1. On October 22, 1730, George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He went on to become the first president of the United States and is often referred to as the "father of his country."

2. In 1783, the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, was disbanded at Newburgh, Virginia. This event marked the end of the American Revolutionary War and the beginning of a new era of American history.

3. On October 22, 1897, James E. Barrett, a prominent African American lawyer and activist, was born in Hampton, Virginia. He was instrumental in the desegregation of Virginia's schools and worked tirelessly to promote civil rights for all.

4. In 1940, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia launched the USS South Dakota, a battleship that went on to serve in World War II. The ship earned 13 battle stars for her service and was eventually decommissioned in 1947.

5. On October 22, 1979, the Colonial Parkway murders began in Virginia. Over a period of several years, a series of murders occurred along the Colonial Parkway, a scenic roadway that connects several historic sites in Virginia. The murders remain unsolved to this day and have become a notorious part of Virginia's history.