HomeBlog

What was going on when I was born?

Enter your birthdate to find out.

Historical Context for January 18, 1980

In 1980, the world population was approximately 4,447,606,236 people[†]

In 1980, the average yearly tuition was $738 for public universities and $3,225 for private universities. Today, these costs have risen to $9,750 and $35,248 respectively[†]

Notable Births

1980Estelle, English singer-songwriter and producer[†]

Estelle Fanta Swaray, also known mononymously as Estelle, is a British singer, rapper and actress. She is known for her eclectic blending of musical genres including R&B, soul, reggae, grime, hip hop and dance. She has collaborated with prominent American artists including Chris Brown, Kanye West, will.i.am, Nas, Akon, Tyler, the Creator, Robin Thicke and Rick Ross, among others.

1980Robert Green, English footballer[†]

Robert Paul Green is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played in the Premier League and Football League and for the England national team.

1980Kert Haavistu, Estonian footballer and manager[†]

Kert Haavistu is a former Estonian professional footballer, who used to play in the Meistriliiga for FC Flora Tallinn and FC TVMK Tallinn. He played the position of midfielder and is 1.78 m tall and weighs 72 kg. He is also the former member of the Estonia national football team with 44 caps to his name.

1980Julius Peppers, American football player[†]

Julius Frazier Peppers is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL draft, and also played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016. After rejoining the Panthers for the 2017 season, he retired after the 2018 NFL season.

1980Jason Segel, American actor and screenwriter[†]

Jason Jordan Segel is an American actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Marshall Eriksen in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother from 2005 to 2014. He began his career with director and producer Judd Apatow on the television series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) and Undeclared (2001–2002) before gaining prominence for his leading roles in various successful comedy films in which he has starred, written, and produced.

Notable Deaths

1980Cecil Beaton, English fashion designer and photographer (born 1904)[†]

Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton was a British fashion, portrait and war photographer, diarist, painter, and interior designer, as well as costume designer and set designer for stage and screen. His accolades include three Academy Awards and four Tony Awards.

Filter by:

Headlines from January 18, 1980

U.S. PLANS EMBARGO ON IRAN ON ITS OWN AS ALLIES SHUN IDEA; EUROPEANS CITE TRADE LAWS Soviet Intervention in Afghanistan Limits Step Against Teheran --Food, Drugs Exempt Some Allies Fear Loss of Oil Clifford Going to India U.S. Plans Embargo Against Iran as Allies Shun Idea

By Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17--The United States will announce a formal ban on all commerce with Iran, except sales of food and medicine, in the next several days, a senior State Department official said today. But no allies are prepared to take similar action at this time, he said.

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

Quake Hits Indian Point Site; Located Over Ramapo Fault

By James Feron Special To the New York Times

WHITE PLAINS, Jan. 17--A minor earthquake just north of Peekskill shook that city and the nearby Indian Point nuclear facility before dawn today, but apparently caused no damage. Seismologists said it was the most severe earthquake in the vicinity of the atomic plant since it opened in 1962.

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

Germans Meet Soviet On Pipeline; German-Soviet Pipeline Talks

By John M. Geddes Special To the New York Times

BONN, Jan. 17--A West German bank and oil company are holding exploratory talks on a new $11.6 billion natural gas pipeline from Siberia to Western Europe, despite Western efforts to impose sanctions on the Soviet Union for its intervention in Afghanistan.

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

I was wondering if anything interesting on the news was going on when I was born, and decided to create this website for fun. The purpose is to show people what was going on when they were born. With this website I've found out that it was a pretty slow news day on my birthday, but I bet it would feel cool to know a historical event happened on your birthday.

The data used in this project is provided by the New York Times API. They have by far the best API I was able to find, with articles dating back to the 1950s. There weren't any other major newspapers that had an API with close to as much data. The closest was the Guardian API, but theirs only went back to the 1990s. I decided to only use articles from the New York Times because their API was by far the best. This tool works if you have a birthday after the 1950s or so.

Some important dates in history I'd recommend looking up on this website are:

  • 9/11/2001: The September 11 Attacks happened on this day, the news articles from this date provide great context to the tragedy our nation suffered and the immediate response from the American people. The headlines capture the shock, confusion, and unity that emerged in the aftermath of this devastating event.
  • 7/20/1969: The historic Apollo 11 moon landing, when humans first set foot on another celestial body. The articles from this date showcase humanity's greatest achievement in space exploration and the culmination of the space race.
  • 11/9/1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War. The coverage provides fascinating insights into this pivotal moment in world history and the emotions of people as decades of division came to an end.
  • 1/20/2009: Barack Obama's inauguration as the first African American President of the United States, a watershed moment in American history that represented a major milestone in the ongoing journey toward racial equality.
  • 8/15/1969: The Woodstock Music Festival began, marking a defining moment in American counterculture and music history. The coverage captures the spirit of the era and the unprecedented gathering of young people.

These historical events are just a few examples of the fascinating moments in history you can explore through this tool. Whether you're interested in your own birthday, significant historical dates, or just curious about what was making headlines on any given day, this website offers a unique window into the past through the lens of contemporary news coverage.

You can read more on our blog.