On This Day in History — October 5

Highlights of October 5

• 2014 — Formula One racing driver Jules Bianchi crashed at the Japanese Grand Prix, sustaining fatal head injuries that would kill him the following year. Read more
• 2011 — Two Chinese cargo ships were attacked and their crews murdered on a stretch of the Mekong River in far northern Thailand. Read more
• 2000 — Colour revolutions: During protests over irregularities in the Yugoslavian general election, a wheel-loader was driven into the Radio Television of Serbia building, giving the protests the nickname "Bulldozer Revolution". Read more
• 1999 — Two trains collided head-on in Ladbroke Grove, London, killing 31 people, injuring 417, and severely damaging public confidence in the management and regulation of safety of Britain's privatised railway system. Read more
• 1994 — Swiss police found the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple, who had died in a cult mass murder-suicide. Read more
• 1988 — During the United States vice-presidential debate, Democratic candidate Lloyd Bentsen told his opponent Dan Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Read more
• 1986 — Eugene Hasenfus's plane was shot down by Nicaraguan forces while carrying weapons to the Contra rebels on behalf of the U.S. government; he was subsequently captured, leading to an international controversy. Read more
• 1963 — The U.S. suspended the Commercial Import Program, its main economic support for South Vietnam, in response to the oppression of Buddhists by President Ngô Đình Diệm (pictured). Read more
• 1962 — "Love Me Do", the first single by the Beatles, was released in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1962 — Dr. No, the first James Bond film, was released. Read more
• 1937 — Six days after retiring from the Queen's College, Oxford, Robert Howard Hodgkin was elected its provost due to the sudden death of B. H. Streeter. Read more
• 1936 — Around 200 men began a 291-mile (468 km) march from Jarrow to London, carrying a petition to the British government requesting the re-establishment of industry in the town. Read more
• 1903 — Samuel Griffith (pictured) became the first Chief Justice of Australia, while Edmund Barton and Richard O'Connor became the first Puisne Justices of the High Court of Australia. Read more
• 1869 — During construction of the Eastman tunnel in St. Anthony, Minnesota (now Minneapolis), the Mississippi River broke through the tunnel's limestone ceiling, nearly destroying Saint Anthony Falls. Read more
• 1838 — A Cherokee band attacked settlers near Larissa, Texas, killing or abducting 18 people. Read more
• 1789 — French Revolution: Upset about the high price and scarcity of bread, thousands of Parisian women and allies marched (pictured) on the Palace of Versailles. Read more
• 869 — The Fourth Council of Constantinople, the eighth Catholic Ecumenical Council, was convened to discuss the patriarchate of Photios I of Constantinople. Read more

