On This Day in History – October 6

Major Events

• 105 BC – The Battle of Arausio saw Cimbri and Teutonic tribes defeat Roman forces.
• 1600 – San Marino adopted its written constitution, still in effect today.
• 1789 – George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving.
• 1889 – The Moulin Rouge cabaret opened in Paris.
• 1927 – The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length “talkie,” premiered in New York.
• 1973 – Yom Kippur War began when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel.
• 1981 – Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated during a military parade.
• 2000 – Slobodan Milošević resigned as President of Yugoslavia.

Famous Birthdays

• Jenny Lind (1820–1887) – Swedish opera singer, “The Swedish Nightingale.”
• Le Corbusier (1887–1965) – Swiss-French architect and designer.
• Thor Heyerdahl (1914–2002) – Norwegian adventurer, Kon-Tiki expedition leader.
• Janet Gaynor (1906–1984) – American actress, first Academy Award winner for Best Actress.
• Britt Ekland (born 1942) – Swedish actress.
• Elisabeth Shue (born 1963) – American actress.
• Ioan Gruffudd (born 1973) – Welsh actor.
• Jeremy Sisto (born 1974) – American actor.

Notable Deaths

• Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) – British poet laureate.
• Anwar Sadat (1918–1981) – Egyptian president and Nobel laureate.
• Bette Davis (1908–1989) – American actress.
• Al Campanis (1916–1998) – American baseball player and executive.
• Ginger Baker (1939–2019) – English drummer, member of Cream.

Holidays

• German-American Day (United States) – Celebrates German-American heritage.
• Teachers’ Day (Sri Lanka) – Honoring educators in Sri Lanka.

Fun Facts

• San Marino’s constitution from 1600 is the world’s oldest still in use.
• The Jazz Singer revolutionized cinema as the first talkie.
• Anwar Sadat was assassinated on the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War he launched.