October 5 in history — What Happened Today in History
October 5 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on October 5 in history, who was born on October 5 and who passed away on October 5, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, October 5 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about October 5 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on October 5 in History 40
- 2021
Windows 11 is released to the general public.
- 2011
In the Mekong River massacre, two Chinese cargo boats are hijacked and 13 crew members murdered.
- 2000
Mass demonstrations in Serbia force the resignation of Slobodan Milošević.
- 1999
The Ladbroke Grove rail crash in West London kills 31 people.
- 1994
Swiss police find the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple, who had died in a cult mass murder-suicide.
- 1991
An Indonesian Air Force C-130 crash kills 135 people.
- 1990
After 150 years The Herald newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, is published for the last time as a separate newspaper.
- 1988
A Chilean opposition coalition defeats Augusto Pinochet in his re-election attempt.
- 1985
Seven Israeli vacationers, including four children, are killed in a mass shooting at Ras Burqa in the Sinai Peninsula by an Egyptian soldier.
- 1984
Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space.
- 1982
Tylenol products are recalled after bottles in Chicago laced with cyanide cause seven deaths.
- 1978
Brother Eddie Villanueva and 15 others from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines begin the Jesus Is Lord Church.
All entries for October 5（+28）
- 1974
Bombs planted by the PIRA in pubs in Guildford kill four British soldiers and one civilian.
- 1970
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is founded in the United States.[citation needed]
- 1970
The British Trade Commissioner, James Cross, is kidnapped by members of the Front de libération du Québec, triggering the October Crisis in Canada.
- 1968
A Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Derry is violently suppressed by police.
- 1966
A reactor at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station near Detroit suffers a partial meltdown.
- 1963
The United States suspends the Commercial Import Program in response to repression of the Buddhist majority by the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem.
- 1962
The first of the James Bond film series, based on the novels by Ian Fleming, Dr. No, is released in Britain.
- 1962
The first Beatles single "Love Me Do" is released in Britain.
- 1947
President Truman makes the first televised Oval Office address.
- 1945
A six-month strike by Hollywood set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of the Warner Brothers studio.
- 1944
The Provisional Government of the French Republic enfranchises women.
- 1943
World War II: Pacific Theater: Ninety-eight American POWs are executed by Japanese forces on Wake Island.
- 1938
Holocaust: In Nazi Germany, Jews' passports are invalidated.
- 1936
The Jarrow March sets off for London.
- 1931
Clyde Edward Pangborn and Hugh Herndon, Jr. make the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean in the plane Miss Veedol.
- 1930
British airship R101 crashes in France en route to India on its maiden voyage killing 48 people.
- 1921
The World Series is broadcast on radio for the first time.
- 1914
World War I: An aircraft successfully destroys another aircraft with gunfire for the first time.
- 1911
The Kowloon–Canton Railway commences service.
- 1910
In a revolution in Portugal the monarchy is overthrown and a republic is declared.
- 1905
The Wright brothers pilot the Wright Flyer III in a new world record flight of 24 miles in 39 minutes.
- 1900
Peace congress in Paris condemns British policy in South Africa and asserts Boer Republic's right to self-determination.
- 1877
The Nez Perce War in the northwestern United States comes to an end.
- 1869
The Saxby Gale devastates the Bay of Fundy region in Canada.
- 1869
The Eastman tunnel, in Minnesota, United States, collapses during construction, causing a landslide that nearly destroys St. Anthony Falls.
- 1813
War of 1812: The Army of the Northwest defeats a British and Native Canadian force threatening Detroit.
- 1789
French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles effectively terminates royal authority.
- 1672
Jan Sobieski, Grand Hetman of the Polish Crown, begins his successful military campaign against the Tartars following their rebellion and an invasion by the Ottoman Empire.
Famous Birthdays on October 5 in History 25
- 2006
Jacob Tremblay, Canadian actor
- 1999
Washington Sundar, Indian cricketer
- 1998
Exequiel Palacios, Argentine footballer
- 1997
Michael Hoecht, Canadian American football player
- 1993
Jewell Loyd, American basketball player
- 1993
Wakamotoharu Minato, Japanese sumo wrestler
- 1992
Kevin Magnussen, Danish racing driver
- 1992
Cody Zeller, American basketball player
- 1991
Pär Lindholm, Swedish ice hockey player
- 1991
Tornike Shengelia, Georgian basketball player
- 1990
Nathan Peats, Australian rugby league player
- 1989
Kelsey Adrian, Canadian basketball player
All entries for October 5（+13）
- 1989
Marcel Baude, German footballer
- 1989
Ify Ibekwe, American basketball player
- 1989
Travis Kelce, American football player
- 1988
Benny Howell, English cricketer
- 1988
Bahar Kızıl, German singer-songwriter
- 1988
Maja Salvador, Filipino actress, dancer, singer, and host
- 1987
Dillon Francis, American DJ and record producer
- 1987
Michael Grabner, Austrian ice hockey player
- 1987
Jesse Joensuu, Finnish ice hockey player
- 1987
Kevin Mirallas, Belgian footballer
- 1987
Tim Ream, American soccer player
- 1987
Park So-yeon, South Korean singer, dancer, and actress
- 1987
Luigi Vitale, Italian footballer
Notable Deaths on October 5 in History 25
- 2026
Jeffrey Archer, English novelist and politician (born 1940)
- 2024
Robert Coover, American novelist (born 1932)
- 2017
Eberhard van der Laan, Dutch politician, mayor of Amsterdam (born 1955)
- 2016
Brock Yates, American journalist and author (born 1933)
- 2015
Chantal Akerman, Belgian-French actress, director, and producer (born 1950)
- 2015
Joker Arroyo, Filipino lawyer and politician (born 1927)
- 2015
Grace Lee Boggs, American philosopher, author, and activist (born 1915)
- 2015
Henning Mankell, Swedish author and playwright (born 1948)
- 2014
David Chavchavadze, English-American CIA officer and author (born 1924)
- 2014
Andrea de Cesaris, Italian racing driver (born 1959)
- 2014
Geoffrey Holder, Trinidadian-American actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer (born 1930)
- 2014
Yuri Lyubimov, Russian actor and director (born 1917)
All entries for October 5（+13）
- 2013
Ruth R. Benerito, American chemist and academic (born 1916)
- 2013
Carlo Lizzani, Italian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1922)
- 2013
Yakkun Sakurazuka, Japanese voice actress and singer (born 1976)
- 2012
Keith Campbell, English biologist and academic (born 1954)
- 2012
Vojin Dimitrijević, Croatian-Serbian lawyer and activist (born 1932)
- 2012
James W. Holley III, American dentist and politician (born 1926)
- 2012
Edvard Mirzoyan, Georgian-Armenian composer and educator (born 1921)
- 2012
Claude Pinoteau, French director and screenwriter (born 1925)
- 2011
Derrick Bell, American academic and scholar (born 1930)
- 2011
Bert Jansch, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1943)
- 2011
Steve Jobs, American businessman, co-founder of Apple Inc. (born 1955)
- 2011
Charles Napier, American actor and singer (born 1936)
- 2011
Fred Shuttlesworth, American activist, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (born 1922)
That is the story of October 5 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on October 5 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on October 5 in history?
The biggest event on October 5 in history is: 2021 — Windows 11 is released to the general public.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on October 5?
25 famous people were born on October 5 in history, the best known being 2006 — Jacob Tremblay, Canadian actor.
Who died on October 5?
25 notable people died on October 5 in history, including 2026 — Jeffrey Archer, English novelist and politician (born 1940).
Why should I read about October 5 in history?
Exploring October 5 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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