Events

• 2021 — Windows 11 is released to the general public. Read more
• 2011 — In the Mekong River massacre, two Chinese cargo boats are hijacked and 13 crew members murdered. Read more
• 2000 — Mass demonstrations in Serbia force the resignation of Slobodan Milošević. Read more
• 1999 — The Ladbroke Grove rail crash in West London kills 31 people. Read more
• 1994 — Swiss police find the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple, who had died in a cult mass murder-suicide. Read more
• 1991 — An Indonesian Air Force C-130 crash kills 135 people. Read more
• 1990 — After 150 years The Herald newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, is published for the last time as a separate newspaper. Read more
• 1988 — A Chilean opposition coalition defeats Augusto Pinochet in his re-election attempt. Read more
• 1985 — Seven Israeli vacationers, including four children, are killed in a mass shooting at Ras Burqa in the Sinai Peninsula by an Egyptian soldier. Read more
• 1984 — Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space. Read more
• 1982 — Tylenol products are recalled after bottles in Chicago laced with cyanide cause seven deaths. Read more
• 1978 — Brother Eddie Villanueva and 15 others from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines begin the Jesus Is Lord Church. Read more
• 1974 — Bombs planted by the PIRA in pubs in Guildford kill four British soldiers and one civilian. Read more
• 1970 — The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is founded in the United States.[citation needed] Read more
• 1970 — The British Trade Commissioner, James Cross, is kidnapped by members of the Front de libération du Québec, triggering the October Crisis in Canada. Read more
• 1968 — A Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Derry is violently suppressed by police. Read more
• 1966 — A reactor at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station near Detroit suffers a partial meltdown. Read more
• 1963 — The United States suspends the Commercial Import Program in response to repression of the Buddhist majority by the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem. Read more
• 1962 — The first of the James Bond film series, based on the novels by Ian Fleming, Dr. No, is released in Britain. Read more
• 1962 — The first Beatles single "Love Me Do" is released in Britain. Read more
• 1947 — President Truman makes the first televised Oval Office address. Read more
• 1945 — A six-month strike by Hollywood set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of the Warner Brothers studio. Read more
• 1944 — The Provisional Government of the French Republic enfranchises women. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: Pacific Theater: Ninety-eight American POWs are executed by Japanese forces on Wake Island. Read more
• 1938 — Holocaust: In Nazi Germany, Jews' passports are invalidated. Read more
• 1936 — The Jarrow March sets off for London. Read more
• 1931 — Clyde Edward Pangborn and Hugh Herndon, Jr. make the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean in the plane Miss Veedol. Read more
• 1930 — British airship R101 crashes in France en route to India on its maiden voyage killing 48 people. Read more
• 1921 — The World Series is broadcast on radio for the first time. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: An aircraft successfully destroys another aircraft with gunfire for the first time. Read more
• 1911 — The Kowloon–Canton Railway commences service. Read more
• 1910 — In a revolution in Portugal the monarchy is overthrown and a republic is declared. Read more
• 1905 — The Wright brothers pilot the Wright Flyer III in a new world record flight of 24 miles in 39 minutes. Read more
• 1900 — Peace congress in Paris condemns British policy in South Africa and asserts Boer Republic's right to self-determination. Read more
• 1877 — The Nez Perce War in the northwestern United States comes to an end. Read more
• 1869 — The Saxby Gale devastates the Bay of Fundy region in Canada. Read more
• 1869 — The Eastman tunnel, in Minnesota, United States, collapses during construction, causing a landslide that nearly destroys St. Anthony Falls. Read more
• 1813 — War of 1812: The Army of the Northwest defeats a British and Native Canadian force threatening Detroit. Read more
• 1789 — French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles effectively terminates royal authority. Read more
• 1672 — Jan Sobieski, Grand Hetman of the Polish Crown, begins his successful military campaign against the Tartars following their rebellion and an invasion by the Ottoman Empire. Read more
• 1607 — Assassins attempt to kill Venetian statesman and scientist Paolo Sarpi. Read more
• 1465 — King Louis XI of France is forced to sign the treaty of Conflans. Read more
• 1450 — Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria expels Jews from his jurisdiction. Read more
• 1143 — With the signing of the Treaty of Zamora, King Alfonso VII of León and Castile recognises Portugal as a Kingdom. Read more
• 869 — The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to depose patriarch Photios I. Read more
• 816 — King Louis the Pious is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope. Read more
• 610 — Heraclius arrives at Constantinople, kills Byzantine Emperor Phocas, and becomes emperor. Read more

Born on October 5

• 2006 — Jacob Tremblay, Canadian actor Read more
• 1999 — Washington Sundar, Indian cricketer Read more
• 1998 — Exequiel Palacios, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1997 — Michael Hoecht, Canadian American football player Read more
• 1993 — Jewell Loyd, American basketball player Read more
• 1993 — Wakamotoharu Minato, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
• 1992 — Kevin Magnussen, Danish racing driver Read more
• 1992 — Cody Zeller, American basketball player Read more
• 1991 — Pär Lindholm, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 1991 — Tornike Shengelia, Georgian basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Nathan Peats, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1989 — Kelsey Adrian, Canadian basketball player Read more
• 1989 — Marcel Baude, German footballer Read more
• 1989 — Ify Ibekwe, American basketball player Read more
• 1989 — Travis Kelce, American football player Read more
• 1988 — Benny Howell, English cricketer Read more
• 1988 — Bahar Kızıl, German singer-songwriter Read more
• 1988 — Maja Salvador, Filipino actress, dancer, singer, and host Read more
• 1987 — Dillon Francis, American DJ and record producer Read more
• 1987 — Michael Grabner, Austrian ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Jesse Joensuu, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Kevin Mirallas, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Tim Ream, American soccer player Read more
• 1987 — Park So-yeon, South Korean singer, dancer, and actress Read more
• 1987 — Luigi Vitale, Italian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Brandan Wright, American basketball player Read more
• 1986 — Mladen Bartulović, Croatian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Tanner Roark, American baseball player Read more
• 1985 — Nicola Roberts, English singer-songwriter Read more
• 1985 — Brooke Valentine, American singer and songwriter Read more
• 1984 — Naima Adedapo, American singer and dancer Read more
• 1984 — Kenwyne Jones, Trinidadian footballer Read more
• 1984 — Nathalie Kelley, Peruvian-Australian actress Read more
• 1984 — Nate Thompson, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1984 — Angel Perkins, American sprinter Read more
• 1983 — Jesse Eisenberg, American actor and writer Read more
• 1983 — Nicky Hilton, American socialite, fashion designer, and model Read more
• 1983 — Florian Mayer, German tennis player Read more
• 1983 — Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladeshi cricketer Read more
• 1982 — Michael Roos, Estonian-American football player Read more

