185 things happened on 1 October, from 331 BC to 2025. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
AD 959 · 1,067 years ago
Edgar became king of all England after the death of his older brother, King Eadwig. Both brothers were sons of King Edmund I. Edgar is often called Edgar the Peaceful, and he reigned until 975. Only a few events from his reign were written down at the time, s…
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UK story
Edgar became king of all England after the death of his older brother, King Eadwig. Both brothers were sons of King Edmund I. Edgar is often called Edgar the Peaceful, and he reigned until 975. Only a few events from his reign were written down at the time, so historians cannot tell its full story in detail.
UK story
King Richard II called Parliament to meet at Westminster Abbey because he needed money. Many people were unhappy with him: he gave too many favours to his friends, the war in France was going badly, and people feared a French invasion. Parliament soon turned to pushing for changes in the way the king's government was run. It became known as the Wonderful Parliament.
UK story
Mary I, daughter of King Henry VIII, was crowned Queen of England and Ireland at Westminster Abbey. She was the first queen in England to be crowned as a ruler in her own right, rather than as the wife of a king. Because of this, the ceremony had to be changed. Mary reigned for five years and tried to undo the religious changes her father had begun.
UK story
Isabella Beeton's guide to running a home in Victorian Britain was published as a complete book, after first appearing in parts. Its recipes were set out in a clear, organised way, unlike those in earlier cookbooks. It also had many pictures, some in colour. It sold 60,000 copies in its first year and has stayed in print ever since.
UK story
St Pancras railway station opened to the public in London. It stands on Euston Road, beside the British Library. Now called St Pancras International, it is the London station for Eurostar trains to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. They reach the Channel Tunnel along High Speed 1, a fast railway about 110 kilometres long.
UK story
Concorde, a passenger plane developed jointly by Britain and France, broke the sound barrier for the first time. This means it flew faster than the speed of sound, which is called supersonic flight. It was built by the British Aircraft Corporation and the French company Sud Aviation. Concorde's very first flight had taken off from Toulouse, in France, earlier that year.
UK story
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom began its work, taking over a job that had belonged to the House of Lords. It is the UK's final court of appeal. This means it makes the last decision on cases sent up from lower courts. It hears important cases from all four countries of the United Kingdom.
UK story
At the encouragement of preservationist John Muir and writer Robert Underwood Johnson, the U.S. Congress established Yosemite National Park in California.
UK story
First World War: British and Arab troops captured Damascus from the Ottoman Empire.
UK story
Georges Carpentier knocked out former British heavyweight champion Joe Beckett a mere twenty seconds into the first round of their boxing match at Olympia in London.
UK story
The 1923 Imperial Conference opened in London.
UK story
Mensa, the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world, was formed in the United Kingdom.
UK story
Guyana nationalizes the British Guiana Broadcasting Service, which would eventually become part of the National Communications Network, Guyana.
Mao Zedong, chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, announced the founding of the People's Republic of China in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. His party had won the Chinese Civil War against its rivals, the Kuomintang. Mao led China from then until his death in 1976. The Communist Party has governed China ever since.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, took over from an older American agency called NACA. NACA had been set up in 1915 to carry out research into flight. Its staff and equipment moved to the new organisation. In NASA's early years, people said its name letter by letter, N-A-S-A, rather than as one word.
Nigeria became an independent country, no longer ruled by the United Kingdom. At midnight in Lagos, the Union Jack was lowered and Nigeria's green and white flag was raised in its place. Princess Alexandra of Kent represented Queen Elizabeth II at the handover. Nigerians celebrate the date every year as Independence Day, with parades and cultural events.
Japan's Shinkansen, known in English as the bullet train, began high-speed passenger services between Tokyo and Osaka. The Shinkansen has since grown into a network of high-speed railway lines. They link Tokyo with other parts of the country. As well as long journeys, some lines carry people travelling to work in and around Japan's biggest cities.
Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.
Pope Damasus I is consecrated.
Pope John XIII is consecrated.
The coronation of Shah Abbas I of Persia occurs.
Ahmed III is forced to abdicate as the Ottoman sultan.
The city of Tampere, Finland (belonging to Sweden at this time) is founded by King Gustav III of Sweden.
Russians under Alexander Suvorov defeat the Turks at Kinburn.
First session of the French Legislative Assembly.
More than a year after the Battle of Sprimont, the Austrian Netherlands (present-day Belgium) are officially annexed by Revolutionary France.
With the signing of the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain returned the colonial territory of Louisiana to France in return for territories in the Italian region of Tuscany.
The Congress of Vienna opens with the intention of redrawing Europe's political map after the defeat of Napoleon in the previous spring.
Russo-Persian War: The Russian army under Ivan Paskevich storms Yerevan, ending a millennium of Muslim domination of Armenia.
The South African College is founded in Cape Town, later separating into the University of Cape Town and the South African College Schools.
The first political gathering of colonists (president pictured) in Mexican Texas convened to seek reforms from the Mexican government.
Stanford University, founded by railroad magnate and politician Leland Stanford and his wife Jane in Palo Alto, California, admitted its first students.
The Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration is founded under the name k.u.k. Exportakademie.
