What Happened on October 25

Heraldry and Arms

1415 — Henry V Smashes French Host at Agincourt; King Fights Hand-to-Hand

The English army marched 260 miles in two and a half weeks before fighting on Saint Crispin's Day, their archers bringing down heavily armoured French knights.

AZINCOURT, 25 October — Four of every five men in the English host were bowmen, and these Welsh and English archers with their great longbows have this day brought down the flower of French chivalry upon the field near Azincourt.

King Henry V led his lightly armoured footmen and archers against the heavy horse of the French, commanded by Constable Charles I d'Albret and the great lords of the Armagnac party. The King himself took part in the hand-to-hand fighting, striking blows among his men.

The English army had marched 260 miles in two and a half weeks, and many suffered from the bloody flux before this day's work. Yet they stood their ground on this Saint Crispin's Day.

Immediately after the victory, the King summoned the heralds and declared the battle should be called Azincourt, after the nearest fortified place. The heralds have so recorded it.

The French dead lie thick upon the ground, their heavy armour no proof against the English shafts.

• The battle took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France.
• English and Welsh archers comprised nearly 80 percent of Henry's army, notable for the extensive use of the English longbow.
• King Henry V of England led his troops into battle and participated in hand-to-hand fighting.
• The French were commanded by Constable Charles I d'Albret and various prominent French noblemen of the Armagnac party.
• Immediately after the battle, Henry summoned the heralds and settled on the name Azincourt, after the nearest fortified place.

Source: Wikipedia — Battle of Agincourt

Pacific Fleet Dispatch

1944 — Japanese Navy Makes Final Bid for Victory; Battle of Leyte Gulf Reaches Climax

The Imperial fleet stakes all on one throw — carrier planes strike at enemy battleships — the last chance for Tokyo to reverse the war

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 — The Imperial Japanese Navy has staked its final hope of winning the war on a massive naval engagement now climaxing in the waters off Leyte in the Philippines.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, begun three days ago, reached its decisive phase today as American carrier planes pressed home attacks against Japanese surface forces. A Japanese battleship was seen burning under heavy air attack, smoke rising in dense columns as dive bombers and torpedo planes pressed their assault.

Naval observers here say this represents Tokyo's last organized attempt to shatter Allied naval power and break the invasion of the Philippines. The Japanese fleet, already battered in earlier actions, has committed its remaining heavy units to what admirals on both sides recognize as a do-or-die operation.

If the Imperial Navy fails to stop General MacArthur's landing forces, military analysts say, Japan will have no further means of preventing Allied seizure of the Philippine archipelago and the advance toward the home islands.

The engagement is the largest naval battle since Midway, and possibly the largest in history.

• World War II: The final attempt of the Imperial Japanese Navy to win the war climaxes at the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Source: Wikipedia — Battle of Leyte Gulf

Music and Drama

1875 — Tchaikovsky Concerto Debuts in Boston; Von Bülow Soloist

The new B♭ minor work — a Russian composer's first piano concerto — Lang conducts at the Music Hall

BOSTON, Oct. 25 — The chandeliers of the Music Hall gleamed upon a notable premiere this evening as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor, Op. 23, received its first performance.

Benjamin Johnson Lang conducted the orchestra, with the distinguished German pianist Hans von Bülow as soloist. The Russian composer's work, massive in conception and brilliant in its solo writing, was received with prolonged enthusiasm by the Boston audience.

This marks the first appearance of Tchaikovsky's music in the concerto form before the American public.

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor, Op. 23 premieres in Boston, Massachusetts, with Benjamin Johnson Lang as conductor and Hans von Bülow as soloist.

Source: Wikipedia — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

United Nations

1962 — Stevenson Presents Missile Photos to Security Council

Stevenson displays reconnaissance images of Soviet ballistic missile installations in Cuba as the crisis marks its tenth day.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 25 — The world learned the full scope of the Soviet missile buildup in Cuba today as U.S. Delegate Adlai Stevenson laid reconnaissance photographs before the Security Council.

Stevinger displayed the images to assembled delegates, documenting Soviet ballistic missile installations on the island. The confrontation came as the crisis entered its tenth day.

American officials said the photographs removed any doubt about Soviet offensive weapons ninety miles from Florida.

• Cuban Missile Crisis: Adlai Stevenson shows the United Nations Security Council reconnaissance photographs of Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba.

Source: Wikipedia — Cuban Missile Crisis

War Dispatch

1854 — Light Brigade shattered in Balaclava charge

Lord Cardigan's Light Brigade charged Russian guns at Balaclava on October 25, facing fire from three sides.

