^B{^#!16!5 October^N! Feast day of St Flora of Beaulieu, St Maurus, St Magenulf or Meinulf, St Apollinaris of Valence, and St Galla.
^B{1796^B} Spain declared war on Britain, during the Revolutionary Wars. ^B{1880^B} The earliest 'ball pen', with its own ink supply and retractable tip, was patented by Alonzo T Cross. ^B{1908^B} Bulgaria declared its independence from Turkey. ^B{191^B}1 Italian troops occupied Tripoli, in Libya, during its war with Turkey. ^B{1914^B} The first air battle took place between French and German aircraft during World War I; both sides suffered losses. ^B{1930^B} The British airship ^I{R101^I}, the world's largest dirigible at that time, crashed in France en route to India; the British air minister was among the 48 killed. ^B{1936^B} The Jarrow march, of unemployed shipyard workers, started its southward journey to London, UK. ^B{1967^B} The first majority verdict by a jury in Britain was taken, in Brighton. ^B{1970^B} Anwar Sadat succeeded Gamal Nasser as president of Egypt.
^B{^I{^#!14!Born ^N}Denis Diderot, French philosopher, ^B{1713^B}; Chester Alan Arthur, 21st US president, ^B{1830^B}; Donald Pleasence, English actor, ^B{1919^B}; Glynis Johns, British actress, ^B{1923^B}; Vaclav Havel, Czech dramatist and president, ^B{1936^B}; Bob Geldof, Irish musician, ^B{1954^B}.
^B{^I{^#!14!Died ^N}Philip III ('the Bold'), King of France, ^B{1285^B}; Joachim Patinir, Dutch painter, ^B{1524^B}; Jacques Offenbach, French composer, ^B{1880^B}; Jean Vigo, French film director, ^B{1934^B}; Nelson Riddle, US composer and arranger, ^B{1985^B}.
