792
Politics
Restoration as co-ruler
Irene was restored as co-ruler with Constantine VI on 15 January 792, regaining formal imperial authority after her earlier setback.
View detailsThis Day
15January
31 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1148
Science
Death of Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene died on 15 January 1148, likely at the monastery of Kecharitomene in Constantinople, where she had lived after her failed political conspiracy.
View details1559
Politics
Coronation at Westminster Abbey
Coronation of Elizabeth I as Queen of England at Westminster Abbey, formally inaugurating her reign.
View details1608
Exploration
Provisioning Jamestown colonists during famine
Pocahontas repeatedly brought food to Jamestown colonists in early 1608.
View details1845
Activism
Birth of Ella Flagg Young
Ella Flagg Young was born in Buffalo, New York, beginning the life of a future pioneering educator.
View details1850
Science
Birth of Sofia Kovalevskaya in Moscow
Sofya Vasilyevna Kovalevskaya was born in Moscow, later becoming a pioneering mathematician.
View details1879
Science
First woman elected to AIME membership
Elected the first woman member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers (AIME).
View details1879
Science
Birth of Mazo de la Roche in Newmarket, Ontario
Mazo de la Roche was born in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, on January 15, 1879 (some sources cite 1885 due to her own obfuscation of her age).
View details1889
Activism
Death of Sarah George Bagley
Death of Sarah Bagley in New York City, who was also known as Sarah George Durno.
View details1895
Activism
Co-founding of the National Trust
Octavia Hill co-founded the National Trust on January 15, 1895, to preserve natural spaces.
View details1908
Activism
Founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., becoming the first Greek-letter organization established by African American college women.
View details1919
Politics
Assassination in Berlin by Freikorps
Rosa Luxemburg was murdered in Berlin on January 15, 1919.
View details1930
Arts
Marriage to Joseph H. Lauder
Josephine Esther Mentzer married Joseph H. Lauder in New York on January 15, 1930.
View details1932
Activism
Start of career at Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Benham began her Wall Street career at the Reconstruction Finance Corporation on January 15, 1932.
View details1934
Science
Announcement of the discovery of artificial radioactivity
Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie announce to the French Academy of Sciences the discovery of artificial radioactivity, creating the first man-made radioactive isotopes.
View details1940
Arts
Introduction of first Goodall-Sanford Mills fabric line
In early 1940, Liebes's first power-loomed fabric line for Goodall-Sanford Mills launched, marking her shift from studio weaving to industrial textile production.
View details1943
Activism
Death of Mary Kenney O'Sullivan
Mary Kenney O'Sullivan died on January 15, 1943, in Medford, Massachusetts, ending a five-decade career championing labor rights for women.
View details1944
Politics
Birth of Nina Totenberg
Birth of Nina Totenberg in New York City, the future NPR legal affairs correspondent who became one of the most influential voices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
View details1947
Activism
First director of the United Mine Workers’ Welfare and Retirement Fund
Appointed first director of the United Mine Workers’ Welfare and Retirement Fund, overseeing pensions and medical benefits.
View details1966
Activism
First woman full‑time faculty member at Austin Seminary
Appointed Professor of Christian Education at Austin Seminary, becoming its first woman full‑time faculty member.
View details1968
1991
Science
Container installing system patent
Patent for a system innovating container mounting.
View details1997
Science
Death of Natalie Savage Carlson
Natalie Savage Carlson died on January 15, 1997, ending a decades-long career as a beloved children's author.
View details1997
Science
Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy announced
On January 15, 1997, the American Astronomical Society announced Chung-Pei Ma as the 1997 recipient of the Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy.
View details2001
Politics
First woman elected House Democratic Whip / House Minority Whip
House Democrats elect Pelosi Minority Whip, making her the first woman to serve as House Democratic and House Minority Whip.
View details2003
Arts
Death of Doris Fisher
Doris Fisher passed away on January 15, 2003, leaving behind a rich legacy of music.
View details2011
Science
Visiting scholar appointment at Harvard University
On 15 January 2011, Hayat Sindi became a visiting scholar at Harvard University, advancing point-of-care diagnostics including her MARS sensor.
View details2014
Science
New Zealand patent for Kindling Cracker accepted and product commercialized
By 15 January 2014, Ayla Hutchinson's New Zealand patent for the Kindling Cracker was accepted, coinciding with a growing manufacturing and sales operation for the device.
View details2014
Politics
Mary Barra becomes CEO of General Motors
Takes office as the first female CEO of a major automaker, General Motors.
View details2014
Science
Inventor Profile Updated
Jessica O. Matthews was publicly described as having invented the Soccket at age 19, reinforcing her documented timeline as a young inventor.
View details2016
Activism
Named 2016 Wikimedian of the Year
Stephenson-Goodknight received the 2016 Wikimedian of the Year award for her leadership in Women in Red and efforts to close Wikipedia’s gender gap.
View details