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On This Day in History — October 6
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Highlights of October 6
- 2008 — The MESSENGER probe discovered Mercury's Rembrandt (pictured) – the second largest impact crater on the planet. Read more
- 2002 — Al-Qaeda bombed the oil tanker Limburg, causing oil to leak into the Gulf of Aden. Read more
- 2000 — Denouncing corruption in Argentine president Fernando de la Rúa's administration and the Senate, Vice President Carlos Álvarez resigned. Read more
- 1998 — Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was attacked and fatally wounded near Laramie, Wyoming, U.S., dying six days later. Read more
- 1995 — Astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz reported the discovery of a planet orbiting 51 Pegasi as the first known exoplanet around a main-sequence star. Read more
- 1989 — About 200 members of the San Francisco Police Department instigated a police riot in the Castro following a peaceful protest held by the political group ACT UP. Read more
- 1985 — Police constable Keith Blakelock was killed during rioting in the Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham, London. Read more
- 1981 — Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (pictured) was assassinated while attending a parade in Cairo to mark the eighth anniversary of the Crossing of the Bar Lev Line at the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Read more
- 1976 — Two bombs placed by the CIA-linked Cuban dissident group Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations exploded on Cubana Flight 455, killing all 73 people aboard. Read more
- 1973 — The Egyptian Armed Forces crossed the Suez Canal (pictured) to attack occupying Israeli forces at the Bar Lev Line in the Sinai Peninsula, beginning the Yom Kippur War. Read more
- 1973 — The Egyptian Armed Forces crossed the Suez Canal (pictured) to attack occupying Israel Defense Forces at the Bar Lev Line in the Sinai Peninsula, beginning the Yom Kippur War. Read more
- 1934 — Catalonia's autonomous government, led by Lluís Companys (pictured), declared a general strike, an armed insurgency, and the establishment of the Catalan State in reaction to the inclusion of conservatives in the Spanish republican regime. Read more
- 1927 — The Jazz Singer, one of the first feature-length motion pictures with a synchronized recorded music score, was released. Read more
- 1908 — Austria-Hungary announced the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, causing a crisis that permanently damaged the country's relations with the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Serbia. Read more
- 1777 — American Revolutionary War: Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery were captured by British forces under Sir Henry Clinton, dismantling the Hudson River Chains. Read more
- 1762 — Seven Years' War: The Battle of Manila concluded with a British victory over Spain, leading to an eighteen-month occupation. Read more
- 618 — Transition from Sui to Tang: Wang Shichong's army defeated Li Mi's forces at the Battle of Yanshi, allowing Wang to consolidate power and soon depose China's Sui dynasty. Read more
Events
- 2025 — The 2025 Alberta teachers' strike begins, leaving approximately 51,000 teachers off-work, impacting about 730,000 Albertan students. Read more
- 2022 — Annie Ernaux is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Read more
- 2018 — The United States Senate confirms Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court Associate Justice, ending a contentious confirmation process. Read more
- 2010 — Instagram, a mainstream photo-sharing application, is founded. Read more
- 2007 — Jason Lewis completes the first human-powered circumnavigation of the Earth. Read more
- 1995 — The first planet orbiting another sun, 51 Pegasi b, is discovered. Read more
- 1990 — Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-41, and deploys the Ulysses space probe to study the Sun's polar regions. Read more
- 1987 — Fiji becomes a republic. Read more
- 1985 — Police constable Keith Blakelock is murdered as riots erupt in the Broadwater Farm suburb of London. Read more
- 1981 — Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is murdered by Islamic extremists. Read more
- 1981 — NLM CityHopper Flight 431 crashes in Moerdijk after taking off from Rotterdam The Hague Airport in the Netherlands, killing all 17 people on board. Read more
- 1979 — Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit the White House. Read more
- 1977 — The first prototype of the Mikoyan MiG-29, designated 9-01, makes its maiden flight. Read more
- 1976 — Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 is destroyed by two bombs, placed on board by an anti-Castro militant group. Read more
- 1976 — Premier Hua Guofeng arrests the Gang of Four, ending the Cultural Revolution in China. Read more
- 1976 — Dozens are killed by Thai police and right-wing paramilitaries in the Thammasat University massacre; afterwards, the Seni Pramoj government is toppled in a military coup led by Sangad Chaloryu. Read more
- 1973 — Egypt and Syria launch coordinated attacks against Israel, beginning the Yom Kippur War. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Units of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps enter Czechoslovakia during the Battle of the Dukla Pass. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Thirteen civilians are burnt alive by a paramilitary group in Crete during the Nazi occupation of Greece. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: American troops force the Japanese from their positions east of the Matanikau River during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Read more
