| 1777 |
|
At Germantown, Pa., British General Sir William Howe repels George Washington’s last attempt to retake Philadelphia, compelling Washington to spend the winter at Valley Forge. |
| 1795 |
|
General Napoleon Bonaparte leads the rout of counterrevolutionaries in the streets of Paris, beginning his rise to power. |
| 1861 |
|
The Union ship USS South Carolina captures two Confederate blockade runners outside of New Orleans, La. |
| 1874 |
|
Kiowa leader Satanta, known as "the Orator of the Plains," surrenders in Darlington, Texas. He is later sent to the state penitentiary, where he commits suicide October 11, 1878. |
| 1905 |
|
Orville Wright pilots the first flight longer than 30 minutes. The flight lasted 33 minutes, 17 seconds and covered 21 miles. |
| 1914 |
|
The first German Zeppelin raids London. |
| 1957 |
|
Sputnik 1, the first man-made satellite, is launched, beginning the "space race." The satellite, built by Valentin Glushko, weighed 184 pounds and was launched by a converted Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Sputnik orbited the earth every 96 minutes at a maximum height of 584 miles. In 1958, it reentered the earth’s atmosphere and burned up. |
| 1968 |
|
Cambodia admits that the Viet Cong use their country for sanctuary. |
| 1972 |
|
Judge John Sirca imposes a gag order on the Watergate break-in case. |
| 1976 |
|
In Gregg v. Georgia, the U.S. Supreme Court lifts the ban on the death sentence in murder cases. This restores the legality of capital punishment, which had not been practiced since 1967. The first execution following this ruling was Gary Gilmore in 1977. |
|
Born on October 4 |
| 1822 |
|
Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th president of the U.S. (1877-1881). |
| 1861 |
|
Frederic Remington, Western painter and sculptor. |
| 1862 |
|
Edward Stratemeyer, author, creator of the Hardy Boys, Rover Boys, Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins. |
| 1879 |
|
Edward Murray East, botanist whose research led to the development of hybrid corn. |
| 1884 |
|
Damon Runyon, journalist and short story writer. |
| 1895 |
|
Buster (Joseph F.) Keaton, star of silent film comedies including Sherlock, Jr. and The General. |
| 1919 |
|
Rene Marques, Puerto Rican playwright and short story writer. |
| 1923 |
|
Charlton Heston, American film actor. |
| 1928 |
|
Alvin Toffler, writer and futurist. |
| 1941 |
|
Anne Rice, novelist. |
| 1946 |
|
Susan Sarandon, American film actress. |
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