October 131775 - The U.S. Continental Congress ordered the construction of a naval fleet. 1792 - The cornerstone of the Executive Mansion was laid in Washington, DC. The building became known as the White House in 1818. 1812 - American forces were defeated at the Battle of Queenstown Heights. The British victory effectively ended an further U.S. invasion of Canada. 1843 - B'nai B'rith, the Jewish organization, was founded by Henry Jones and eleven others in New York City, NY. 1854 - The state of Texas ratified a state constitution. 1924 - The play "The Guardsman" opened in New York City, NY. 1943 - During World War II, Italy signed an armistice with the Allies and declared war on Germany. 1944 - American troops entered Aachen, Germany, during World War II. 1944 - During World War II, British and Greek advance units landed at Piraeus. 1951 - In Atlanta, GA, a football with a rubber covering was used for the first time. Georgia Tech beat Louisiana State 25-7. 1953 - An ultrasonic burglar alarm was patented by Samuel Bagno. 1957 - Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra introduced the Ford Edsel on an hour long special. 1960 - The World Series ended on a home run for the first time. Bill Mazeroski's homerun allowed the Pirates to beat the Yankees. 1962 - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" opened on Broadway. 1967 - The first game of the new American Basketball Association was played. 1981 - Egyptian voters elected Vice President Hosni Mubarak as the new president one week after Anwar Sadat was assassinated. 1989 - U.S. President George H.W. Bush called for an overthrow of the Panamanian ruler Manuel Antonio Noriega. 1992 - A commercial flight record was set by an Air France supersonic jetliner for circling the Earth in 33 hours and one minute. 1995 - Walt Disney World Resort admitted its 500-millionth guest. Disney movies, music and books 1998 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) canceled regular season games, due to work stoppage, for first time in its 51-year history. 1999 - The U.S. Senate rejected the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). 2010 - Near Copiapó, Chile, 33 miners were trapped underground in San José Mine. The miners were rescued after 69 days underground. |