Home › Almanac › On This Day

On This Day in History — October 29

‹ October 28 The Almanac October 30 ›

Jump to a date

Highlights of October 29

2013 — The first phase of the Marmaray project opened with an undersea rail tunnel (train pictured) across the Bosphorus strait. Read more
2012 — Hurricane Sandy, the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, made landfall in New Jersey and caused nearly $75 billion in damages, becoming the second-most destructive storm in U.S. history. Read more
2007 — Somali pirates hijacked a North Korean ship in the Indian Ocean northeast of Mogadishu. Read more
1999 — About 10,000 people died when the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean made landfall in the Indian state of Odisha near Bhubaneswar. Read more
1998 — At 77 years old, former astronaut John Glenn (pictured) returned to space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-95 mission. Read more
1991 — Galileo became the first spacecraft to visit an asteroid when it made a flyby of 951 Gaspra. Read more
1986 — British prime minister Margaret Thatcher officially opened the M25, one of Britain's busiest motorways. Read more
1966 — Singaporean leftist opposition leader Chia Thye Poh was detained under the Internal Security Act, which allows for preventive detention, and held for 32 years. Read more
1960 — A C-46 airliner carrying the Cal Poly Mustangs football team crashed during takeoff from Toledo Express Airport in Ohio, U.S., resulting in 22 deaths. Read more
1956 — Israeli Border Police massacred 48 Arab citizens of Kafr Qasim, among them women and children who were returning from work. Read more
1956 — Following the nationalisation of the Egypt's Suez Canal, Israel, France, and the United Kingdom invaded the Sinai Peninsula. Read more
1955 — An explosion, likely caused by a World War II–era naval mine, capsized the Soviet ship Novorossiysk in the harbor of Sevastopol, with the loss of 608 men. Read more
1948 — Arab–Israeli War: The Israel Defense Forces massacred at least 52 villagers while capturing the Palestinian Arab village of Safsaf. Read more
1883 — The San Francisco Mint signed a contract to produce the Kalākaua coinage (coin pictured) for the Hawaiian Kingdom. Read more
1868 — The Nanbu clan of Honshu surrendered to imperial forces during the Boshin War. Read more
1863 — American Civil War: The Battle of Wauhatchie, one of the few night battles of the war, concluded with the Union Army opening a supply line to troops in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Read more
1831 — Rioting broke out in Bristol, England, after the Second Reform Bill failed to pass parliament, causing 250 casualties and £300,000 of damage (pictured). Read more
1792 — William Robert Broughton, a member of George Vancouver's expedition, observed a peak in the present-day U.S. state of Oregon and named it Mount Hood after British admiral Samuel Hood. Read more

