12 History Lessons + 7 Births & 7 Deaths for January 2, 2026
Today’s History
- 1492 – The Emirate of Granada surrenders to Ferdinand and Isabella, completing the Reconquista and ending centuries of Muslim rule in Iberia.
- 1863 – The Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro) ends in Tennessee, one of the Civil War’s bloodiest engagements and a strategic Union hold in the Western Theater.
- 1905 – The Russian garrison at Port Arthur surrenders to Japan in the Russo–Japanese War, a landmark victory that shocks global assumptions about imperial power.
- 1920 – The “Palmer Raids” continue with mass arrests of suspected radicals, a defining moment in America’s first Red Scare and civil-liberties controversy.
- 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces capture Manila, tightening control over the Philippines early in the Pacific War.
- 1942 – The FBI secures convictions in the Duquesne Spy Ring case, widely cited as a major U.S. espionage prosecution of the era.
- 1959 – The Soviet Union launches Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first to enter heliocentric orbit.
- 1963 – Vietnam War: The Viet Cong win a major victory at the Battle of Ap Bac, challenging U.S.-backed South Vietnamese assumptions about the war.
- 1967 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as Governor of California, beginning the political phase that eventually carries him to the presidency.
- 1971 – The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans in Glasgow, a tragedy that influences later stadium safety reforms.
- 2004 – NASA’s Stardust spacecraft flies past Comet Wild 2 and collects samples, advancing direct study of primordial solar-system material.
- 2016 – Armed militants occupy Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, triggering a prolonged standoff and renewed conflict over federal land policy.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1967 – James Marshall – American actor from A Few Good Men and Twin Peaks. (59)
- 1967 – Tia Carrere – American actress from Wayne’s World and True Lies. (59)
- 1968 – Cuba Gooding Jr. – American actor and Academy Award winner (Jerry Maguire) with a long career across film and TV. (58)
- 1969 – Christy Turlington – American supermodel and global health advocate, a defining face of the 1990s fashion era. (57)
- 1971 – Taye Diggs – American actor known for stage, film, and television roles spanning drama and musical theater. (55)
- 1975 – Dax Shepard – American actor, writer, and podcast host known for comedic roles and long-form interview work. (51)
- 1983 – Kate Bosworth – American actor known for film roles and a steady career across independent and studio projects. (43)
Today’s Deaths:
- 1904 – James Longstreet – Confederate general and later U.S. diplomat; one of the Civil War’s most prominent commanders and a controversial postwar figure. (82)
- 1953 – Guccio Gucci – Italian fashion entrepreneur who founded the house that became one of the world’s best-known luxury brands. (71)
- 1960 – Fausto Coppi – Italian cycling champion, a dominant and tragic icon of 20th-century European sport. (40)
- 1977 – Erroll Garner – American jazz pianist and composer, celebrated for “Misty” and a distinctive swing style. (53)
- 2011 – Pete Postlethwaite – English actor widely respected for intense character roles across film and stage. (64)
- 2018 – Thomas S. Monson – American religious leader who served as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (90)
- 2023 – Ken Block – American rally driver and motorsport personality, known globally for the “Gymkhana” series and car-culture influence. (55)
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