International On This Day - January 1, 2026

International observance days, weeks, and months for January 1, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.

2026

International observance days on January 1, 2026

Historical Events on January 1

Events that occurred on January 1 throughout history

1818

Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones publishes the novel Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus anonymously. Written by Mary Shelley, the author's identity isn't revealed until three years later when the second edition is published in Paris.

1895

Entrepreneur C.W. Post of Battle Creek, Michigan introduces Postum Food Coffee. The Coffee substitute is made from wheat, bran, and molasses. Three years later he introduces Post Grape-Nuts cereal.

1939

The Hewlett Packard Company is founded in a garage in Palo Alto, CA by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard.

1990

David Dinkins takes the oath of office becoming New York City's first Black mayor.

1992

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) mandated hospitals to include no-smoking policies indoors or risk losing accreditation. Loss of accreditations places hospitals at risk of losing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.

Born on January 1

People born on January 1

1969

Verne Troyer

1735

Paul Revere

1859

Michael Joseph Owens

1925

Matthew Beard

1861

Jesse Reno

1895

J. Edgar Hoover

1919

J. D. Salinger

1936

James Sinegal

1933

James Hormel

1819

George Foster Shepley

1857

Charles Seeberger

1752

Betsy Ross

1864

Alfred Stieglitz