Events by Month: January - Questions and Answers

A general knowledge quiz on historical events - each of which occurred on a different day in January. If you enjoy this one, give the December, November and October editions a try.

Events by Month: January - Questions

1st January, 45BCE. Which calendar, named after a Roman general and consul, comes into effect, establishing the 1st of January as the beginning of the year?

2nd January, 1492. The city of Granada is captured, marking the end of the Christian reconquista of which European nation?

3rd January, 1959. Which US territory is incorporated as the 49th state of the union?

4th January, 2010. The Burj Khalifa - at 830m - becomes the tallest building in the world after its opening in which Middle Eastern city?

5th January, 1933. Construction of which suspension bridge begins, designed to span the strait at the opening of San Francisco bay?

6th January, 1412. Which female saint, warrior and martyr was born in Domrémy, France?

7th January, 1610. Which Italian astronomer announces the discovery of the four biggest moons of Jupiter?

8th January, 1941. Which retired British army officer, the founder of the Boy Scout Movement died, aged 83 in Kenya?

9th January, 2007. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces which landmark product at a conference in San Francisco?

10th January, 1946. The first general assembly of which organisation begins in London, United Kingdom?

11th January, 1964. In a landmark paper, the US Surgeon General suggests that what activity may be harmful to health?

12th January, 2010. Around 100,000 people are killed by a powerful earthquake in which Caribbean nation?

13th January, 1968. Which famous musician performs live from inside Folsom State Prison?

14th January, 1943. Which US President becomes the first to travel by plane when he flies from Miami to Casablanca, Morocco to meet with Winston Churchill?

15th January, 1892. The Canadian doctor, James Naismith, published the rules to which popular sport?

16th January, 27BCA. Which man - born Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus - becomes the first emperor of Rome?

17th January, 1912. Which explorer's expedition reaches the South Pole, less than one month after Roald Amundsen?

18th January, 1778. Captain James Cook becomes the first European to set eyes upon which archipelago, that he named The Sandwich Islands? (He would be killed there on a later voyage).

19th January, 1915. Georges Claude patents a lighting tube - commonly used in advertising - that creates bright colours by passing electricity through which noble gas?

20th January, 1841. Which island, close to the Pearl River Delta in China, was occupied by the British?

21st January, 1976. Commercial flights of which supersonic jet began on the London-Bahrain and Paris-Rio routes?

22nd January, 1901. Edward VII is proclaimed King of the United Kingdom, following the death of his mother, who was which long-serving Queen?

23rd January, 1973. President Richard Nixon announced that a peace accord had been reached between the US and which Asian nation?

24th January, 41. Which Roman emperor - whose name roughly means "little soldier's boots" - was assassinated by his guards, who proclaimed his uncle as the new emperor?

25th January, 1533. King Henry VIII marries which woman - his second wife - in secret?

26th January, 1926. Which Scottish inventor publically demonstrates the television for the first time?

27th January, 1756. Which Austrian composer and child prodigy was born in Salzburg? 

28th January, 1986. Which NASA space shuttle disintegrated after launch, killing all 7 astronauts on board?

29th January, 1886. Karl Benz patented the first successful vehicle to be powered by which fuel?

30th January, 1969. Which band performed for the final time, on the roof of Apple Records in London?

31st January, 1606. Which man - co-conspirator in the Gunpowder plot - died after jumping from the gallows in Westminster, London?

Events by Month: January - Answers

1st January, 45BCE. Which calendar, named after a Roman general and consul, comes into effect, establishing the 1st of January as the beginning of the year? Julian Calendar

2nd January, 1492. The city of Granada is captured, marking the end of the Christian reconquista of which European nation? Spain

3rd January, 1959. Which US territory is incorporated as the 49th state of the union? Alaska

4th January, 2010. The Burj Khalifa - at 830m - becomes the tallest building in the world after its opening in which Middle Eastern city? Dubai

5th January, 1933. Construction of which suspension bridge begins, designed to span the strait at the opening of San Francisco Bay? Golden Gate Bridge

6th January, 1412. Which female saint, warrior and martyr was born in Domrémy, France? Joan of Arc

7th January, 1610. Which Italian astronomer announces the discovery of the four biggest moons of Jupiter? Galileo Galilei

8th January, 1941. Which retired British army officer, the founder of the Boy Scout Movement died, aged 83 in Kenya? Robert Baden-Powell

9th January, 2007. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces which landmark product at a conference in San Francisco? iPhone

10th January, 1946. The first general assembly of which organisation begins in London, United Kingdom? United Nations

11th January, 1964. In a landmark paper, the US Surgeon General suggests that what activity may be harmful to health? Smoking

12th January, 2010. Around 100,000 people are killed by a powerful earthquake in which Caribbean nation? Haiti

13th January, 1968. Which famous musician performs live from inside Folsom State Prison? Johnny Cash

14th January, 1943. Which US President becomes the first to travel by plane when he flies from Miami to Casablanca, Morocco to meet with Winston Churchill? Franklin D. Roosevelt

15th January, 1892. The Canadian doctor, James Naismith, published the rules to which popular sport? Basketball

16th January, 27BCA. Which man - born Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus - becomes the first emperor of Rome? Augustus

17th January, 1912. Which explorer's expedition reaches the South Pole, less than one month after Roald Amundsen became the first to reach there? Robert Falcon Scott

18th January, 1778. Captain James Cook becomes the first European to set eyes upon which archipelago, that he named The Sandwich Islands? (He would be killed there on a later voyage). Hawaii

19th January, 1915. Georges Claude patents a lighting tube - commonly used in advertising - that creates bright colours by passing electricity through which noble gas? Neon

20th January, 1841. Which island, close to the Pearl River Delta in China, was occupied by the British? Hong Kong

21st January, 1976. Commercial flights of which supersonic jet began on the London-Bahrain and Paris-Rio routes? Concorde

22nd January, 1901. Edward VII is proclaimed King of the United Kingdom, following the death of his mother, who was which long-serving Queen? Queen Victoria

23rd January, 1973. President Richard Nixon announced that a peace accord had been reached between the US and which Asian nation? (North) Vietnam

24th January, 41. Which Roman emperor - whose name roughly means "little soldier's boots" - was assassinated by his guards, who proclaimed his uncle as the new emperor? Caligula

25th January, 1533. King Henry VIII marries which woman - his second wife - in secret? Anne Boleyn

26th January, 1926. Which Scottish inventor publicly demonstrates the television for the first time? John Logie Baird

27th January, 1756. Which Austrian composer and child prodigy was born in Salzburg? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

28th January, 1986. Which NASA space shuttle disintegrated after launch, killing all 7 astronauts on board? Challenger

29th January, 1886. Karl Benz patented the first successful vehicle to be powered by which fuel? Petrol (Gasoline)

30th January, 1969. Which band performed for the final time, on the roof of Apple Records in London? The Beatles

31st January, 1606. Which man - a co-conspirator in the Gunpowder plot - died after jumping from the gallows in Westminster, London? Guy Fawkes