January 15: John Chilembwe Day in Malawi US Airways Flight1549 crash and rescue1857 In British Hong Kong, hundreds of Europeans were non-lethally poisoned by arsenic in bread from a locally owned bakery, leading to geopolitical tension.1934 At least 10,700 people died when a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck Nepal and the Indian state of Bihar.1974 American serial killer Dennis Rader, also known as the "BTK killer", murdered his first four victims.1991 The Victoria Cross for Australia was instituted, making Australia the first Commonwealth realm with a separate Victoria Cross award in its honours system.2009 US Airways Flight1549 struck a flock of Canada geese during its climb out from New York City and made an emergency landing in the Hudson River (featured).Theophylact (d.849)Martin Luther King Jr. (b.1929)Regina Margareten (d.1959)Millie Knight (b.1999)More anniversaries: January 14January 15January 16ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout