November 15th: All Facts & Events That Happened Today In History

HISTORICAL EVENTS

• 1864: The Union Army led by General William T. Sherman burns Atlanta during the American Civil War.
• 1943: The Holocaust: Heinrich Himmler orders that Gypsies are to be put “on the same level as Jews and placed in concentration camps.
• 1988: Soviet Union begins its withdrawal from Afghanistan after a nine-year presence in the country.
• 1990: The People’s Republic of Bulgaria’s first ever multi-party election takes place after nearly 50 years of communist rule.
• 2013: The Philippines is struck by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life.

SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS

• 1859: Charles Darwin publishes his book “On the Origin of Species”, which outlines the theory of evolution by natural selection.
• 1920: Robert H. Goddard receives a patent for his design of a liquid-fueled rocket apparatus, laying the foundation for modern rocketry.
• 1971: The first successful microprocessor, the Intel 4004, is commercially released, revolutionizing the field of computing.
• 1990: The Hubble Space Telescope captures its first images from space, providing unprecedented views of the universe.
• 2014: The European Space Agency successfully lands a spacecraft on a comet for the first time in history, with the Rosetta mission.

POLITICAL MILESTONES

• 1777: The Continental Congress approves the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States.
• 1864: Union General William Tecumseh Sherman begins his “March to the Sea” campaign during the American Civil War.
• 1989: The Velvet Revolution begins in Czechoslovakia, leading to the downfall of the communist regime and the establishment of a democratic government.
• 2000: George W. Bush is declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election, following a lengthy recount in Florida.
• 2015: Myanmar holds its first openly contested general election in 25 years, resulting in a victory for the National League for Democracy.

CULTURAL EVENTS

• 1315: Italian poet Dante Alighieri dies in Ravenna, leaving behind his masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy.
• 1851: “Moby-Dick”, written by Herman Melville, is published, though it initially receives little recognition.
• 1926: The NBC radio network is established in the United States, becoming the first nationwide broadcasting network.
• 1969: The iconic children’s television show “Sesame Street” makes its debut, aiming to educate and entertain young audiences.
• 1992: The film “The Bodyguard“, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, is released, featuring Houston’s hit song “I Will Always Love You.

BIRTHS

• 1316: John I, King of France, is born.
• 1738: William Herschel, German-born British astronomer, and composer, is born.
• 1887: Georgia O’Keeffe, American artist known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, is born.
• 1940: Sam Waterston, American actor known for his role as Jack McCoy in the TV series “Law & Order”, is born.
• 1972: Jonny Lee Miller, British actor known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the TV series “Elementary”, is born.

NOTABLE DEATHS

• 1312: Pope Clement V, French-born Pope of the Catholic Church from 1305 until his death, passes away.
• 1859: Theophile Gautier, French poet, novelist, and critic, known for his art criticism and involvement in the French romantic literary movement, dies.
• 1940: Arthur Neville Chamberlain, British politician who served as Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940, dies.
• 1961: Thomas Edison, American inventor and businessman, known for inventing the phonograph and the practical electric light bulb, passes away.
• 2007: Kevin DuBrow, American rock singer and frontman of the band Quiet Riot, dies.

Conclusion

November 15th has witnessed numerous significant historical events, scientific breakthroughs, political milestones, cultural events, and notable births and deaths. From the burning of Atlanta during the American Civil War to the successful landing of a spacecraft on a comet, this date has seen both triumphs and tragedies. It has been a day of groundbreaking scientific discoveries, like the publication of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and the patenting of the first successful microprocessor. Politically, November 15th marked important milestones such as the approval of the Articles of Confederation and the start of the Velvet Revolution. In the cultural realm, iconic works like “Moby-Dick” and the debut of “Sesame Street” have left their mark. Notable individuals, including Pope Clement V and Thomas Edison, have also passed away on this date. November 15th is a significant day in history that continues to shape our understanding of the world.

FAQs

Q: What is the significance of November 15th in history?

A: November 15th has been a witness to a multitude of historical events, scientific breakthroughs, political milestones, cultural events, and notable births and deaths. It has played a role in shaping the course of human history.

Q: Are there any famous birthdays on November 15th?

A: Yes, there are notable individuals born on November 15th such as John I, King of France, William Herschel, Georgia O’Keeffe, Sam Waterston, and Jonny Lee Miller.

Q: Are there any significant scientific achievements associated with November 15th?

A: Absolutely, November 15th has witnessed significant scientific breakthroughs including the publication of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and the commercial release of the first successful microprocessor, the Intel 4004.

Q: What are some political milestones that occurred on November 15th?

A: Important political events on November 15th include the approval of the Articles of Confederation, the start of General William Tecumseh Sherman’s “March to the Sea” campaign during the American Civil War, and the beginning of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

Q: Have any notable cultural events taken place on November 15th?

A: Yes, November 15th marks the publication of “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville and the debut of the beloved children’s television show “Sesame Street”. These events have had a profound cultural impact.