TODAY IN HISTORY: NOVEMBER 13

 

November 13

November 13 is a significant date in history for several reasons. From historical events, scientific breakthroughs, to cultural milestones, this particular day has left a lasting impact on the world. In this article, we will explore various events that took place on November 13, discussing their significance and the mark they left on the course of history.

One of the most tragic events in recent times occurred on November 13, 2015, when a series of coordinated terrorist attacks unfolded in Paris, France. These horrific attacks targeted multiple locations, causing widespread panic, destruction, and loss of innocent lives. The Bataclan theater, a popular music venue, was one of the main targets where hostages were taken, resulting in the deaths of 90 people. The attacks sent shockwaves across the world, highlighting the need for global unity in combating terrorism and fostering international security.

In the field of science, November 13 holds an important place in history. On this day in 1956, the United States Supreme Court declared that race-based segregation on buses was unconstitutional, fundamentally altering the landscape of civil rights in the country. This ruling came as a result of the famous Montgomery bus boycott, a non-violent protest led by Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. This event served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, paving the way for further advancements in racial equality.

In the realm of medicine, November 13 marks an important milestone. It was on this day in 1974 that the first successful artificial heart transplantation took place. Surgeons at the University of Utah implanted an artificial heart into a patient named Barney Clark, who suffered from severe heart disease. Although Clark lived for only 112 days after the surgery, this breakthrough procedure paved the way for further research and advancements in the field of cardiac medicine, eventually leading to the development of more advanced and effective artificial hearts.

November 13 is also a significant date in the world of literature. On this day in 1850, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson was born. Stevenson is renowned for his iconic works such as \Treasure Island\ and \Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.\ His imaginative storytelling and exploration of human nature continue to captivate readers to this day. Stevenson's influence on literature, particularly in the genres of adventure and psychological thrillers, is undeniable and his works have become timeless classics.

In the field of sports, November 13 witnessed several remarkable achievements. One such moment took place in 1982 when legendary boxing champion, Sugar Ray Leonard, defeated the highly favored Marvin Hagler in a closely contested match for the WBC middleweight title. This victory solidified Leonard's status as one of the greatest boxers of his time and added another chapter to the rich history of the sport.

November 13 is also associated with some remarkable discoveries in the field of astronomy. On this day in 1971, the Mariner 9 spacecraft became the first to orbit Mars, providing scientists with invaluable data about the red planet. This mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration, as it allowed researchers to study Mars in more detail than ever before. The insights gained from Mariner 9's mission laid the foundation for subsequent missions to Mars and furthered our understanding of the solar system.

On a more lighthearted note, November 13 is celebrated as World Kindness Day, a day dedicated to promoting acts of kindness and spreading goodwill. This initiative, founded in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, encourages individuals to engage in small acts of kindness, such as offering a helping hand to someone in need, complimenting a stranger, or volunteering for a charitable cause. The aim is to create a more compassionate and empathetic society by promoting positive interactions and gestures of kindness.

In conclusion, November 13 has witnessed a myriad of events that have shaped our world. From tragedy and loss to scientific breakthroughs and cultural celebrations, this date serves as a reminder of the diverse and interconnected nature of human history. Whether it is through the remembrance of tragic events, scientific advancements, artistic accomplishments, or promoting kindness, November 13 continues to hold significance in helping us understand and appreciate the tapestry of human experience.

Here are more events from this day:

1002 – English king Æthelred II orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St. Brice's Day massacre.

1093 – Battle of Alnwick: in an English victory over the Scots, Malcolm III of Scotland, and his son Edward, are killed.

1160 – Louis VII of France marries Adela of Champagne.

1642 – First English Civil War: Battle of Turnham Green: The Royalist forces withdraw in the face of the Parliamentarian army and fail to take London.

1715 – Jacobite rising in Scotland: Battle of Sheriffmuir: The forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain halt the Jacobite advance, although the action is inconclusive.

1775 – American Revolutionary War: Patriot revolutionary forces under Gen. Richard Montgomery occupy Montreal.

1833 – Great Meteor Storm of 1833

1841 – James Braid first sees a demonstration of animal magnetism by Charles Lafontaine, which leads to his study of the subject he eventually calls hypnotism.

1851 – The Denny Party lands at Alki Point, before moving to the other side of Elliott Bay to what would become Seattle.

1864 – American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Bull's Gap ends in a Union rout as Confederates under Major General John C. Breckinridge pursue them to Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.

1887 – Bloody Sunday clashes in central London.

1901 – The 1901 Caister lifeboat disaster.

