October 28

Events
Up to 1900
306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. Also on this day, in 312, he is defeated in battle and drowns in the River Tiber.
312 - Battle of Milvain Bridge: Constantine I defeats Maxentius to become Roman Emperor.
1344 - The lower town of Smyrna (Izmir), in present-day Turkey, is captured by Crusaders.
1420 - Beijing officially becomes the capital city of Ming Dynasty China.
1492 - Christopher Columbus reaches Cuba.
1516 - Battle of Yaunis Khan: Turkish forces under Grand Vizier Sinan Pasha defeat the Mameluks near Gaza.
1531 - Battle of Amba Sel: Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi defeats the army of Lebna Dengel, Emperor of Ethiopia. Imam Ahmad takes control of southern Ethiopia.
1628 - The Siege of La Rochelle, France, is ended through forces loyal to King Louis XIII of France, following the surrender of the mainly Huguenot challenge.
1636 - Harvard University is founded.
1644 - The Regiment that later becomes the Royal Marines is founded by the then-Duke of York, later King James II of England/VII of Scotland.
1707 - The Hoei earthquake causes over 5,000 deaths in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, Japan.
1746 - An earthquake of Lima, Peru, of estimated magnitude 8.4, kills around 18,000 people. The coastal city of Callao is almost completely destroyed.
1775 - American Revolutionary War: A British proclamation forbids residents to leave Boston, Massachusetts.
1776 - American Revolutionary War: British forces arrive at White Plains, New York and attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Americans.
1834 - Battle of Pinjarra: In present-day Western Australia, British colonists kill between 14 and 40 Aborigines.
1835 - The United Tribes of New Zealand are founded, signed by 31 Maori chiefs.
1836 - The Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation is formed.
1848 - Spain's first railway line is opened.
1856 - Portugal's first railway line is completed.
1869 - Dmitri Mendeleev publishes the Periodic Table of the elements.
1886 - The Statue of Liberty is dedicated by Grover Cleveland.
1891 - An earthquake in Japan kills 7,273 people.
1900 - The 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris end after five months.
1901 2000
1904 - Panama and Uruguay start diplomatic relations.
1918 - Czechoslovakia becomes independent.
1918 - A new Polish government is created in Galicia.
1919 - United States Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, paving the way for prohibition to begin in January 1920.
1922 - Fascists led by Benito Mussolini take over the Italian government.
1929 - Black Monday during the Wall Street Crash.
1940 - World War II: Italy invades Greece through Albania.
1942 - The Alaska Highway is completed.
1951 - Juan Manuel Fangio wins the Formula One championship.
1954 - Ernest Hemingway wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1954 - The Modern Kingdom of the Netherlands is re-founded as a federal monarchy.
1958 - Pope John XXIII becomes Pope.
1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis ends.
1964 - Vietnam War: US officials deny involvement in the bombing of North Vietnam.
1965 - The Gateway Arch in Saint Louis, Missouri is completed.
1974 - In Woomera, South Australia, the British rocket Black Arrow is launched, along the satellite Prospero.
1981 - The band Metallica is founded.
1982 - Felipe Gonzalez is elected Prime Minister of Spain.
1990 - The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic holds its first election involving more than one political party.
1995 - A train fire in the Baku Metro kills 289 people.
1995 - Antonio Guterres becomes Prime Minister of Portugal.
1998 - An Air China jetliner is hijacked by disgruntled pilot Yuan Bin and flown to Taiwan.
From 2001
2005 - American politician Lewis Libby resigns over the Valerie Plame Affair.
2007 - Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is elected President of Argentina.
2009 - A bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, kills 117 people and injures 213.
2009 - Angela Merkel begins her second term as Chancellor of Germany.
2012 - People along the east coast of the United States prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which had already caused a lot of destruction in the Caribbean.
2013 - The St Jude Storm, also known as "Christian", "Carmen" and "Simone", hits the southern UK, northern France, the Low Countries, Germany, Denmark and southern Sweden. At least 15 people are killed, either from falling trees or getting swept out to sea, and transport is disrupted. Denmark records its highest wind-speed during this storm.
2017 - Two bomb attacks in Mogadishu, Somalia, kill at least 19 people, after a massive bomb attack in the city had killed over 350 people two weeks earlier.
2018 - Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro is elected President of Brazil.
Births
Up to 1900
1017 - Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1056)
1510 - Francisco Borgia, Spanish Jesuit (d. 1572)
1536 - Felix Platter, Swiss writer and physician (d. 1614)
1585 - Cornelius Jansen, Dutch bishop and theologian (d. 1638)
1667 - Maria Anna of Neuburg, Queen of Spain (d. 1740)
1691 - Peder Tordenskjold, Norwegian naval hero (d. 1720)
1697 - Canaletto, Italian artist (d. 1768)
1703 - Antoine Deparcieux, French mathematician (d. 1768)
1718 - Ignacije Szentmartony, Croatian Jesuit missionary (d. 1793)
1733 - Franz Ignaz von Beecke, German composer (d. 1803)
1751 - Dmitry Bortniansky, Russian and Ukrainian composer (d. 1825)
1767 - Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel, Queen of Denmark and Norway (d. 1852)
1793 - Caroline of Denmark (d. 1881)
1803 - Caroline Unger, Austrian singer (d. 1877)
1804 - Pierre Francois Verhulst, Belgian mathematician (d. 1849)
1818 - Ivan Turgenev, Russian writer (d. 1883) (November 9 in Gregorian calendar)
1823 - William Simpson, Scottish artist and war correspondent (d. 1899)
1837 - Tokugawa Yoshinobu, Japanese shogun (d. 1913)
1839 - Edward P. Allen, American captain, lawyer and politician (d. 1909)
1840 - Joseph W. Fifer, 19th Governor of Illinois (d. 1938)
1845 - Zymunt Florenty Wroblewski, Polish physicist (d. 1888)
1846 - Auguste Escoffier, French chef (d. 1935)
1854 - Jean-Marie Guyau, French philosopher and poet (d. 1888)
1860 - Jigoro Kano, Japanese martial artist (d. 1938)
1860 - Hugo Preuss, German politician (d. 1938)
1864 - Adolfo Camarillo, American-born Mexican land owner and rancher (d. 1958)
1866 - Ramon del Valle-Inclan, Galician writer (d. 1936)
1875 - Gilbert H. Grosvenor, American geographer and editor (d. 1966)
1879 - Channing H. Cox, 49th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1968)
1882 - Grigol Robakidze, Georgian writer (d. 1962)
1885 - Per Albin Hansson, Prime Minister of Sweden (d. 1946)
1886 - O. G. S. Crawford, English archaeologist (d. 1957)
1889 - Juliette Beliveau, Canadian actress and singer (d. 1975)
1891 - Ormer Locklear, American pilot (d. 1980)
1892 - Dink Johnson, American pianist, drummer and clarinettist (d. 1954)
1896 - Howard Hanson, American composer (d. 1981)
1897 - Edith Head, American costume designer (d. 1981)
1901 1950
1901 - Eileen Shanahan, Irish poet (d. 1979)
1902 - Elsa Lanchester, Anglo-American actress (d. 1986)
1903 - Evelyn Waugh, British writer (d. 1966)
1904 - George Dangerfield, English-American historian, journalist and author (d. 1986)
1907 - Tommy Hampson, British athlete (d. 1965)
1908 - Arturo Frondizi, President of Argentina (d. 1995)
1909 - Francis Bacon, Anglo-Irish painter (d. 1992)
1912 - Richard Doll, British epidemiologist (d. 2005)
1914 - Jonas Salk, American doctor, developed the Polio vaccine (d. 1995)
1914 - Richard Laurence Millington Synge, British biochemist (d. 1994)
1921 - Azumafuji Kin'ichi, Japanese sumo wrestler (d. 1973)
1922 - Simon Muzenda, Zimbabwean politician (d. 2003)
1925 - Ian Hamilton Findlay, Scottish poet, writer, artist and gardener (d. 2006)
1927 - Roza Makagonova, Russian writer (d. 1995)
1927 - Cleo Laine, British singer
1928 - Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, Egyptian Muslim cleric (d. 2010)
1928 - Marcel Bozzuffi, French actor (d. 1988)
1928 - Lawrie Reilly, Scottish footballer (d. 2013)
1928 - William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank, British politician
1929 - Joan Plowright, British actress
1929 - John Hollander, American poet
1929 - Virginia Held, American philosopher and author
1930 - Bernie Ecclestone, British Formula 1 executive
1931 - Harold Battiste, American composer, arranger, performer and teacher (d. 2015)
1932 - Gerhart Baum, German politician
1932 - Spyros Kyprianou, President of Cyprus (d. 2002)
1933 - Garrincha, Brazilian footballer (d. 1983)
1935 - Alan Clarke, British movie director (d. 1990)
1936 - Horst Antes, German artist and sculptor
1936 - Carl Davis, American-born British conductor and composer
1936 - Charlie Daniels, American country musician
