This Day In History : January 25

1983 United States

Infrared Telescope Satellite Launched into Polar Orbit

On January 25, 1983, the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched into polar orbit. This pioneering mission aimed to conduct an all-sky survey in infrared wavelengths, uncovering new insights about the universe and discovering previously unseen celestial objects.

Also on This Day in History January 25

Discover what happened on January 25 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, January 25
  • 1736 Count Joseph-Louis de Lagrange

    Italian-French mathematician who made great contributions to the theory of numbers and to analytic and celestial mechanics.

  • 1812 William Shanks

    English mathematician who spent numerous years manually calculating the value of pi.

  • 1923 Arvid Carlsson

    Swedish neuroscientist who shared (with Paul Greengard and Eric R. Kandel) the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology “for their discoveries concerning signal transduction in the nervous system.”

  • 1878 Ernst F.W. Alexanderson

    Ernst Frederik Werner Alexanderson was a Swedish-American electronics engineer and inventor whose contributions were important to the first live radio broadcast.

  • 1917 Ilya Prigogine

    Russian-born Belgian physical chemist who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1977 for contributions to nonequilibrium thermodynamics.

Deaths on This Day, January 25
  • 1994 Stephen Cole Kleene

    American mathematician and logician whose research was on the theory of algorithms and recursive functions.

  • 1960 Beno Gutenberg

    American seismologist noted for his analyses of earthquake waves and the information they furnish about the physical properties of the Earth's interior.

  • 1946 Edwin B. Holt

    Edwin B(issell) Holt was a U.S. psychologist and philosopher noted for his emphasis on the purposive character of knowing.

  • 1932 Maximilian von Frey

    Maximilian Ruppert Franz von Frey was an Austrian physiologist who studied the sense of touch, providing the first comprehensive information about the cutaneous senses.

  • 1957 Kiyoshi Shiga

    Japanese bacteriologist who discovered (1897) the dysentery bacillus Shigella, named after him. Shigellosis is the infectious disease caused by this group of bacteria leading to diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and possible hospitalization.

1945

Fluoridation

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Mich., became the first U.S. city to begin fluoridation the drinking water. With the intention of reducing tooth decay, one part per million of fluoride was added to the water supply.
1964

Echo 2, US Communications Satellite, Launched

On January 25, 1964, the United States launched Echo 2, a communications satellite, into orbit. This mission aimed to improve global communication capabilities by relaying radio signals and expanding the reach of satellite technology.
1881

Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell Establish the Oriental Telephone Company

On January 25, 1881, inventors Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company. This collaboration aims to expand telephone services in the Eastern Hemisphere, advancing global communication technologies and infrastructure.
1890

National Afro-American League Founded in Chicago

On January 25, 1890, the National Afro-American League was founded in Chicago, marking a pivotal step in the fight for African American civil rights. This organization aimed to address racial injustices and promote equality, laying the groundwork for future civil rights movements.
Holiday
Special day
Discover invention