On This Day — 13 October

2019

Kenyan Brigid Kosgei sets a new world record for a woman runner with a time of 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

Brigid Kosgei

2016

The Maldives announces its decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations.

Maldives

2013

A stampede occurs in India during the Hindu festival Navratri, killing 115 and injuring more than 110.

2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede

2010

The mining accident in Copiapó, Chile ends as all 33 trapped miners arrive at the surface after a record 69 days underground.

2010 Copiapó mining accident

1993

At least 60 people die in eastern Papua New Guinea when a series of earthquakes rock the Finisterre Range, triggering massive landslides.

1993 Finisterre earthquakes

1990

Syrian forces attack free areas of Lebanon, removing General Michel Aoun from the presidential palace.

Michel Aoun

1983

Ameritech Mobile Communications launches the first US cellular network in Chicago.

Ameritech Cellular

1977

Hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 181 by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Lufthansa Flight 181

1976

The first electron micrograph of an Ebola virus is taken at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Dr. F. A. Murphy.

Micrograph

1976

A Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano Boeing 707 crashes after takeoff from El Trompillo Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, killing 91.

Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano

1972

Aeroflot Flight 217 crashes outside Moscow, killing 174.

Aeroflot Flight 217

1972

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes mountains. Twenty-eight survive the crash. All but 16 succumb before rescue on December 23.

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571

1972

The flag of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, was officially adopted.

Flag of Okinawa Prefecture

1962

The Pacific Northwest experiences a cyclone the equal of a Category 3 hurricane, with winds above 150 mph. Forty-six people die.

Columbus Day storm of 1962

1946

France adopts the constitution of the Fourth Republic.

October 1946 French constitutional referendum

1944

World War II: The Soviet Riga Offensive captures the city.

Riga offensive (1944)

1943

World War II: Marshal Pietro Badoglio announces that Italy has officially declared war on Germany.

Pietro Badoglio

1923

Ankara becomes the capital of Turkey.

Ankara

1921

Soviet republics sign the Treaty of Kars to formalize the borders between Turkey and the South Caucasus states.

Treaty of Kars

1917

The "Miracle of the Sun" is witnessed by an estimated 70,000 people in the Cova da Iria in Portugal.

Miracle of the Sun

1915

First World War: The Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt marks the end of the Battle of Loos.

Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt

1911

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, becomes the first Governor General of Canada of royal descent.

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

1908

Margaret Travers Symons bursts into the UK parliament and becomes the first woman to speak there.

Margaret Travers Symons

1903

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

1903 World Series

1892

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

206P/Barnard–Boattini

1885

The Georgia Institute of Technology is founded in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia Tech

1881

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

Revival of the Hebrew language

1843

In New York City, B'nai B'rith, the oldest Jewish service organization in the world, is founded.

B'nai B'rith

1821

The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is publicly proclaimed.

Declaration of Independence (Mexico)

1812

War of 1812: Sir Isaac Brock's British and native forces repel an invasion of Canada by General Rensselaer's United States forces.

Battle of Queenston Heights

1793

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

First Battle of Wissembourg

1792

In Washington, D.C., the cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion (known as the White House since 1818) is laid.

White House

1775

The Continental Congress establishes the Continental Navy (predecessor of the United States Navy).

Continental Navy

1710

Port Royal, the capital of French Acadia, falls in a siege by British forces.

Siege of Port Royal (1710)

1644

A Swedish–Dutch fleet defeats the Danish fleet at Fehmarn and captures about 1,000 prisoners.

Battle of Fehmarn (1644)

1399

Coronation of Henry IV of England at Westminster Abbey.

Henry IV of England

1332

Rinchinbal Khan becomes the Khagan of the Mongols and Emperor of the Yuan dynasty, reigning for only 53 days.

Rinchinbal Khan

1307

Hundreds of the Knights Templar in France are arrested at dawn by King Philip the Fair, and later confess under torture to heresy.

Knights Templar

1269

The present church building at Westminster Abbey is consecrated.

Westminster Abbey

409

Vandals and Alans cross the Pyrenees and appear in Hispania.

Vandals

54

Roman emperor Claudius dies from poisoning under mysterious circumstances. He is succeeded by his adopted son Nero, rather than by Britannicus, his son with Messalina.

AD 54