Events

• 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Vandals.
• 1552 - Khanate of Kazan is conquered by troops of Ivan Grozny.
• 1582 - Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian calendar. In Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, October 4 of this year is followed directly by October 15.
• 1764 - Edward Gibbon observes a group of friars singing in the ruined Temple of Jupiter in Rome, which inspires him to begin work on The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
• 1815 - Napoleon I of France begins his exile on Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.
• 1863 - American Civil War: The CSS H. L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink a ship, sinks during a test, killing its inventor, Horace L. Hunley.
• 1864 - American Civil War: The Battle of Glasgow is fought, resulting in the surrender of Glasgow, Missouri, and its Union garrison, to the Confederacy.
• 1878 - The Edison Electric Light Company begins operation.
• 1880 - Mexican soldiers kill Victorio, one of the greatest Apache military strategists.
• 1888 - The "From Hell" letter sent by Jack the Ripper is received by the investigators.
• 1894 - Alfred Dreyfus is arrested for spying - Dreyfus affair begins.
• 1904 - The Russian Baltic Fleet leaves Reval, Estonia for Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War.
• 1917 - World War I: At Vincennes outside of Paris, Dutch dancer Mata Hari is executed by firing squad for spying for Germany.
• 1928 - The airship, the Graf Zeppelin completed its first trans-Atlantic flight, landing at Lakehurst, New Jersey, USA.
• 1932 - Tata Airlines (later to become Air India) makes its first flight.
• 1934 - The Soviet Republic of China collapses when Chiang Kai-shek's National Revolutionary Army successfully encircle Ruijin, forcing the fleeing Communists to begin the Long March.
• 1938 - The District of Columbia formally adopts a design for its flag
• 1939 - The New York Municipal Airport (later renamed La Guardia Airport) is dedicated.
• 1940 - "The Great Dictator", a satiric social commentary film by and starring Charlie Chaplin, is released.
• 1944 - The Arrow Cross Party (very similar to Hitler's NSDAP (Nazi party)) takes over the power in Hungary.
• 1945 - World War II: The former premier of Vichy France Pierre Laval is shot by a firing squad for treason.
• 1946 - Nuremberg Trials: Hermann Göring poisons himself the night before his execution.
• 1951 - Television sitcom I Love Lucy premieres.
• 1951 - Mexican chemist Luis E. Miramontes synthesized the first oral contraceptive
• 1953 - British nuclear test Totem 1 detonated at Emu Field, South Australia.
• 1965 - Vietnam War: The National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam stages the first public burning of a draft card in the United States to result in arrest under a new law.
• 1966 - Black Panther Party was created by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale.
• 1969 - Vietnam War: Hundreds of thousands of people take part in National Moratorium antiwar demonstrations across the United States.
• 1970 - Thirty-five construction workers are killed when a section of the new West Gate Bridge in Melbourne collapses.
• 1970 - Anwar Sadat becomes president of Egypt
• 1971 - The start of the 2500-year celebration of Iran, celebrating the birth of Persia.
• 1973 - The diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Gabon were established.
• 1981 - Professional cheerleader Krazy George Henderson leads what is thought to be the first audience wave in Oakland, California.
• 1987 - The Great Storm of 1987 hits France and England.
• 1989 - Wayne Gretzky becomes the all-time leading points scorer in the NHL.
• 1990 - Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and open up his nation.
• 1997 - The first supersonic land speed record is set by Andy Green in ThrustSSC (United Kingdom).
• 1997 - The Cassini probe launches from Cape Canaveral on its way to Saturn.
• 2001 - NASA's Galileo spacecraft passes within 112 miles of Jupiter's moon Io.
• 2003 - China launches Shenzhou 5, its first manned space mission.
• 2003 - The Staten Island Ferry boat Andrew J. Barberi runs into a pier at the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island, killing 11 people and injuring 43.
• 2005 - Iraqi constitution ratification vote
• 2005 - Riot in Toledo, Ohio breaks out during a National Socialist/Neo-Nazi protest; over 100 are arrested.
• 2007 - 17 Activists in Aotearoa New Zealand arrested in the country's first post 9/11 anti-terrorism raids across the country.

Births

• 70 BC - Virgil, Roman poet (d. 19 BC)
• 1471 - Konrad Mutian, German humanist (d. 1526)
• 1542 - Akbar, Jellaladin Mahommed, Mughal Emperor (d. 1605)
• 1608 - Evangelista Torricelli, Italian physicist (d. 1647)
• 1686 - Allan Ramsay, Scottish poet (d. 1758)
• 1701 - Marie-Marguerite d'Youville, first native Canadian canonized (d. 1771)
• 1711 - Elisabeth Teresa of Lorraine, queen of Sardinia (d. 1741)
• 1784 - Thomas Robert Bugeaud, Marshal of France and duke of Isly (d. 1849)
• 1814 - Mikhail Lermontov, Russian author (d. 1841)
• 1825 - Queen Marie of Prussia (d. 1889)
• 1829 - Asaph Hall, American astronomer (d. 1907)
• 1836 - James Tissot, French artist (d. 1902)
• 1840 - Honoré Mercier, politician and premier of Quebec (d. 1894)
• 1844 - Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (d. 1900)
• 1858 - John L. Sullivan, American boxer (d. 1918)
• 1872 - Wilhelm Miklas, Austrian president (d. 1956)
• 1874 - Prince Alfred of Edinburgh (d. 1899)
• 1878 - Paul Reynaud, French politician (d. 1966)
• 1879 - Jane Darwell, Academy Award-winning American actress (d. 1967)
• 1881 - P. G. Wodehouse, British novelist (d. 1975)
• 1882 - Charley O'Leary, American baseball player (d. 1941)
• 1884 - Arch Hoxsey, pioneer aviator (d. 1910)
• 1893 - King Carol II of Romania (d. 1953)
• 1894 - Moshe Sharett, second Prime Minister of Israel (d. 1965)
• 1898 - Boughera El Ouafi, Algerian athlete (d. 1951)
• 1900 - Mervyn LeRoy, American film director (d. 1987)
• 1905 - C. P. Snow, British writer (d. 1980)
• 1906 - Hiram Leong Fong, American politician (d. 2004)
• 1907 - Varian Fry, American journalist (d. 1967)
• 1908 - John Kenneth Galbraith, Canadian economist (d. 2006)
• 1909 - Robert Trout, American reporter (d. 2000)
• 1909 - Jesse Leonard Greenstein, American astronomer (d. 2002)
• 1915 - Yitzhak Shamir, Israeli politician
• 1917 - Jan Miner, American actress (d. 2004)
• 1917 - Arthur Schlesinger Jr., American historian and political commentator (d. 2007)
• 1919 - Malcolm Ross, American balloonist and atmospheric physicist (d. 1985)
• 1920 - Mario Puzo, American novelist (d. 1999)
• 1920 - Henri Verneuil, French film director (d. 2002)
• 1922 - Agustina Bessa-Luís, Portuguese writer
• 1923 - Italo Calvino. Italian writer (d. 1985)
• 1924 - Lee Iacocca, American industrialist
• 1924 - Mark Lenard, American actor (d. 1996)
• 1924 - Marguerite Andersen, German writer
• 1925 - Mickey Baker, American guitarist (Mickey & Sylvia)
• 1926 - Michel Foucault, French philosopher (d. 1984)
• 1926 - Evan Hunter, American author (d. 2005)
• 1926 - Jean Peters, American actress (d. 2000)
• 1926 - Karl Richter, German conductor (d. 1981)
• 1930 - Fereydun M. Esfandiary, Iranian philosopher (d. 2000)
• 1931 - Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, Eleventh President of India
• 1934 - N. Ramani, Indian flutist
• 1935 - Bobby Joe Morrow, American sprinter
• 1935 - Barry McGuire, American singer
• 1935 - Willie O'Ree, Canadian Hockey Player
• 1938 - Fela Kuti, Nigerian musician (d. 1997)
• 1938 - Marv Johnson, American singer (d. 1993)
• 1940 - Tommy Bishop, English rugby league player
• 1940 - Peter Doherty, Australian immunologist, Nobel laureate
• 1942 - Penny Marshall, American actress and movie director
• 1944 - Sali Berisha, President of Albania
• 1944 - David Trimble, Irish politician, Nobel laureate
• 1944 - Haim Saban, Egyptian-born American media proprietor
• 1945 - Jere Burns, American actor
• 1945 - Jim Palmer, American baseball player
• 1946 - Richard Carpenter (musician), American musician (The Carpenters)
• 1946 - Stewart Stevenson, Scottish politician
• 1948 - Chris de Burgh, Irish singer and songwriter
• 1953 - Tito Jackson, American musician
• 1953 - Larry Miller, American actor and comedian
• 1953 - Betsy Clifford, Canadian alpine skier
• 1954 - Peter Bakowski, Australian poet
• 1955 - Kulbir Bhaura, British field hockey player
• 1955 - Tanya Roberts, American actress
• 1957 - Mira Nair, Indian director
• 1957 - Stacy Peralta, American director
• 1959 - Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
• 1959 - Emeril Lagasse, American chef
• 1959 - Todd Solondz, American film director
• 1961 - John Kenny, Irish sports broadcaster and journalist
• 1964 - Roberto Vittori, Italian astronaut
• 1966 - Jorge Campos, Mexican footballer
• 1968 - Jyrki 69, Finnish musician The 69 Eyes
• 1968 - Didier Deschamps, French footballer
• 1969 - Vanessa Marcil, American actress
• 1969 - Dominic West, British actor
• 1969 - Vítor Baía, Portuguese footballer
• 1970 - Eric Benét, American singer
• 1971 - Andy Cole, British footballer
• 1971 - Jason Arhndt, American wrestler
• 1972 - Matt Keeslar, American actor
• 1972 - Sandra Kim, Belgian singer
• 1973 - Dax Riggs, American musician
• 1975 - Ginuwine, American singer
• 1975 - Glen Little, English footballer
• 1976 - Yoon Son-ha, South Korean actress and singer
• 1977 - Masato Kawabata, Japanese racing driver
• 1977 - Erin McKeown, American musician
• 1977 - David Trezeguet, French football player
• 1977 - Patricio Urrutia, Ecuadorian footballer
• 1978 - Devon Gummersall, American actor
• 1978 - Takeshi Morishima Japanese professional wrestler
• 1979 - Paul Robinson, English football player
• 1979 - M?ris Verpakovskis, Latvian football player
• 1979 - Blue Adams, American Football Player
• 1980 - Tom Boonen, Belgian cyclist
• 1980 - Siiri Nordin, Finnish singer (Killer)
• 1981 - Keyshia Cole, African American R&B singer
• 1981 - Elena Dementieva, Russian tennis player
• 1981 - Guo Jingjing, Chinese diver
• 1981 - Radoslav ?idek, Slovak snowboarder
• 1982 - Paulini Curuenavuli, Fijian singer
• 1982 - Charline Labonté, French Canadian ice hockey goaltender
• 1983 - Stephy Tang, Hong Kong singer and actress
• 1985 - Walter López, Uruguayan footballer
• 1985 - Marcos Martinez Ucha, Spanish racing driver
• 1986 - Lee Donghae, Korean singer (a member of super junior)
• 1987 - Jesse Levine, American tennis player
• 1992 - Vincent Martella, American actor
• 2005 - Prince Christian of Denmark