Baseball: The Boston Americans play the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of the modern World Series.
A deputation of Muslim leaders led by the Aga Khan III met Indian viceroy Lord Minto to secure greater political representation, eventually leading to the founding of the All-India Muslim League.
Ford Model T automobiles are offered for sale at a price of US$825.
Sayid Abdullah becomes the last Khan of Khiva.
Newark Liberty International Airport opens, becoming the first airport in the New York City metro area.
The Soviet Union introduces its first five-year plan.
The George Washington Bridge in the United States is opened, linking New Jersey and New York.
Clara Campoamor persuades the Constituent Cortes to enfranchise women in Spain's new constitution.
Spanish Civil War: Francisco Franco is named head of the Nationalist government of Spain.
Spanish Civil War: The Central Committee of Antifascist Militias of Catalonia dissolves itself, handing control of Catalan defence militias over to the Generalitat.
World War II: After a one-month siege, German troops occupy Warsaw.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic.
World War II: After the Four Days of Naples, Allied troops enter the city.
The Daegu October incident occurs in Allied-occupied Korea.
The North American F-86 Sabre flies for the first time.
Andhra State is formed, consisting of a Telugu-speaking area carved out of India's Madras State.
A United States-South Korea mutual defense treaty is concluded in Washington, D.C.
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is established.
The motto In God We Trust first appears on U.S. paper currency.
East and West Cameroon merge to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
The CTV Television Network, Canada's first private television network, is launched.
The United States Defense Intelligence Agency is formed, becoming the country's first centralized military intelligence organization.
James Meredith becomes the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.
On its third anniversary as an independent nation, Nigeria became a republic.
Walt Disney World opens near Orlando, Florida.
The first practical CT scanner is used to diagnose a patient.
In boxing, Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in a match known as the "Thrilla in Manila".
Tuvalu adopted its national flag (pictured) on the day that the country gained its independence.
Tuvalu gains independence from the United Kingdom.
Pope John Paul II begins his first pastoral visit to the United States.
The MTR, Hong Kong's rapid transit railway system, opens.
Helmut Kohl replaces Helmut Schmidt as Chancellor of Germany through a constructive vote of no confidence.
Sony and Phillips launch the compact disc in Japan; on the same day, Sony releases the model CDP-101 compact disc player, the first player of its kind.
EPCOT Center (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) opens at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Israel-Palestinian conflict: Israel attacks the Palestine Liberation Organization's Tunisia headquarters during Operation Wooden Leg.
Fifty Rwandan Patriotic Front rebels deserted their Ugandan Army posts and crossed the border from Uganda into Rwanda, marking the start of the Rwandan Civil War.
Croatian War of Independence: Yugoslav People's Army forces invaded the area surrounding Dubrovnik, Croatia, beginning a seven-month siege of the city.
Palau enters a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
A tribunal was established to consider matters relating to the constitution of Singapore upon referral by the president.
Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, was formed with the ratification of the Europol Convention by all member states.
3G wireless technology first becomes available when it is adopted by Japanese telecommunications company NTT Docomo.
A levy was imposed on the hiring of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, who numbered in the hundreds of thousands at the time.
The popular and controversial English-language imageboard 4chan is launched.
The leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Pedro Sánchez, resigns. He would return to the position a year later.
An independence referendum, later declared illegal by the Constitutional Court of Spain, takes place in Catalonia.
The International Court of Justice ruled that Chile was under no obligation to restore Bolivia's access to the Pacific Ocean, which it had lost in the 19th century.
The 2020 World Expo in Dubai begins. Its opening was originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israel invaded Southern Lebanon, marking the fifth Israeli invasion of Lebanon since 1978.
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
In which year did this happen: “Edgar the Peaceful becomes King of England”?
B: AD 959. AD 959 — that’s 1,067 years ago. Find it on the page
In which year did this happen: “St Pancras railway station opens in London”?
B: 1868. 1868 — that’s 158 years ago. Find it on the page
Which of these happened first?
B: Edgar the Peaceful becomes King of England. 1386: The Wonderful Parliament meets at Westminster Abbey · AD 959: Edgar the Peaceful becomes King of England · 1868: St Pancras railway station opens in London Find it on the page
“The Wonderful Parliament meets at Westminster Abbey” happened in 1386. How many years ago was that?
B: 640 years. 2026 − 1386 = 640. Find it on the page
Famous people whose birthday is 1 October.
UK story
Henry III, also known as Henry of Winchester, was King of England from 1216 until his death in 1272. He became king as a young boy, and his reign lasted 56 years. As well as being King of England, he was Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine. In 1267 he recognised the Welsh ruler Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales.
Well-known people who died on 1 October.
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 1 October somewhere in the world.
Content note: these entries mention things like war, violence, deaths, disasters or crime. They are part of history, but they can be upsetting. Grown-ups and teachers: you may want to read them first. They come straight from Wikipedia and have not been rewritten for children.
Stories with a heading have been written for young readers by A Day in the Past, using the linked articles as sources. Other entries show text from Wikipedia’s “October 1” page and its “On this day” feed, written by Wikipedia contributors and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. Each “Read more” link goes to the article an entry is based on. Photos are credited under each picture. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.