October 28th
Month:
Day:
- 306 Maxentius is proclaimed Emperor of Rome, initiating his reign during a period of political instability.
- 1420 Beijing is declared the capital of the Ming Dynasty under the Yongle Emperor, solidifying its status as a central seat of power.
- 1492 Christopher Columbus sights Cuba and claims it for Spain, naming the island "Juana" in honor of Prince Juan.
- 1726 Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" is published in London by Benjamin Motte, offering a satirical exploration of human nature.
- 1793 Eli Whitney applies for a patent for the cotton gin, a machine that revolutionizes cotton processing by efficiently separating fibers from seeds.
- 1962 During the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy receives a letter from Soviet Leader Khrushchev suggesting a peaceful resolution.
- 2021 Laotian police conduct Asia's largest-ever drug bust, seizing 55 million methamphetamine tablets and 1.5 tons of crystal meth hidden in beer crates.
- 2021 Mark Zuckerberg announces that Facebook will change its corporate name to Meta amid increased scrutiny over internal practices.
- 1955 Bill Gates, American entrepreneur and co-founder of Microsoft, is born in Seattle, Washington.
- 1636 Harvard College is founded in Massachusetts, becoming the first institution of higher education in America.
- 1886 President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor; originally named "Liberty Enlightening the World," it becomes a symbol of freedom.
- 1992 The Leif Erickson Tunnel in Duluth, Minnesota, is completed, finalizing the 1,593-mile Interstate 35 from Texas to Minnesota.
- 1965 The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is completed, symbolizing America's westward expansion and becoming an iconic landmark.
