1803 – Joseph Hansom the English architect and inventor was born on the 26th October 1803 (d. 1882). Joseph Hansom invented the Hansom cab, and was one of the founders of The Builder architectural journal in 1843.

1861 – The Pony Express officially ceased operation on the 26th October 1861.

1881 – The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place at Tombstone, Arizona on the 26th October 1881.

1865 – Benjamin Guggenheim the American businessman was born on the 26th October 1865 (d. 1912).

1883 – Napoleon Hill the American writer and philosopher was born on the 26th October 1883 (d. 1970).

1905 – Norway became independent from Sweden on the 26th October 1905.

1921 – The Chicago Theatre opened on the 26th October 1921.

1940 – The P-51 Mustang maded its maiden flight on the 26th October 1940.

1942 – Bob Hoskins the British actor was born on the 26th October 1942.

1952 – DAViD WAS from the 1980’s band Was (Not Was) was born on the 26th October 1952. Walk the Dinosaur by Was (Not Was) was a hit single in 1987, and featured on their 1988 album, What Up, Dog?

1953 – Keith Strickland the American musician from The B-52’s was born on the 26th October 1953.

1955 ~ AUSTRiA declared permanent neutrality on the 26th October 1955, after the last Allied troops left, and following the provisions of the Austrian Independence Treaty. The AUSTRiAN NATiONAL DAY is celebrated annually on the anniversary of the Declaration of Neutrality in 1955. Facebook: www.facebook.com/AustriaTravelinfo…

1956 – Rita Wilson the American actress, singer, and producer was born on the 26th October 1956.

1958 – Pan American Airways made the 1st commercial flight of the Boeing 707 from New York City to Paris, France on the 26th October 1958.

1963 – Natalie Merchant the American singer was born on the 26th October 1963.

1964 – Eric Edgar Cooke became the last person in Western Australia to be executed on the 26th October 1964.

1967 – Keith Urban the New Zealand born Australian country music singer was born on the 26th October 1967.

1973 – Seth MacFarlane the American animator was born on the 26th October 1973. Seth MacFarlane is best known as the creator of Family Guy (1999 to present) and co-creator of American Dad! (2005 to present) and The Cleveland Show (2009 to present), for which he also voices many of the shows’ various characters.

1981 – Guy Sebastian the Australian singer was born on the 26th October 1981.

1985 – The Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aborigines on the 26th October 1985.

1992 – The London Ambulance Service was thrown into chaos after the implementation of a new CAD system (Computer Aided Dispatch system) which failed on the 26th October 1992. Media reports claimed that up to 30 people may have died as a result of the chaos.

2001 – The USA PATRiOT Act was passed into law on the 26th October 2001.

2010 ~ Downton Abbey the British period drama television series was first broadcast on the 26th September 2010. Official website: www.itv.com/DowntonAbbey | YouTube video: Downton Abbey Series 3 Trailer…

2012 ~ The DANiEL MORCOMBE FOUNDATiON held the 8th Walk for Daniel on the 26th October 2012. DAY FOR DANiEL continues to grow on a National scale, and is recognised as Australia’s largest participation event of its type. The day focuses on Child Safety Awareness. Day For Daniel is organized by Daniel’s parents Denise and Bruce Morcombe, following the tragic abduction and suspected murder of their 13 year old son Daniel in December 2003. The Daniel Morecomb Foundation’s aim is to make the world a safer place for children. Visit www.DayForDaniel.com.au for more details…

Today in History for October 26th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

1616 – Dirk Hartog the Dutch sea-captain made the 2nd recorded landfall by a European on Australian soil, at the later-named Dirk Hartog Island off the West Australian coast on the 25th October 1616.

1825 – Johann Strauss II the Austrian composer was born on the 25th October 1825 (d. 1899).

1881 ~ Pablo Picasso the Spanish painter and sculptor was born in Málaga, Spain on the 25th October 1881 (died  8 April 1973 aged 91). Picasso official website: www.Picasso.fr | YouTube video: The Power of Art – Picasso (complete episode)…

1898 ~ Karl Anton the German film director, screenwriter and film producer was born in Prague, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the 25th October 1898 (died in Berlin 12th April 1979). Karl Anton directed 58 films between 1922 and 1960.

1939 – Fred Marcellino the American illustrator was born on the 25th October 1939 (d. 2001).

1941 – Helen Reddy the Australian singer was born on the 25th October 1941.

1944 – Jon Anderson the English singer from Yes was born on the 25th October 1944.

1947 – Glenn Tipton the English guitarist from Judas Priest was born on the 25th October 1947.

1955 – Matthias Jabs the German guitarist from Scorpions was born on the 25th October 1955.

1959 – Chrissy Amphlett the lead vocalist for The Divinyls was born on the 25th October 1959.

1961 – Chad Smith the American drummer from Red Hot Chili Peppers was born on the 25th October 1961.

1962 – Nelson Mandela was sentenced to 5 years in prison on the 25th October 1962.

1964 – Nicole German singer was born on the 25th October 1964.

1970 – Ed Robertson the Canadian lead singer from Barenaked Ladies was born on the 25th October 1970.

1981 – Austin Winkler the American lead vocalist from Hinder was born on the 25th October 1981.

1984 – Katy Perry the American singer was born on the 25th October 1984.

1985 – Ciara the American singer was born on the 25th October 1985.

1992 – Roger Miller the American singer died on the 25th October 1992 (b. 1936).

1993 – Vincent Price the American actor died on the 25th October 1993 (b. 1911).

Today in History for October 25th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

1707 – Parliament of Great Britain met for the first time on the 23rd October 1707.

1850 – The 1st National Women’s Rights Convention began in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States on the 23rd October 1850.

1911 – The first use of aircraft in war was on the 23rd October 1911, when an Italian pilot took off from Libya to observe Turkish army lines during the Turco-Italian War.

1917 – Lenin called for the October Revolution on the 23rd October 1917.

1929 – The 1st North American transcontinental air service began between New York City and Los Angeles, California on the 23rd October 1929.

1940 – Pelé the Brazilian footballer was born on the 23rd October 1940.

1942 – Anita Roddick the English businesswoman, activist and founder of The Body Shop was born on the 23rd October 1942 (died 2007).

1942 –  Ralph Rainger the award-winning composer and songwriter, along with 11 other passengers and crewmen died aboard an American Airlines DC-3 on the 23rd October 1942, when struck by a U.S. Army Air Forces bomber, near Palm Springs, California. Ralph Rainger was best known for his songs Thanks for the Memory, Love in Bloom, and Blue Hawaii.

1949 – Würzel the English singer and guitarist from Motörhead was born on the 23rd October 1949 (died 2011).

1956 ~ Dwight Yoakam the American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor was born in Pikeville, Kentucky, on the 23rd October 1956. official website : DwightYoakam.com | social media : Facebook | Twitter | instagram | videos : YouTube | video : “Fast As You” 1993 song (over 8 million views)…

1958 ~ The Smurfs appeared for the first time in the story La flute à six schtroumpfs, on the 23rd October 1958, a Johan and Peewit adventure by Peyo which was featured in the weekly comic magazine Spirou. | offical website : Smurf.com | videos : YouTube | video : 60 Minutes of  Smurfs – Compilation 4 – The Smurfs…

1959 ~ Weird Al Yankovic the American singer-songwriter and comedian was born Alfred Yanovic in Downey, California, on the 23rd October 1959. official website : WeirdAl.com | social media : Facebook | Twitter | instagram | videos : YouTube | video : “Eat it” 1984 song by Weird Al, no.1 in Australia…

1970 – Gary Gabelich set a land speed record in a rocket-powered automobile called the Blue Flame on the 23rd October 1970, fueled with natural gas.

