From the archives
Verified RealPolice Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Source: Newspapers.comView clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Friedrich Nietzsche born (1844) and Dominic West born (1969), 125 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Police Begin Campaign to Run Down JaywalkersHall of Fame◆
- 1887FATAL CATTLE DISEASE.The New York Times◆
- 2015Home Office defends decision to deport asylum seeker via private jetThe Guardian◆
- 2013How MPs and peers took on May and spy agencies over 'snoopers' charter'The Guardian◆
- 1783The Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon makes the first human ascent, piloted by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier.Wikipedia◆
- 1965Vietnam War: A draft card is burned during an anti-war rally by the Catholic Worker Movement, resulting in the first arrest under a new law.Wikipedia◆
- 1965Vietnam War protests: At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured), the first such act to result in arrest under a new amendment to the Selective Service Act.Wikipedia◆
- 1954Hurricane Hazel made landfall in the Carolinas in the United States before moving north to Toronto in Canada later the same day, killing 176 people in the two countries.Wikipedia◆
- 2007Seventeen activists in New Zealand are arrested in the country's first post-9/11 anti-terrorism raids.Wikipedia◆
- 2003China launches Shenzhou 5, its first crewed space mission.Wikipedia◆
- 2001NASA's Galileo spacecraft passes within 112 miles (180 km) of Jupiter's moon Io.Wikipedia◆
- 1994The United States, under the Clinton administration, returns Haiti's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to the island.Wikipedia◆
- 1956FORTRAN, the first modern computer language, is first shared with the coding community.Wikipedia◆
- 1954Hurricane Hazel devastates the eastern seaboard of North America, killing 95 and causing massive floods as far north as Toronto.Wikipedia◆
- Police Begin Campaign to Run Down JaywalkersHall of Fame◆
- 1887FATAL CATTLE DISEASE.The New York Times◆
- 2015Home Office defends decision to deport asylum seeker via private jetThe Guardian◆
- 2013How MPs and peers took on May and spy agencies over 'snoopers' charter'The Guardian◆
- 1783The Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon makes the first human ascent, piloted by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier.Wikipedia◆
- 1965Vietnam War: A draft card is burned during an anti-war rally by the Catholic Worker Movement, resulting in the first arrest under a new law.Wikipedia◆
- 1965Vietnam War protests: At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured), the first such act to result in arrest under a new amendment to the Selective Service Act.Wikipedia◆
- 1954Hurricane Hazel made landfall in the Carolinas in the United States before moving north to Toronto in Canada later the same day, killing 176 people in the two countries.Wikipedia◆
- 2007Seventeen activists in New Zealand are arrested in the country's first post-9/11 anti-terrorism raids.Wikipedia◆
- 2003China launches Shenzhou 5, its first crewed space mission.Wikipedia◆
- 2001NASA's Galileo spacecraft passes within 112 miles (180 km) of Jupiter's moon Io.Wikipedia◆
- 1994The United States, under the Clinton administration, returns Haiti's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to the island.Wikipedia◆
- 1956FORTRAN, the first modern computer language, is first shared with the coding community.Wikipedia◆
- 1954Hurricane Hazel devastates the eastern seaboard of North America, killing 95 and causing massive floods as far north as Toronto.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Dominic West1969- Sarah Ferguson1959
- Friedrich Nietzsche1844
15 October in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — October 15
1783 First everThe Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon makes the first human ascent, piloted by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1965 First everVietnam War: A draft card is burned during an anti-war rally by the Catholic Worker Movement, resulting in the first arrest under a new law.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1965 First everVietnam War protests: At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured), the first such act to result in arrest under a new amendment to the Selective Service Act.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1954 Oddly trueHurricane Hazel made landfall in the Carolinas in the United States before moving north to Toronto in Canada later the same day, killing 176 people in the two countries.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2007 First everSeventeen activists in New Zealand are arrested in the country's first post-9/11 anti-terrorism raids.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2015The GuardianHome Office defends decision to deport asylum seeker via private jetRemoval to Morocco of convicted cyberterrorist Younes Tsouli was safest option, says government spokesperson
Read on The Guardian →
2013The GuardianHow MPs and peers took on May and spy agencies over 'snoopers' charter'Anger at failure of Home Office and security services to reveal extent of GCHQ's data harvesting operations
Read on The Guardian →- 1887The New York Times · Front pageFATAL CATTLE DISEASE.
TOLONO, Ill., Oct. 14.-- Some mysterious disease is killing the cattle in the southern part of Crittenden Township, C…
Read on NYTimes.com →
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
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When was “The Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon makes the first human ascent, piloted by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
The Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon makes the first human ascent, piloted by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1965 First ever
Vietnam War: A draft card is burned during an anti-war rally by the Catholic Worker Movement, resulting in the first arrest under a new law.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1965 First ever
Vietnam War protests: At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured), the first such act to result in arrest under a new amendment to the Selective Service Act.
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.
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Viewing 15 October — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1844Birth
Friedrich Nietzsche born
Friedrich Nietzsche was born. German philosopher.
1959Birth
Sarah Ferguson born
Sarah Ferguson was born. Duchess of York, British royal family member.
1969Birth
Dominic West born
Dominic West was born. English actor known for The Wire and The Crown.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Suicide
2008Death
Heath Ledger dies
Heath Ledger, actor, died on this day in 2008. Accidental prescription drug overdose. Remembered as: Acclaimed performances, including the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Suicide
1890Death
Vincent van Gogh dies
Vincent van Gogh, painter, died on this day in 1890. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Post-Impressionist whose work deeply influenced 20th-century art.
Famous birthdays
21 this weekToday · 15 October
- Dominic WestEnglish actor (born 1969)Born 1969 · 57 years ago today
- Sarah FergusonBritish former royal and author (born 1959)Born 1959 · 67 years ago today
- Friedrich NietzscheGerman philosopher (1844–1900)Born 1844 · 182 years ago today
Coming up this week
Naomi OsakaJapanese tennis player (born 1997)16 October · born 1997
Tim RobbinsAmerican actor (born 1958)16 October · born 1958
Angela LansburyBritish actress (1925–2022)16 October · born 1925
Felicity JonesBritish actress (born 1983)17 October · born 1983
EminemAmerican rapper (born 1972)17 October · born 1972
Rita HayworthAmerican actress and dancer (1918–1987)17 October · born 1918
Day of Recognition15 October
Global Handwashing Day
Dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap to prevent diseases.
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
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 15 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
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
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
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