TODAY IN HISTORY: NOVEMBER 10

 

November 10

November 10 is a significant date in history, known for various events that have shaped the world in different ways. From political uprisings to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, this day stands out as a crucial moment in time. In this essay, I will explore some important events that occurred on November 10 and the impact they had.

One such event is the November Uprising, which began on November 10, 1830, in Poland. The Polish people rebelled against Russian rule, fighting for their independence and national identity. This uprising was a significant moment in Polish history and sparked a wave of nationalist movements across Europe. Although the rebellion was ultimately crushed by the Russian Empire, it inspired future generations to continue the fight for freedom.

Moving forward, November 10, 1871, marks the birth of the famous American journalist and writer, Winston Churchill. Churchill would go on to become one of the most influential figures in the 20th century, leading Britain through World War II as Prime Minister and playing a crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. His powerful speeches and unwavering determination became a symbol of courage and perseverance for the entire world.

November 10 is also the anniversary of the death of the famous explorer, Hiram Bingham III. On this day in 1956, Bingham passed away at the age of 80. Bingham is best known for his rediscovery of the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu in 1911. His findings brought international attention to this remarkable archaeological site, leading to increased interest in the history of the Inca civilization and the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide.

In the realm of science, November 10 witnessed an extraordinary breakthrough. On this day in 1983, Bill Gates introduced Windows 1.0, the first operating system with a graphical user interface for IBM-compatible computers. This revolutionized the way people interacted with computers, providing a more intuitive and visually appealing experience. Windows would go on to dominate the market, shaping the future of personal computing.

Moreover, November 10, 1989, holds a special place in history as the day the Berlin Wall began to crumble. This symbolic event marked the beginning of the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall signaled a shift in the global political landscape and represented the desire for freedom and democracy among the people.

Another significant event on November 10 took place in 1995 when Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe published his novel, \Somersault,\ a deeply personal work that explores themes of fatherhood and disability. Oe is considered one of Japan's most prominent writers, known for his introspective approach and socially conscious writing. \Somersault\ further cemented his literary reputation and earned him critical acclaim worldwide.

Lastly, November 10 is observed as World Science Day for Peace and Development. Established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2001, this day aims to raise awareness about the importance of science in society and promote the use of scientific knowledge for sustainable development. It recognizes the role of science in fostering peace and addressing global challenges.

In conclusion, November 10 is a day that encompasses a wide range of significant events in history. From political uprisings to scientific breakthroughs, this day has witnessed transformative moments that have shaped our world. The November Uprising, the birth of Winston Churchill, the rediscovery of Machu Picchu, the introduction of Windows, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the publication of \Somersault,\ and the observance of World Science Day for Peace and Development are all reminders of the power of human endeavor and the ongoing pursuit of progress.

Here are more events from this day:

474 – Emperor Leo II dies after a reign of ten months. He is succeeded by his father Zeno, who becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.

937 – Ten Kingdoms: Li Bian usurps the throne and deposes Emperor Yang Pu. The Wu State is replaced by Li (now called "Xu Zhigao"), who becomes the first ruler of Southern Tang.

1202 – Fourth Crusade: Despite letters from Pope Innocent III forbidding it and threatening excommunication, Catholic crusaders begin a siege of Zara (now Zadar, Croatia).

1293 – Raden Wijaya is crowned as the first monarch of Majapahit kingdom of Java, taking the throne name Kertarajasa Jayawardhana.

1444 – Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Władysław III of Poland (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Władysław III of Varna) are defeated by the Turks under Sultan Murad II and Władysław is killed.

1599 – Åbo Bloodbath: Fourteen gentries who opposed Duke Charles were decapitated in the Old Great Square of Turku (Swedish: Åbo) for their involvement in the power struggle between King Sigismund and Duke Charles and the related peasant revolt known as the Cudgel War.

1659 – Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maratha King kills Afzal Khan, Adilshahi in the battle popularly known as Battle of Pratapgarh.

1674 – Third Anglo-Dutch War: As provided in the Treaty of Westminster, Netherlands cedes New Netherland to England.

1702 – English colonists under the command of James Moore besiege Spanish St. Augustine during Queen Anne's War.

1766 – The last colonial governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, signs the charter of Queen's College (later renamed Rutgers University).

1775 – The United States Marine Corps is founded at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia by Samuel Nicholas.

1793 – A Goddess of Reason is proclaimed by the French Convention at the suggestion of Pierre Gaspard Chaumette.

1821 – Cry of Independence by Rufina Alfaro at La Villa de Los Santos, Panama setting into motion a revolt which led to Panama's independence from Spain and to it immediately becoming part of Colombia.

1847 – The passenger ship Stephen Whitney is wrecked in thick fog off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 92 of the 110 on board. The disaster results in the construction of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse.

1865 – Major Henry Wirz, the superintendent of a prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia, is hanged, becoming one of only three American Civil War soldiers executed for war crimes.

1871 – Henry Morton Stanley locates missing explorer and missionary, Dr David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, famously greeting him with the words, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?".

1898 – Beginning of the Wilmington insurrection of 1898, the only instance of a municipal government being overthrown in United States history.

1910 – The date of Thomas A. Davis' opening of the San Diego Army and Navy Academy, although the official founding date is November 23, 1910.

1918 – The Western Union Cable Office in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, receives a top-secret coded message from Europe (that would be sent to Ottawa and Washington, D.C.) that said on November 11, 1918, all fighting would cease on land, sea and in the air.

1939 – Finnish author F. E. Sillanpää is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

1940 – The 1940 Vrancea earthquake strikes Romania killing an estimated 1,000 and injuring approximately 4,000 more.

1942 – World War II: Germany invades Vichy France following French Admiral François Darlan's agreement to an armistice with the Allies in North Africa.

1944 – The ammunition ship USS Mount Hood explodes at Seeadler Harbour, Manus, Admiralty Islands, killing at least 432 and wounding 371.

1945 – Heavy fighting in Surabaya between Indonesian nationalists and returning colonialists after World War II, today celebrated as Heroes' Day (Hari Pahlawan).

1946 – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Peruvian Andes mountains kills at least 1,400 people.

1951 – With the rollout of the North American Numbering Plan, direct-dial coast-to-coast telephone service begins in the United States.

1954 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicates the USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima memorial) in Arlington Ridge Park in Arlington County, Virginia.

1958 – The Hope Diamond is donated to the Smithsonian Institution by New York diamond merchant Harry Winston.

1969 – National Educational Television (the predecessor to the Public Broadcasting Service) in the United States debuts Sesame Street.

1970 – Vietnam War: Vietnamization: For the first time in five years, an entire week ends with no reports of American combat fatalities in Southeast Asia.

1970 – Luna 17: unmanned space mission launched by the Soviet Union.

1971 – In Cambodia, Khmer Rouge forces attack the city of Phnom Penh and its airport, killing 44, wounding at least 30 and damaging nine aircraft.

1971 – A Merpati Nusantara Airlines Vickers Viscount crashes into the Indian Ocean near Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, killing all 69 people on board.

1972 – Southern Airways Flight 49 from Birmingham, Alabama is hijacked and, at one point, is threatened with crashing into the nuclear installation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After two days, the plane lands in Havana, Cuba, where the hijackers are jailed by Fidel Castro.

1975 – The 729-foot-long freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinks during a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew on board.

1975 – Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the United Nations General Assembly passes Resolution 3379, determining that Zionism is a form of racism.

1979 – A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history.

1983 – Bill Gates introduces Windows 1.0.

1989 – Longtime Bulgarian leader Todor Zhivkov is removed from office and replaced by Petar Mladenov.

1989 – Germans begin to tear down the Berlin Wall.

1995 – In Nigeria, playwright and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, along with eight others from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop), are hanged by government forces.

1997 – WorldCom and MCI Communications announce a $37 billion merger (the largest merger in US history at the time).

2002 – Veteran's Day Weekend Tornado Outbreak: A tornado outbreak stretching from Northern Ohio to the Gulf Coast, one of the largest outbreaks recorded in November. The strongest tornado, an F4, hits Van Wert, Ohio, during the early to mid afternoon and destroys a movie theater, which had been evacuated.

2006 – Sri Lankan Tamil politician Nadarajah Raviraj is assassinated in Colombo.

2006 – The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia is opened and dedicated by U.S. President George W. Bush, who announces that Marine Corporal Jason Dunham will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor.

2008 – Over five months after landing on Mars, NASA declares the Phoenix mission concluded after communications with the lander were lost.

2009 – Ships of the South and North Korean navies skirmish off Daecheong Island in the Yellow Sea.

2019 – President of Bolivia Evo Morales and several of his government resign after 19 days of civil protests and a recommendation from the military.

2020 – Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a ceasefire agreement, ending the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, and prompting protests in Armenia.