117 things happened on 13 October, from AD 54 to 2023. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
1908 · 118 years ago
Suffragette Margaret Travers Symons became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons. She slipped away from the person escorting her, went into the debating chamber and called out to the members. Suffragettes belonged to the Women's Social and Politica…
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UK story
The church building that still stands at Westminster Abbey in London was consecrated, which means it was officially blessed for worship. The abbey has a very royal history. Since 1066 it has hosted the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs. Eighteen monarchs are buried there, and at least 16 royal weddings have taken place there since 1100.
UK story
Henry IV, also known as Henry Bolingbroke, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London. His father was John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and his grandfather was King Edward III. As well as being king, Henry was Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, a region in France. He reigned until 1413.
UK story
French forces and their Wabanaki allies surrendered, ending the Siege of Port Royal in North America. As a result, Britain gained Nova Scotia for good. The fighting was part of Queen Anne's War, fought in North America between the empires of Britain, France and Spain. The Wabanaki are a group of First Nations and Native American peoples.
UK story
British soldiers and Mohawk warriors drove back an American invasion across the Niagara River, near Queenston in Ontario, Canada. The battle was part of the War of 1812, which the United States started against Britain and its allies. The Niagara River, famous for Niagara Falls, forms part of the border between Canada and the United States.
UK story
Suffragette Margaret Travers Symons became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons. She slipped away from the person escorting her, went into the debating chamber and called out to the members. Suffragettes belonged to the Women's Social and Political Union, set up by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903. They used direct action to campaign for women's right to vote.
UK story
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, became Governor General of Canada. He was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was the first Governor General of Canada from the royal family. He is also the only British prince ever to have held the job.
UK story
At Fernhill House in Belfast, loyalist leader Gusty Spence announced that the Combined Loyalist Military Command would observe a ceasefire. A ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting. It was a step towards ending the Troubles, a conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s to 1998. The Troubles are usually said to have ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
UK story
War of 1812: After three days of fighting, the beached U.S. Revenue Cutter Service vessel Eagle was captured by the Royal Navy.
French astronomer Charles Messier discovered the Whirlpool Galaxy. It is 31 million light-years away, so its light has been travelling towards us for 31 million years. It was the first galaxy to be classed as a spiral galaxy. Messier made a famous list of 110 fuzzy objects in the night sky, and this galaxy is known as M51.
The cornerstone of the US president's new home in Washington, D.C., was laid. A cornerstone is one of the first stones put in place when a building is started. The house was first called the Executive Mansion, but it has been known as the White House since 1818. Every US president since John Adams in 1800 has lived there.
Kenyan runner Brigid Kosgei won the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 4 seconds. It was a new world record for women in a race where men and women run together, beating the old record by 81 seconds. More than 45,000 runners finished the race. Kosgei also won the London Marathon twice and an Olympic silver medal.
Vandals and Alans cross the Pyrenees and appear in Hispania.
Goguryeo–Tang War: Led by Emperor Taizong, the Tang army was forced to abandon a siege of Ansi Fortress.
Rinchinbal Khan becomes the Khagan of the Mongols and Emperor of the Yuan dynasty, reigning for only 53 days.
The Continental Congress establishes the Continental Navy (predecessor of the United States Navy).
French Revolutionary Wars: Austro-Prussian victory over Republican France at the First Battle of Wissembourg.
The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is publicly proclaimed.
In New York City, B'nai B'rith, the oldest Jewish service organization in the world, is founded.
First known conversation in modern Hebrew by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and friends.
The Georgia Institute of Technology is founded in Atlanta, Georgia.
Edward Emerson Barnard is first to discover a comet by photographic means.
The Boston Red Sox win the first modern World Series, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth game.
First World War: The Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt marks the end of the Battle of Loos.
At least 30,000 people witnessed the Miracle of the Sun in the fields of Cova da Iria near Fátima, Portugal.
The Soviet republics of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed the Treaty of Kars with the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, establishing the current borders between Turkey and the Caucasian states.
Ankara becomes the capital of Turkey.
World War II: Marshal Pietro Badoglio announces that Italy has officially declared war on Germany.
France adopts the constitution of the Fourth Republic.
The flag of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, was officially adopted.
The first electron micrograph of an Ebola virus is taken at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Dr. F. A. Murphy.
Ameritech Mobile Communications launches the first US cellular network in Chicago.
Syrian forces attack free areas of Lebanon, removing General Michel Aoun from the presidential palace.
The mining accident in Copiapó, Chile ends as all 33 trapped miners arrive at the surface after a record 69 days underground.
The Dragon King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (pictured) married Jetsun Pema at the Punakha Dzong.
The Maldives announces its decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations.
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
In which year did this happen: “British and Mohawk forces win the Battle of Queenston Heights”?
A: 1812. 1812 — that’s 214 years ago. Find it on the page
In which year did this happen: “Loyalist groups announce a ceasefire in Northern Ireland”?
C: 1994. 1994 — that’s 32 years ago. Find it on the page
Which of these happened first?
A: British and Mohawk forces win the Battle of Queenston Heights. 1812: British and Mohawk forces win the Battle of Queenston Heights · 1908: Margaret Travers Symons is the first woman to speak in the Commons · 1994: Loyalist groups announce a ceasefire in Northern Ireland Find it on the page
“Margaret Travers Symons is the first woman to speak in the Commons” happened in 1908. How many years ago was that?
C: 118 years. 2026 − 1908 = 118. Find it on the page
Famous people whose birthday is 13 October.
UK story
Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She led the country from 1979 to 1990, longer than any other British prime minister of the 1900s. Before going into politics, she worked as a chemist. A Soviet journalist nicknamed her the 'Iron Lady', a name linked with her firm and determined style.
UK story
Mary Kingsley was an English explorer and travel writer. Between 1893 and 1895 she journeyed through parts of Africa that are now Sierra Leone, Angola, Gabon and Cameroon, often travelling alone. She collected animal specimens for the British Museum. She also wrote about the customs, beliefs and ways of life of the people she met.
Well-known people who died on 13 October.
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 13 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 13” 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.