What Happened on October 13?

October 13 is National Yorkshire Pudding Day — celebrating the puffy British batter side — on the same date the White House cornerstone was laid in 1792, Greenwich became the prime meridian in 1884, and Chile's 33 miners were rescued in 2010.

• 1775 — The Continental Congress authorizes a naval fleet

  On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized ships for the Continental Navy — a founding moment for the U.S. Navy. Read the full story →

• 1792 — The cornerstone of the White House is laid

  On October 13, 1792, workers laid the cornerstone of the President's House — today's White House — in Washington, D.C. Read the full story →

• 1884 — An international conference adopts the Greenwich meridian

  On October 13, 1884, delegates in Washington, D.C., chose Greenwich, England, as the prime meridian for global maps and time. Read the full story →

• 1903 — The first modern World Series opens

  On October 13, 1903, the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates began the first modern World Series. Read the full story →

• 1943 — Italy declares war on Germany in World War II

  On October 13, 1943, Italy's government switched sides and declared war on Germany after exiting the Axis alliance. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) · Paul Simon (1941) · Sacha Baron Cohen (1971) · Nancy Kerrigan (1969)

Days & observances

National Yorkshire Pudding Day · International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction · National Train Your Brain Day · U.S. Navy Birthday