1. In 1955, the first Governor of Connecticut, John Winthrop, Jr., was born on October 3 in Groton, Connecticut. Winthrop served as governor from 1657 to 1676 and played a significant role in the founding of Connecticut.

2. October 3, 1779, marked the beginning of the Battle of Groton Heights, a large-scale military engagement that took place during the American Revolutionary War. The battle was fought between British forces and American soldiers defending Fort Griswold in Groton.

3. In 1838, the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company was founded on October 3 in Hartford, Connecticut. The company is still active today and is one of the leading providers of equipment breakdown insurance and inspection services.

4. On October 3, 1868, the first edition of the Hartford Courant newspaper was published. The paper has a long history in Connecticut and is recognized as the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States.

5. In 1995, the Connecticut-based company People's Bank was acquired by Fleet Financial Group on October 3. The acquisition helped to cement Fleet's position as one of the largest financial institutions in the Northeastern United States.