Events

2022 — At least 156 die at a crowd crush during a Halloween celebration in Itaewon district, Seoul, South Korea. Read more
2022 — At least 100 people are killed and over 300 are injured by a double car bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia. Read more
2020 — Jeremy Corbyn, former Leader of the Labour Party and of the Opposition in the United Kingdom is suspended from the Labour Party following his response to findings from the EHRC on the issue of antisemitism within the party. Read more
2018 — Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX, crashes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia killing 189 people on board. This is the first of two crashes that will lead to the plane being grounded worldwide. Read more
2015 — China announces the end of its one-child policy after 35 years. Read more
2014 — A mud slide; the 2014 Badulla landslide, in south-central Sri Lanka, kills at least 16 people, and leaves hundreds of people missing. Read more
2012 — Hurricane Sandy hits the east coast of the United States, killing hundreds, while leaving nearly $70 billion in damages and causing major power outages. Read more
2008 — Delta Air Lines merges with Northwest Airlines, creating the world's largest airline and reducing the number of US legacy carriers to five. Read more
2008 — A pair of deadly earthquakes hits Baluchistan, Pakistan, killing 215. Read more
2006 — ADC Airlines Flight 053 crashes after takeoff from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria killing 96 people and injuring nine. Read more
2005 — Bombings in Delhi, India kill 67 and injure over 200 people. Read more
2004 — The Arabic-language news network Al Jazeera broadcasts an excerpt from a 2004 Osama bin Laden video in which the terrorist leader first admits direct responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks and references the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Read more
2002 — A fire destroys a luxurious department store in Ho Chi Minh City, where 1,500 people are shopping. More than 60 people die and over 100 are unaccounted for in the deadliest peacetime disaster in Vietnam. Read more
1999 — A large cyclone devastates Odisha, India. Read more
1998 — In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presents its report, which condemns both sides for committing atrocities. Read more
1998 — Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off on STS-95 with 77-year-old John Glenn on board, making him the oldest person to go into space at that time. Read more
1998 — ATSC HDTV broadcasting in the United States is inaugurated with live coverage of the launch of the STS-95 space shuttle mission. Read more
1998 — Hurricane Mitch, the second deadliest Atlantic hurricane in history, makes landfall in Honduras. Read more
1998 — The Gothenburg discothèque fire in Sweden kills 63 and injures over 200. Read more
1994 — Francisco Martin Duran fires over two dozen shots at the White House; he is later convicted of trying to kill U.S. President Bill Clinton. Read more
1991 — The American Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to 951 Gaspra, becoming the first probe to visit an asteroid. Read more
1986 — British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opens the last stretch of the M25 motorway. Read more
1985 — Major General Samuel K. Doe is announced as the winner of the first multi-party election in Liberia. Read more
1980 — Demonstration flight of a secretly modified C-130 for an Iran hostage crisis rescue attempt ends in a crash landing at Eglin Air Force Base's Duke Field, Florida, leading to the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport. Read more
1972 — The three surviving perpetrators of the Munich massacre are released from prison in exchange for the hostages of the hijacked Lufthansa Flight 615. Read more
1969 — The first-ever computer-to-computer link is established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet. Read more
1967 — Montreal's World Fair, Expo 67, closes with over 50 million visitors. Read more
1964 — The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar is renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania. Read more
1964 — Biggest jewel heist in American history when Murph the Surf and gang burgle the American Museum of Natural History stealing the Star of India and other gems. Read more
1960 — An airplane carrying the Cal Poly football team crashes on takeoff in Toledo, Ohio. Read more
1957 — Israel's prime minister David Ben-Gurion and five of his ministers are injured when Moshe Dwek throws a grenade into the Knesset. Read more
1956 — Suez Crisis begins: Israeli forces invade the Sinai Peninsula and push Egyptian forces back toward the Suez Canal. Read more
1955 — The Soviet battleship Novorossiysk sinks after probably striking a World War II mine in the harbor at Sevastopol, with a loss of more than 600 sailers. Read more
1953 — BCPA Flight 304, a DC-6, crashes near San Francisco. Read more
1948 — Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Safsaf massacre: Israeli soldiers capture the Palestinian village of Safsaf in the Galilee; afterwards, between 52 and 64 villagers are massacred by the IDF. Read more
1944 — World War II: The Dutch city of Breda is liberated by 1st Polish Armoured Division. Read more
1944 — World War II: The Soviet Red Army enters Hungary. Read more
1941 — The Holocaust: In the Kaunas Ghetto, over 10,000 Jews are shot by German occupiers at the Ninth Fort, a massacre known as the "Great Action". Read more
1929 — Black Tuesday: The New York Stock Exchange crashes, ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s and eventually contributing to the Great Depression. Read more
1923 — Turkey becomes a republic following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Read more
1918 — World War I: the German High Seas Fleet is incapacitated when sailors mutiny, an action which would trigger the German Revolution of 1918–19. Read more
1914 — World War I : the Ottoman Empire enters the war on the side of the Central Powers. Read more
1888 — The Convention of Constantinople is signed, guaranteeing free maritime passage through the Suez Canal during war and peace. Read more
1863 — Eighteen countries meet in Geneva and agree to form the International Red Cross. Read more
1863 — American Civil War: Battle of Wauhatchie: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant repel a Confederate attack led by General James Longstreet in one of the few night battles of the war, protecting the Union's recently opened supply line into Chattanooga, Tennessee. Read more
1792 — Mount Hood (Oregon) is named after Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood by Lt. William E. Broughton who sighted the mountain near the mouth of the Willamette River. Read more
1675 — Leibniz makes the first use of the long s (∫) as a symbol of the integral in calculus. Read more
1665 — Portuguese forces defeat the Kingdom of Kongo and decapitate King António I of Kongo, also known as Nvita a Nkanga. Read more
1658 — Second Northern War: Naval forces of the Dutch Republic defeat the Swedes in the Battle of the Sound. Read more
1621 — The London Pageant of 1621 celebrates the inauguration of Edward Barkham (Lord Mayor). Read more
1611 — Russian homage to the King of Poland, Sigismund III Vasa. Read more
1467 — Battle of Brustem: Charles the Bold defeats Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Read more
1390 — First trial for witchcraft in Paris leading to the death of three people. Read more
437 — Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople unifying the two branches of the House of Theodosius. Read more
312 — Constantine the Great enters Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, stages a grand adventus in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber and beheaded. Read more

