From the archives
Classic headlineInclude Your Children When Baking Cookies
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — John Keats born (1795) and Vanilla Ice born (1967), 172 years apart.
2 / 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
- Include Your Children When Baking CookiesHall of Fame◆
- 1948Voorhees of Paterson East Side Leader in Cross-Country EventThe New York Times◆
- 2023Catholic church loses landmark case over tactics that shield it from Australian abuse claimsThe Guardian◆
- 2019Qantas 737 cracks: airline pulls three Boeing planes from serviceThe Guardian◆
- 475Romulus Augustulus took the throne as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.Wikipedia◆
- 1996TG4, the world's first Irish language television station, began broadcasting.Wikipedia◆
- 1984Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards, sparking riots that killed thousands of Sikhs.Wikipedia◆
- 1973Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escaped from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin aboard a hijacked helicopter that landed in the prison's exercise yard.Wikipedia◆
- 1941100 crew members of the USS Reuben James (pictured) perished when their vessel became the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by hostile action during World War II after it was torpedoed by the German submarine U-552.Wikipedia◆
- 1917World War I: Allied forces defeated Turkish troops in Beersheba in Southern Palestine at the Battle of Beersheba, with the battle involving one of the last successful cavalry charges.Wikipedia◆
- 2014During a test flight, the VSS Enterprise, a Virgin Galactic experimental spaceflight test vehicle, suffers a catastrophic in-flight breakup and crashes in the Mojave Desert, California.Wikipedia◆
- 2000Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first resident crew to the International Space Station. The ISS has been crewed continuously since then.Wikipedia◆
- 1973Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escape from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin aboard a hijacked helicopter that landed in the exercise yard.Wikipedia◆
- 1956Hungarian Revolution of 1956: A Revolutionary Headquarters is established in Hungary. Following Imre Nagy's announcement of October 30, banned non-Communist political parties are reformed, and the MDP is replaced by the MSZMP. József Mindszenty is released from prison. The Soviet Politburo makes the decision to crush the Revolution.Wikipedia◆
- Include Your Children When Baking CookiesHall of Fame◆
- 1948Voorhees of Paterson East Side Leader in Cross-Country EventThe New York Times◆
- 2023Catholic church loses landmark case over tactics that shield it from Australian abuse claimsThe Guardian◆
- 2019Qantas 737 cracks: airline pulls three Boeing planes from serviceThe Guardian◆
- 475Romulus Augustulus took the throne as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.Wikipedia◆
- 1996TG4, the world's first Irish language television station, began broadcasting.Wikipedia◆
- 1984Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards, sparking riots that killed thousands of Sikhs.Wikipedia◆
- 1973Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escaped from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin aboard a hijacked helicopter that landed in the prison's exercise yard.Wikipedia◆
- 1941100 crew members of the USS Reuben James (pictured) perished when their vessel became the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by hostile action during World War II after it was torpedoed by the German submarine U-552.Wikipedia◆
- 1917World War I: Allied forces defeated Turkish troops in Beersheba in Southern Palestine at the Battle of Beersheba, with the battle involving one of the last successful cavalry charges.Wikipedia◆
- 2014During a test flight, the VSS Enterprise, a Virgin Galactic experimental spaceflight test vehicle, suffers a catastrophic in-flight breakup and crashes in the Mojave Desert, California.Wikipedia◆
- 2000Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first resident crew to the International Space Station. The ISS has been crewed continuously since then.Wikipedia◆
- 1973Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escape from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin aboard a hijacked helicopter that landed in the exercise yard.Wikipedia◆
- 1956Hungarian Revolution of 1956: A Revolutionary Headquarters is established in Hungary. Following Imre Nagy's announcement of October 30, banned non-Communist political parties are reformed, and the MDP is replaced by the MSZMP. József Mindszenty is released from prison. The Soviet Politburo makes the decision to crush the Revolution.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Vanilla Ice1967- Michael Collins1930
- John Keats1795
31 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 31
475 Oddly trueRomulus Augustulus took the throne as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1996 First everTG4, the world's first Irish language television station, began broadcasting.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1984 Oddly trueIndian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards, sparking riots that killed thousands of Sikhs.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1973 Oddly trueThree Provisional Irish Republican Army members escaped from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin aboard a hijacked helicopter that landed in the prison's exercise yard.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1941 First ever100 crew members of the USS Reuben James (pictured) perished when their vessel became the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by hostile action during World War II after it was torpedoed by the German submarine U-552.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2023The GuardianCatholic church loses landmark case over tactics that shield it from Australian abuse claimsGuardian investigation found the church routinely uses deaths of paedophile priests to avoid paying or to reduce amou…
Read on The Guardian →
2019The GuardianQantas 737 cracks: airline pulls three Boeing planes from serviceAircraft grounded after hairline cracks found between wing and fuselage
Read on The Guardian →- 1948The New York TimesVoorhees of Paterson East Side Leader in Cross-Country Event
Tom Voorhees of Paterson, N.J., East Side High, notched his second individual triumph of the season in interscholasti…
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 “Romulus Augustulus took the throne as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Oddly true
Romulus Augustulus took the throne as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1996 First ever
TG4, the world's first Irish language television station, began broadcasting.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1984 Oddly true
Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards, sparking riots that killed thousands of Sikhs.
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 31 October — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1795Birth
John Keats born
John Keats was born. English Romantic poet.
1930Birth
Michael Collins born
Michael Collins was born. American astronaut, Apollo 11 crew member.
1967Birth
Vanilla Ice born
Vanilla Ice was born. American rapper known for Ice Ice Baby.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
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.
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.
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.
Accident
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.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Famous birthdays
22 this weekToday · 31 October
- Vanilla IceAmerican rapper (born 1967)Born 1967 · 59 years ago today
- MCMichael CollinsBorn 1930Born 1930 · 96 years ago today
- John KeatsEnglish Romantic poet (1795–1821)Born 1795 · 231 years ago today
Coming up this week
Penn BadgleyAmerican actor (born 1986)1 November · born 1986
Toni ColletteAustralian actress and singer (born 1972)1 November · born 1972
Gary PlayerSouth African professional golfer (born 1935)1 November · born 1935
NellyAmerican rapper (born 1974)2 November · born 1974
David SchwimmerAmerican actor (born 1966)2 November · born 1966
Marie AntoinetteQueen of France from 1774 to 17922 November · born 1755
Holiday31 October
Halloween
A widely celebrated cultural festival rooted in the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain.
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 31 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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