "Ivanovna": Tsarina of Russia (1730-40) (2 / 7 NS)
- 1693Gregor Joseph Werner: Composer
- 1702Hermanus Noordkerk: Dutch lawyer
- 1706John Baskerville: English printer (typeface inventor)
- 1714Jean-Baptiste Pigalle: French sculptor (Child with Pigeon)
- 1717Mustapha III: Sultan of Turkey (1757-74)
- 1722Johann Ernst Bach: Composer
- 1756Hans Adolf Friedrich von Eschstruth: Composer
- 1757Antonio Bartolomeo Bruni: Composer
- 1768Frederick VI: Danish King (1808-39); lost Norway to Sweden (1814)
- 1775Peter the Great: Russia
- 1784George HG Earl of Aberdeen: English Secretary of State
- 1815Andrew Jackson Hamilton: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1875
- 1818George Sewall Boutwell: MC (Union), died in 1905
- 1822Alexander MacKenzie: (L) 2nd Prime Minister of Canada (1873-78)
- 1825George Edward Pickett: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1875
- 1828Michel Abeloos: Flemish sculptor
- 1828Thomas Carmichael Hindman: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1868
- 1831Henry Brevard Davidson: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1899
- 1832Franz Wullner: Composer
- 1833Charles George Gordon: London, England -- General (China, Khartoum)
Died on Jan 28
- 0814Charlemagne: German Emperor / Roman Emperor (800-814), dies at 71
- 1119Gelasius II [Giovannis Caetani]: Pope (1118-19)
- 1256Willem II: Earl of Holland / German Emperor (1238, 47-56), dies at 22
- 1393Earl of Joigny: Burned at royal ball
- 1528Philips of Cleve: Ruler of Ravenstein
- 1547Henry VIII: King of England (1509-47), dies at 55
- 1549Elia Levita: German-Yiddish writer (Habachur), dies at about 80
- 1560John a Lasco [John Laski]: Polish nobleman / reformed theologist
- 1595Francis Drake: English pirate (Porto Bello West Indies), dies at 50
- 1606Carolus Gallus [Karel de Haan]: Dutch lawyer / pastor / vicar, dies at 85
- 1612Thomas Bodley: Diplomat / founder (Bodleian Library)
- 1621Paulus V [Camillo Borghese]: 233rd Pope (1605-21), dies at 68
- 1687Johannes Hevelius: Astronomer (star cataloger), dies on 76th birthday
- 1754Ludvig Holberg: Danish lawyer / writer (Hendrig og Pernille), dies at 69
- 1768John Wainwright: Composer, dies at 44
- 1810Andrew Hofer: Tyrolian rebel against French and Bavarians, shot dead
- 1813Jan Joseph Rosler: Composer, dies at 41
- 1817Friedrich Ludwig Emilius Kunzen: Composer, dies at 55
- 1829William Burke: Murderer / body snatcher, executed in Edinburgh
- 1868Adalbert Stifter: Austrian Author (Witiko), commits suicide at 62
- 1869Prudent-Louis Aubery du Boulley: Composer, dies at 72
- 1873Henry Hugo Pierson: Composer, dies at 57
- 1895Francois Certain de Canrobert: French marshal, dies at 85
- 1896Joseph Barnby: Composer, dies at 57
- 1898Alexandru Flechtenmacher: Composer, dies at 74
- 1903Augusta Mary Anne Holmes: Composer, dies at 55
- 1903Jean Robert Planquette: Composer, dies at 54
- 1910Jose Garcia Robles: Composer, dies at 74
- 1918John McCrae: Canadian Poet / physician
- 1924Simon Abramsz: Dutch writer (Artist book), dies at 56
Historical events on January 29
- 1523Sermon of Constanz: Zwingli defends 67 Schlussreden
- 1574Sea battle of Reimerswaal - Admiral Boisot beats Spanish fleet
- 1587Deventer andZutphen surrender to Spain
- 1613Galileo observes Neptune but fails to recognize what he sees
- 1676Fjodor Aleksejevitsj becomes Czar of Russia
- 1788Australia Day
- 1802John Beckley of Virginia appointed 1st Librarian of Congress
- 1834President Jackson orders 1st use of US troops to suppress a labor dispute
