October 15

Wednesday 15, 2003:

Ilham Aliyev becomes President of Azerbaijan succeeding his father Heydar Aliyev.

Monday 15, 2001:

NASA's Galileo spacecraft passes within 112 miles of Jupiter's moon Io.

Wednesday 15, 1997:

The Cassini probe launches from Cape Canaveral on its way to Saturn.

Sunday 15, 1995:

Saddam Hussein gains 99.96% of votes in Iraq's presidential elections.

Thursday 15, 1992:

In Russia, Andrei Chikatilo is found guilty of 52 serial murders.

Tuesday 15, 1991:

Following a bitter confirmation hearing that involved allegations of sexual misconduct, the United States Senate votes to confirm Judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Monday 15, 1990:

Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and open up his nation.

Sunday 15, 1989:

Wayne Gretzky becomes the all time leading points scorer in the NHL.

Thursday 15, 1987:

The Great Storm of 1987 hits France and England.

Thursday 15, 1981:

Professional cheerleader Krazy George Henderson leads what is thought to be the first audience wave in Oakland, California.

Thursday 15, 1970:

Thirty-five construction workers are killed when a section of the new West Gate Bridge in Melbourne collapses.

Wednesday 15, 1969:

Vietnam War: Hundreds of thousands of people take part in National Moratorium antiwar demonstrations across the United States.

Saturday 15, 1966:

US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs a bill creating the United States Department of Transportation.

Friday 15, 1965:

Vietnam War: The National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam stages the first public burning of a draft card in the United States.

Monday 15, 1962:

Cuban Missile Crisis: A stand-off ensues between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba.

Thursday 15, 1953:

British nuclear test Totem 1 detonated at Emu Field, South Australia.

Monday 15, 1951:

Television sitcom I Love Lucy premieres.

Tuesday 15, 1946:

Nuremberg Trials: Founder of the Gestapo and recently convicted Nazi war criminal, Hermann Göring, poisons himself hours before his scheduled execution.

Monday 15, 1945:

World War II: Former premier of Vichy France, Pierre Laval, is executed by firing squad for treason.

Tuesday 15, 1940:

The Great Dictator, a satiric social commentary film by and starring Charlie Chaplin, is released.

Sunday 15, 1939:

The New York Municipal Airport (later renamed La Guardia Airport) is dedicated.

Saturday 15, 1932:

Tata Airlines (later to become Air India) makes its first flight.

Monday 15, 1917:

World War I: At Vincennes outside of Paris, Dutch dancer Mata Hari is executed by firing squad for spying for Germany.

Saturday 15, 1904:

The Russian Baltic Fleet leaves Reval, Estonia for Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War.

Monday 15, 1894:

Dreyfus affair begins.

Monday 15, 1883:

The Supreme Court of the United States declares part of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to be unconstitutional.

Friday 15, 1880:

Mexican soldiers kill Victorio, one of the greatest Apache military strategists.

Tuesday 15, 1878:

The Edison Electric Company begins operation.

Thursday 15, 1863:

American Civil War: The first successful submarine, the CSS Hunley sinks during a test, killing its inventor.

Sunday 15, 1815:

Napoleon I of France begins his exile on St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.

Monday 15, 1764:

Edward Gibbon observes a group of friars singing in the ruined Temple of Jupiter in Rome, which inspires him to begin work on The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Friday 15, 1582:

Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. In Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, October 4 of this year is followed directly by October 15.

Wednesday 15, 1552:

Khanate of Kazan is conquered by troops of Ivan Grozny.

Thursday 15, 533:

Byzantine general Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Vandals.

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