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On This Day in History — October 15
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Highlights of October 15
- 2018 — Thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs was kidnapped from her home in Barron, Wisconsin, and held captive for 88 days. Read more
- 2013 — A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Bohol in the Philippines, resulting in 222 deaths. Read more
- 2011 — Global demonstrations against economic inequality, corporate influence on government, and other issues, were held in more than 950 cities in 82 countries. Read more
- 2007 — New Zealand Police conducted several anti-terrorism raids in relation to the discovery of an alleged paramilitary training camp in the Urewera mountain ranges, arresting 17 people and seizing four guns and 230 rounds of ammunition. Read more
- 2006 — An earthquake registering 6.7 Mw occurred off the northwestern coast of the island of Hawaiʻi. Read more
- 1996 — The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau was established following the gangland murders of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and investigative journalist Veronica Guerin. Read more
- 1979 — President Carlos Humberto Romero of El Salvador was overthrown and exiled in a military coup d'état. Read more
- 1967 — The Motherland Calls (depicted in coat of arms), a colossal statue in Volgograd, Russia, which commemorates the casualties of the Battle of Stalingrad, was dedicated, becoming the then-tallest statue in the world. Read more
- 1965 — 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
- 1954 — Hurricane 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
- 1932 — Air India (modern aircraft pictured), the flag carrier airline of India, began operations under the name Tata Airlines. Read more
- 1888 — The "From Hell" letter, allegedly from Jack the Ripper, was sent to George Lusk, the chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee in London. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: Confederate forces captured Glasgow, Missouri, although it had little long-term benefit as Price's Missouri Expedition was defeated a week later. Read more
- 1815 — Napoleon began his exile on Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, which would encompass his final six years. Read more
- 1529 — Ottoman–Habsburg wars: The siege of Vienna ended with Austrian forces repelling the invading Turks, turning the tide against almost a century of conquest in Europe by the Ottoman Empire. Read more
Events
- 2018 — 13-year-old American girl, Jayme Closs, is kidnapped from her Barron, Wisconsin home after her parents were both murdered. Read more
- 2016 — One hundred and ninety-seven nations amend the Montreal Protocol to include a phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons. Read more
- 2013 — The 7.2 Mw Bohol earthquake strikes the Philippines. At least 215 were killed. Read more
- 2008 — The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes down 733.08 points, or 7.87%, the second worst percentage drop in the Dow's history. Read more
- 2007 — Seventeen activists in New Zealand are arrested in the country's first post-9/11 anti-terrorism raids. Read more
- 2006 — The 6.7 Mw Kiholo Bay earthquake rocks Hawaii, causing property damage, injuries, landslides, power outages, and the closure of Honolulu International Airport. Read more
- 2003 — China launches Shenzhou 5, its first crewed space mission. Read more
- 2001 — NASA's Galileo spacecraft passes within 112 miles (180 km) of Jupiter's moon Io. Read more
- 1997 — The Cassini probe launches from Cape Canaveral on its way to Saturn. Read more
- 1994 — The United States, under the Clinton administration, returns Haiti's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to the island. Read more
- 1991 — The "Oh-My-God particle", an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray measured at 40,000,000 times that of the highest energy protons produced in a particle accelerator, is observed at the University of Utah HiRes observatory in Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. Read more
- 1991 — The leaders of the Baltic States, Arnold Rüütel of Estonia, Anatolijs Gorbunovs of Latvia and Vytautas Landsbergis of Lithuania, signed the OSCE Final Act in Helsinki, Finland. Read more
- 1990 — Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and open up his nation. Read more
- 1989 — Wayne Gretzky becomes the all-time leading points scorer in the NHL. Read more
- 1987 — Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 460 crashes near Conca di Crezzo, Italy, killing all 37 people on board. Read more
- 1987 — A coup d'état in Burkina Faso overthrows and kills then President Thomas Sankara. Read more
- 1979 — Supporters of the Malta Labour Party ransack and destroy the Times of Malta building and other locations associated with the Nationalist Party. Read more
- 1979 — A coup d'état in El Salvador overthrows President Carlos Humberto Romero and begins the 12 year-long Salvadoran Civil War. Read more