1937 - Lenny Wilkins, American basketball player
1938 - David Dimbleby, British broadcaster
1938 - Dave Budd, American basketball player
1938 - Bernadette Lafont, French actress (d. 2013)
1938 - Anne Perry, British writer
1939 - Jane Alexander, American actress
1939 - Miroslav Cerar, Yugoslavian gymnast
1941 - Hank Marvin, English guitarist
1941 - Curtis Lee, American singer
1942 - Kees Verkerk, Dutch speed skater
1943 - Cornelia Froboess, German actress
1944 - Anton Schlecker, German businessman
1944 - Dennis Franz, American actor
1944 - Gerry Anderson, Northern Irish broadcaster (d. 2014)
1944 - Ian Marter, English actor and writer (d. 1986)
1945 - Sandy Berger, American lawyer and politician (d. 2015)
1945 - Wayne Fontana, American singer
1946 - Wim Jansen, Dutch footballer and coach
1949 - Caitlyn Jenner, American athlete and television personality
1950 - Ludo Delcroix, Belgian cyclist
1950 - Sihem Bensedrine, Tunisian journalist and activist
1951 1975
1951 - Ronnie and Donnie Galyon, American conjoined twins
1951 - Peter Hitchens, English journalist and author
1952 - Annie Potts, American actress
1954 - Christopher Benfey, American literary critic
1955 - Digby Jones, English politician and businessman
1955 - Yves Simoneau, Canadian movie and television director
1955 - Bill Gates, American entrepreneur
1956 - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former President of Iran
1956 - Sandy Clark, Scottish footballer and coach
1956 - Franky Vercateuren, Belgian footballer and coach
1957 - Florence Arthaud, French sailor (d. 2015)
1957 - Stephen Paul David Morris, British musician
1957 - Scott Hahn, American theologian
1958 - William Reid, Scottish musician
1958 - Concha Garcia Campoy, Spanish journalist (d. 2013)
1958 - Ashok Chavan, Indian politician, 16th Chief Minister of Maharashtra
1962 - Scotty Nguyen, Vietnamese-born American professional poker player
1962 - Erik Thorstvedt, Norwegian footballer
1962 - Daphne Zuniga, American actress
1963 - Lauren Holly, American actress
1963 - Eros Ramazzotti, Italian singer-songwriter and musician
1963 - Sheryl Underwood, American comedian and talk show host
1964 - Andrew Bridgen, English politician
1965 - Jami Gertz, American actress
1966 - Andy Richter, American actor and comedian
1967 - Richard Bona, Cameroonian musician
1967 - Kevin Macdonald, Scottish movie director
1967 - Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein
1967 - Julia Roberts, American actress
1967 - John Romero, American video game designer
1968 - Marc Lievremont, French rugby player and coach
1969 - Ben Harper, American rock musician
1969 - Jeremy Davies, American actor
1972 - Brad Paisley, American musician
1973 - Alvin Burke, Jr., American professional wrestler known under the ring name Montel Vontavious Porter or MVP.
1974 - Joaquin Phoenix, American actor
1974 - Vicente Moreno, Spanish footballer and manager
1974 - Dayanara Torres, Puerto Rican actress and singer
From 1976
1979 - Aki Hakala, Finnish drummer
1979 - Isabella Ochichi, Kenyan athlete
1979 - Martin Skoula, Czech ice hockey player
1979 - Jawed Karim, German-American internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube
1979 - Natina Reed, American actress, rapper and singer-songwriter (d. 2012)
1980 - Alan Smith, English footballer
1981 - Milan Baros, Czech footballer
1981 - Solomon Andargachew, Ethiopian footballer
1982 - Jeremy Bonderman, American baseball player
1982 - Mai Kuraki, Japanese singer-songwriter, pianist and producer
1982 - Matt Smith, British actor
1983 - Jarrett Jack, American basketball player
1984 - Obafemi Martins, Nigerian footballer
1984 - Kari Kristjansson, Icelandic handball player
1984 - Bryn Evans, New Zealand rugby player
1985 - Troian Bellisario, American actress
1986 - Aki Toyosaki, Japanese voice actress
1987 - Frank Ocean, American singer-songwriter
1988 - Jamie xx, English musician, DJ and record producer
1988 - Go Eun-ah, South Korean actress
1989 - Camille Muffat, French swimmer (d. 2015)
1991 - Lucy Bronze, English footballer
