January 4: Colonial Repression Martyrs' Day in Angola (1961)Solomon Northup1853 Solomon Northup (pictured) regained his freedom after having been sold into slavery in the American South; his memoir Twelve Years a Slave later became a bestseller.1970 A magnitude-7.1 earthquake occurred in Tonghai County, China, killing at least 15,000 people.1977 The English punk-rock band Sex Pistols' lewd and disruptive behaviour at Heathrow Airport prompted the record label EMI to end their contract.2010 The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, officially opened in Dubai.2020 Sembawang Hot Spring Park in Singapore reopened after being redeveloped by the National Parks Board.Louis Braille (b.1809)Brian Josephson (b.1940)Albert Camus (d.1960)Brian Horrocks (d.1985)More anniversaries: January 3January 4January 5ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout