Historic October

We look into all the historic events that took place in October throughout the years.

Events

4^th October 1911 – The first escalator in Britain opens at Earls Court, London
7^th October, 1920, Women admitted to Oxford University as full members for the first time and are given the right to take degrees.
9^th October 1967, the breathalyser is introduced to determine blood alcohol level of drivers.
10^th October 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst founds the Women’s Social and Political Union to campaign for women’s suffrage in Britain.
11^th October 1899, Start of the Anglo-Boer War.
15^th October 1666, Samuel Pepys, the diarist records the first wearing of a waistcoat. It was worn by King Charles II.
16^th October 1902, the first Young Offenders prison is opened in England at Borstal.
17^th October 1860, the first professional Golf Tournament is played at Prestwick in Scotland.
19^th October 1781, British general, Lord Charles Cornwallis, surrenders to George Washington at Yorktown ending the American War of Independence.
22^nd October 1957, Captain Pugwash debuts
23^rd October 1642, the first major battle of the English Civil War is held at Edgehill.
25^th October 1854, the Charge of the Light Brigade takes place.
26^th October 1863, the English Football Association is formed.
28^th October 1831, Michael Faraday demonstrates the dynamo, founding the science of electro-magneticism.
30^th October 1925, the first television transmission of a moving image is made by Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird.
31^st October 1517, Martin Luther triggers the Protestant Reformation.

Births

1^st October 1207, birth of King Henry III
2^nd October 1452, birth of King Richard III, the last Plantagenet king.  Find out more about both Henry and Richard in future Monarch of the Months.
13^th October 1852, Lillie Langtry, actress and mistress of King Edward VII.
20^th October 1632, Christopher Wren, the architect who rebuilt St Paul’s Cathdral after the Great Fire of London.
27^th October 1914, Dylan Thomas, Welsh poet.

Deaths

3^rd October 1283, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales is hung drawn and quartered, the first British nobleman to be so.
6^th October 1892, Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson
8^th October 1967, Clement Atlee, former prime minister.
14^th October 1066, King Harold II, dies at the Battle of Hastings.
18^th October 1865, Lord Palmerston, former member of parliament.
21^st October 1805, Admiral Nelson is mortally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar.
24^th October 1537, Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII dies following complications in childbirth of future king, Edward VI.
29^th October 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh is beheaded on the orders of King James I.