January 13th in History: Tragic Events and Milestones

January 13th in History: Tragic Events and Milestones

Today is January 13, 2026, marking the 13th day of the year with 352 days remaining. On this day in history, tragic events unfolded, such as the Air Florida Boeing 737 crash in Washington, D.C., claiming the lives of 78 individuals. In 1733, James Oglethorpe and English colonists arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, en route to settle in Georgia. President George Washington approved the addition of two stars and stripes to the American flag in 1794. A law granting U.S. birthright citizenship to those born in Puerto Rico took effect in 1941. The passing of singer Donny Hathaway in 1979 marked a somber moment in music history. L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia made history in 1990 as the first elected Black governor in the United States. Japan issued an apology in 1992 for the forced servitude of Korean women during World War II. The Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster occurred in 2012, resulting in the loss of 32 lives. In 2021, President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House for incitement of insurrection following the Capitol siege on January 6, becoming the first president to be impeached twice.