October 25: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Scientists in India discovered a 152-million-year-old fossil of an extinct marine reptile called the ichthyosaur.

The fossil was found inside rocks from the Mesozoic Era, which ran between 252 and 66 million years ago, in the Kutch desert.

Taylor Swift’s third studio album “Speak Now” was released. It won Billboard’s 2011 Album of the Year.

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV was made available to PC players in North America.

Civ IV was a huge step up from the series' third installment, with critics particularly impressed that the multiplayer function was actually worth playing, unlike its predecessor. It won a wide range of Game of the Year awards in 2005.

The British singer Cliff Richard was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Susan Smith murdered her two children and tried to pin on a made-up Black man.

She reported to the police that a black man hijacked her car with her children inside as a pretense for their death.

The original American horror film “Halloween” premiered in Kansas City, Missouri, US.

Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. became the first African American general in the United States Army.

London’s last horse-drawn omnibus trip went from London Bridge Station to Moorgate.

The Battle of Balaclava took place during the Crimean War.

This battle featured The Charge of the Light Brigade, a disastrous cavalry charge by the British against the Russians. This charge alone resulted in over 100 casualties for the British.

St Katharine Docks opened in Central London, England, and it was one of the largest ports for trade in London in the 19th Century.

John Hancock became the first Governor of Massachusetts after winning 90% of the votes in the Massachusetts Constitution.

Italian astronomer Giovanni Cassini discovered Iapetus, Saturn’s third-largest moon.

The Battle of Agincourt between the English and the French took place.

It has historical significance as it was a surprising victory for the English, who wore much lighter armor than their opposition. The 6-hour battle saw the French side lose around 400 nobles, with the English only losing a handful. Overall, French casualties were estimated to be between 3,000 - 4,000, while the English had approximately 600 - 1,000 deaths.