Today in History

Felix Baumgartner breaks the world record for highest manned balloon flight, highest parachute jump, and greatest free-fall velocity, parachuting from an altitude of approximately 24 miles (39km).

Eric Robert Rudolph charged with the 1996 bombing during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; It was one of several bombing incidents Rudolph carried out to protest legalized abortion in the US.

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israel’s Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for establishing the Oslo Accords and preparing for Palestinian Self Government.

Prime Minister of Grenada Maurice Bishop overthrown and later executed by a military coup.

Usher (Usher Raymond IV), singer; among the top-selling artists in music history and multiple Grammy winner (“Nice & Slow,” “OMG”).

Natalie Maines, singer, songwriter, activist; lead vocalist of the Dixie Chicks, the top-selling all-female band and country group since Nielsen SoundScan tracking began in 1991; Maines’ comments against the coming US invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to radio boycotts that virtually ended the group’s career for several years.

The British 50-pence coin enters the UK’s currency, the first step toward covering to a decimal system, which was planned for 1971.

Jim Hines, USA, breaks the “ten-second barrier” in the 100-meter sprint at the Olympics in Mexico City; his time was 9.95.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, opens its underground Montreal Metro rapid-transit system.

Rev. Martin Luther King is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating a policy of non-violence.

Cuban Missile Crisis begins; USAF U-2 reconnaissance pilot photographs Cubans installing Soviet-made missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Mordechai Vanunu, Israeli nuclear technician who provided details of Israel’s nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986, citing his opposition to weapons of mass destruction.

Chinese Communist Forces begin to infiltrate the North Korean Army.

Test pilot Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier aboard a Bell X-1 rocket plane.

German Field Marshal Rommel, suspected of complicity in the July 20th plot against Hitler, is visited at home by two of Hitler’s staff and given the choice of public trial or suicide by poison. He chooses suicide and it is announced that he died of wounds.

Christopher Timothy, actor, director, writer; best known for portraying James Herriot in the British TV series All Creatures Great and Small (1978-80) and Brendan “Mac” McGuire in the BBC soap opera Doctors (2000-06).

Ralph Lauren, noted fashion designer.

The Geneva disarmament conference breaks up as Germany proclaims withdrawal from the disarmament initiative, as well as from the League of Nations, effective October 23. This begins German policy of independent action in foreign affairs.

Mobutu Sese Seko, President of the Congo / Zaire (1965-97); rose to power in coups that overthrew the first democratically elected president of the Republic of the Congo; the country was renamed Zaire in 1971.

Sir Roger Moore, actor; played James Bond in 7 films (1973-85) and starred as Simon Templar in The Saint TV series (1962-69).

Son Thomas, blues guitarist and singer.

C. Everett Koop, U.S. Surgeon General.

Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt is shot and wounded in assassination attempt in Milwaukee. He was saved by the papers in his breast pocket and, though wounded, insisted on finishing his speech.

Eugene Fodor, Hungarian-born travel writer.

Lilian Gish, Film actress, “The First Lady of the Silent Screen.”

e.e. cummings, American poet.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th U.S. President (1953-1961).

Katherine Mansfield, short story writer.

Transparent paper-strip photographic film is patented by George Eastman.

Blackfeet Indians attack American Fur Company trappers near Montana’s Jefferson River, killing one.

Napoleon Bonaparte crushes the Prussian army at Jena, Germany.

Britain’s East India Company tea ships’ cargo is burned at Annapolis, Md.

The English Navy captures Barcelona in Spain.

Laws are passed in Massachusetts forbidding the poor to adopt excessive styles of dress.

William Penn, English Quaker leader and founder of Pennsylvania.

William of Normandy defeats King Harold in the Battle of Hastings.