OCTOBER 12, 1492 - Explorer Christopher Columbus landed in present-day Bahamas. Columbus was trying to establish a westward trade route to Asia when he landed in the Americas. Prior to Columbus' voyage Europeans generally assumed that the water expanse between Europe and Asia was uninterrupted. While modern historians no longer credit Columbus as the first European to land in the Americas, his discovery lead to the colonization of the continent.

OCTOBER 14, 1066 - William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. His victory earned him the nickname "William the Conqueror" and established him as King of England. During his reign he brought about several changes in the English government and culture, including French replacing English as the language of the ruling classes for nearly 300 years.

On a personal note, William was assisted during the Battle of Hastings by three of my great(x28)-grandfathers Henry de Ferrers, William Peverel and William de Braose.

OCTOBER 14, 1947 - USAF Captain Charles "Chuck" Yeager became the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound (768 mph). Yeager accomplished this feat in the Bell X-1 experimental jet at an altitude of 45,000 ft. Just two days before the scheduled flight, Yeager accidentally broke two ribs while riding a horse. He was afraid his condition would result in his removal from the mission so he only told his wife and a friend about the injury and sought treatment from a veterinarian in a nearby town instead of going to an Air Force doctor.