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On This Day · The 276th day of the year

October 3

A look at October 3 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Louis Aragon and Eddie Cochran, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2013

    2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck

    At least 360 migrants are killed when their boat sinks near the Italian island of Lampedusa.

    Fatal maritime incident near
  2. 2009

    Azerbaijan

    Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey join in the Turkic Council.

    Country in Eastern Europe
  3. 2008

    Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

    The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 for the U.S. financial system is signed by President George W. Bush.

    US law creating the
  4. 1991

    Nadine Gordimer

    Nadine Gordimer is announced as the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

    South African writer (1923–2014)
  5. 1981

    1981 Irish hunger strike

    The hunger strike at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland ends after seven months and ten deaths.

    Protest by Irish republican
  6. 1952

    Operation Hurricane

    The United Kingdom successfully tests a nuclear weapon in the Montebello Islands, Western Australia, to become the world's third nuclear power.

    1952 British atomic bomb
  7. 1951

    First Battle of Maryang-san

    Korean War: The First Battle of Maryang San pits Commonwealth troops against communist Chinese troops.

    Battle of the Korean
  8. 1943

    World War II

    World War II: German forces murder 92 civilians in Lingiades, Greece.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  9. 1789

    George Washington

    George Washington proclaims Thursday November 26, 1789 as Thanksgiving Day.

    U.S. Founding Father, president
  10. 1392

    Muhammad VII of Granada

    Muhammed VII becomes the twelfth sultan of the Emirate of Granada.

    Sultan of Granada from
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Famous birthday twins

Born on October 3

Louis Aragon

b. 1897

French author and poet

Eddie Cochran

b. 1938

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor

Warner Oland

b. 1879

Swedish-American actor and singer

Pierre Bonnard

b. 1867

French painter

Sergei Yesenin

b. 1895

Russian poet

Herman Li

b. 1976

Hong Kong-English guitarist and producer

Zlatan Ibrahimović

b. 1981

Swedish footballer

Giovanni Comisso

b. 1895

Italian author and poet

Deaths

  • 1988Franz Josef Strauss, Bavarian lieutenant and politician, Minister President of Bavaria
  • 1967Woody Guthrie, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1965Zachary Scott, American actor
  • 1953Arnold Bax, English composer and poet
  • 1929Gustav Stresemann, German politician, Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1890Joseph Hergenröther, German historian and cardinal

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Abd-al-Masih
  • —Christian feast day: Adalgott
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Szilárd Bogdánffy
  • —Christian feast day: Dionysius the Areopagite
  • —Christian feast day: Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair
  • —Christian feast day: Francis Borgia
  • —Christian feast day: John Raleigh Mott (Episcopal Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Gerard of Brogne

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