1985 ~ Miguel the American recording artist and songwriter was born Miguel Jontel Pimentel in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, on the 23rd October 1985. official website : OfficialMiguel.com |

Today in History for October 23rd ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

0362 – The temple of Apollo at Daphne, was destroyed in a mysterious fire on the 22nd October in the year 0362, outside Antioch.

1734 – Daniel Boone the American explorer and hunter was born on the 22nd October 1734 (died 1820).

1746 – Princeton University originally known as The College of New Jersey received its charter on the 22nd October 1746.

1784 – Russia founded a colony on Kodiak Island, Alaska on the 22nd October 1784.

1797 – André-Jacques Garnerin made the 1st recorded parachute jump on the 22nd October 1797, 1000 meters (3,200 feet) above Paris, France.

1865 – Kristjan Raud the Estonian painter was born on the 22nd October 1865 (died 1943).

1882 – Edmund Dulac the French illustrator was born on the 22nd October 1882 (died 1953).

1895 – Gare Montparnasse in Paris had an express train plummet through their window on the 22nd October 1895, when it overran a buffer stop.

1913 – Robert Capa the Hungarian-American photographer was born on the 22nd October 1913 (died 1954).

1920 – Timothy Leary the American psychologist and author was born on the 22nd October 1920 (died 1996).

1924 – Toastmasters International was founded on the 22nd October 1924.

1925 – Robert Rauschenberg the American painter and illustrator was born on the 22nd October 1925 (died 2008).

1926 – J. Gordon Whitehead sucker punched magician Harry Houdini in the stomach in Montreal on the 22nd October 1926.

1927 – Nikola Tesla exposed his 6 new inventions, including a motor with onephase electricity on the 22nd October 1927.

1936 – Bobby Seale the American activist and co-founder of the Black Panther Party was born on the 22nd October 1936.

1942 – Bobby Fuller the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from The Bobby Fuller Four was born on the 22nd October 1942 (died 1966).

1946 – Eddie Brigati the American singer-songwriter from The Rascals was born on the 22nd October 1946.

1946 ~ Deepak Chopra the Indian-American physician and author was born in New Delhi, India, on the 22nd October 1946. official website : DeepakChopra.com | social media : Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | video: Deepak Chopra – Human Energy Human Power @ TEDxSanMigueldeAllende…

1952 – Jeff Goldblum the American actor was born on the 22nd October 1952.

1953 ~ Louise Burfitt-Dons (FRSA) the British writer, humanitarian and global warming campaigner was born on the 22nd October 1953. Louise Burfitt-Dons is best known for her anti-bullying activism as the founder of the charity Act Against Bullying ~ website: www.ActAgainstBullying.org | official website: www.LouiseBurfittDons.com

1964 – Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature on the 22nd October 1964, but he turned down the honor.

1966 – The Supremes became the 1st all-female music group to attain a No. 1 selling album (The Supremes A’ Go-Go) on the 22nd October 1966.

1966 – Luna 12 the Soviet Union launched on the 22nd October 1966.

1968 – Apollo 7 safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean  on the 22nd October 1968, after orbiting the Earth 163 times.

1968 – Shaggy the Jamaican singer-songwriter was born on the 22nd October 1968.

1975 – Venera 9 the Soviet unmanned space mission landed on Venus on the 22nd October 1975.

1976 – US Food & Drug Administration banned Red Dye No. 4 on the 22nd October 1976, after it is discovered that it causes tumors in the bladders of dogs. Allegedly the dye is still used in Canada.

1985 – Zac Hanson the American drummer was born on the 22nd October 1985 Hanson.

2008 – Chandrayaan-1 was launched on the 22nd October, becoming India’s 1st unmanned lunar probe.

