On This Day in History – January 22

Major Events

• 613 BCE – According to tradition, the Kingdom of Judah falls after the Siege of Jerusalem by Babylonian forces.
• 1506 – The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican to begin protecting the Pope.
• 1779 – British explorer James Cook becomes the first European to land on the Hawaiian Islands.
• 1849 – The gold rush begins in California as thousands head west following gold discoveries.
• 1879 – Zulu forces defeat the British Army at the Battle of Isandlwana, one of Britain’s worst colonial defeats.
• 1901 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom dies after a reign of more than 63 years.
• 1944 – Allied forces land at Anzio, Italy, during World War II in an attempt to break the stalemate on the Italian front.
• 1973 – The U.S. Supreme Court issues its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade.
• 1998 – Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber, pleads guilty and receives life imprisonment.
• 2018 – A false ballistic missile alert is issued in Hawaii, causing widespread panic before being retracted.

Famous Birthdays

• 1561 – Francis Bacon, English philosopher and statesman (d. 1626)
• 1788 – Lord Byron, English poet and leading Romantic figure (d. 1824)
• 1849 – August Strindberg, Swedish playwright and novelist (d. 1912)
• 1904 – George Balanchine, Russian-American ballet choreographer (d. 1983)
• 1931 – Sam Cooke, American singer and songwriter (d. 1964)
• 1949 – Steve Perry, American musician (Journey)
• 1960 – Michael Stipe, American singer (R.E.M.)
• 1971 – Ken Whisenhunt, American football coach
• 1984 – Olivia d’Abo, British-American actress

Notable Deaths

• 1901 – Queen Victoria, British monarch (b. 1819)
• 1919 – Rosa Luxemburg, German revolutionary (b. 1871)
• 1956 – Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, American folk musician (b. 1888)
• 1971 – Bill Wyman, British musician (b. 1936)
• 1995 – Rose Kennedy, American philanthropist (b. 1890)
• 2003 – Miloš Forman, Czech-American film director (b. 1932)
• 2012 – Heiner Geißler, German politician (b. 1930)
• 2018 – Ursula K. Le Guin, American author (b. 1929)
• 2020 – Grant Imahara, American engineer and television personality (b. 1970)

Holidays

• Chinese New Year – Observed when it falls on January 22 (varies by year)
• Celebration of Life Day – United States
• St. Vincent’s Day – Observed in some Christian traditions

Fun Facts

• The Swiss Guard has protected the Vatican continuously since January 22, 1506.
• Queen Victoria’s death marked the end of the Victorian Era.
• The Battle of Isandlwana shocked Europe due to the scale of the British defeat.
• Roe v. Wade remained one of the most debated court decisions in U.S. history.
• The Hawaiian missile alert in 2018 was caused by a training error.
• January 22 has witnessed both major royal transitions and pivotal legal rulings.