BALACLAVA, October 25 — In the long annals of British arms, few hours have matched this day for the collision of courage and calamity. The Light Brigade, led by Lord Cardigan, mounted a frontal assault against a well-prepared Russian artillery battery and was decisively repelled, suffering withering fire from three sides.

• The Light Brigade, led by Lord Cardigan, mounted a frontal assault against a well-prepared Russian artillery battery.
• The charge resulted from a misunderstood order by Lord Raglan, delivered by Captain Louis Nolan, who was killed in the first minute.
• About 670 troopers of the Light Brigade charged, but only 607 sabres took part, with nearly 200 men left sick in camp.
• The Light Brigade faced withering fire from three sides, reached the Russian guns, scattered some gunners, but was forced to retreat immediately.
• French Chasseurs d'Afrique cleared the Fedyukhin Heights of guns and infantry to cover the Light Brigade's withdrawal.

Source: Wikipedia — Crimean War

Asia-Pacific

2010 — Indonesia tsunami kills at least 400 after quake

Magnitude 7.8 temblor off Mentawai Islands triggers deadly waves — remote coastal communities hardest hit

PADANG, October 25 — A house lies in ruins after the earthquake and tsunami, one of countless structures smashed by the waves that followed Monday's massive offshore temblor. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Mentawai Islands, triggering a tsunami that kills at least 400 people.

The quake hit at 9:42 p.m. local time, sending residents scrambling for higher ground.

• A magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's Mentawai Islands, triggering a tsunami that kills at least 400 people.

Source: Wikipedia — 2010 Mentawai earthquake and tsunami

Personal Technology

2001 — Microsoft ships Windows XP, dumping DOS for NT kernel in first consumer release

Released October 25 in Home and Professional editions, the operating system supports two physical CPUs in its business version.

REDMOND, October 25 — For the first time, a consumer Windows operating system leaves behind its MS-DOS foundation: Windows XP, one of the most popular and widely used versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, was released for retail sale today.

Windows XP was released in two main editions: Home Edition for home users and Professional for business and power users. Windows XP Professional includes features like Remote Desktop server, Encrypting File System, and support for two physical CPUs.

Windows XP succeeded Windows Me, which was released on September 14, 2000, and was the last MS-DOS-based Windows version.

• Windows XP was released in two main editions: Home Edition for home users and Professional for business and power users.
• Windows XP Professional includes features like Remote Desktop server, Encrypting File System, and support for two physical CPUs.
• Windows XP succeeded Windows Me, which was released on September 14, 2000, and was the last MS-DOS-based Windows version.
• Windows XP was the first consumer Windows version based on the NT kernel, moving away from the MS-DOS foundation of Windows Me.
• Windows XP included Internet Explorer 6 by default and a new visual style called Luna.

Source: Wikipedia — Windows XP

National Defense

1940 — Benjamin O. Davis Sr. named first African American general in U.S. Army

President Roosevelt approves promotion of career officer who enlisted in 1899

WASHINGTON, October 25 — Benjamin O. Davis Sr. is named the first African American general in the United States Army. President Roosevelt approved the promotion today, elevating the 60-year-old colonel to brigadier general after four decades of service.

Davis, who enlisted as a volunteer private in 1899 during the Spanish-American War, had spent much of his career training Black troops in segregated units.

• Benjamin O. Davis Sr. is named the first African American general in the United States Army.

Source: Wikipedia — Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

Naval Intelligence

1812 — American Frigate United States Captures British Macedonian Off Azores

The American frigate United States, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, captured His Majesty's ship Macedonian off the Azores on October 25 after a running fight of near two hours.

ABOARD THE AZORES, October 25 — The Atlantic swell ran heavy when the American frigate United States, Commodore Stephen Decatur commanding, bore down upon His Majesty's ship Macedonian this forenoon.

After a running fight of near two hours, the British vessel struck her colors. The Macedonian, rated thirty-eight guns, was taken in tow toward an American port.

• War of 1812: The American frigate, USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur, captures the British frigate HMS Macedonian.

Source: Wikipedia — USS United States (1797)

United Nations Bureau

1971 — Peking Seats Replace Taipei in UN Assembly

Albanian resolution carries General Assembly 76–35 — Nationalist delegation withdraws after twenty-two years — American policy of isolation reversed by vote

UNITED NATIONS, October 25 — The People's Republic of China this evening assumed the seat held since 1945 by the Nationalist government on Taiwan, ending two decades of American-led efforts to exclude Peking from the world organization.

The General Assembly adopted by 76 votes to 35, with 17 abstentions, an Albanian resolution recognizing the Peking government as the sole legitimate representative of China.

• The People's Republic of China replaces the Republic of China at the United Nations.

Source: Wikipedia — United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI)