On This Day in History

October 13

Historical Events

54 Nero succeeds Claudius as Roman Emperor

1307 French King Philip IV has Grand Master Jacques de Molay and Knights Templar arrested and charged with idolatry and corruption

1884 International Meridian Conference in Washington DC establishes Greenwich in London, England as the universal time meridian of longitude

1924 Mecca falls without struggle to Saudi forces led by Abdulaziz Ibn Saud

1943 Italy declares war on former Axis partner Germany

1944 US 1st army begins battle of Aachen, first German city captured during World War II

A miner kneels to pray after being rescued from the San Jose mine in Copiapó

2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile comes to a happy end as all 33 miners arrive at the surface after surviving a record 69 days underground

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Famous Birthdays

Jane Grey 1537 - 1554 Margaret Thatcher 1925 - 2013

Paul Simon 83rd Birthday Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 35th Birthday

Also Jerry Rice (62) and Sacha Baron Cohen (53).

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Famous Deaths

Isaac Brock 1769 - 1812 Milton S. Hershey 1857 - 1945

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Question that Wrecked Sir Henry Irving’s Marriage

Sir Henry Irving, considered the greatest actor of his time, died on this day. His unexpected death shocked and saddened England and fans around the world.