January 28 in History: Famous Births, Events, and Deaths

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January 28th has seen many important events and famous personalities. On this day in 1933, the first electricity-generating nuclear reactor was connected to the grid. In 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger tragically exploded shortly after launch. Famous people born on this day include Jackson Pollock, the American painter, and Nick Carter, the singer from Backstreet Boys. Notable deaths include Jacques Cousteau, the French oceanographer. January 28th is remembered for both achievements and tragedies in history.

Famous People Born on January 28

  • J. Cole (1985) : Influential American rapper and record producer.
  • Sarah McLachlan (1968) : Canadian singer-songwriter and producer.
  • Rick Ross (1976) : American rapper and entrepreneur.
  • Nick Carter (1980) : American singer, member of the Backstreet Boys.
  • Joey Fatone (1977) : American singer and actor, member of NSYNC.
  • Elijah Wood (1981) : American actor, known for The Lord of the Rings.
  • Ariel Winter (1998) : American actress, known for Modern Family.
  • Will Poulter (1993) : English actor, known for The Maze Runner series.
  • Gianluigi Buffon (1978) : Italian footballer, famous goalkeeper.
  • Jamie Carragher (1978) : English footballer and sportscaster.
  • Sheamus (1978) : Irish professional wrestler.
  • Alan Alda (1936) : American actor and director, known for M*A*S*H.
  • Andre Iguodala (1984) : American basketball player, Golden State Warriors.
  • Stephen Gostkowski (1984) : American football player, NFL placekicker.
  • Tony Delk (1974) : American basketball player and coach.
  • Jermaine Dye (1974) : American baseball player.
  • Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225–1274) : Italian philosopher and theologian.
  • Henry VII (1457–1509) : King of England, founder of the Tudor dynasty.
  • Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) : American author, folklorist, and anthropologist.
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    Famous Events on January 28

  • 1922 : The roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C., collapsed under the weight of nearly two feet of snow, killing 98 people.
  • 1935 : Iceland became the first country to legalize abortion.
  • 1956 : Elvis Presley made his first national TV appearance on CBS's Stage Show, hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
  • 1985 : The supergroup USA for Africa recorded the charity single "We Are the World" to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.
  • 1986 : The U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing all seven astronauts aboard, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
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    Famous People Who Died on January 28

  • Henry VIII (1491–1547) : King of England from 1509 to 1547, known for his six marriages and the English Reformation.
  • Charlemagne (c. 747–814) : Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Franks, often referred to as the "Father of Europe."
  • W. B. Yeats (1865–1939) : Irish poet and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate for his poetry.
  • Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) : American novelist, short story writer, and folklorist.
  • John Banner (1910–1973) : Austrian-born American actor best known for his role as Sergeant Hans Schultz in *Hogan's Heroes*.
  • Joseph Brodsky (1940–1996) : Russian-American poet and essayist, Nobel Prize in Literature laureate.
  • Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002) : Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays, best known for creating the Pippi Longstocking series.
  • Judith Resnik (1949–1986) : American astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
  • Ronald McNair (1950–1986) : American physicist and astronaut who also perished in the Challenger disaster.
  • Michael J. Smith (1945–1986) : U.S. Navy commander and astronaut, another victim of the Challenger disaster.
  • Billy Fury (1940–1983) : English pop star known for his contributions to the British rock and roll scene.
  • Frank Forde (1890–1983) : 15th Prime Minister of Australia.
  • Klaus Fuchs (1911–1988) : German-born British physicist and atomic spy.
  • Derek Bentley (1930–1953) : British man whose controversial execution became a significant case in British legal history.
  • John Morton-Finney (1889–1998) : American civil rights activist, lawyer, and educator.
  • Louis Pauwels (1926–1997) : French journalist and writer.
  • Raya Garbousova (1907–1997) : Russian-American cellist.
  • Alfred Gell (1945–1997) : British social anthropologist.
  • Mikel Koliqi (1907–1997) : Albanian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Louis Chaillot (1914–1998) : French cyclist and Olympian.
  • Bernard Joseph Flanagan (1908–1998) : American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Joe Holup (1934–1998) : American basketball player.
  • Shōtarō Ishinomori (1938–1998) : Japanese manga artist known for works like *Kamen Rider* and *Cyborg 009*.
  • Ken Jackson (1930–1998) : American gridiron football player.
  • Dagny Tande Lid (1904–1998) : Norwegian painter, illustrator, and poet.
  • Lee Ya-Ching (1919–2004) : Chinese film actress, aviator, and philanthropist.
  • Joseph Alioto (1916–1998) : American politician, Mayor of San Francisco.
  • Ugo Bologna (1917–1998) : Italian actor and voice actor.
  • Karin Jonzen (1914–1998) : British figure sculptor.
  • Rob Mulders (1968–1998) : Dutch road racing cyclist.
  • Ed Smith (1914–1998) : American gridiron football player.
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    January 28th has witnessed a remarkable mix of triumphs and tragedies throughout history. From groundbreaking achievements in arts, science, and sports to heartbreaking events like the Challenger disaster, this day reminds us of the highs and lows of human endeavor. It is a day to remember those who made significant contributions to the world and to reflect on the lessons history offers.

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