Date·Lore

On This Day · The 286th day of the year

October 13

October 13 carries 10 recorded events spanning between 54 and 2016. Roman emperor Claudius dies from poisoning under mysterious circumstances. He is succeeded by his adopted son Nero, rather than by Britannicus, his son with Messalina.

♎ZodiacLibra ◈BirthstoneOpal ❀Birth flowerMarigold

Compiled & reviewed by · Last reviewed July 13, 2026

What happened on October 13?

October 13 is the 286th day of the year. It marks 10 notable events in history, dated between 54 and 2016. Famous people born on October 13 include Paul Simon, Margaret Thatcher and Maria Cantwell.

The shape of the day

Few dates reach as far back as October 13: its recorded history runs unusually deep, stretching to 54. Its center of gravity is the 20th century.

Libra is the sign for October 13 — read more on the Libra page, or see October's birthstone & birth flower.

Released on October 13

Movies, games, albums & shows

2025

  • Game Spindle

2023

  • Game Lords of the Fallen
  • TV The Amazing Digital Circus

2022

  • Game Sunday Gold
  • Game Cultic
  • Game Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway

2021

  • Game Junkyard Simulator
  • Game Monark

Release data from TMDB & IGDB.

Events

10 notable moments
  1. 54

    AD 54

    Roman emperor Claudius dies from poisoning under mysterious circumstances. He is succeeded by his adopted son Nero, rather than by Britannicus, his son with Messalina.

  2. 1269

    Westminster Abbey

    The present church building at Westminster Abbey is consecrated.

  3. 1307

    Knights Templar

    Hundreds of the Knights Templar in France are arrested at dawn by King Philip the Fair, and later confess under torture to heresy.

  4. 1332

    Rinchinbal Khan

    Rinchinbal Khan becomes the Khagan of the Mongols and Emperor of the Yuan dynasty, reigning for only 53 days.

  5. 1792

    White House

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

  6. 1911

    Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

    Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, becomes the first Governor General of Canada of royal descent.

  7. 1917

    Miracle of the Sun

    The "Miracle of the Sun" is witnessed by an estimated 70,000 people in the Cova da Iria in Portugal.

  8. 1923

    Ankara

    Ankara becomes the capital of Turkey.

  9. 1972

    Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571

    Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes mountains. Twenty-eight survive the crash. All but 16 succumb before rescue on December 23.

  10. 2016

    Maldives

    The Maldives announces its decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations.

Famous birthday twins

Born on October 13

Paul Simon

b. 1941

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Margaret Thatcher

b. 1925

English chemist and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Maria Cantwell

b. 1958

American lawyer and politician

Sacha Baron Cohen

b. 1971

English comedian, actor, and screenwriter

Dési Bouterse

b. 1945

Surinamese general and politician, 9th President of Suriname

Annegret Richter

b. 1950

German sprinter

Kurt Reidemeister

b. 1893

German mathematician connected to the Vienna Circle

Rudolf Virchow

b. 1821

German physician, biologist, and politician

Deaths

  • 2016Dario Fo
  • 1961Louis Rwagasore
  • 1822Antonio Canova
  • 1812Isaac Brock
  • 982Emperor Jingzong of Liao

Holidays & observances

  • —Azerbaijani Railway Day (Azerbaijan)
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Alexandrina of Balasar
  • —Christian feast day: Daniel and companions, of Ceuta
  • —Christian feast day: Edward the Confessor (translation)
  • —Christian feast day: Gerald of Aurillac
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Maddalena Panattieri (OP)
  • —Christian feast day: Theophilus of Antioch
  • —Christian feast day: October 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Historical facts, event summaries, and biographical lines above are adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. DateLore adds curation, structure, and original editorial commentary. DateLore is not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.

About the author

Roman Tailor compiles and reviews every date on DateLore. He's the writer and editor behind the site's editorial essays and the day-by-day almanac. Corrections and questions are welcome — read more about DateLore or get in touch.

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