October 22 in History

2005

Tropical Storm Alpha forms, making 2005 the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record with 22 named storms.

1999

Maurice Papon, formerly an official in the Vichy France government during World War II, is jailed for crimes against humanity for his role in deporting more than 1,600 Jews to concentration camps.

1981

The US Federal Labor Relations authority decertifies the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) from representing federal air traffic controllers, as a result of a PATCO strike in August that was broken by the Reagan Administration.

1978

Papal inauguration of Pope John Paul II; born Karol Jozef Wojtyla. The Polish-born Wojtyla is the first non-Italian pope since Pope Adrian VI died in 1523; he would become the second-longest serving pope in the history of the Papacy and exercise considerable influence on events of the later portion of the 20th century.

1972

Operation Linebacker I, the bombing of North Vietnam with B-52 bombers, ends.

1966

The Soviet Union launches Luna 12 for orbit around the moon

1964

Jean Paul Sartre declines the Nobel Prize for Literature.

1962

The U.S. reveals Soviet missile sites in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy orders a naval and air blockade on further shipments of military equipment to Cuba. Following a confrontation that threatens nuclear war, Kennedy and Khrushchev agree on October 28 on a formula to end the crisis. On November 2 Kennedy reports that Soviet missile bases in Cuba are being dismantled.

1955

The prototype of the F-105 Thunder Chief makes its maiden flight.

1954

As a result of the Geneva accords granting Communist control over North Vietnam, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes a crash program to train the South Vietnamese Army.

1938

Chester Carlson invents the photocopier. He tries to sell the machine to IBM, RCA, Kodak and others, but they see no use for a gadget that makes nothing but copies.

1918

The cities of Baltimore and Washington run out of coffins during the “Spanish Influenza” epidemic.

1914

U.S. places their economic support behind Allies.

1907

Ringling Brothers buys Barnum & Bailey.

1862

Union troops push 5,000 confederates out of Maysville, Ark., at the Second Battle of Pea Ridge.

1859

Spain declares war on the Moors in Morocco.

1836

Sam Houston is sworn in as the first president of the Republic of Texas.

1824

The Tennessee Legislature adjourns ending David “Davy” Crockett‘s state political career.

1797

The first successful parachute descent is made by Andre-Jacques Garnerin, who jumps from a balloon at some 2,200 feet over Paris.

1746

Princeton University, in New Jersey, receives its charter.