2012 ~ Lance Armstrong (born Lance Gunderson) the disgraced American former professional road racing cyclist, was given a lifetime ban from competition cycling, and stripped of all 7 Tour de France titles on the 22nd October 2012. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) charged Lance Armstrong with having used illicit performance enhancing drugs, after the Union Cycliste International (UCI) accepted USADA‘s verdict. Testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong resigned as chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation: Livestrong for cancer support, after USADA‘s charges against him were published.

2013 – The Australian Capital Territory became the first Australian jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage with the Marriage Equality Legislation Australian Capital Territory, 2013 on the 22nd October 2013.

Today in History for October 22nd ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

1512 – Martin Luther joined the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg on the 21st October 1512.

1520 – Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Strait of Magellan on the 21st October 1520.

1520 – João Álvares Fagundes discovered the islands of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon, bestowed them their original name of Islands of the 11,000 Virgins on the 21st October 1520.

1737 ~ Marie-Louise O’Murphy de Boisfaily the younger mistress of King Louis XV of France was born on the 21st October 1737 (died 11th December 1814) . Her life was dramatised by Duncan Sprott in the 1997 novel Our Lady of the Potatoes.

1774 – First display of the word “Liberty” on a flag, was raised by colonists in Taunton, Massachusetts in defiance of British rule in Colonial America on the 21st October 1774.

1824 – Joseph Aspdin patented Portland cement on the 21st October 1824.

1833 ~ Alfred Nobel the Swedish chemist, engineer and founder of the Nobel Prize was born in Stockholm on the 21st October 1833 (died 1896 aged 63).

1854 – Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses were sent to the Crimean War on the 21st October 1854.

1917 ~ Dizzy Gillespie the American trumpet player, composer, and bandleader was born in Cheraw, South Carolina on the 21st October 1917 (died 1993 aged 75).

1921 – The Sheik silent film by George Melford, starring Rudolph Valentino, premiered on the 21st October 1921.

1940 ~ Manfred Mann the South African-English keyboard player and producer was born in Johannesburg on the 21st October 1940. official website : ManfredMann.co.uk | Mighty Quinn 1967 video…

1942 ~ Elvin Bishop the American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born in Glendale, California, on the 21st October 1942. official website : ElvinBishopMusic.com | video : Fooled Around ad Fell in Love (1976)…

1945 – Women were allowed to vote in France for the first time on the 21st October 1945.

1956 ~ Carrie Fisher the American actress and screenwriter was born in Burbank, California, on the 21st October 1956 (died 2016 aged 60). official website : CarrieFisher.com |

1959 – The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opened in  New York City on the 21st October 1959.

1977 – The European Patent Institute was founded on the 21st October 1977.

1978 – Frederick Valentich the Australian civilian pilot vanished in a Cessna 182 over Bass Strait south of Melbourne, after reporting contact with an unidentified aircraft on the 21st October 1978.

2003 – Eris the dwarf planet images were taken and used in documenting its discovery on the 21st October 2003.

Today in History for October 21st ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

1720 – Calico Jack the Caribbean pirate was captured by the Royal Navy on the 20th October 1720.

1931 – Mickey Mantle the American baseball player was born on the 20th October 1931 (died 1995).

1937 – Wanda Jackson the American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born on the 20th October 1937.

1950 ~ Tom Petty the American singer-songwriter and musician from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Traveling Wilburys was born in Gainesville, Florida, on the 20th October 1950. video : “Learning To Fly” (1991 song) performed by Tom Petty…

1958 – Mark King the English singer-songwriter and bass player from Level 42 and Re-Flex was born on the 20th October 1958.

1959 – Mark Little the Australian actor and comedian was born on the 20th October 1959.

1968 – Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping tycoon on the 20th October 1968.

