October 13

Thursday 13, 2005:

The second Chinese human spaceflight Shenzhou 6 is scheduled to carry two astronauts for five days in orbit.

Monday 13, 2003:

The Public Library of Science commences publication of an open-access scientific journal, PLoS Biology.

Wednesday 13, 1999:

The United States Senate rejects ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Friday 13, 1995:

Microsoft releases Windows 95.

Thursday 13, 1983:

Ameritech Mobile Communications (now Cingular) launched the first US cellular network in Chicago.

Thursday 13, 1977:

Four Palestinians hijack a Lufthansa Airlines flight to Somalia and demand release of 11 members of the Red Army Faction.

Wednesday 13, 1976:

The first electron micrograph of an Ebola viral particle was obtained by Dr. F.A. Murphy, now at U.C. Davis, who was then working at the C.D.C..

Friday 13, 1972:

Andes flight disaster: Fairchild passenger plane transporting a rugby team crashes in Andes. They are found alive December 20 but they have had to resort to cannibalism to survive, as chronicled in the 1993 film '.

Saturday 13, 1962:

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opens on Broadway.

Thursday 13, 1960:

1960 World Series: Baseballer Bill Mazeroski becomes the first person to end a World Series with a home run.

Sunday 13, 1946:

France adopts the constitution of the Fourth Republic.

Friday 13, 1944:

World War II: Riga, the capital of Latvia, is liberated by the Red Army

Wednesday 13, 1943:

World War II: The new government of Italy sides with the Allies and declares war on Germany.

Sunday 13, 1918:

Talaat Pasha and the Young Turk (C.U.P.) ministry resign and sign an armistice, ending Ottoman participation in World War I

Monday 13, 1845:

A majority of voters in the Republic of Texas approve a proposed constitution, that if accepted by the U.S. Congress, will make Texas a U.S. state.

Friday 13, 1843:

In New York City, Henry Jones and 11 others found B'nai B'rith (the oldest Jewish service organization in the world).

Tuesday 13, 1812:

On the Niagara frontier in Ontario, Canada, United States forces under General Stephen Van Rensselaer are repulsed from invading Canada by British and native troops led by Sir Isaac Brock.

Saturday 13, 1792:

In Washington, DC, the cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion (known as the White House since 1818) is laid.

Friday 13, 1775:

The United States Continental Congress orders the establishment of the Continental Navy (later renamed the United States Navy).

Wednesday 13, 1582:

Due to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

Thursday 13, 1307:

All Knights Templar in France are simultaneously arrested by agents of Phillip the Fair, to be later tortured into "admitting" heresy.

Tuesday 13, 1282:

Nichiren Daishonin, founder of the Nichiren School of Buddhism, dies. His ashes are interred at Taisekiji Temple.

Tuesday 13, 54:

Roman Empire emperor Claudius I dies after being poisoned by his wife Agrippina.

More on October, 13

• People Born on October, 13
• They left us on October, 13