January 29
January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 337 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aquarius.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On January 29 the Sun's declination is approximately -18.3°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a January 29.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1845 — Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven was first published in the New York Evening Mirror. ↗(181 years ago)more
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a visit by a mysterious raven that repeatedly speaks a single word.
1856 — Queen Victoria instituted the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military decoration. ↗(170 years ago)more
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously.
1886 — Karl Benz patented the first successful gasoline-driven automobile. ↗(140 years ago)more
Carl Friedrich Benz was a German engine designer and automotive engineer. His Benz Patent-Motorwagen from 1885 is considered the first practical, modern automobile and the first car to be put into series production. He received a patent for the motorcar in 1886, the same year he first publicly drove the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.
1996 — President Jacques Chirac announced the end of French nuclear testing. ↗(30 years ago)more
France is one of the five nuclear-weapon states recognized by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). As of 2025, the stockpile country's nuclear forces, the Force de dissuasion is estimated at 290 deployed nuclear warheads, making it the fourth-largest confirmed in the world numerically, with delivery primarily by Triomphant-class submarines, and also three ...
Notable births
1737 — Thomas Paine, English-American writer (Common Sense). ↗(289 years ago)more
Thomas Paine was an English-born American Founding Father, French Revolutionary, inventor, political philosopher, and statesman. His pamphlets Common Sense (1776) and The American Crisis (1776–1783) framed the Patriot argument for independence from Great Britain at the outset of the American Revolution.
1843 — William McKinley, 25th President of the United States. ↗(183 years ago)more
William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. A member of the Republican Party, he led a realignment that made Republicans largely dominant in the industrial states and nationwide for decades. McKinley successfully led the U.S.
1954 — Oprah Winfrey, American media executive and TV host. ↗(72 years ago)more
Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011. Globally, she is the richest Black woman and the wealthiest female celebrity.
Notable deaths
1820 — George III of the United Kingdom, after a 59-year reign. ↗(206 years ago)more
George III was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with George as its king.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (29) | 29 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (337) | 337 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 29012026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -18.29° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 40 days |