1996 - Jack Eichel, American ice hockey player
1996 - Jasmine Jessica Anthony, American actress
1997 - Sierra McCormick, American actress
1997 - Taylor Hinz, American tennis player
1998 - Nolan Gould, American actor
2004 - Miss Beazley, George W. Bush's pet dog (d. 2014)
Deaths
Up to 1900
312 - Maxentius, Roman Emperor (b. 278)
1225 - Jien, Japanese poet and historian (b. 1155)
1312 - Elisabeth of Tirol (b. 1262)
1412 - Margaret I of Denmark (b. 1353)
1485 - Rodolphus Agricola, Dutch humanist (b. 1443)
1568 - Ashikaga Yoshihide, Japanese shogun (b. 1539)
1627 - Jahangir, Mughal Emperor (b. 1569)
1639 - Stefano Landi, Italian composer (b. 1587)
1646 - William Dobson, English painter (b. 1610)
1661 - Agustin Moreto y Cavana, Spanish playwright (b. 1618)
1703 - John Wallis, English mathematician (b. 1616)
1704 - John Locke, English philosopher (b. 1632)
1708 - Prince George of Denmark, Prince Consort of Great Britain (b. 1653)
1740 - Empress Anna of Russia (b. 1693)
1754 - Friedrich von Hagedorn, German poet (b. 1708)
1768 - Michel Blavet, French flautist and composer (b. 1700)
1792 - John Smeaton, British civil engineer (b. 1724)
1818 - Abigail Adams, First Lady of the United States (b. 1744)
1857 - Louis-Eugene Cavaignac, 26th Prime Minister of France (b. 1802)
1899 - Ottmar Mergenthaler, German-American inventor (b. 1854)
1900 - Max Muller, German philologist (b. 1823)
1901 2000
1916 - Oswald Boelcke, German pilot (b. 1891)
1917 - Dimitrios Votsis, Greek politician (b. 1841)
1918 - Ulisse Dini, Italian mathematician (b. 1845)
1929 - Bernhard von Bulow, Chancellor of Germany (b. 1849)
1939 - Alice Brady, American actress (b. 1892)
1952 - Billy Hughes, 7th Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1862)
1959 - Camilo Cienfuegos, Cuban revolutionary (b. 1932)
1969 - Constance Dowling, American actress (b. 1920)
1973 - Taha Hussein, Egyptian historian, author and academic (b. 1889)
1973 - Sergio Topano, Italian actor, director and playwright (b. 1883)
1975 - Georges Carpentier, French boxer (b. 1894)
1978 - Rukmani Devi, Sri Lankan actress and singer (b. 1923)
1983 - Otto Messmer, American animator (b. 1892)
1984 - Wells Kelly, American singer-songwriter and musician (b. 1949)
1986 - Ian Marter, English actor and writer (b. 1944)
1989 - Kateb Yacine, Algerian writer (b. 1929)
1998 - Ted Hughes, English poet (b. 1930)
From 2001
2005 - Richard Smalley, American chemist (b. 1943)
2005 - Tony Jackson, American basketball player (b. 1942)
2005 - Fernando Quejas, Cape Verdean singer and musician (b. 1922)
2006 - Red Auerbach, American basketball coach and executive (b. 1917)
2007 - Evelyn Hamann, German actress (b. 1942)
2007 - Porter Wagoner, American country singer (b. 1927)
2009 - Taylor Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter (b. 1990)
2010 - Jonathan Motzfeldt, 1st Prime Minister of Greenland (b. 1938)
2011 - Jiri Grusa, Czech writer and diplomat (b. 1938)
2012 - Terry Callier, American guitarist and singer-songwriter (b. 1945)
2013 - Tadeusz Mazowiecki, former Prime Minister of Poland (b. 1927)
2014 - Hans Schneider, Austrian-American mathematician (b. 1927)
2014 - Michael Sata, 5th President of Zambia (b. 1937)
2014 - Romualdas Granauskas, Lithuanian writer (b. 1939)
2014 - Koichiro Kimura, Japanese writer and martial artist (b. 1940)
2014 - Galway Kinnell, American poet (b. 1927)
2017 - Gert Timmerman, Dutch singer (b. 1935)
2017 - Josaphat-Robert Large, Haitian-American poet, novelist and art critic (b. 1942)
2018 - Luis Miguel Enciso Recio, Spanish historian and politician (b. 1930)
2018 - Richard Gill, Australian conductor and activist (b. 1941)
2018 - Colin Sylvia, Australian football player (b. 1985)
2018 - I. John Hesselink, American theologian (b. 1928)
2019 - Al Bianchi, American baseball player and coach (b. 1932)
2019 - Kay Hagan, American politician (b. 1953)
2019 - Zoltan Jeney, Hungarian composer (b. 1943)
Observances
Czech Republic and Slovakia: National holiday marking the independence of Czechoslovakia in 1918
Ochi Day in Greece, Cyprus and Greek communities
Days of the year