- 1970 — During the construction of Australia's West Gate Bridge, a span of the bridge falls and kills 35 workers. The incident is the country's worst industrial accident to this day. Read more
- 1966 — The Black Panther Party is created by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Read more
- 1965 — 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
- 1956 — FORTRAN, the first modern computer language, is first shared with the coding community. Read more
- 1954 — Hurricane Hazel devastates the eastern seaboard of North America, killing 95 and causing massive floods as far north as Toronto. Read more
- 1951 — Mexican chemist Luis E. Miramontes completes the synthesis of norethisterone, the basis of an early oral contraceptive. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Germany replaces the Hungarian government after Hungary announces an armistice with the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1940 — President Lluís Companys of Catalonia is executed by the Francoist government. Read more
- 1939 — The New York Municipal Airport (later renamed LaGuardia Airport) is dedicated. Read more
- 1932 — Tata Airlines (later to become Air India) makes its first flight. Read more
- 1928 — The airship Graf Zeppelin completes its first trans-Atlantic flight, landing at Lakehurst, New Jersey, United States. Read more
- 1923 — The German Rentenmark is introduced in Germany to counter hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic. Read more
- 1910 — Airship America is launched from New Jersey in the first attempt to cross the Atlantic by a powered aircraft. Read more
- 1888 — The "From Hell" letter allegedly sent by Jack the Ripper is received by investigators. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: The Union garrison of Glasgow, Missouri surrenders to Confederate forces. Read more
- 1815 — Napoleon begins his exile on Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Read more
- 1793 — Queen Marie Antoinette of France is tried and convicted of treason. Read more
- 1783 — The Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon makes the first human ascent, piloted by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier. Read more
- 1781 — The Battle of Raft Swamp marks the last battle fought in North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War with a Patriot victory. It occurred four days before the British surrender at Yorktown. Read more
- 1651 — Qing forces capture the island of Zhoushan. Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, resident of the island and regent of the Southern Ming, flees to Kinmen. Read more
- 1582 — Adoption of the Gregorian calendar begins, eventually leading to near-universal adoption. Read more
- 1529 — The Siege of Vienna ends when Austria routs the invading Ottoman forces, ending its European expansion. Read more
- 1211 — Battle of the Rhyndacus: The Latin emperor Henry of Flanders defeats the Nicaean emperor Theodore I Laskaris. Read more
- 1066 — Following the death of Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, Edgar the Ætheling is proclaimed King of England by the Witan; he is never crowned, and concedes power to William the Conqueror two months later. Read more
- 961 — Al-Hakam II becomes caliph of Cordoba upon the death of his father Abd al-Rahman III. Read more
Born on October 15
- 2005 — Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark Read more
- 2000 — Melki Sedek Huang, Indonesian activist and sex offender Read more
- 1999 — Bailee Madison, American-Canadian actress and singer Read more
- 1999 — Ben Woodburn, Welsh footballer Read more
- 1998 — Teuku Wariza Aris Munandar, Indonesian activist and politician Read more
- 1996 — Charly Musonda, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Grace Van Dien, American actress Read more
- 1996 — Zelo, South Korean rapper and dancer Read more
- 1995 — Jack Flaherty, American baseball player Read more
- 1995 — Jakob Pöltl, Austrian basketball player Read more
- 1994 — Lil' Kleine, Dutch rapper Read more
- 1994 — Babar Azam, Pakistani cricket player Read more
- 1993 — Richaun Holmes, American basketball player Read more
- 1993 — Roh Tae-hyun, South Korean singer and dancer Read more
- 1992 — Ncuti Gatwa, Rwandan-Scottish actor Read more
- 1992 — Teoscar Hernández, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1992 — Vincent Martella, American actor Read more
- 1991 — Brock Nelson, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1990 — Jeon Ji-yoon, South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer Read more
- 1989 — Blaine Gabbert, American football player Read more
- 1989 — Anthony Joshua, British professional boxer Read more
- 1988 — Dominique Jones, American basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Mesut Özil, German footballer Read more
- 1987 — Ott Tänak, Estonian racing driver Read more
- 1986 — Lee Donghae, South Korean singer-songwriter Read more
- 1986 — Carlo Janka, Swiss skier Read more