1914 – Zaian War: Berber tribesmen inflict the heaviest defeat of French forces in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri.

1916 – World War I: Prime Minister of Australia Billy Hughes is expelled from the Labor Party over his support for conscription.

1917 – World War I: beginning of the First Battle of Monte Grappa (in Italy known as the "First Battle of the Piave"). The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces, despite help from the German Alpenkorps and numerical superiority, will fail their offensive against the Italian Army now led by its new chief of staff Armando Diaz.

1918 – World War I: Allied troops occupy Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

1922 – The United States Supreme Court upholds mandatory vaccinations for public school students in Zucht v. King.

1927 – The Holland Tunnel opens to traffic as the first Hudson River vehicle tunnel linking New Jersey to New York City.

1940 – Walt Disney's animated musical film Fantasia is first released at New York's Broadway Theatre, on the first night of a roadshow.

1941 – World War II: The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is torpedoed by U-81, sinking the following day.

1942 – World War II: Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: U.S. and Japanese ships engage in an intense, close-quarters surface naval engagement during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

1947 – The Soviet Union completes development of the AK-47, one of the first proper assault rifles.

1950 – General Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, President of Venezuela, is assassinated in Caracas.

1954 – Great Britain defeats France to capture the first ever Rugby League World Cup in Paris in front of around 30,000 spectators.

1956 – The Supreme Court of the United States declares Alabama laws requiring segregated buses illegal, thus ending the Montgomery bus boycott.

1966 – In response to Fatah raids against Israelis near the West Bank border, Israel launches an attack on the village of As-Samu.

1966 – All Nippon Airways Flight 533 crashes into the Seto Inland Sea near Matsuyama Airport in Japan, killing 50 people.

1969 – Vietnam War: Anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C. stage a symbolic March Against Death.

1970 – Bhola cyclone: A 240 km/h (150 mph) tropical cyclone hits the densely populated Ganges Delta region of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), killing an estimated 500,000 people in one night.

1982 – Ray Mancini defeats Duk Koo Kim in a boxing match held in Las Vegas. Kim's subsequent death (on November 17) leads to significant changes in the sport.

1982 – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site by thousands of Vietnam War veterans.

1985 – The volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupts and melts a glacier, causing a lahar (volcanic mudslide) that buries Armero, Colombia, killing approximately 23,000 people.

1985 – Xavier Suárez is sworn in as Miami's first Cuban-born mayor.

1989 – Hans-Adam II, the present Prince of Liechtenstein, begins his reign on the death of his father.

1990 – In Aramoana, New Zealand, David Gray shoots dead 13 people in a massacre before being tracked down and killed by police the next day.

1991 – The Republic of Karelia, an autonomous republic of Russia, is formed from the former Karelian ASSR.

1992 – The High Court of Australia rules in Dietrich v The Queen that although there is no absolute right to have publicly funded counsel, in most circumstances a judge should grant any request for an adjournment or stay when an accused is unrepresented.

1993 – China Northern Airlines Flight 6901 crashes on approach to Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport in Ürümqi, China, killing 12 people.

1994 – In a referendum, voters in Sweden decide to join the European Union.

1995 – Mozambique becomes the first state to join the Commonwealth of Nations without having been part of the former British Empire.

1995 – A truck-bomb explodes outside of a US-operated Saudi Arabian National Guard training center in Riyadh, killing five Americans and two Indians. A group called the Islamic Movement for Change claims responsibility.

1995 – Nigeria Airways Flight 357 crashes at Kaduna International Airport in Kaduna, Nigeria, killing 11 people and injuring 66.

2000 – Philippine House Speaker Manny Villar passes the articles of impeachment against Philippine President Joseph Estrada.

2001 – War on Terror: In the first such act since World War II, US President George W. Bush signs an executive order allowing military tribunals against foreigners suspected of connections to terrorist acts or planned acts on the United States.

2002 – Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraq agrees to the terms of the UN Security Council Resolution 1441.

2002 – During the Prestige oil spill, a storm bursts a tank of the oil tanker MV Prestige, which was not allowed to dock and sank on November 19, 2002, off the coast of Galicia, spilling 63,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil, more than the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

2012 – A total solar eclipse occurs in parts of Australia and the South Pacific.

2013 – Hawaii legalizes same-sex marriage.

2013 – 4 World Trade Center officially opens.

2015 – Islamic State operatives carry out a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris, including suicide bombings, mass shootings and a hostage crisis. The terrorists kill 130 people, making it the deadliest attack in France since the Second World War.