Harvard College Is Founded
On October 28, 1636, Massachusetts voted to found a college that became Harvard, the first in the English colonies.
Swift Publishes Gulliver's Travels
On October 28, 1726, Jonathan Swift published Gulliver's Travels, a satire that mocked the age.
The Statue of Liberty Is Dedicated
On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor as a gift from France.
Black Tuesday on Wall Street
The Wall Street crash continued on 28 October 1929 with the Dow falling nearly 13 per cent in a day, opening the contraction that became the Depression.
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.
The Cuban Missile Crisis Ends
On October 28, 1962, Khrushchev announced the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba, ending the thirteen day Cuban missile crisis.
Work Begins on the Tazara Railway
On October 28, 1970, construction began on the Tazara railway, built with Chinese aid to link Zambia to the coast at Dar es Salaam.
The Yellow River Is Diverted at Xiaolangdi
On October 28, 1997, the Yellow river was diverted at Xiaolangdi and the dam was closed, a key step in a large flood control project.