Louis XIV Dies
On September 1, 1715, Louis XIV died at Versailles after a 72-year reign, the longest of any major European monarch.
Don Giovanni Is Performed in Prague
On October 29, 1787, Mozart's opera Don Giovanni had its first performance at the theatre in Prague, with the composer conducting.
Alfred Nobel Is Born in Stockholm
On October 21, 1833, Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel prizes, was born in Stockholm.
Theodore Roosevelt Is Born in New York
On October 27, 1858, Theodore Roosevelt, who became the 26th US president and won the Nobel peace prize, was born in New York City.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria Is Stabbed in Geneva
On September 10, 1898, Empress Elisabeth of Austria was assassinated in Geneva by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni.
Peng Dehuai Is Born in Hunan
On October 24, 1898, Peng Dehuai, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army and commander in the Korean War, was born in Hunan.
President William McKinley Is Shot in Buffalo
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo; he died of gangrene eight days later.
Joseph Pulitzer Dies
On October 29, 1911, the newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who founded the Pulitzer prizes, died at the age of 64.
Thomas Edison Dies at 84
Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931, aged 84, holding 1,093 American patents.
The Writer Lu Xun Dies in Shanghai
On October 19, 1936, the Chinese writer Lu Xun, author of The Diary of a Madman and The True Story of Ah Q, died in Shanghai aged 55.
Pele Is Born in Brazil
On October 23, 1940, the Brazilian footballer Pele, the only player to win three World Cups, was born in Tres Coracoes.
Juliana Becomes Queen of the Netherlands
On September 6, 1948, Juliana became Queen of the Netherlands after her mother Wilhelmina abdicated, reigning until 1980.
James Dean Dies in a Car Crash
On September 30, 1955, James Dean died in a car crash near Cholame, California, aged 24.
Bill Gates Is Born in Seattle
On October 28, 1955, Bill Gates, who founded Microsoft and later set up a large philanthropic foundation, was born in Seattle.
Nikita Khrushchev Dies in Moscow
On September 11, 1971, Nikita Khrushchev died in Moscow, seven years after the party removed him from power.
Marshal Ye Jianying Dies
On October 22, 1986, Marshal Ye Jianying, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army, died in Beijing at the age of 89.
The Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
On September 6, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, was buried from Westminster Abbey after a car crash in Paris; billions watched worldwide.
The Writer Ba Jin Dies in Shanghai
On October 17, 2005, the Chinese novelist Ba Jin, author of the Torrent trilogy, died in Shanghai at the age of 100.