✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 301st day of the year

October 28

A look at October 28 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Coluche and Troian Bellisario, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♏ZodiacScorpio ◈BirthstoneOpal ❀Birth flowerMarigold
Advertisement 728 × 90 leaderboard

Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2009

    Barack Obama

    US President Barack Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

    President of the United
  2. 1971

    Prospero (spacecraft)

    Prospero becomes the only British satellite to be launched by a British rocket.

    British experimental satellite launched
  3. 1940

    World War II

    World War II: Greece rejects Italy's ultimatum. Italy invades Greece through Albania a few hours later.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1918

    World War I

    World War I: A new Polish government in western Galicia is established, triggering the Polish–Ukrainian War.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  5. 1776

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: British troops attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Continental Army.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  6. 1707

    1707 Hōei earthquake

    The 1707 Hōei earthquake causes more than 5,000 deaths in Japan.

    Earthquake and tsunami off
  7. 1640

    Treaty of Ripon

    The Treaty of Ripon is signed, ending the hostilities of the Second Bishops' War.

    1640 treaty ceasing hostilities
  8. 1520

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Pacific Ocean.

    Portuguese explorer (1480–1521)
  9. 1453

    Ladislaus the Posthumous

    Ladislaus the Posthumous is crowned king of Bohemia in Prague.

    Duke of Austria, and
  10. 1420

    Beijing

    Beijing is officially designated the capital of the Ming dynasty when the Forbidden City is completed.

    Capital city of China
Advertisement Responsive in-content unit

Famous birthday twins

Born on October 28

Coluche

b. 1944

French comedian and actor

Troian Bellisario

b. 1985

American actress

Bill Gates

b. 1955

American businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Microsoft

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

b. 1956

Iranian engineer and politician, 6th President of Iran

Brad Paisley

b. 1972

American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Chris Bauer

b. 1966

American actor

Julia Roberts

b. 1967

American actress and producer

Erasmus

b. 1466

Dutch philosopher

Deaths

  • 2013Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Polish journalist and politician, Prime Minister of Poland
  • 1959Camilo Cienfuegos, Cuban soldier
  • 1916Oswald Boelcke, German WWI flying ace
  • 1704John Locke, English physician and philosopher
  • 1646William Dobson, English painter
  • 1138Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland from 1107 to 1138

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Abdias of Babylon
  • —Christian feast day: Abgar V of Edessa (Eastern Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Eadsige
  • —Christian feast day: Faro
  • —Christian feast day: Fidelis of Como (Roman Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Firmilian
  • —Christian feast day: Godwin of Stavelot
  • —Christian feast day: Job of Pochayiv (repose) (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Born on this day?

Make your birthday card.

Drop in your birth year and we'll work out your exact age, the day of the week you were born, your Chinese zodiac, your generation, and the countdown to your next candle.