This Day In History : October 25

1671 France

Giovanni Cassini discovered Iapetus, one of Saturn's moons

On October 25, 1671, Giovanni Cassini discovered Iapetus, one of Saturn's moons. Cassini, an Italian-French astronomer, identified Iapetus as the third-largest moon of Saturn and noted its unique feature of having one side significantly brighter than the other. This discovery was part of Cassini's broader contributions to the study of Saturn and its satellites, which greatly expanded the understanding of the outer solar system.

Also on This Day in History October 25

Discover what happened on October 25 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, October 25
  • 1881 Pablo Picasso

    Spanish painter, sculptor

  • 1790 Robert Stirling

    Scottish inventor who created the Sterling engine

  • 1888 Richard Byrd

    American explorer, aviator and scientist who was the first man to fly over both of the Earth's poles

  • 1789 Samuel Heinrich Schwabe

    German astronomer who discovered the 10-year sunspot activity cycle

  • 1929 Roger John Tayler

    British astrophysicist (author of The Origin of the Chemical Elements)

Deaths on This Day, October 25
  • 1934 Frank Sprague

    American inventor who installed the first U.S. electric trolley system

  • 1922 Oskar Hertwig

    German embryologist (discovered fertilization)

  • 1826 Philippe Pinel

    French physician and father of modern psychiatry who developed a more humane approach to the custody and care of psychiatric patients

  • 1647 Evangelista Torricelli

    Italian physicist (inventor of barometer)

  • 1960 Harry Ferguson

    Irish aviator, engineer and inventor of the modern tractor

1861

The Toronto Stock Exchange is founded

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) was officially created on October 25, 1861, in Toronto, Canada. The inception of the TSX was driven by a group of 24 businessmen who aimed to establish a formal and organized marketplace for trading stocks. This group convened in the Masonic Hall to lay the foundation for what would become one of the world's leading stock exchanges.
1971

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

On October 25, 1971, the People's Republic of China (PRC) officially replaced the Republic of China (ROC) at the United Nations. This significant political shift was formalized through UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognized the PRC as "the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations." Consequently, the PRC took over the ROC's seat, including its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
2001

Microsoft releases Windows XP

On October 25, 2001, Microsoft released Windows XP, one of the most popular operating systems in the company's history. Combining features from both its consumer and business lines of operating systems, Windows XP introduced a more user-friendly interface, improved stability, and better performance. It became widely adopted in homes and businesses, significantly influencing the personal computing landscape.
1962

Uganda joins the UN

On October 25, 1962, Uganda was officially admitted as a member of the United Nations. This followed Uganda's independence from British colonial rule on October 9, 1962. Joining the UN marked Uganda's entrance into the international community as a sovereign state.
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