Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
October 11 Sunday, October 11, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 11 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
5
Holidays
1890
US history 136 years ago
In Washington, D.C., the Daughters of the American Revolution is founded.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is established in Washington, D.C., by women descended from Revolutionary War patriots.
History
What happened on October 11
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1138Disaster
A massive earthquake strikes Aleppo; it is one of the most destructive earthquakes ever.
A devastating earthquake hits Aleppo, causing widespread destruction and making it one of the most catastrophic seismic events recorded.
- 1142World history
A peace treaty ends the Jin-Song wars.
A peace treaty between the Jin and Song dynasties ends decades of conflict in Asia.
- 1311UK history
The peerage and clergy restrict the authority of English kings with the Ordinances of 1311.
The Ordinances restrict the power of English kings by limiting their financial and administrative authority over the peerage and clergy.
- 1634Disaster
The Burchardi flood kills around 15,000 in North Friesland, Denmark and Germany.
A devastating flood known as the Burchardi kills approximately 15,000 people in North Friesland, affecting both Denmark and Germany.
- 1649UK history
Cromwell's New Model Army sacks Wexford, killing over 2,000 Irish Confederate troops and 1,500 civilians.
Cromwell's New Model Army captures Wexford, killing more than 2,000 Irish Confederate troops and 1,500 civilians.
- 1776US history
American Revolution: A fleet of American boats on Lake Champlain is defeated by the Royal Navy, but delays the British advance until 1777.
The American fleet on Lake Champlain is defeated by the Royal Navy, delaying the British advance.
- 1797UK history
The Royal Navy decisively defeats the Batavian Navy at Camperdown during the French Revolutionary Wars.
The Royal Navy defeats the Batavian Navy in a decisive battle at Camperdown.
- 1852Education
The University of Sydney, Australia's oldest university, is inaugurated in Sydney.
The University of Sydney is inaugurated, becoming Australia's first university.
- 1890US history
In Washington, D.C., the Daughters of the American Revolution is founded.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is established in Washington, D.C., by women descended from Revolutionary War patriots.
- 1941War
Beginning of the National Liberation War of Macedonia.
The Macedonian communist-led resistance launches armed struggle against Axis occupation forces in Yugoslav Macedonia.
- 1950Technology
CBS's field-sequential color system for television is the first to be licensed for broadcast by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
CBS receives FCC approval for its field-sequential color television system, becoming the first licensed broadcast color technology in the United States.
- 2002Crime
A bomb attack in a Myyrmanni shopping mall in Vantaa, Finland kills seven.
A bombing at a Myyrmanni shopping mall in Vantaa, Finland, claims seven lives.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 11
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 80
Daryl Hall
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Daryl Hall, co-founder and principal lead vocalist of Hall & Oates and a solo artist with six albums, turns 78 today.
Born
1946
Turns 80
today
Roman Jakobson
Russian-American linguist and theorist
1896 – 1982
Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur Attar
Saudi Arabian writer and journalist
1916 – 1991
Bobby Charlton
English footballer and manager
1937 – 2023
Luke Perry
American actor and producer
1966 – 2019
Marcus Bai
Papua New Guinean rugby league player
b. 1972 · 54
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Australian cricketer
b. 1987 · 39
Music
The number one songs on October 11
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 11, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport October 11, 1984
Aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan becomes the first American woman to perform a space walk.
Kathryn D. Sullivan becomes the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk during a mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 11, 2000
NASA launches STS-92, the 100th Space Shuttle mission.
The Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on the 100th Space Shuttle mission, designated STS-92.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
General Pulaski Memorial Day (United States)
International
General Pulaski Memorial Day is a United States public holiday in honor of General Kazimierz Pułaski, a Polish hero of the American Revolution
International Day of the Girl Child
International
International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl
International Newspaper Carrier Day
International
International Newspaper Carrier Day is an annual observance created by the Newspaper Association of America and celebrated in October
National Coming Out Day
International
National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on October 11 to support anyone "coming out of the closet"
Revolution Day (North Macedonia)
International
Day of the Macedonian Uprising is a public holiday in North Macedonia, commemorating the beginning of the National Liberation Struggle against fascism during World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia, on Oct
❝
I returned to upstate NY where I just laid in bed for days with a heavy heart and depression. It was tough.
— Daryl Hall · born October 11, 1946