Monday 12 October 2026

On This Day

What happened, who was born, who we lost — plus today's horoscope for every sign.

Discover thousands of historical events that happened on this day, your birthday, or any other day of the year. 1,000s of searchable events.

Daily Horoscope

Personal guidance for your zodiac, not generic. Energy, love, career.

On This Day

Real, verified events that share your birthday. Dozens of events per day searchable.
∞

Coincidence Engine

Two birth milestones share this date — Margaret Thatcher born (1925) and Paul Simon born (1941), 16 years apart.

1 / 3 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s

From CurioVault

Today's curiosity

Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.

Read on CurioVault.co →
Today's headlines

Birthday twins

You share your birthday with...

  • Sacha Baron Cohen1971
  • Paul Simon1941
  • Margaret Thatcher1925

13 October in history

0 events

Events, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.

We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.

No verified events yet for 13 October.

What happened on this day · Odd history for today

Vintage News — October 13

Full edition: 10 odd things →
  • 206P/Barnard–Boattini
    1892 First ever

    Edward Emerson Barnard is first to discover a comet by photographic means.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Suffragette
    1908 First ever

    British suffragette Margaret Travers Symons became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons when she escaped from her escort into the chamber and shouted at the assembly.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • 1903 World Series
    1903 First ever

    The Boston Red Sox win the first modern World Series, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth game.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Revival of the Hebrew language
    1881 First ever

    First known conversation in modern Hebrew by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and friends.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • First Battle of Wissembourg
    1793 First ever

    French Revolutionary Wars: Austro-Prussian victory over Republican France at the First Battle of Wissembourg.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API

Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.

Strange but true headlines of the day

OddlyTrue News Stand

Today's full edition →

From the archives

Classic headline

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group

Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source

Did you guess the year?

Streak 0 days Best 0

When was “Edward Emerson Barnard is first to discover a comet by photographic means.” happening? Slide to your guess.

1950

Weird history, same day

  • 206P/Barnard–Boattini
    ???? First ever

    Edward Emerson Barnard is first to discover a comet by photographic means.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Suffragette
    1908 First ever

    British suffragette Margaret Travers Symons became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons when she escaped from her escort into the chamber and shouted at the assembly.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • 1903 World Series
    1903 First ever

    The Boston Red Sox win the first modern World Series, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth game.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.

Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)

Viewing 13 October — today is 12 October.

Born on this day

3
Margaret Thatcher born
1925Birth

Margaret Thatcher born

Margaret Thatcher was born. UK prime minister, known as the Iron Lady.

Paul Simon born
1941Birth

Paul Simon born

Paul Simon was born. American singer-songwriter, half of Simon and Garfunkel.

Sacha Baron Cohen born
1971Birth

Sacha Baron Cohen born

Sacha Baron Cohen was born. English comedian known for Borat and Ali G.

Died on this day

17 in the archive

Five infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →

Assassinated
Death
1948Death

Mahatma Gandhi dies

Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.

Accident
Death
1997Death

Diana, Princess of Wales dies

Diana, Princess of Wales, member of british royal family, died on this day in 1997. Car crash in Paris. Remembered as: Global humanitarian and celebrated royal figure.

Suicide
Death
2014Death

Robin Williams dies

Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.

Suicide
Death
1994Death

Kurt Cobain dies

Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.

Suicide
Death
30 BCDeath

Cleopatra dies

Cleopatra, queen of the ptolemaic kingdom, died on this day in 30 BC. Suicide (historically debated, asp bite). Remembered as: The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.

Famous birthdays

21 this week
Who shares your birthday? →

Today · 13 October

  • Sacha Baron CohenSacha Baron CohenEnglish actor and comedian (born 1971)Born 1971 · 55 years ago today
  • Paul SimonPaul SimonAmerican singer-songwriter (born 1941)Born 1941 · 85 years ago today
  • Margaret ThatcherMargaret ThatcherPrime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990Born 1925 · 101 years ago today

Coming up this week

  • UUsherBorn 197814 October · born 1978
  • Roger MooreRoger MooreEnglish actor (1927–2017)14 October · born 1927
  • Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerWorld War II general, U.S. president from 1953 to 196114 October · born 1890
  • Dominic WestDominic WestEnglish actor (born 1969)15 October · born 1969
  • Sarah FergusonSarah FergusonBritish former royal and author (born 1959)15 October · born 1959
  • Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich NietzscheGerman philosopher (1844–1900)15 October · born 1844
Day of Recognition13 October

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Promotes a global culture of risk awareness and disaster preparedness.

Music · No.1 on this day

What was topping the charts

The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.

  • 2016 10 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesSay You Won't Let GoJames Arthur
    • UK AlbumsFollowing My IntuitionCraig David
    • US SinglesCloserThe Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
    • US AlbumsViewsDrake
  • 2006 20 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesI Don't Feel Like Dancin'Scissor Sisters
    • UK AlbumsSam's TownThe Killers
    • US SinglesSexyBackJustin Timberlake
    • US AlbumsFutureSex/LoveSoundsJustin Timberlake
  • 1996 30 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesSetting SunThe Chemical Brothers
    • UK AlbumsNaturalPeter Andre
    • US SinglesMacarena (Bayside Boys Mix)Los Del Rio
    • US AlbumsFalling into YouCeline Dion
  • 1986 40 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesTrue BlueMadonna
    • UK AlbumsGracelandPaul Simon
    • US SinglesWhen I Think of YouJanet Jackson
    • US AlbumsTop GunSoundtrack
  • 1976 50 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesDancing QueenABBA
    • UK AlbumsStupidityDr. Feelgood
    • US SinglesA Fifth of BeethovenWalter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
    • US AlbumsFrampton Comes Alive!Peter Frampton
  • 1966 60 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesDistant DrumsJim Reeves
    • UK AlbumsThe Sound of MusicOriginal soundtrack
    • US SinglesCherishThe Association
    • US AlbumsRevolverThe Beatles
  • 1956 70 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesLay Down Your ArmsAnne Shelton
    • UK AlbumsThe King and IOriginal soundtrack
    • US AlbumsCalypsoHarry Belafonte

Sport on this day

0

Finals, medals and records decided on 13 October.

No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.

Sporting almanac

Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago

World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.

2016 10 yrs ago

  • Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
  • WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
  • Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
  • Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
  • The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
  • World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
+4 more →

2001 25 yrs ago

  • WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
  • Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
  • The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
  • World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
  • NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
  • Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
+2 more →

1976 50 yrs ago

  • Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
  • Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
  • WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
  • Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
  • Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
  • The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
+5 more →

Why 2 million people will check OddlyTrue every morning

Learn, laugh, connect with history. Free daily email 7am. 1,000s of searchable events.