- 1939 — World War II: The Battle of Kock is the final combat of the September Campaign in Poland. Read more
- 1934 — Revolution of 1934: The President of the autonomous government of Catalonia, Lluís Companys, proclaims the Catalan State with the support of the Worker's Alliance. Read more
- 1927 — Opening of The Jazz Singer, the first prominent "talkie" movie. Read more
- 1923 — The Turkish National Movement enters Constantinople. Read more
- 1920 — Ukrainian War of Independence: The Starobilsk agreement is signed by representatives of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Makhnovshchina. Read more
- 1915 — World War I: Combined Austro-Hungarian and German Central Powers, reinforced by the recently joined Bulgaria, launch a new offensive against Serbia under command of August von Mackensen. Read more
- 1915 — World War I: Entente forces land in Thessaloniki, to open the Macedonian front against the Central Powers. Read more
- 1910 — Eleftherios Venizelos is elected Prime Minister of Greece for the first of seven times. Read more
- 1908 — The Bosnian crisis erupts when Austria-Hungary formally annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read more
- 1903 — The High Court of Australia sits for the first time. Read more
- 1898 — Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the largest American music fraternity, is founded at the New England Conservatory of Music. Read more
- 1884 — The Naval War College of the United States is founded in Rhode Island. Read more
- 1854 — In England the great fire of Newcastle and Gateshead leads to 53 deaths and hundreds injured. Read more
- 1849 — The execution of the 13 Martyrs of Arad after the Hungarian war of independence. Read more
- 1810 — A large fire destroys a third of all the buildings in the town of Raahe in the Grand Duchy of Finland. Read more
- 1789 — French Revolution: King Louis XVI is forced to change his residence from Versailles to the Tuileries Palace. Read more
- 1777 — American Revolutionary War: British forces capture Forts Clinton and Montgomery on the Hudson River. Read more
- 1762 — Seven Years' War: The British capture Manila from Spain and occupy it. Read more
- 1683 — Immigrant families found Germantown, Pennsylvania in the first major immigration of German people to America. Read more
- 1620 — The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth suffers a defeat against the Ottoman Empire in the battle of Cecora after a heroic defense over several days and the death of their commander Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski. Read more
- 1600 — Euridice, the earliest surviving opera, receives its première performance, beginning the Baroque period. Read more
- 1539 — Spain's DeSoto expedition takes over the Apalachee capital of Anhaica for their winter quarters. Read more
- 891 — Election of Pope Formosus following the death of pope Stephen V in the previous month. Read more
- 618 — Transition from Sui to Tang: Wang Shichong decisively defeats Li Mi at the Battle of Yanshi. Read more
- 404 — Byzantine Empress Eudoxia dies from the miscarriage of her seventh pregnancy. Read more
- 23 — Rebels decapitate Wang Mang, only Emperor of the Xin Dynasty, after his capital was sacked during a peasant rebellion. Read more
- 69 BC — Third Mithridatic War: The military of the Roman Republic subdues Armenia. Read more
- 105 BC — Cimbrian War: Defeat at the Battle of Arausio of the Roman army of the mid-Republic. Read more
Born on October 6
- 2004 — Bronny James, American basketball player Read more
- 2004 — Hanni, Australian singer Read more
- 2002 — Jonathan Kuminga, Congolese basketball player Read more
- 2001 — Hitomi Honda, Japanese singer based in South Korea Read more
- 2000 — Jazz Jennings, American internet personality Read more
- 2000 — Kyle Pitts, American football player Read more
- 2000 — Addison Rae, American social media personality, dancer, and singer Read more
- 1999 — Trevor Lawrence, American football player Read more
- 1997 — Kasper Dolberg, Danish footballer Read more
- 1996 — Kevin Diks, Indonesian footballer Read more
- 1994 — Jake Guentzel, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1994 — Lee Joo-heon, South Korean rapper and songwriter Read more
- 1993 — Adam Gemili, English sprinter Read more
- 1993 — Jourdan Miller, American fashion model Read more
- 1993 — Nail Yakupov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Josh Archibald, Canadian-American ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Taylor Paris, Canadian rugby player Read more
- 1990 — Scarlett Byrne, English actress Read more
- 1990 — Marcus Johansson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1990 — Nazem Kadri, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1990 — Han Sun-hwa, South Korean singer and actress Read more
- 1989 — Albert Ebossé Bodjongo, Cameroonian footballer (died 2014) Read more
- 1989 — Tyler Ennis, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1989 — Pizzi, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1987 — Akuila Uate, Fijian-Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1986 — Meg Myers, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1986 — Olivia Thirlby, American actress Read more
