October 13th in History

54 - Roman Emperor Claudius is poisoned to death under mysterious circumstances. His 17-year-old stepson Nero succeeds him to the Roman throne

1307 - Hundreds of Knights Templar in France are simultaneously arrested by agents of Philip the Fair, to be later tortured into a "confession" of heresy.

1582 - Because of the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

1792 - In Washington, D.C., the cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion (known as the White House since 1818) is laid.

1812 - War of 1812: Battle of Queenston Heights – As part of the Niagara campaign in Ontario, Canada, United States forces under General Stephen Van Rensselaer are repulsed from invading Canada by British and native troops led by Sir Isaac Brock.

1884 - Greenwich, in London, England, is established as Universal Time meridian of longitude.

1911 - Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, becomes the only Governor-General of Canada of royal descent.

1923 - Ankara replaces Istanbul as the capital of Turkey.

1943 - World War II: The new government of Italy sides with the Allies and declares war on Germany.

1946 - France adopts the constitution of the Fourth Republic.

1958 - Paddington Bear, a classic character from children's literature, makes his début.

1970 - Fiji joins the United Nations.

1990 - End of the Lebanese Civil War. Syrian forces launch an attack on the free areas of Lebanon removing General Michel Aoun from the Presidential Palace.

Famous Birthdays:

1162 - Leonora of England, Queen of Castile

1453 - Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales - only son of  King Henry VI of England and Margaret of Anjou, died in the Battle of Tewkesbury, the only heir apparent to die in battle in English history

1853 - Lillie Langtry, actress 

1895 - Mike Gazella, baseball player

1915 - Cornel Wilde, actor

1915 - Sir Terry Frost, artist

1924 - Roberto Eduardo Viola, general and 44th President of Argentina 

1925 - Baroness Margaret Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS, longest-serving (1979–1990) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20th century, and the only woman ever to have held the post. 

1933 - Queen Narriman, the second wife of King Farouk and the last Queen of Egypt.

1953 - Pat Day, jockey

1967 - Kate Walsh, actress

1970 - Mel Jackson, actor, singer, and producer

1970 - Paul Potts, tenor

1971 - Sacha Baron Cohen, comedian, actor, and screenwriter

1977 - Antonio Di Natale, footballer

1980 - David Haye, boxer

1989 - Breno Borges, footballer