On This Day

October 1880 in History

Events in History

  • Oct 4 University of California founded in Los Angeles
  • Oct 15 Cologne Cathedral, Germany completed, 633 years after it was begun
  • Oct 15 Mexican soldiers kill Victorio, one of the greatest Apache military strategists.
  • Oct 20 Amsterdam Free University opens

Birthdays in History


Person of interestDamon Runyon

Oct 4 Damon Runyon, American journalist and writer (Guys & Dolls-based on his work), born in Manhattan, Kansas (d. 1946)

Journalist and Author Damon Runyon
Journalist and Author
Damon Runyon
  • Oct 8 Ernest Douwes Dekker, Indo-Dutch nationalist and founder of National-India Party, born in Pasuruan, Malang, Indonesia (d. 1950)
  • Oct 12 Louis Hémon, French novelist (Maria Chapdelaine), born in Brest, France (d. 1913)
  • Oct 13 Sasha Chorny [Alexander Mikhailovich Glikberg], Russian poet, born in Odessa, Russian Empire (d. 1932)
  • Oct 14 Vilhelm Ekelund, Swedish poet and writer (Sak och sken) (d. 1940)
  • Oct 26 Andrei Bely [Boris Nikolaevich Bugaev], Russian writer (Petersburg), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1934)
  • Oct 29 Abram F. Joffe, Russian physicist (crystal), born in Romny, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1960)

Weddings in History


LoveWedding of Interest

Oct 27 Theodore Roosevelt, later 26th US President marries Alice Hathaway Lee, on his 22nd birthday

26th US President Theodore Roosevelt
26th US President
Theodore Roosevelt

Deaths in History

  • Oct 4 William Lassell, British astronomer who discovered satellites of Uranus and Neptune, dies at 81
  • Oct 6 Benjamin Pierce, American mathematician and astronomer (Peirce's criterion for outliers), dies at 71
  • Oct 14 Victorio, Apache chief/murderer, killed by Mexican army