- 1985 — Mitchell Cole, English footballer (died 2012) Read more
- 1985 — Sylvia Fowles, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Sandra Góngora, Mexican ten-pin bowler Read more
- 1985 — Tarmo Kink, Estonian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Morné Morkel, South African cricketer Read more
- 1983 — Renata Voráčová, Czech tennis player Read more
- 1982 — Levon Aronian, Armenian chess grandmaster Read more
- 1982 — Will Butler, American musician and composer Read more
- 1982 — Paul Smith, English boxer Read more
- 1981 — Zurab Khizanishvili, Georgian footballer Read more
- 1980 — Abdoulaye Méïté, French footballer Read more
- 1979 — David Di Tommaso, French footballer (died 2005) Read more
- 1979 — Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean footballer and manager Read more
Died on October 6
- 2026 — Eva Marie Saint, American actress (born 1924) Read more
- 2024 — Dave Hobson, American politician (born 1936) Read more
- 2024 — Johan Neeskens, Dutch footballer and manager (born 1951) Read more
- 2020 — Eddie Van Halen, Dutch-American guitarist, songwriter, and producer (born 1955) Read more
- 2020 — Johnny Nash, American singer-songwriter (born 1940) Read more
- 2019 — Ginger Baker, English drummer (born 1939) Read more
- 2019 — Eddie Lumsden, Australian rugby league player (born 1936) Read more
- 2019 — Rip Taylor, American actor and comedian (born 1931) Read more
- 2018 — Scott Wilson, American actor (born 1942) Read more
- 2018 — Montserrat Caballé, Spanish soprano (born 1933) Read more
- 2017 — Ralphie May, American stand-up comedian and actor (born 1972) Read more
- 2017 — David Marks, British architect, designer of the London Eye (born 1952) Read more
- 2015 — Árpád Göncz, Hungarian author, playwright, and politician, 1st President of Hungary (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Vladimir Shlapentokh, Ukrainian-American sociologist, historian, political scientist, and academic (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Juan Vicente Ugarte del Pino, Peruvian historian, lawyer, and jurist (born 1923) Read more
- 2014 — Vic Braden, American tennis player and coach (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Igor Mitoraj, German-Polish sculptor (born 1944) Read more
- 2014 — Diane Nyland, Canadian actress, director and choreographer (born 1944) Read more
- 2014 — Marian Seldes, American actress (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Serhiy Zakarlyuka, Ukrainian footballer and manager (born 1976) Read more
- 2014 — Feridun Buğeker, Turkish football player (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Ulysses Curtis, American-Canadian football player and coach (born 1926) Read more
- 2013 — Rift Fournier, American screenwriter and producer (born 1936) Read more
- 2013 — Paul Rogers, English actor (born 1917) Read more
- 2013 — Nico van Kampen, Dutch physicist and academic (born 1921) Read more
- 2012 — Chadli Bendjedid, Algerian colonel and politician, 3rd President of Algeria (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Anthony John Cooke, English organist and composer (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — Nick Curran, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1977) Read more
- 2012 — Albert, Margrave of Meissen (born 1943) Read more
- 2012 — Joseph Meyer, American lawyer and politician, 19th Secretary of State of Wyoming (born 1941) Read more
- 2012 — B. Satya Narayan Reddy, Indian lawyer and politician, 19th Governor of West Bengal (born 1927) Read more
- 2012 — J. J. C. Smart, English-Australian philosopher and academic (born 1920) Read more
- 2011 — Diane Cilento, Australian actress and author (born 1932) Read more
- 2010 — Rhys Isaac, South-African-Australian historian and author (born 1937) Read more
- 2010 — Antonie Kamerling, Dutch television and film actor, and musician (born 1966) Read more
- 2009 — Douglas Campbell, Scottish-Canadian actor and screenwriter (born 1922) Read more
- 2008 — Peter Cox, Australian public servant and politician (born 1925) Read more
- 2007 — Babasaheb Bhosale, Indian lawyer and politician, 8th Chief Minister of Maharashtra (born 1921) Read more
- 2007 — Laxmi Mall Singhvi, Indian scholar, jurist, and politician (born 1931) Read more
- 2006 — Bertha Brouwer, Dutch sprinter (born 1930) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Bruno of Cologne; Christian feast day:
Faith; Christian feast day:
Blessed Isidore De Loor; Christian feast day:
Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza; Christian feast day:
Blessed Marie Rose Durocher; Christian feast day:
Mary Frances of the Five Wounds; Christian feast day:
Pardulphus; Christian feast day:
Sagar of Laodicea; Christian feast day:
October 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Christian feast day:
William Tyndale (commemoration, Anglicanism), with Myles Coverdale (Episcopal Church (USA)); World Space Week (October 4–10); Day of Commemoration and National Mourning (Turkmenistan); Dukla Pass Victims Day (Slovakia); German-American Day (United States); Memorial Day for the Martyrs of Arad (Hungary); Teachers' Day (Sri Lanka); Yom Kippur War commemorations:
Armed Forces Day (Egypt); Yom Kippur War commemorations:
Tishreen Liberation Day (Syria)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 6”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.