January 5
January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 361 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Capricorn.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On January 5 the Sun's declination is approximately -22.6°. 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 5.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Twelfth Night (Christian, Western)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1066 — Edward the Confessor died, triggering the succession crisis that led to the Norman Conquest. ↗(960 years ago)more
Edward the Confessor was King of the English from 1042 until his death in 1066. He was the last reigning monarch of the House of Wessex.
1781 — American Revolutionary War: a British force under Benedict Arnold burned Richmond, Virginia. ↗(245 years ago)more
The Raid on Richmond was a series of British military actions against the capital of Virginia, Richmond, and the surrounding area, during the American Revolutionary War. Led by American defector Benedict Arnold, the Richmond campaign is considered one of his greatest successes while serving under the British Army.
1914 — Ford Motor Company announced an eight-hour workday and a minimum daily wage of US$5. ↗(112 years ago)more
The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand, and luxury cars under its Lincoln brand.
1933 — Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. ↗(93 years ago)more
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km) strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean in California, United States. The structure links San Francisco—the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula—to Marin County, carrying both U.S.
1972 — U.S. President Richard Nixon ordered development of the Space Shuttle. ↗(54 years ago)more
The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was the Space Transportation System (STS), taken from the 1969 plan led by U.S.
Notable births
1779 — Stephen Decatur, U.S. naval officer. ↗(247 years ago)more
Stephen Decatur Jr. was a United States Navy officer. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County. His father, Stephen Decatur Sr., was a commodore in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War; he brought the younger Stephen into the world of ships and sailing early on.
1931 — Robert Duvall, American actor. ↗(95 years ago)more
Robert Selden Duvall was an American actor, filmmaker, and producer, best known for his roles in films of the later 20th century. Duvall began acting professionally on stage in 1952, performing in summer plays at the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport on Long Island until 1959, with a one-year break while serving in the U.S. Army.
1941 — Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese animator and filmmaker (Studio Ghibli). ↗(85 years ago)more
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as its honorary chairman. Throughout his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and accomplished filmmakers...
Notable deaths
- 1066 — Edward the Confessor, King of England. ↗(960 years ago)
more
Edward the Confessor was King of the English from 1042 until his death in 1066. He was the last reigning monarch of the House of Wessex.
1933 — Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States. ↗(93 years ago)more
Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican lawyer from Massachusetts, he previously served as the 29th vice president from 1921 to 1923, under President Warren G. Harding, and as the 48th governor of Massachusetts from 1919 to 1921.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (5) | 5 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (361) | 19^2 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 05012026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -22.64° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 16 days |