What Happened on January 30?

January 30 is National Draw a Dinosaur Day — everyone draws! It's also the day the Beatles played their surprise rooftop concert and India honors heroes on Martyrs' Day.

• 1948 — Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated in New Delhi

  India's great leader of nonviolent independence was shot on his way to evening prayers; India now marks January 30 as Martyrs' Day. Read the full story →

• 1969 — The Beatles play their final concert — on a London rooftop

  With no warning, the world's biggest band started playing on their office roof. Office workers leaned out windows, traffic stopped, and police shut it down after 42 minutes. Read the full story →

• 1972 — 'Bloody Sunday' in Londonderry, Northern Ireland

  British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civil rights marchers, killing 13 — a day that deepened Northern Ireland's conflict for decades until an inquiry finally vindicated the victims. Read the full story →

• 1835 — A house painter tries to shoot President Jackson — both guns misfire

  Richard Lawrence fired two pistols point-blank at Andrew Jackson outside the Capitol; both weapons failed, and the 67-year-old president beat his attacker with a cane. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Frankie Lymon (1942–1968) · Vanessa Redgrave (1937) · Christian Bale (1974)

Days & observances

National Draw a Dinosaur Day · National Croissant Day · Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas)