October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 77 days remaining until the end of the year.
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 - The Dreyfus affair: Alfred Dreyfus is arrested for spying.
- 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 the German Empire.
- 1928 - The airship, the Graf Zeppelin completes its first trans-Atlantic flight, landing at Lakehurst, New Jersey, United States.
- 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.
- 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 - 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 is created by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale.
- 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 are 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 - A riot in Toledo, Ohio breaks out during a National Socialist/Neo-Nazi protest; over 100 are arrested.
- 2007 - Seventeen activists in New Zealand are arrested in the country's first post 9/11 anti-terrorism raids.
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)
- 1785 - José Miguel Carrera, Chilean general and founding father (d. 1821)
- 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
- 1924 - Warren Miller, American director
- 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, American musician (The Carpenters)
- 1946 - Stewart Stevenson, Scottish politician
- 1948 - Chris de Burgh, Irish singer and songwriter
- 1949 - Prannoy Roy, Journalist, Psephologist, CEO - NDTV
- 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
- 1960 - Daniel Mazur, American mountaineer
- 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 - Paige Davis, American television personality and Broadway actress
- 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 - Māris Verpakovskis, Latvian football player
- 1979 - Blue Adams, American Football Player
- 1980 - Tom Boonen, Belgian cyclist
- 1980 - Siiri Nordin, Finnish singer (Killer)
- 1981 - Keyshia Cole, American R&B singer
- 1981 - Elena Dementieva, Russian tennis player
- 1981 - Guo Jingjing, Chinese diver
- 1981 - Radoslav Židek, Slovak snowboarder
- 1982 - Paulini Curuenavuli, Fijian/Australian singer
- 1982 - Charline Labonté, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1983 - Stephy Tang, Hong Kong singer and actress
- 1985 - Walter López, Uruguayan footballer
- 1985 - Marcos Martínez, Spanish racing driver
- 1986 - Donghae, Korean singer (Super Junior)
- 1987 - Jesse Levine, Canadian/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 (b. 844)
- 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 Kościuszko, 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 - Zdeněk 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)
- 2008 - Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca, Turkish poet (b. 1914)
- 2008 - Edie Adams, American singer and Broadway actress (b. 1927)
- 2008 - Jack Narz, American game show host (b. 1922)
Holidays and observances
External links
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