Daily Almanac: October 13, 2023

Sunrise/Sunset

RISE: 7:54 a.m.
SET: 7:13 p.m.

High/Low Temperatures:

HIGH: 77 °F
LOW: 56 °F

Today is…

• Good Samaritan Day
• National Haunted House Day
• The U.S. Navy’s Birthday

What Happened On This Day:

• 1958 Paddington Bear Makes His Debut. The popular children’s literature character first appeared in English author Michael Bond’s illustrated book, A Bear Called Paddington. Paddington is a polite Peruvian spectacle bear with a special fondness for marmalade. The success of the first book was followed by 20 more books featuring the lovable bear and a successful toy franchise.
• 1792 Construction of the White House Begins. The office and residence of the President of the United States was designed by Irish architect James Hoban. It took 8 years for it to become livable and President John Adams became the first president to occupy the building on November 1, 1800.
• 1773 First Spiral Galaxy Discovered. French astronomer, Charles Messier, discovered the Whirlpool Galaxy. Also known as Messier 51a, the galaxy is about 30 million light-years from Earth. A spiral galaxy is a type of galaxy where stars, gasses, and other cosmic dust particles rotate or revolve in a spiral around a central bulge. Astronomers think that the bulge consists of a black hole.

Births On This Day:

• 1971 Sacha Baron Cohen

English comedian, actor, screenwriter
• 1941 Paul Simon

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer

Deaths On This Day:

• 1911 Sister Nivedita

Irish social worker, author, teacher
• 54 Claudius

Roman Emperor