On This Day in History – October 5

Major Events

• 869 – The Fourth Council of Constantinople opened.
• 1789 – Women’s March on Versailles during the French Revolution forced the royal family back to Paris.
• 1864 – The Battle of Allatoona Pass occurred during the American Civil War.
• 1910 – Portugal became a republic after a revolution ended monarchy.
• 1962 – Dr. No, the first James Bond film, premiered in London.
• 1962 – The Beatles released their first single, “Love Me Do,” in the UK.
• 1983 – Lech Wałęsa, leader of Poland’s Solidarity movement, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• 2011 – Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., died.

Famous Birthdays

• Denis Diderot (1713–1784) – French philosopher and writer, co-founder of the Encyclopédie.
• Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886) – 21st President of the United States.
• Robert H. Goddard (1882–1945) – American physicist, inventor of modern rocketry.
• Donald Pleasence (1919–1995) – English actor.
• Glynis Johns (1923–2024) – Welsh actress.
• Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) – Czech playwright, dissident, and president.
• Clive Barker (born 1952) – English novelist and filmmaker.
• Kate Winslet (born 1975) – English actress.
• Guy Pearce (born 1967) – English-born Australian actor.

Notable Deaths

• Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–1886) – American essayist and critic.
• Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880) – German-French composer.
• Alec Douglas-Home (1903–1995) – British prime minister.
• Steve Jobs (1955–2011) – American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple.
• Bernard Hepton (1925–2018) – English actor and theatre director.

Holidays

• Teachers’ Day (World, UNESCO) – Celebrating teachers worldwide.
• Constitution Day (Vanuatu) – Marks adoption of the nation’s constitution.

Fun Facts

• The Beatles and James Bond both debuted on this day in 1962.
• Steve Jobs died on the anniversary of the Beatles’ first single release.
• Teachers’ Day recognizes the role of educators in global development.