Died on October 5

• 2026 — Jeffrey Archer, English novelist and politician (born 1940) Read more
• 2024 — Robert Coover, American novelist (born 1932) Read more
• 2017 — Eberhard van der Laan, Dutch politician, mayor of Amsterdam (born 1955) Read more
• 2016 — Brock Yates, American journalist and author (born 1933) Read more
• 2015 — Chantal Akerman, Belgian-French actress, director, and producer (born 1950) Read more
• 2015 — Joker Arroyo, Filipino lawyer and politician (born 1927) Read more
• 2015 — Grace Lee Boggs, American philosopher, author, and activist (born 1915) Read more
• 2015 — Henning Mankell, Swedish author and playwright (born 1948) Read more
• 2014 — David Chavchavadze, English-American CIA officer and author (born 1924) Read more
• 2014 — Andrea de Cesaris, Italian racing driver (born 1959) Read more
• 2014 — Geoffrey Holder, Trinidadian-American actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer (born 1930) Read more
• 2014 — Yuri Lyubimov, Russian actor and director (born 1917) Read more
• 2013 — Ruth R. Benerito, American chemist and academic (born 1916) Read more
• 2013 — Carlo Lizzani, Italian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1922) Read more
• 2013 — Yakkun Sakurazuka, Japanese voice actress and singer (born 1976) Read more
• 2012 — Keith Campbell, English biologist and academic (born 1954) Read more
• 2012 — Vojin Dimitrijević, Croatian-Serbian lawyer and activist (born 1932) Read more
• 2012 — James W. Holley III, American dentist and politician (born 1926) Read more
• 2012 — Edvard Mirzoyan, Georgian-Armenian composer and educator (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Claude Pinoteau, French director and screenwriter (born 1925) Read more
• 2011 — Derrick Bell, American academic and scholar (born 1930) Read more
• 2011 — Bert Jansch, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1943) Read more
• 2011 — Steve Jobs, American businessman, co-founder of Apple Inc. (born 1955) Read more
• 2011 — Charles Napier, American actor and singer (born 1936) Read more
• 2011 — Fred Shuttlesworth, American activist, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (born 1922) Read more
• 2011 — Gökşin Sipahioğlu, Turkish photographer and journalist (born 1926) Read more
• 2010 — Bernard Clavel, French journalist and author (born 1923) Read more
• 2010 — Mary Leona Gage, American model and actress, Miss USA 1957 (born 1939) Read more
• 2010 — Steve Lee, Swiss singer-songwriter (born 1963) Read more
• 2006 — Antonio Peña, Mexican wrestling promoter, founded Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (born 1953) Read more
• 2004 — Rodney Dangerfield, American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
• 2004 — William H. Dobelle, American biologist and academic (born 1941) Read more
• 2004 — Maurice Wilkins, New Zealand-English physicist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1916) Read more
• 2003 — Dan Snyder, Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 1978) Read more
• 2003 — Timothy Treadwell, American environmentalist, director, and producer (born 1957) Read more
• 2002 — Chuck Rayner, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1920) Read more
• 2001 — Mike Mansfield, American soldier, politician, and diplomat, 22nd United States Ambassador to Japan (born 1903) Read more
• 2000 — Johanna Döbereiner, Brazilian agronomist (born 1924) Read more
• 2000 — Cătălin Hîldan, Romanian footballer (born 1976) Read more
• 1997 — Brian Pillman, American football player and wrestler (born 1962) Read more

Holidays & observances

World Space Week (October 4–10); Armed Forces Day (Indonesia); Christian feast day: Anna Schäffer; Christian feast day: Charitina of Amisus; Christian feast day: Faustina Kowalska; Christian feast day: Flora of Beaulieu; Christian feast day: Bartolo Longo; Christian feast day: Hor and Susia (Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria); Christian feast day: Placid and Maurus; Christian feast day: Placidus (martyr); Christian feast day: Blessed William Hartley; Christian feast day: October 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (Vanuatu); Engineer's Day (Bolivia); International Day of No Prostitution; Republic Day (Portugal); Teachers' Day (Pakistan); Teachers' Day (Russia); World Teachers' Day

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