On This Day in History

January 5

Historical Events

The corpse of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, is discovered after the Battle of Nancy

1477 Battle of Nancy: Swiss Confederacy led by René II decisively defeats the Duchy of Burgundy, 7,000+ killed including the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold.

1781 British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia.

1919 German Workers' Party forms, precursor to the National Socialist German Workers' Party.

1930 Mao Zedong writes the essay "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire" to criticize cadres not creating rural revolutionary base areas.

1949 US President Harry Truman labels his administration the "Fair Deal".

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Famous Birthdays

King C. Gillette 1855 - 1932 George Reeves 1914 - 1959

Walter Mondale 1928 - 2021 Marilyn Manson 55th Birthday

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Famous Deaths

Elizabeth of Russia 1709 - 1762 Amelia Earhart 1897 - 1939

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Gillette, The Billionaire Shaving Pioneer

Safety razor pioneer King Camp Gillette, a billionaire who offered a former President a million dollars to join him in a business venture, was born on this day.

Learn About King Camp Gillette