Discover what happened on October 13 in history as military milestones shaped a new nation, technological breakthroughs transformed communication, extraordinary stories of survival captivated the world, and historic events helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on October 13 in History?
On this day, the Continental Congress established the force that became the U.S. Navy, the first modern World Series came to an end, a plane carrying a rugby team crashed in the Andes, America’s first commercial cellular network launched, and 33 trapped Chilean miners returned safely to the surface.
OCTOBER 13 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1775 – The Continental Congress authorized the creation of an American naval force by approving two armed vessels to intercept British ships carrying supplies and ammunition. The date is now celebrated as the birthday of the United States Navy.
1792 – The cornerstone of the President’s House, later known as the White House, was laid in Washington, DC. President Theodore Roosevelt officially adopted “White House” as the building’s name in 1901.
1903 – The Boston Americans defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 to win the first modern World Series, five games to three.
1914 – The “Miracle Braves” of Boston defeated the Philadelphia Athletics to complete the first four-game sweep in World Series history.
1951 – A rubber-covered football was reportedly used in a major college football game for the first time as Georgia Tech defeated LSU 25-7 in Atlanta.
1943 – Italy declared war on its former Axis partner Germany during World War II, formally joining the Allies in the fight against Nazi Germany.
1953 – Inventor Samuel Bagno received a patent for an ultrasonic burglar alarm that used high-frequency sound waves to detect movement.
1957 – Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra helped Ford promote its ill-fated new Edsel automobile during the television special The Edsel Show. The hour-long program also featured Louis Armstrong and Rosemary Clooney.
1958 – Paddington Bear made his debut when Michael Bond’s children’s book A Bear Called Paddington was published in Britain.
1960 – Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees and the World Series championship.
1967 – The American Basketball Association played the first game in league history as the Oakland Oaks defeated the Anaheim Amigos 134-129. The ABA eventually merged with the NBA in 1976.
1972 – Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed high in the Andes while carrying a rugby team, family members and friends to Chile. Sixteen people ultimately survived more than two months stranded in the mountains before being rescued in December. Their extraordinary ordeal became known as the “Miracle of the Andes.”
1983 – Ameritech Mobile Communications launched the first commercial cellular telephone network in the United States in Chicago, helping usher in the era of mobile phones.
1992 – An Air France Concorde completed an around-the-world flight in a record 33 hours and 1 minute, including refueling stops.
1992 – The U.S. Supreme Court declined to reinstate lawsuits claiming that Ozzy Osbourne’s music had contributed to the suicides of two teenagers.
1995 – Walt Disney World Resort, in Florida, admitted its 500-millionth guest.
1998 – The NBA canceled regular-season games because of its ongoing player lockout, the first time labor problems forced the league to cancel regular-season games.
1999 – A Colorado grand jury investigating the 1996 death of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey completed its work without prosecutors announcing an indictment.
1999 – Tobacco giant Philip Morris publicly acknowledged on its website that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and other serious diseases.
2010 – All 33 miners trapped deep underground at the San José copper and gold mine near Copiapó, Chile, were brought safely to the surface after spending a record 69 days underground.
2019 – Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei won the Chicago Marathon in 2:14:04, breaking the women’s marathon world record that had stood for 16 years.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON OCTOBER 13:
Terry Gibbs – 102 years old (1924) – Vibraphone player and bandleader
Bruce Morrow – 91 years old (1935) – Radio host and actor
Shirley Caesar – 88 years old (1938) – Gospel singer-songwriter
Paul Simon – 85 years old (1941) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Rutanya Alda – 84 years old (1942) – Latvian-American actress
Jerry Jones – 84 years old (1942) – Businessman
Robert Lamm – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer
Lacy J. Dalton – 80 years old (1946) – Country music singer-songwriter and guitarist
Joe Dolce – 79 years old (1947) – American-Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist
Sammy Hagar – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Mollie Katzen – 76 years old (1950) – Chef and author
Beverly Johnson – 74 years old (1952) – Model, actress, and singer
John Lone – 74 years old (1952) – Hong Kong-American actor
Pat Day – 73 years old (1953) – Jockey
Chris Carter – 70 years old (1956) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Reggie Theus – 69 years old (1957) – Basketball player and coach
Maria Cantwell – 68 years old (1958) – Lawyer and politician
Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells – 68 years old (1958) – Bassist and composer
Marie Osmond – 67 years old (1959) – Singer, actress, and television spokesperson
Joey Belladonna – 66 years old (1960) – Singer and songwriter
Derek Harper – 65 years old (1961) – Basketball player
Doc Rivers – 65 years old (1961) – Basketball player and coach
T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh – 64 years old (1962) – Actress and author
Jerry Rice – 64 years old (1962) – Football player
Colin Channer – 63 years old (1963) – Jamaican-American author and academic
Chip Foose – 63 years old (1963) – Engineer and television host
Doug Emhoff – 62 years old (1964) – Lawyer and second gentlemen of the United States
Christopher Judge – 62 years old (1964) – Actor and producer
Matt Walsh – 62 years old (1964) – Actor and comedian
Larry Collmus – 60 years old (1966) – Sportscaster
Scott Cooper – 59 years old (1967) – Baseball player
Trevor Hoffman – 59 years old (1967) – Baseball player
Kate Walsh – 59 years old (1967) – Actress and producer
Tisha Campbell-Martin – 58 years old (1968) – Actress and singer
Nancy Kerrigan – 57 years old (1969) – Figure skater and actress
Cady McClain – 57 years old (1969) – Actress and singer
Serena Altschul – 56 years old (1970) – Journalist
Billy Bush – 55 years old (1971) – Television journalist and radio host
Summer Sanders – 54 years old (1972) – Swimmer and sportscaster
Brian Dawkins – 53 years old (1973) – Football player and coach
Matt Hughes – 53 years old (1973) – Wrestler and mixed martial artist
Benjamin Clapp – 49 years old (1977) – Drummer
Paul Pierce – 49 years old (1977) – Basketball player
Kiele Sanchez – 49 years old (1977) – Actress
Jermaine O'Neal – 48 years old (1978) – Basketball player
Ashanti – 46 years old (1980) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
Taylor Buchholz – 45 years old (1981) – Baseball player
Brian Hoyer – 41 years old (1985) – Football player
Norris Cole – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player
Brace Belden – 37 years old (1989) – Communist and trade union activist, volunteer in the People's Protection Units
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – 37 years old (1989) – Politician
Shelby Rogers – 34 years old (1992) – Tennis player
Tiffany Trump – 33 years old (1993) – Socialite
Caleb McLaughlin – 25 years old (2001) – Actor
Cam Thomas – 25 years old (2001) – Basketball player
De'Von Achane – 25 years old (2001) – Football player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR OCTOBER 13:
- National No Bra Day: Free yourself from your constraints and go braless to help raise awareness about breast cancer, a disease with hundreds of thousands of new cases each year.
