Fact 1: The Knights Templar Connection
October 13, 1307 was the fateful day when many members of the Knights Templar, a renowned medieval order, were arrested in France. This event is believed to have given rise to the belief in the unluckiness of Friday the 13th.
Fact 2: A Day of Birth for U.S. Presidents
October 13 is the birthday of two U.S. presidents. The first being the 21st President, Chester A. Arthur, who was born in 1829, followed by the 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1858.
Fact 3: An Unusual Alphabetical Day
October 13 is the only day of the year that when written in English (October thirteenth), all the letters in the words are in alphabetical order.
Fact 4: Historical Fly by Day
October 13, 1860, marked the first aerial photo in history, which was shot from a balloon during the American Civil War.
Fact 5: The First World Series Delay
On October 13, 1914, for the first time in World Series history, a game was postponed due to rain - an interesting fact for fans of baseball history.
Fact 6: The Mystery of "Fatima"
On October 13, 1917, the "Miracle of the Sun" happened in Fatima, Portugal. Many believers claim that the sun danced, changed colors, and whirled around in the sky on this day.
Fact 7: Launch of the Double Helix
October 13, 1953, was the day when Francis Crick and James Watson first unveiled the double helix structure of DNA to the world.
Fact 8: The Near Nuclear Catastrophe
On October 13, 1960, the U.S. narrowly averted a nuclear disaster as a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs suffered a crash.
Fact 9: A Memorable Day for Lovers of Classic Literature
October 13, 1925, is the birth date of the greatest Irish playwright and the laureate of black comedy, Harold Pinter.
Fact 10: Margaret Thatcher’s Power Day
On October 13, 1925, Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" of Britain and the first female prime minister of the country, was born.
Fact 11: Setting a Precedent for Female Pilots
October 13, 1904, marked the date when the first woman to fly, Mary Walsh, piloted a Wright Brothers' plane.
Fact 12: An Important Day for the Navy
October 13 is celebrated as the U.S. Navy's birthday. Initially formed in 1775 during the American Revolutionary War, it was officially named and recognized as the U.S. Navy on this date.
Fact 13: International Day for Disaster Reduction
Every year on October 13, the International Day for Disaster Reduction is observed to encourage citizens and governments to participate in building more disaster-resilient communities worldwide.
Fact 14: The Birth of the Zeppelin
October 13, 1863, was the birthdate of Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the German general and later inventor of the rigid airships named after him.
Fact 15: Creation of the White House Press Room
On October 13, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson’s wife, Ellen, had the White House basement turned into a workspace for journalists, beginning the tradition of the White House press room.
Fact 16: A Beatles Album Makes History
On October 13, 1963, the Beatles' first full album, "Please Please Me," entered the Billboard Top LPs chart.
Fact 17: An Important Date for Paul Simon Fans
October 13, 1941, is the birthdate of American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, who is best known as half of the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.
Fact 18: Launch of Sydney Opera House
October 13, 1973, marked the opening of the iconic Sydney Opera House. This architectural masterpiece was officially inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II.
Fact 19: The Roots of Oktoberfest
While most associate Oktoberfest with beer, the festival actually originated on October 12, 1810, as the public celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. The festivities continued through October 13 and marked the beginning of the tradition.
Fact 20: A Historic Decision for Women’s Rights
October 13, 1967, was the date of a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Alice Paul's case that stated women have an equal right to employment opportunities, paving the way for future advancements in women’s rights legislation.