On This Day

What Happened in October 1844

Historical Events


Event of interestEvent of Interest

Oct 1 German explorer Ludwig Leichhardt departs Jimbour, the farthest outpost of settlement on the Queensland Darling Downs, to begin his exploration of Australia's Northern Territory from Moreton Bay to Port Essington

Explorer and Naturalist Ludwig Leichhardt
Explorer and Naturalist
Ludwig Leichhardt
  • Oct 22 Millerite Adventists wait for appearance of Jesus

Famous Birthdays

  • Oct 3 Patrick Manson, Scottish physician and parasitologist (Father of tropical medicine), born in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (d. 1922)
  • Oct 5 Francis William Reitz, 5th State President of the Orange Free State, born in Swellendam, Cape Colony (d. 1934)

Person of interestHenry John Heinz

Oct 11 Henry John Heinz, German-American entrepreneur who founded prepared-foods company (H.J. Heinz Company-57 varieties), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1919)

Founder of Heinz Henry John Heinz
Founder of Heinz
Henry John Heinz
  • Oct 12 George W. Cable, American writer (Northampton Years), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1925)

Person of interestFriedrich Nietzsche

Oct 15 Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and philologist (Beyond Good and Evil), born in Röcken, Saxony, Prussia (d. 1900)

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
Philosopher
Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Oct 17 Miguel Nieto, composer
  • Oct 18 Emille-Louis-Victor Mathieu, composer
  • Oct 18 Harvey W. Wiley, American chemist known for leadership in the passage of the landmark Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, born in Kent, Indiana (d. 1930)

Person of interestSarah Bernhardt

Oct 22 Sarah Bernhardt, French actress (Camille, Queen Elizabeth), born in Paris, France (d. 1923) (birth poss 23rd Oct)

Stage and Film Actress Sarah Bernhardt
Stage and Film Actress
Sarah Bernhardt

Person of interestLouis Riel

Oct 22 Louis Riel, Canadian politician, founder of the province of Manitoba and leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies, born in Red River Colony, Rupert's Land, British North America (d. 1885)

Politician and Revolutionary Louis Riel
Politician and Revolutionary
Louis Riel
  • Oct 23 Robert Bridges, English poet (Testament of beauty) and British Poet Laureate (1913-30), born in Walmer, Kent (d. 1930)
  • Oct 24 Karl Lueger, Austrian politician, cofounder and leader of the Austrian Christian Social Party, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1910)
  • Oct 27 Klas Arnoldson, Swedish politician and pacifist (Nobel Peace 1908), born in Gothenburg, Sweden (d. 1916)
  • Oct 29 Albert Salomon Anselm von Rothschild, Austrian banker and member of the Rothschild banking family of Austria, born in Vienna, Austrian Empire (d. 1911)

Famous Deaths

  • Oct 12 Claude Tillier, French journalist and writer (My Uncle Benjamin), dies at 43


What Happened in 1844