1780: The Great Hurricane of 1780 hits Barbados and goes on to kill 20,000 to 30,000 people in the Caribbean, making it the deadliest recorded hurricane in the Atlantic

1871: The Great Chicago Fire is finally extinguished after three days, leaving approximately 300 dead, 100,000 homeless, and causing $222 million in damage

1911: Chinese revolutionaries begin an armed rebellion against the ruling Qing dynasty in Wuchang, causing the Viceroy of Huguang to flee the city (Taiwan National Day)

1954: Ho Chi Minh enters Hanoi after the withdrawal of French troops

1957: A fire at the Windscale nuclear plant in Cumbria, England, becomes the world’s first major nuclear accident

Source: Onthisday.com