Sunday, 29th January 1961 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's International Puzzle Day. Explore 38 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings rainy with temperatures between 4°C and 11°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Aquarius. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Sunday, 29th January in London, GB.
Sunday, 29 January 1961 falls under the zodiac sign Aquarius, a time when the moon appears as a waning crescent in the night sky. The weather in London that day was rainy, typical of winter conditions in the British capital. London, situated on the Thames in south-east England, has served as the nation's political and cultural centre for over two millennia, and remains one of Europe's most influential cities.
The date holds significance across multiple centuries of historical records. In 1814, during the Napoleonic Wars, both commanders—Napoleon Bonaparte and Prussian General Gebhard von Blücher—narrowly escaped capture during the Battle of Brienne, a costly engagement that foreshadowed the Emperor's eventual downfall. More than a century earlier, in 1845, Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven was published for the first time in The Evening Mirror newspaper, a literary milestone that would secure the American poet's place in cultural history.
Beyond these notable historical moments, 29 January has recorded numerous significant events spanning from medieval times to the modern era. The date encompasses periods of political transition, military conflict, and cultural achievement across different continents and centuries. DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, historical events, notable births and deaths for any given date and location worldwide, allowing users to explore the historical significance of specific days in their own cities or anywhere globally.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 29th January 1961
Silence between notes creates the symphony.
Fortune of the Day
29th January in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on January 29th blend classic Capricorn ambition with sharp intellect. Mercury's influence adds wit and curiosity that softens their otherwise serious demeanor. They appear reserved yet think analytically about everything.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths: logical thinking, persistence, and articulate communication. Weaknesses include overthinking and emotional distance. They tend to intellectualize feelings rather than fully experience them.
Love In relationships, they're loyal and dependable but need time to trust. Intellectual connection matters as much as emotional intimacy. Partners appreciate their honesty, though sometimes find them emotionally cool.
Caree & Finance Professionally they thrive in analytical fields: science, finance, law. Discipline paired with communication skills makes them natural leaders. Financial stability is both important and achievable for them.
Health Their wellbeing suffers under stress and mental overload. Regular movement helps release tension. They must learn to switch off and prioritize rest genuinely.
That night, the moon was in its waning crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Rat (Metal).
Fun Facts About 29th January
Name Days in Your Language: Gilda, Goldie, Ophrah, Oprah, Sheldon, Shelley, Shelly, Shelton
Someone born on this day in 1961 would be 65 years old today — just 23,809 days into life, which is roughly 571,423 hours, 34,285,426 minutes, or 2,057,125,579 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 29. day of the year.
There are 336 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 4 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 29th January
- Roddy Frame, Scottish singer-songwriter and musician (1964)
- Andre Reed, American football player (1964)
- Gauri Lankesh, Indian journalist and activist (died 2017) (1962)
- Lee Terry, American politician and lawyer (1962)
- Nicholas Turturro, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (1962)
- Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist (1961)
- Cho-liang Lin, Taiwanese-American musician (1960)
- Greg Louganis, American diver and author (1960)
- Steve Sax, American baseball player (1960)
- Gia Carangi, American supermodel (died 1986) (1960)
Lives Remembered on 29th January
- Vera Hall, American folk singer (born 1902) (1964)
- Alan Ladd, American actor (born 1913) (1964)
- Robert Frost, American poet and playwright (born 1874) (1963)
- Fritz Kreisler, Austrian-American violinist and composer (born 1875) (1962)
- William Francis Gray Swann, Anglo-American physicist (born 1884) (1962)
- Angela Thirkell, English novelist (born 1890) (1961)
- Mack Harrell, American operatic and concert baritone vocalist (born 1909) (1960)
- George S. Messersmith, American diplomat (born 1883) (1960)
- Pauline Smith, South African novelist, short story writer, memoirist and playwright (born 1882) (1959)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 29th January
- Christian feast day: Aphrahat
- Christian feast day: Gildas
- Christian feast day: Sabinian of Troyes
- Christian feast day: Sulpitius I of Bourges
- Christian feast day: Blessed Villana de' Botti
- Christian feast day: January 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Earliest day on which Fat Thursday can fall, while March 4 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday before Ash Wednesday. (Christianity)
- Kansas Day (Kansas, United States)
What Happened on 29th January?
- American Eagle Flight 5342 collided mid-air with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk operated by the United States Army and crashed into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people onboard both aircraft. (2025)
- A chartered Beechcraft 1900 crashes near the Unity oilfield in South Sudan, killing 20 people. (2025)
- Canadian truck drivers and pedestrians gathered to rally and protest on Parliament Hill against Canadian COVID-19 restrictions, which caused traffic and closures around the city. (2022)
- A gunman opens fire at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, killing six people and wounding 19 others in a spree shooting. (2017)
- Rojava conflict: The Afrin Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic. (2014)
- SCAT Airlines Flight 760 crashes near the Kazakh city of Almaty, killing 21 people. (2013)
- Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is removed from office following his conviction of several corruption charges, including solicitation of personal benefit in exchange for an appointment to the United States Senate as a replacement for then-U.S. president-elect Barack Obama. (2009)
- An Egyptian court rules that people who do not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions, while not allowed to list any belief outside of those three, are still eligible to receive government identity documents. (2008)
- The first direct commercial flights from mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines flight lands in Beijing. (2005)
- In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush describes "regimes that sponsor terror" as an Axis of evil, in which he includes Iraq, Iran and North Korea. (2002)