1. In 1779, Spanish forces, led by Bernardo de Galvez, defeated British troops at the Battle of Baton Rouge. This victory helped secure Spanish control over Louisiana and weakened British power in the region.

2. In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces under General Richard Taylor defeated Union troops at the Battle of Stirling's Plantation. This battle was significant in that it delayed the Union's advance on the Confederate stronghold of Port Hudson.

3. In 1889, Hurricane #5 made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing widespread damage and flooding across Louisiana. The hurricane, which came to be known as the "Grand Isle hurricane," was one of the deadliest and most destructive storms to hit the region in the 19th century.

4. In 1919, Louisiana State University (LSU) played its first-ever football game at Tiger Stadium, then known as State Field. The game, which saw LSU defeat Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) by a score of 26-0, marked the beginning of what has become a storied college football program.

5. In 1986, Governor Edwin Edwards proclaimed October 7 as "Louisiana Rice Day," recognizing the importance of rice cultivation to the state's economy and culture. Louisiana remains one of the top rice-producing states in the country, and rice is a staple of many local cuisine traditions.