Skip to content

Home arrow Trivia Resources arrow On this day in history

On this day in History Archives
 
At PaulsQuiz.com we aim to provide you with as much information as we possibly can. That's why we have built our On This Day in History section, to do just that. Our database is forever growing, we're adding more and more events from history to help you write your quiz questions.

Simply enter a date using the drop-down boxes below and click the 'Go' button to display events from the past that ocurred on that day.
 

 
04 October, 2004
SpaceShipOne wins Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight.
04 October, 2003
Maxim restaurant suicide bombing in Haifa, Israel: 21 Israelis, Jews and Arabs, are killed, and 51 others wounded.
04 October, 2001
A Sibir Airlines Tupolev TU-154 crashes into the Black Sea after being struck by an errant Ukrainian S-200 missile. 78 people are killed.
04 October, 1997
The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurred at the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Loomis, Fargo and Company. An FBI investigation eventually resulted in 24 convictions and the recovery of approximately 95% of the $17.3 million in cash which had been taken.
04 October, 1993
Russian Constitutional Crisis: In Moscow, tanks bombarded the White House, a government building that housed the Russian parliament, while demonstrators against President Boris Yeltsin rallied outside. The events portrayed in the movie and book Black Hawk Down (a military insurgency in Somalia) occurred.
04 October, 1992
The Rome General Peace Accords end a 16 years civil war in Mozambique. An El Al Boeing 747-200F crashes into two apartment buildings in Amsterdam, killing 43 including 38 on the ground.
04 October, 1991
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was opened for signature.
04 October, 1988
U.S. televangelist Jim Bakker indicted for fraud.
04 October, 1985
Free Software Foundation is founded in Massachusetts, USA.
04 October, 1983
Richard Noble sets a new land speed record of 633.468 mph (1,019 km/h), driving Thrust 2 at the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.
04 October, 1976
Official launch of the Intercity 125 High Speed Train (HST)
04 October, 1975
A Cessna 310Q airplane crashes over Wilmington, North Carolina, killing the pilot and severely injuring several pro wrestlers affiliated with the NWAs Mid-Atlantic promotion. One of the survivors is the legendary Ric Flair
04 October, 1967
Omar Ali Saifuddin III of Brunei abdicates in favour of his son, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
04 October, 1966
Basutoland becomes independent from the United Kingdom and is renamed Lesotho.
04 October, 1965
The first Pope to ever visit the United States of America, Pope Paul VI arrives in New York.
04 October, 1960
Eastern Air Lines Flight 375, a Lockheed L-188 Electra, crashes on takeoff from Bostons Logan International Airport, killing 62 of 72 on board after a bird strike.
04 October, 1958
Fifth Republic of France established.
04 October, 1957
Launch of Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. Avro Arrow roll-out ceremony at Avro Canada plant in Malton, Ontario. The CBS television show Leave it to Beaver debuts, starring Jerry Mathers as Beaver.
04 October, 1950
Snoopys first appearance.
04 October, 1943
World War II: U.S. captures Solomon Islands.
04 October, 1940
Meeting of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini at the Brenner Pass.
04 October, 1931
Debut appearance of the "Dick Tracy" comic strip, created by cartoonist Chester Gould.
04 October, 1927
Gutzon Borglum begins sculpting Mt. Rushmore.
04 October, 1921
Riccardo Zanella becomes first elected president of Free State of Fiume.
04 October, 1918
An explosion occurred killing more than 100 and destroying the T.A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant in Sayreville, New Jersey. Fires and explosions continued for three days forcing massive evacuations and spreading ordnance over a wide area, pieces of which are still being found in 2007.
04 October, 1911
Britain's first public escalator was switched on, at London's Earl's Court underground station.
04 October, 1910
Declaration of the Portuguese Republic. King Manuel II flees to the United Kingdom. Adoption of the Flag of Bermuda.
04 October, 1905
Orville Wright became the first to fly an aircraft for over 33 minutes.
04 October, 1895
The first U.S. Open Mens Golf Championship run by the United States Golf Association was played on a nine-hole course in Newport, Rhode Island.
04 October, 1883
First run of the Orient Express. First meeting of the Boys Brigade in Glasgow, Scotland.
04 October, 1853
Crimean War: The Ottoman Empire declares war on Russia.
04 October, 1830
Creation of the state of Belgium after separation from The Netherlands.
04 October, 1824
Mexico adopts a new constitution and becomes a federal republic.
04 October, 1795
Napoleon Bonaparte first rises to national prominence with a "Whiff of Grapeshot", using cannon to suppress armed counter-revolutionary rioters threatening the French Legislature (National Convention).
04 October, 1779
The Fort Wilson Riot takes place.
04 October, 1777
Battle of Germantown: Troops under George Washington are repelled by British troops under Sir William Howe
04 October, 1725
Foundation of Rosario in Argentina.
04 October, 1693
Battle of Marsaglia: Piedmontese troops are defeated by the French.
04 October, 1636
The Swedish Army defeates those of Saxony and Holy Roman Empire at the Battle of Wittstock.
04 October, 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.
04 October, 1537
The first complete English-language Bible (the Matthew Bible) is printed, with translations by William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale.
04 October, 1511
Formation of the Holy League of Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Papal States and the Republic of Venice against France.
04 October, 1227
Assassination of Caliph al-Adil.
04 October, 1209
Otto IV is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Innocent III.
04 October, 610
Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor.

Choose another day in history

January

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

February

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29

March

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

April

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

May

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

June

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

July

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

August

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

September

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

October

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

November

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

December

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

PaulsQuiz.com Exclusive: Free Questions in Your Inbox

Join the PaulsQuiz.com Facebook Group

Christmas Quizzes

Copyright © 2008 - Paul Abrook and Dave Small
RSS Feed RSS Feed | Free Quiz Questions | Pub Quiz Questions - at our Sister site