- 1839Charles Darwin marries Emma Wedgwood
- 1848Sicily accepts new Constitution (choose parliament / freedom of press)
- 1850Henry Clay introduces a comprise bill on slavery to US Senate
- 1856Victoria Cross established to acknowledge bravery
- 1860American College established in Rome by Pope Pius IX
- 1861Kansas becomes 34th state
- 1863Battle at Bear River, Washington: US army vs. Indians
- 1872Francis L Cardoza elected State Treasurer of South Carolina
- 1879Custer Battlefield National Monument, Mont established
- 18861st successful gasoline-driven car patented, Karl Benz, Karlsruhe
- 1896Emile Grubbe is 1st dr to use radiation treatment for breast cancer
- 1900American League organized in Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Minneapolis
- 1900Boers under Joubert beat English at Spionkop Natal, 2,000 killed
- 1903Dutch railroad workers strike
- 19041st athletic letters given (University of Chicago football team)
- 1906Coen de King skates world record time: 32,370 km
- 1908Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell University, incorporates
- 1912Martial law declared in textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts
- 1913Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, at Howard University, incorporates
- 19161st bombings of Paris by German Zeppelins takes place
- 1917English submarine K13 leaves Gaire Loch
- 1919Secretary of State proclaims 18th amendment (prohibition)
Born on January 29
- 1584Frederik Hendrik: Count of Nassau / Prince of Orange
- 1688Emmanuel Swedenborg: Sweden -- Religious leader (Angelic Wisdom)
- 1689Hubert K Poot: Dutch poet
- 1700Daniel Bernoulli: Basel, Switzerland -- Mathematician (10 time French award)
- 1703Carlmann Kolb: Composer
- 1711Giuseppi Bonno: Composer
- 1715Georg Christoph Wagenseil: Austrian (court)composer / pianist
- 1717Jeffrey Amherst: English Governor-General of America / Field Marshal
- 1737Thomas Paine: Political essayist (Common Sense, Age of Reason)
- 1756Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee: (Rep / Gov-Virginia) / General
- 1761Abraham AA "Albert" Gallatin: Switzerland -- US Minister of Finance (1801-14)
- 1763J G Seume: Writer
- 1782Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber: French opera composer (Fra Diavolo)
- 1782Frantiszek Tucek Scigalski: Composer
- 1783Vasili A Zjukovski: Russian folk poet / translator (Homerus)
- 1784Ferdinand Ries: Composer
- 1798Henry Neele: London, England -- Poet
- 1801Johannes Bernardus van Bree: Dutch violinist / composer (Felix Meritis)
- 1803James Outram: Butterley Hall, Derbyshire, England -- General
- 1810Earnest E Kummer: German mathematician
- 1821Isaac Ferdinand Quinby: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1891
- 1823Franklin Gardner: Major General (Confederate Army)
- 1824Karl von Perfall: Composer
- 1836Benjamin Franklin Potts: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1887
- 1836James Meech Warner: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1897
- 1843William McKinley: Niles, Ohio -- (R) 25th President (1897-1901)
- 1850Ebenezer Howard: London, England -- Pioneer of garden cities
- 1850Lawrence Hargrave: Inventor (box kite)
- 1852Frederick Hymen Cowen: Composer
- 1852Ion Luca Caragiale: Romanian actor / playwright (O Noapte Furtunoasa)
Died on January 29
- 0969Peter: Tsar of Bulgaria (927-69)
- 1559Thomas Pope: English politician, benefactor, dies at about 52
- 1663Robert Sanderson: Bishop of Lincoln (1660-63)
- 1696Ivan V: Co-tsar of Russia (1682-89)
