On This Day in History – January 28

Major Events

• 98 – Trajan officially assumes full powers as Roman Emperor, beginning a reign marked by expansion and infrastructure development.
• 1547 – King Henry VIII of England dies after a 24-year reign that dramatically reshaped English religion and politics.
• 1689 – William and Mary are proclaimed joint monarchs of England following the Glorious Revolution.
• 1724 – Peter the Great founds the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.
• 1820 – A Russian expedition becomes the first to sight the Antarctic continent.
• 1915 – The U.S. Coast Guard is established through the merger of the Life-Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service.
• 1958 – Lego patents its modern interlocking brick design, ensuring compatibility that continues today.
• 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates shortly after launch, killing all seven crew members.
• 2002 – President George W. Bush delivers the “Axis of Evil” State of the Union address.
• 2021 – Global COVID-19 deaths surpass two million worldwide.

Famous Birthdays

• 1457 – Henry VII of England, founder of the Tudor dynasty (d. 1509)
• 1689 – Lady Anne Blunt, English aristocrat and scholar (d. 1917)
• 1887 – Arthur Rubinstein, Polish-American pianist (d. 1982)
• 1912 – Jackson Pollock, American abstract expressionist painter (d. 1956)
• 1936 – Alan Alda, American actor and director
• 1955 – Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of France
• 1969 – Ariel Schrag, American writer and cartoonist
• 1981 – Elijah Wood, American actor
• 1998 – Ariel Winter, American actress

Notable Deaths

• 814 – Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor (b. 742)
• 1547 – Henry VIII, King of England (b. 1491)
• 1912 – Gustave Doré, French illustrator (b. 1832)
• 1939 – William Butler Yeats, Irish poet (b. 1865)
• 1986 – Crew of Space Shuttle Challenger (collective remembrance)
• 2004 – Joe Jackson, American baseball player (b. 1911)
• 2012 – Jimmy Savile, British media personality (b. 1926)
• 2019 – Kristoff St. John, American actor (b. 1966)
• 2022 – Monica Vitti, Italian actress (b. 1931)

Holidays

• Data Privacy Day – International
• Armed Forces Day – Armenia
• Thai Army Day – Thailand

Fun Facts

• Lego bricks made today still fit those produced in the 1950s.
• The Challenger disaster led to sweeping changes in NASA safety protocols.
• Henry VIII’s death ended one of the most turbulent reigns in English history.
• Antarctica was sighted decades before humans set foot on it.
• Jackson Pollock became famous for his drip-painting technique.
• January 28 is often remembered for major turning points in science and leadership.