- 1986 — Nolito, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1985 — Arron Afflalo, American basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Izale McLeod, English footballer Read more
- 1984 — Jessie Ware, English singer-songwriter Read more
- 1983 — Stephy Tang, Hong Kong singer Read more
- 1983 — Bruno Senna, Brazilian race car driver Read more
- 1982 — Charline Labonté, French Canadian ice hockey goaltender (Canadian team) Read more
- 1981 — Keyshia Cole, American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1981 — Elena Dementieva, Russian tennis player Read more
- 1980 — Tom Boonen, Belgian cyclist Read more
- 1979 — Bohemia, Pakistani-American rapper and producer Read more
- 1979 — Paul Robinson, English footballer Read more
- 1979 — Jaci Velasquez, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1979 — Māris Verpakovskis, Latvian footballer Read more
Died on October 15
- 2025 — Jim Bolger, New Zealand businessman and politician, 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand (born 1935) Read more
- 2024 — Mike Jackson, English general (born 1944) Read more
- 2021 — David Amess, British politician, member of Parliament for Southend West (born 1952) Read more
- 2018 — Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, philanthropist, owner of the Seattle Seahawks (born 1953) Read more
- 2017 — Chinggoy Alonzo, Filipino theater, movie & television actor (born 1950) Read more
- 2017 — Deng Ken, Chinese politician, younger brother of former Paramount leader of China Deng Xiaoping (born 1911) Read more
- 2014 — Giovanni Reale, Italian philosopher and historian (born 1931) Read more
- 2013 — Donald Bailey, American drummer (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — Claude Cheysson, French lieutenant and politician, French Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1920) Read more
- 2012 — Erol Günaydın, Turkish actor and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — Maria Petrou, Greek-English computer scientist and academic (born 1953) Read more
- 2012 — Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodian politician, 1st Prime Minister of Cambodia (born 1922) Read more
- 2011 — Betty Driver, English actress, singer, and author (born 1920) Read more
- 2010 — Richard C. Miller, American photographer (born 1912) Read more
- 2010 — Mildred Fay Jefferson, American physician and activist (born 1926) Read more
- 2010 — Johnny Sheffield, American actor (born 1931) Read more
- 2009 — Heinz Versteeg, Dutch-German footballer (born 1939) Read more
- 2008 — Edie Adams, American actress and singer (born 1927) Read more
- 2008 — Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca, Turkish soldier and poet (born 1914) Read more
- 2008 — Jack Narz, American game show host and announcer (born 1922) Read more
- 2007 — Piet Boukema, Dutch jurist and politician (born 1933) Read more
- 2005 — Jason Collier, American basketball player (born 1977) Read more
- 2005 — Matti Wuori, Finnish lawyer and politician (born 1945) Read more
- 2004 — Per Højholt, Danish poet (born 1928) Read more
- 2003 — Ben Metcalfe, Canadian journalist and activist (born 1919) Read more
- 2001 — Zhang Xueliang, Chinese general and warlord (born 1901) Read more
- 2000 — Konrad Emil Bloch, Polish-American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1912) Read more
- 2000 — Vincent Canby, American journalist and critic (born 1924) Read more
- 1999 — Josef Locke, British-Irish soldier, policeman, tenor and actor (born 1917) Read more
- 1995 — Bengt Åkerblom, Swedish ice hockey player (born 1967) Read more
- 1995 — Marco Campos, Brazilian racing driver, only driver ever killed in the International Formula 3000 series (born 1976) Read more
- 1994 — Sarah Kofman, French philosopher and academic (born 1934) Read more
- 1993 — Aydın Sayılı, Turkish historian and academic (born 1913) Read more
- 1990 — Delphine Seyrig, French actress and director (born 1932) Read more
- 1989 — Danilo Kiš, Serbian novelist, short story writer, essayist and translator. (born 1935) Read more
- 1988 — Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, English composer, music critic, pianist and writer (born 1892) Read more
- 1987 — Thomas Sankara, Burkinabe captain and politician, 5th President of Burkina Faso (born 1949) Read more
- 1987 — Donald Wandrei, American author and poet (born 1908) Read more
- 1983 — Pat O'Brien, American actor (born 1899) Read more
- 1980 — Mikhail Lavrentyev, Russian physicist and mathematician (born 1900) Read more
Holidays & observances
Breast Health Day (Europe); Christian feast day:
Gundisalvus of Lagos; Christian feast day:
Magdalene of Nagasaki; Christian feast day:
Teresa of Ávila; Christian feast day:
Thecla of Kitzingen; Christian feast day:
October 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (United States); Shwmae Su'mae Day (Wales); White Cane Safety Day; World Students' Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 15”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.