1971 ~ Snoop Dogg the American rapper, producer, and actor was born in Long Beach, California, on the 20th October 1971. video : “Beautiful” (2009 song) performed by Snoop Dogg & ft. Pharrell Williams…

1971 ~ Dannii Minogue the Australian singer, songwriter, actress, fashion designer and X Factor judge was born in Melbourne on the 20th October 1971. Dannii Minogue first rose to fame in the early 1980s in the Australian television shows Young Talent Time and Home and Away, before starting her career as a pop singer in the early 1990s. Dannii Minogue’s official website: DanniiMinogue.com | Facebook: Facebook.com/DanniiMinogueOfficial | Pinterest: Pinterest.com/DanniiMinogue | instagram: instagram.com/DanniiMinogue | YouTube channel: Youtube.com/user/DanniiMinogueOnline | video: This Is It – The Very Best of Dannii Minogue…

1973 – The Sydney Opera House opened on the 20th October 1973.

1977 – A plane carrying the band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in Mississippi on the 20th October 1977, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, the road manager, pilot, and co-pilot.

2012 ~ DUNADEN with jockey Craig Williams won the $2.65 million Caulfield Cup on the 20th day of October 2012.

2012 ~ GANGNAM STYLE the song by PSY had it’s 500 millionth view on YouTube (500,000,000 / half a billion views) on the 20th October 2012.

Today in History for October 20th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

1814 – The London Beer Flood occurred in London, killing 9 people on the 17th October 1814.

1860 – The Open Championship also known as the British Open golf tournament was held for the first time on the 17th October 1860.

1888 – Thomas Edison filed a patent for the Optical Phonograph (first movie) on the 17th October 1888.

1907 – Guglielmo Marconi‘s company began the 1st commercial transatlantic wireless service on the 17th October 1907, between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland.

1919 – RCA was incorporated as the Radio Corporation of America on the 17th October 1919.

1931 – Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion on the 17th October 1931.

1933 – Albert Einstein fled Nazi Germany and moved to the United States on the 17th October 1933.

1938 – Evel Knievel the American motorcycle stuntman was born on the 17th October 1938 (died 2007).

1942 – Gary Puckett the American singer-songwriter from Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was born on the 17th October 1942.

1943 – The Burma Railway also known as the Burma-Thailand Railway was completed on the 17th October 1943.

1956 – The 1st commercial nuclear power station was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in Sellafield, Cumbria, England on the 17th October 1956.

1956 – Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer played a famous chess game called The Game of the Century on the 17th October 1956. Bobby Fischer beat Donald Byrne and won a Brilliancy prize.

1964 – Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia opened the artificial Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, the capital of Australia on the 17th October 1964.

1965 ~ Rhys Muldoon the Australian actor, writer and director was born on the 17th October 1965, in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rhys Muldoon is best known as Sarge Leonard from the Lockie Leonard TV series.

1968 – Ziggy Marley the Jamaican singer-songwriter, guitarist, and voice actor was born on the 17th October 1968.

1969 – Wyclef Jean the Haitian-born American rapper and songwriter from the Fugees was born on the 17th October 1969.

1972 ~ Eminem the American rapper, songwriter, and record producer was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, in St Joseph, Missouri, on the 17th October 1972.  “Without Me” 2002 song by Eminem with over 653 million views on YouTube…

1979 – Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the 17th October 1979.

1982 – Nick Riewoldt the Australian rules footballer was born on the 17th October 1982.

1989 – 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (7.1 on the Richter scale) hit the San Francisco Bay Area and caused 63 deaths on the 17th October 1989.

1988 ~ DAMi iM the South-Korean born Australian piano teacher, singer and Australian X Factor winner was born on the 17th October 1988. Dami won the 5th series grand final of Australian X Factor with her mentor Dannii Minogue on the 28th October 2013.

1989 ~ Sophie Luck the Australian actress was born on the 17th October 1989. Sophie is best known for her roles on the television shows Blue Water High and Home and Away. See Sophie Luck’s official website: www.SophieLuck.com & Twitter: www.twitter.com/Sophie_Luck

2003 – Taipei 101, a 101 floor skyscraper in Taipei, became the world’s tallest highrise on the 17th October 2003, when a pinnacle was fitted on the top.