- National M&M Day: Enjoy the rainbow of candy colors surrounding delicious bits of chocolate in a bag of tasty M&Ms! How to Celebrate National M&M Day A myriad of fun ways can be found to enjoy and celebrate National M&M Day! Try out some of these ideas: Enjoy M&Ms Candies On this day...
- Own Business Day: Help support independent businesses on Own Business Day by participating in their website, events, and hashtags to boost awareness and growth.
- Disaster Day: No one wants to experience a disaster! But those who are ready and prepared will fare better if it does happen. Being proactive is what the International Day for Disaster Reduction is all about! How to Celebrate Disaster Day An important day for everyone all over the world to take...
- National Train Your Brain Day: Do a crossword, study a foreign language, or try your hand at some logic puzzles to keep your brain sharp and improve your mind.
- Ada Lovelace Day: One of history’s most influential figures, Ada Lovelace helped invent the computer. Honor her contributions by learning about her and other pioneering women.
- International Day for Failure: "You know what they say, 'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.' That really sums up the whole idea of failure. It’s not about the missteps you make, but what you do after that counts. Sometimes, you have to swing and miss to learn how to hit a...
- World Thrombosis Day: World Thrombosis Day helps people understand a serious health danger that often goes unnoticed—blood clots. These clots can block blood flow in the body and lead to conditions like deep vein thrombosis or lung blockages. In some cases, they can trigger strokes or heart attacks. Many people don’t know they’re at...
- Dysautonomia Awareness Month: Join or host a fundraising event, do your research, and help raise awareness about dysautonomia, a class of diseases affected the autonomic nervous system.
- Celebrate Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Metastatic breast cancer is a form of cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. This stage of cancer, also known as stage IV, is not curable, but treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of...
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Breast Cancer Awareness Day brings attention to a serious illness that touches many lives. It creates a space where support, care, and action take the lead. People wear pink, not just for color, but as a bold sign of unity. Survivors, families, and friends stand side by side, showing what strength...
- Navy Birthday: Did you know there's a special day honoring the U.S. Navy's creation? It's a time when sailors, veterans, and their families come together to reflect on their service. This day isn't just about history; it's about the people who dedicate their lives to protecting the seas. Across the country, communities...
- BRA Day USA: You’re sitting in a doctor’s office, heart racing, trying to make sense of the words “mastectomy” and “treatment plan.” It’s a moment no one prepares for. In the middle of that storm, many women never heard that they had options for rebuilding their bodies. That’s where BRA Day USA steps in...
- Herpes Awareness Day: Herpes Awareness Day opens the door to real talk about a virus many people have but rarely mention. It brings herpes into the open, away from whispering and into clear conversation. The virus spreads easily through skin contact, often without any signs. That’s why so many carry it without knowing...
- UK Coffee Week: UK Coffee Week is a lively celebration of the UK's coffee culture. For one week, coffee lovers, shops, and roasters unite to enjoy their favorite brews while supporting a great cause. The event is filled with various activities and events, all aimed at bringing people together over their shared love...
- National Face Your Fears Day: Don’t let your fears hold you back. Use Face Your Fears Day to confront those things that keep you from achieving your goals, and free yourself from fear.
- International Skeptics Day: Question everything - it's the compass that guides us through a world brimming with information, helping us navigate the sea of ideas.
- National Transfer Money to Your Son Day: Bestowing a gesture of familial love and support, a heartfelt token, ensuring your son's well-being and aspirations are nurtured.
- National School Lunch Week: Fueling minds, nourishing potential—school lunches aren't just meals; they're key ingredients for young aspirations to thrive.
- Baby Loss Awareness Week: Baby Loss Awareness Week brings light to a tender topic, uniting those touched by the loss of a baby. Celebrated from the 9th to the 15th of October every year, it offers a meaningful time for parents, families, and friends to honor and remember their dearly missed babies. This week serves...
- Rtveli: Rtveli is a vibrant grape harvest festival celebrated across Georgia. It is a joyful blend of hard work and celebration. It's a time when people unite to collect the fruits of their labor and honor the cultural heritage of winemaking that has been cherished for generations. The festival extends beyond...
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Join an event, forum, or exhibition for Hispanic Heritage Month, and appreciate the art, history, and cultural offerings of this rich and expansive heritage.
- Drink Local Wine Week: Drink Local Wine Week gives small wineries a chance to be noticed. It’s when bloggers and wine writers focus on bottles made nearby. Instead of just talking about famous spots like Napa or Willamette, this week shifts attention to local vineyards. People get to read about wines made just down the...
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