| 1014 |
|
The Byzantine Emperor Basil earns the title "Slayer of Bulgers" after he orders the blinding of 15,000 Bulgerian troops. |
| 1536 |
|
William Tyndale, the English translator of the New Testament, is strangled and burned at the stake for heresy at Vilvorde, France. |
| 1696 |
|
Savoy Germany withdraws from the Grand Alliance. |
| 1788 |
|
The Polish Diet decides to hold a four year session. |
| 1801 |
|
Napoleon Bonaparte imposes a new constitution on Holland. |
| 1847 |
|
Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre is published in London. |
| 1866 |
|
The Reno brothers–Frank, John, Simeon and William–commit the country's first train robbery near Seymore, Indiana netting $10,000. |
| 1927 |
|
The first "talkie," The Jazz Singer, opens with popular entertainer Al Jolson singing and dancing in black-face. By 1930, silent movies were a thing of the past. |
| 1941 |
|
German troops renew their offensive against Moscow. |
| 1965 |
|
Patricia Harris takes post as U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, becoming the first African American U.S. ambassador. |
| 1966 |
|
Hanoi insists the United States must end its bombings before peace talks can begin. |
| 1969 |
|
Special Forces Captain John McCarthy is released from Fort Leavenworth Penitentiary, pending consideration of his appeal to murder charges. |
| 1973 |
|
Israel is taken by surprise when Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan attack on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, beginning the Yom Kippur War. [1] |
| 1981 |
|
Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat is assassinated in Cairo by Islamic fundamentalists. He is succeeded by Vice President Hosni Mubarak. |
|
Born on October 6 |
| 1820 |
|
Jenny Lind, soprano known as the "Swedish Nightingale." |
| 1846 |
|
George Westinghouse, prolific inventor, held over 100 patents on creations including air brakes for trains. |
| 1887 |
|
Le Corbusier, Swiss-born French architect and city planner. |
| 1895 |
|
Caroline Gordon, writer (The Strange Children). |
| 1906 |
|
Janet Gaynor, film actress. |
| 1908 |
|
Carol Lombard, American comediennne and actress. |
| 1908 |
|
Sammy Price, jazz pianist. |
| 1914 |
|
Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian anthropologist and explorer. |