Born on October 29

1998 — Lance Stroll, Canadian racing driver Read more
1996 — Vince Dunn, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1996 — Mikko Rantanen, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
1996 — Astrid S, Norwegian singer and songwriter Read more
1994 — Danielle Hunter, American football player Read more
1993 — Ágnes Bukta, Hungarian tennis player Read more
1993 — India Eisley, American actress Read more
1992 — Evan Fournier, French basketball player Read more
1992 — Colin Miller, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1991 — Parris Goebel, New Zealand dancer and choreographer Read more
1991 — Nikita Zaitsev, Russian ice hockey player Read more
1990 — Ender Inciarte, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
1990 — Ben Proudfoot, Canadian filmmaker Read more
1990 — Eric Saade, Swedish singer Read more
1989 — Irina Karamanos, Chilean anthropologist and political scientist, First Lady of Chile Read more
1989 — Primož Roglič, Slovenian ski jumper and cyclist Read more
1988 — Janoris Jenkins, American football player Read more
1987 — Andy Dalton, American football player Read more
1987 — Jessica Dubé, Canadian figure skater Read more
1987 — Tove Lo, Swedish singer Read more
1987 — Makoto Ogawa, Japanese singer and actress Read more
1986 — Italia Ricci, Canadian actress Read more
1985 — Cal Crutchlow, English motorcycle racer Read more
1985 — Ximena Sariñana, Mexican singer-songwriter and actress Read more
1985 — Vijender Singh, Indian boxer Read more
1984 — Chris Baio, American bass player Read more
1984 — Lee Chung-ah, South Korean actress Read more
1984 — Eric Staal, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1983 — Richard Brancatisano, Australian actor Read more
1983 — Maurice Clarett, American football player Read more
1983 — Freddy Eastwood, Welsh footballer Read more
1983 — Jérémy Mathieu, French footballer Read more
1983 — Nurcan Taylan, Turkish weightlifter Read more
1982 — Ariel Lin, Taiwanese actress and singer Read more
1982 — Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian revolutionary and military leader, President of Syria Read more
1981 — Amanda Beard, American swimmer Read more
1981 — Jonathan Brown, Australian footballer Read more
1981 — Angelika dela Cruz, Filipino actress and singer Read more
1980 — Ben Foster, American actor Read more
1980 — Kaine Robertson, New Zealand-Italian rugby player Read more

Died on October 29

2024 — Teri Garr, American actress and comedian (born 1944) Read more
2023 — Hiroshi Morie, Japanese musician and singer-songwriter (born 1968) Read more
2021 — Ashley Mallett, Australian cricketer (born 1945) Read more
2020 — Angelika Amon, Austrian-American molecular and cell biologist (born 1967) Read more
2019 — John Witherspoon, American actor and comedian (born 1942) Read more
2015 — Luther Burden, American basketball player and coach (born 1953) Read more
2015 — Ernesto Herrera, Filipino businessman and politician (born 1942) Read more
2015 — Boris Kristančič, Slovene basketball player and coach (born 1931) Read more
2015 — Ranko Žeravica, Serbian basketball player and coach (born 1929) Read more
2014 — Roger Freeman, American lawyer and politician (born 1965) Read more
2014 — Klas Ingesson, Swedish footballer and manager (born 1968) Read more
2014 — H. Gary Morse, American businessman (born 1936) Read more
2013 — Jean Rénald Clérismé, Haitian priest and politician, Foreign Minister of Haiti (born 1937) Read more
2013 — Sherman Halsey, American director and producer (born 1957) Read more
2013 — John Spence, American soldier and engineer (born 1918) Read more
2013 — Graham Stark, English actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1922) Read more
2012 — Letitia Baldrige, American etiquette expert and author (born 1926) Read more
2012 — J. Bernlef, Dutch author, poet, and songwriter (born 1937) Read more
2012 — Kenneth G. Ryder, American academic (born 1924) Read more
2012 — Wallace L. W. Sargent, English-American astronomer and academic (born 1935) Read more
2012 — Jack Vaughn, American boxer and diplomat (born 1920) Read more
2011 — Jimmy Savile, English radio and television host (born 1926) Read more
2008 — Mike Baker, American singer-songwriter (born 1963) Read more
2005 — Lloyd Bochner, Canadian-American actor (born 1924) Read more
2005 — Ion Irimescu, Romanian sculptor and illustrator (born 1903) Read more
2004 — Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (born 1901) Read more
2004 — Admire Vega, Japanese thoroughbred horse (born 1966) Read more
2004 — Ordal Demokan, Turkish physicist and academic (born 1946) Read more
2004 — Edward Oliver LeBlanc, Dominican lawyer and politician, Premier of Dominica (born 1923) Read more
2004 — Peter Twinn, English mathematician and entomologist (born 1916) Read more
2003 — Hal Clement, American pilot, author, and educator (born 1922) Read more
2003 — Franco Corelli, Italian tenor and actor (born 1921) Read more
2002 — Glenn McQueen, Canadian-American animator (born 1960) Read more
2000 — Carlos Guastavino, Argentinian pianist and composer (born 1912) Read more
1999 — Greg, Belgian author and illustrator (born 1931) Read more
1998 — Paul Misraki, Turkish-French pianist and composer (born 1908) Read more
1997 — Anton LaVey, American occultist, founded the Church of Satan (born 1930) Read more
1997 — Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos, Greek-American astronomer and astrophysicist (born 1947) Read more
1996 — Eugen Kapp, Estonian composer and educator (born 1908) Read more
1995 — Terry Southern, American novelist, essayist, screenwriter (born 1924) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Abraham of Rostov; Christian feast day: Blessed Chiara Badano; Christian feast day: Colman mac Duagh; Christian feast day: Douai Martyrs; Christian feast day: Gaetano Errico; Christian feast day: James Hannington (Anglicanism); Christian feast day: Michele Rua; Christian feast day: Narcissus of Jerusalem; Christian feast day: Theuderius; Christian feast day: October 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Coronation Day (Cambodia); National Cat Day (United States); Republic Day (Turkey) or Cumhuriyet Bayramı

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & Sunset Star Transit Moon & Planting Calendars Ancient Measures

Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 29”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.