Several pivotal moments mark October 13 in history: in 54 AD, Roman Emperor Claudius was allegedly poisoned by his wife Agrippina, paving the way for Nero’s ascent. In 1307, King Philip IV of France acted decisively by ordering the mass arrest of the Knights Templar, accusing them of heresy and leading to their suppression.

On the scientific front, in 1773, French astronomer Charles Messier discovered what later became known as the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), one of the earliest-known spiral galaxies. And in 1792, construction history was made in the United States: the cornerstone of the White House was laid in Washington, D.C., under President George Washington and architect James Hoban.

Beyond events, the day also commemorates notable births and deaths. India marks the birth anniversary of Bhulabhai Desai, a distinguished freedom fighter, and the death anniversary of Kishore Kumar, the multifaceted artist. These layering of politics, science, art, and human stories remind us: every date carries a tapestry of legacies, waiting to be remembered and retold.