At A Glance

2 January 1946 at a glance

Day of the week
2 January 1946 was a Wednesday.
Top Film of 1946
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1946 was Song of the South.
Bestselling Novel of 1946
“The King's General” by Daphne du Maurier was No. 1 on Publishers Weekly's US fiction list for 1946.
Star sign
The star sign for 2 January is Capricorn.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 2 January 1946 fell in the Year of the Rooster.
Birthstone
The birthstone for January is Garnet.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 2 January 1946 was Waning Crescent.

On this day: 2 January

  • 1941 World War II: The Cardiff Blitz severely damages the cathedral in Cardiff, Wales.
  • 1942 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtains the conviction of 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history; Also known as the Duquesne Spy Ring.
  • 1942 World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces, enabling them to control the Philippines.
  • 1949 Luis Muñoz Marín is inaugurated as the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
  • 1954 India establishes its highest civilian awards, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan.

Famous people born on January 2

  • Jim Bakker, American televangelist (1940–2026)
  • Kemi Badenoch, English politician (born 1980)
  • Dax Shepard, American actor (born 1975)
  • Kate Bosworth, American actress (born 1983)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1946 in the United States

A selection from Wikipedia's '1946 in the United States'. Not a complete list.

  • February 14 – ENIAC (for "Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer"), the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • March 5 – In his speech at Westminster College, in Fulton, Missouri, Winston Churchill popularizes the political metaphor of the Iron Curtain.
  • May 23 – Dwarf Grill, predecessor of Chick-fil-A, a fast food chicken restaurant, is founded in Georgia.

Life in the US in 1946

President

Harry S. Truman

Gas (per gallon)

$0.21

Loaf of Bread

$0.10

Average House

$4,150

Weekly Wage

$43

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1940s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →