October 30 in History

Sam Smith from Cambridgeshire officially changed his name by deed poll to secure free meals at a restaurant promotion. The 33-year-old explained that... see more

Michael and Karolina Tomaro meant to give their daughter a normal Swedish name, but a confused registrar entered 'Metallica' on the birth certificate... see more

The 14-year-olds wore white sheets and made wailing noises in a Portsmouth graveyard at midnight, terrifying several visitors who called police. They... see more

The independence referendum was defeated by just 50.58% to 49.42%, a difference of only 54,288 votes out of nearly 5 million cast. The razor-thin resu... see more

Though President Gerald Ford never said those exact words, the headline perfectly captured his refusal to help New York City avoid bankruptcy. The inf... see more

This international treaty established the framework for postwar global trade liberalization and lasted nearly 50 years. GATT negotiations led to drama... see more

In his London laboratory, Scottish inventor Baird achieved the first true television transmission by capturing the moving image of a ventriloquist's d... see more

The Empire Theatre's box office blunder resulted in a physical altercation between two patrons who both held valid tickets for the same chair. Manager... see more

This set the single-day attendance record for the entire six-month World's Fair and remained unbroken until 1964. The massive crowd came to celebrate... see more

The Scottish veterinarian invented the inflatable rubber tire to give his son's tricycle a smoother ride on cobblestone streets. His simple solution o... see more