Today in History for October 17th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

1620 – Pierre Paul Puget the French painter and sculptor was born on the 16th October 1620 (died 1694).

1726 – Daniel Chodowiecki the Polish painter was born on the 16th October 1726 (died 1801).

1758 – Noah Webster the American lexicographer and author was born on the 16th October 1758 (died 1843).

1793 – Marie Antoinette was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution on the 16th October 1793. Marie Antoinette was the widow of Louis XVI.

1804 – Benjamin Russell the American painter was born on the 16th October 1804 (died 1885).

1846 – William TG Morton demonstrated ether anesthesia for the first time on the 16th October 1846, at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the Ether Dome.

1854 – Oscar Wilde the Irish author, poet, and playwright was born on the 16th October 1854 (died 1900).

1884 – Rembrandt Bugatti the Italian sculptor was born on the 16th October 1884 (died 1916).

1890 – Paul Strand the American photographer was born on the 16th October 1890 (died 1975).

1922 – Max Bygraves the English actor and singer was born on the 16th October 1922 (died 2012).

1923 – The Walt Disney Company was founded by Walt Disney and his brother, Roy Disney on the 16th October 1923.

1923 – Bert Kaempfert the German orchestra leader and composer was born on the 16th October 1923 (died 1980).

1925 – Angela Lansbury the English-American actress and singer was born on the 16th October 1925.

1944 – Wally Walrus, known as Woody Woodpecker’s first steady foil, debuted on the The Beach Nut, a Walter Lantz’s cartoon on the 16th October 1944.

1962 – Flea the Australian-American bass player and songwriter from Red Hot Chili Peppers was born on the 16th October 1962.

1964 – The People’s Republic of China detonated its first nuclear weapon on the 16th October 1964.

1969 – Wendy Wilson the American singer from Wilson Phillips was born on the 16th October 1969.

1973 – Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the 16th October 1973.

1975 – The Balibo Five, a group of Australian television journalists in the town of Balibo, in Portuguese Timor (now East Timor) were killed by Indonesian troops on the 16th October 1975.

1977 – John Mayer the American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born on the 16th October 1977.

1978 – Pope John Paul II was elected after the October 1978 Papal conclave on the 16th October 1978.

1978 – Wanda Rutkiewicz was the 1st Polish and the 1st European woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest on the 16th October 1978.

1984 – The Bill debuted on ITV on the 16th October 1984, and became the longest-running police procedural in British television history.

1984 – Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the 16th October 1984.

1985 ~ CASEY STONER the Australian professional motorcycle racer was born on the 28th October in 1985. Casey Stoner is best known for being a 2 time MotoGP World Champion in 2007 and 2011. Casey was born in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia and raised in Southport, Queensland, where he raced from 4 years old. Casey Stoner announced that he would retire from Grand Prix racing at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

1986 – Reinhold Messner became the 1st person to summit all 14 Eight-thousanders on the 16th October 1986.

1991 ~ JEDWARD duo John & Edward Grimes the Irish singers were born on the 16th October 1991 in Dublin, Ireland. Official Jedward website: www.planetJedward.net | official Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialJedward | Twitter verified: www.twitter.com/planetjedward | YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/JEDWARDTV | YouTube video: Young Love (2012) ~ Jedward…

1995 – The Million Man March occurred in Washington, D.C. on the 16th October 1995.

1995 – The Skye Bridge was opened on the 16th October 1995.

2011 ~ CASEY STONER had his 5th straight win at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island on the 16th October in 2011, and it was also his 2nd World championship, all on his birthday!

2012 ~ The KUNSTHAL MUSEUM in Rotterdam, Netherlands, had 7 paintings stolen on the 16th October 2012. The paintings stolen were by Monet, Picasso, Gauguin, Matisse, De Haan and Freud.

Today in History for October 16th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…