January 5 in History
January 5 is the anniversary of the death of Mike Rinder (2025). Below are deaths, events for January 5, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, English prince, nominal King of Germany was born in 1209, while Al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid caliph died in 842.
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Famous people who died on January 5
2021
Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
English professional footballer (1946–2021)
2019
Dragoslav Šekularac (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Yugoslav and Serbian footballer and coach (1937–2019)
2015
Jean-Pierre Beltoise (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
French racing driver and motorcycle road racer (1937–2015)
2013
Qazi Hussain Ahmad (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Islamist political party president (1938 – 2013)
2012
Frederica Sagor Maas (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American playwright, screenwriter and memoirist (1900–2012)
2010
Willie Mitchell (musician) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American trumpeter, arranger and record producer (1928–2010)
2007
Momofuku Ando (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Taiwanese-Japanese inventor and businessman (1910–2007)
What happened on January 5
- 2024
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 makes an emergency landing at Portland International Airport after a door plug blows off the Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating the flight. There are no fatalities, but the accident prompts the 737 MAX to be grounded and renews scrutiny on Boeing's manufacturing and design issues.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2023
The 2023 Sinaloa unrest begins.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2022
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismisses Prime Minister Asqar Mamin and declares state of emergency over the 2022 Kazakh unrest.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2014
A launch of the communication satellite GSAT-14 aboard the GSLV MK.II D5 marks the first successful flight of an Indian cryogenic engine.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2005
The dwarf planet Eris is discovered by Palomar Observatory-based astronomers, later motivating the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to define the term planet for the first time.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2003
A suicide bombing at the Tel Aviv central bus station kills 23 people and injures over 100 more.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1993
The oil tanker MV Braer runs aground on the coast of the Shetland Islands, spilling 84,700 tons of crude oil.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Georgian forces enter Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, Georgia, opening the 1991–92 South Ossetia War.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Somali Civil War: The United States Embassy to Somalia in Mogadishu is evacuated by helicopter airlift days after the outbreak of violence in Mogadishu.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1976
The Khmer Rouge announce that the new Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea is ratified.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1976
The Troubles: Gunmen shoot dead ten Protestant civilians after stopping their minibus at Kingsmill in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK, allegedly as retaliation for a string of attacks on Irish Catholic civilians in the area by Loyalists, particularly the killing of six Catholics the night before.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1975
The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, killing twelve people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1972
US President Richard Nixon announces the Space Shuttle program.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1970
The 7.1 Mw Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Between 10,000 and 15,000 people are known to have been killed and about another 26,000 are injured.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1970
A Spantax Convair CV-990 Coronado crashes during takeoff from Stockholm Arlanda Airport, killing five people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on January 5
- 1209 — Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, English prince, nominal King of Germany (died 1272)
- 1530 — Gaspar de Bono, monk of the Order of the Minims (died 1571)
- 1548 — Francisco Suárez, Spanish priest, philosopher, and theologian (died 1617)
Died on January 5
- 842 — Al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid caliph (born 796)
- 941 — Zhang Yanhan, Chinese chancellor (born 884)
- 1066 — Edward the Confessor, King of England (born 1004)
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for January 5
Quick answers
Who died on January 5? Mike Rinder (2025), Costas Simitis (2025), Joseph Lelyveld (2024).
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Researching someone born in January? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the January 5 historical article above.
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Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
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