- 1814Johann G Fichte: German philosopher (Wissenschaftslehre), dies at 51
- 1820George III: King of Great-Britain (1760-1820), dies at 81
- 1824Louise MC Countess of Albany: Henegouws salon owner, dies at 71
- 1837Aleksandr Pushkin: Poet / Novelist (Golden Cockeral), killed in a duel
- 1879Antonia MB Antonucci: Italian Cardinal / diplomat, dies at 80
- 1888Edward Lear: Poet / author, dies at 75
- 1899Alfred Sisley: Painter
- 1899Robert J Fruin: Dutch Historian (80-year war), dies at 75
- 1906Christaan IX: King of Denmark (1893-1906)
- 1912Hermann Bang: Writer, dies at 54
- 1916Edward Hubertus Joannes Keurvils: Composer, dies at 62
- 1917Evelyn Baring Earl Cromer: English Consul-General in Egypt, dies at 75
- 1924Joseph Ludwig: Composer, dies at 79
- 1928Douglas Haig: 1st Earl Haig / field marshal (WWI), dies at 66
- 1934Fritz Haber: German chemist (Nobel 1918), dies at 65
- 1941Ioannis Metaxas: Greek General / Dictator (1936-41), commits suicide at 69
- 1942Ladislao Joseph Philip Paul Zavrtal: Composer, dies at 92
- 1944William Allen White: US journalist (Emporia Gazette), dies at 75
- 1946Harry L Hopkins: US Minister of Business (Loan & Lease law), dies at 55
- 1946Sidney James Jones: Composer, dies at 84
- 1955Hans Hedtoft: Premier of Denmark (1947.. 55), dies at 51
- 1956H[enry] L[ouis] Mencken: US essayist / critic (Smart Set), dies at 75
- 1960Louis Jean Heydt: Actor (Joe-Waterfront), dies at 54
- 1962Fritz Kreisler: Austria / US violinist / composer, dies at 86
- 1963Robert Lee Frost: US Poet (New Hampshire, 4 Pulitzers), dies at 88
- 1964Alan Ladd: Actor (Shane), dies at 50 in Palm Springs, California
Events on Jan 30
- 1077Pope Gregory VII pardons German Emperor Henry IV
- 1349Jews of Freilsburg Germany are massacred
- 1487Bell chimes invented
- 1522Duke of Albany takes captured French back to Scotland
- 1544Adrian van Goes becomes land advocate of Holland
- 1592Ippolito Aldobrandini elected Pope Clement VIII
- 1647King Charles I handed over to English parliament
- 1713England and Netherlands sign 2nd anti-French boundary treaty
- 1781Articles of Confederation ratified by 13th state, Maryland
- 1790Lifeboat 1st tested at sea, by Mr Greathead, the inventor
- 1797Congress refuses to accept 1st petitions from American blacks
- 1798Rep Matthew Lyon (Vt) spits in face of Rep Roger Griswold (Ct) in US House of Representatives, after an argument
- 1800US population: 5,308,483; Black population 1,002,037 (18.9%)
- 1804Mungo Park leaves England seeking source of Niger River
- 1806Prussia takes possession of Hanover
- 1818Keats composes his sonnet, "When I Have Fears"
- 1820Edward Bransfield aboard Williams discovers Antarctica (UK claim)
- 1835Richard Lawrence misfires at President Andrew Jackson in Washington DC
- 1847Yerba Buena renamed San Francisco
- 18541st election in Washington Territory; 1,682 votes cast
- 1858William Wells Brown published 1st Black drama, "Leap to Freedom"
- 1877Storm flood ravages Dutch coastal provinces
- 1879French President MacMahon resigns
- 1883England team presented with ashes of a bail after Sydney Test
- 1888Harry Moses 297 not out for NSW against Victoria
- 1889John Herschel uses camera obscura to photograph 48" (120cm) telescope
- 1889Victoria beat NSW after following on (New South Wales all out 63 needed 76)
- 1894Pneumatic hammer patented by Charles King of Detroit
- 1894US flag fired on in Rio; prompt satisfaction exacted by Admiral Benham
- 1895C J Eady (Tas) 1st Australian to score twin centuries (vs. Victoria)
Born on Jan 30
- 1563Franciscus Gomarus [Francois Gomaer]: Dutch theologist / opera singer
- 1616William Sancroft: Archbishop (Canterbury)
- 1624Arnold Geulincx: South Netherlands -- Philosopher (About Virtue)
- 1628George Villiers: 2nd Duke of Buckingham England
- 1647Konrad Hoffler: Composer
- 1687[Johann] Balthasar Neumann: German architect, baptized
- 1694Joseph Joachim Benedict Munster: Composer
- 1697Johann Joachim Quantz: German royal flautist / composer
- 1708Georg D Ehret: German / English cartoonist
- 1710Vigilio Blasio Faitello: Composer
- 1724Ignaz Franz Xaver Kurzinger: Composer
- 1752Joseph Matthias Kracher: Composer
- 1756Josef Preindl: Composer
- 1760Franz Xaver Partsch: Composer
- 1775Walter Savage Landor: Warwick, England -- Critic / writer (Imaginary Conversation)
- 1781A v Chamisso: Writer
- 1789George Augustus Kollmann: Composer
- 1797Edwin Vose Sumner: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1863
- 1814Jean-Baptist Capronnier: French / Belgian glass painter
- 1816Nathaniel Prentiss Banks: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1894
- 1822John Basil Turchin [Ivan Turchinoff]: Brigadier General (Union volunteers)
- 1829Alfred Cummings: Georgia, United States -- Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1910
- 1834Lord Avebury [John Lubbock]: British banker / politician
- 1835Oliver Edwards: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1904
- 1841Alfred Townsend George: Civil War journalist, died in 1914
- 1844Moritz F Freiherr von Bissing: German General / Governor-General of Belgium (1914-17)
- 1846Francis H Bradley: British philosopher (neo-idealism)
- 1861Charles Martin Tornow Loeffler: Mulhouse, Alsace -- Composer
- 1862Walter Johannes Damrosch: Composer
- 1866Gelett Burgess: Author (Purple Cow)
Died on Jan 30
- 1156Herman van Horn: Bishop of Utrecht (1151 / 52-56)
- 1393Aimery Poitiers: French nobleman, burned at royal ball
- 1393Yvain: Son of Earl of Foix, burned at royal ball
- 1584Jonker Wigbold van Ewsum: Mister of Nienoord, dies in battle
- 1584Pieter Jansz Pourbus: Flemish painter
- 1644William Chillingworth: Engl theologian, Cambridge Platonist
- 1649Charles I: King of Great Britain (1625-49), beheaded for treason
- 1730Peter II Alekseyevitch: Emperor of Russia (1727-30), dies at 14
- 1774Frantisek Ignac Antonin Tuma: Composer, dies at 69
- 1774Jean-Pierre Guignon: Composer, dies at 71
- 1797Johann Abraham Sixt: Composer, dies at 40
- 1816Reinier Vinkeles: Dutch engraver / cartoonist / art collector, dies at 74
- 1827Johann Philipp Christian Schulz: Composer, dies at 53
- 1838Osceola: Chief of Seminole indians, dies in jail
- 1860Francesco Antonio Norberto Pinto: Composer, dies at 44
- 1881Jaak Nikolaas Lemmens: Flemish composer, dies at 58
- 1888Asa Gray: US Botanist (Flora of North America), dies at 77
- 1890Karl Merz: Composer, dies at 53
- 1900Vittorio Bersezio [Carlo Nugelli]: Italian playwright, dies at 71
- 1925Jakab Gyula Major: Composer, dies at 66
- 1925John F Mellaerts: Flemish social founder (Boerenbond), dies at 79
- 1927Friedrich Ernst Koch: Composer, dies at 64
- 1942Vasily Pavovlich Kalafati: Composer, dies at 72
- 1945Gottlieb J Haberlandt: Hungarian / German botanist, dies at 90
- 1945William Busch: Composer, dies at 43
- 1947Frederick F Blackman: English botanist, dies at 80
- 1948Herb Pennock: Pitcher (New York Yankees) / GM (Phillies)
- 1948Mahatma Ghandi: Murdered by Hindu extremists in India
- 1948Orville Wright: US aviation pioneer, dies at 76
- 1951Ferdinand Porsche: German car inventor (Porsche), dies at 75