October 19

Andrea Belli was born in 1703 in Mdina, Malta, into a family of merchants and builders. He trained in architecture and business, blending creative design with commercial acumen. Belli’s most notable work is the design of the Auberge de Castille in Valletta, a masterpiece of Maltese Baroque architecture. He also oversaw the construction of palaces, warehouses, and public stores, facilitating trade and urban development. As a businessman, he managed estates and contributed to the economic growth of the Order of St John’s domains. Belli’s integration of architectural elegance with functional design left a lasting mark on Malta’s urban landscape.

Marie Thérèse-Charlotte (1778–1851) was the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette. She endured imprisonment during the French Revolution, narrowly escaping execution. Known as Madame Royale, she was the only member of her immediate family to survive the Reign of Terror. After her release, she lived in exile and later married her cousin, becoming Duchess of Angoulême. Throughout her life, she remained a symbol of the Bourbon monarchy's tragic fate. She died on October 19, 1851, in exile, remembered for her dignity and resilience.

Virgil Walter Earp (1843–1905) served as a U.S. marshal and city marshal in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. Born in Kentucky, he enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he pursued a career in law enforcement in the American Southwest. As Tombstone City Marshal, he maintained order during the town's turbulent frontier years. Virgil was wounded in an ambush following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881. He died on October 19, 1905, remembered as a key figure in the lore of the Old West.

Dele Giwa (1947–1986) was a pioneering Nigerian journalist and editor, best known for co-founding Newswatch Magazine in 1984. Under his leadership, Newswatch set new standards in investigative journalism, exposing corruption and advocating for democratic freedoms. Giwa's fearless reporting made him a voice for accountability during Nigeria’s military regimes. In October 1986, he was tragically killed by a parcel bomb suspected to have been sent by state agents, marking one of Africa’s most infamous assassinations of a journalist. His death sparked national and international outcry, highlighting the dangers faced by the press in hostile political environments. Giwa’s legacy continues to inspire journalists across Africa to pursue truth and challenge oppression.

Ken Wood was a British engineer and entrepreneur who revolutionized home cooking with his mixer design. Born in 1916, he founded Kenwood Manufacturing and introduced the Kenwood Chef in 1950. The versatile mixer featured multiple attachments for mixing, kneading, and serving, setting a new standard for kitchens. Wood's innovation led to widespread adoption of countertop mixers in households around the world. He continued to design kitchen appliances, growing his company into a global brand. Wood's commitment to quality and functionality made the Kenwood Chef a lasting icon. His legacy endures in modern culinary technology and everyday home cooking.

Born in 1921 in New Jersey, Unruh served in the US Army infantry during World War II and returned home struggling with PTSD. On September 6, 1949, he embarked on a 12-minute shooting spree in Camden, killing 13 people and wounding others. His attack is regarded as the first single-episode mass shooting in US history. Police shot and captured him at the scene, and he was later found mentally unfit for trial. Confined to a state hospital, Unruh spent the rest of his life under psychiatric care. His case prompted early debates on gun control and veterans' mental health. He died in custody in 2009 at the age of 88.

Born in 1984, Serena Shim was a Lebanese-American journalist and correspondent for Press TV. She covered major international stories, focusing on refugee crises and political tensions in the Middle East. Shim gained recognition for her investigative reporting on migrant smuggling routes along the Turkish-Syrian border. In October 2014, she died in a controversial car accident while on assignment in Turkey. Her colleagues and viewers remember her dedication to telling underreported stories and giving a voice to the marginalized. Shim's work continues to inspire journalists who seek the truth in challenging environments.

Deborah Orr was born in 1962 in Scotland and began her journalism career at Punch magazine before moving to The Independent on Sunday. She later became a senior columnist for The Guardian, where her frank and witty essays covered topics from politics to social issues. Orr was praised for her sharp analysis, empathy, and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. She also wrote books and contributed to numerous publications, becoming a respected voice in British media. Throughout her career, she advocated for mental health awareness and open dialogue on difficult subjects. Orr passed away in 2019, remembered for her fearless writing and lasting impact on journalism.