January 1975: A trip back in time

• Opening of the British Library: The British Library was officially established on 1st January 1975, separating from the British Museum to become an independent institution.
• Margaret Thatcher's Shadow Cabinet Reshuffle: On 21st January, Margaret Thatcher reorganised her shadow cabinet in preparation for her bid to become Conservative Party leader.
• Storms Across England and Wales: Severe weather caused significant disruption in mid-January, with flooding and property damage across southern England.

• UNO Mediation in Cyprus: On 4th January, the United Nations announced efforts to mediate the Cyprus conflict following the 1974 Turkish invasion.
• Energy Crisis Conference: On 23rd January, an international conference was held in Paris to address the ongoing energy crisis and discuss oil production caps​.
• Whaling Moratorium Proposal: In Japan, discussions about conservation and sustainability intensified with proposals to introduce a global moratorium on commercial whaling​.

• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen: The iconic hit was continuing to rise in popularity during this time.
• “Please Mr. Postman” by The Carpenters: A soulful rendition of The Marvelettes' classic.
• “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas: A disco anthem still enjoying success into the new year.

Births:

• Bradley Cooper (5th January), American actor and filmmaker.
• Mary J. Blige (11th January), influential R&B singer-songwriter.
• Danica McKellar (3rd January), American actress known for The Wonder Years.

Deaths:

• Eisaku Sato (3rd January), former Prime Minister of Japan and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
• John Bardeen (30th January), physicist and two-time Nobel Prize winner for inventions in solid-state electronics.
• Averell Harriman (26th January), prominent American diplomat and politician.