Deaths

• 412 - Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria

• 898 - Lambert, Holy Roman Emperor
• 912 - Abdullah ibn Muhammad, Emir of Córdoba
• 1002 - Otto-Henry, Duke of Burgundy (b. 946)
• 1080 - Rudolf of Rheinfeld, Duke of Swabia
• 1326 - Walter de Stapledon, English bishop (b. 1261)
• 1389 - Pope Urban VI
• 1564 - Vesalius, Flemish anatomist (b. 1514)
• 1715 - Humphry Ditton, English mathematician (b. 1675)
• 1730 - Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, French explorer (b. 1658)
• 1788 - Samuel Greig, Scottish-Russian admiral (b. 1735)
• 1810 - Alfred Moore, American judge (b. 1755)
• 1811 - Nathaniel Dance-Holland, English painter (b. 1735)
• 1817 - Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko, Polish and Lithuanian national hero (b. 1746)
• 1819 - Sergey Vyazmitinov, Russian general and statesman (b. 1744)
• 1820 - Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg, Austrian field marshal (b. 1771)
• 1837 - Ivan Dmitriev, Russian statesman and poet (b. 1760)
• 1880 - Victorio, Apache leader
• 1891 - Gilbert Arthur a Beckett, English writer (b. 1837)
• 1900 - Zden?k Fibich, Czech composer (b. 1850)
• 1910 - Stanley Ketchel, boxer (murdered) (b. 1886)
• 1917 - Mata Hari, Dutch dancer and spy (b. 1876)
• 1918 - Sai Baba of Shirdi, Indian saint (b. circa 1838)
• 1930 - Herbert Henry Dow, American chemical industrialist (b. 1866)
• 1934 - Raymond Poincaré, French statesman (b. 1860)
• 1945 - Pierre Laval, Prime Minister of Vichy France (executed) (b. 1883)
• 1946 - Hermann Göring, German air force commander (suicide) (b. 1893)
• 1948 - Edythe Chapman, American actress (b. 1863)
• 1959 - Lipót Fejér, Hungarian mathematician (b. 1880)
• 1960 - Clara Kimball Young, American actress (b. 1890)
• 1963 - Horton Smith. American golfer (b. 1908)
• 1964 - Cole Porter, American composer (b. 1891)
• 1976 - Carlo Gambino, American gangster (b. 1902)
• 1980 - Mikhail Lavrentyev, Russian physicist and mathematician (b. 1900)
• 1980 - Apostolos Nikolaidis, Greek footballer and volleyball player (b. 1896)
• 1981 - Philip Fotheringham-Parker, British racing driver (b. 1907)

• 1987 - Thomas Sankara, African revolutionary and leader of Burkina Faso (assassinated) (b. 1949)
• 1988 - Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, English composer and pianist (b. 1892)
• 1994 - Sarah Kofman, French philosopher (b. 1934)
• 1995 - Marco Campos, Brazilian racing driver (b. 1976)
• 2000 - Konrad Emil Bloch, German-born biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1912)
• 2001 - Zhang Xueliang, Chinese ruler of Manchuria (b. 1901)
• 2003 - Bertram N. Brockhouse, Canadian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1918)
• 2003 - Ben Metcalfe, Canadian environmental activist (b. 1919)
• 2005 - Jason Collier, American basketball player (b. 1977)
• 2005 - Matti Wuori, Finnish politician (b. 1945)

Holidays and observances

• October 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
• Roman festivals - the Equirria or October equus: sacrifice of a horse to Mars
• R.C. Saints - Saint Teresa of Avila
• United States - White Cane Safety Day
• French Republican Calendar - Amaryllis (Amaryllis) Day, twenty-fourth day in the Month of Vendémiaire
• Global Handwashing Day

External links

• BBC: On This Day
• On This Day in Canada

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