Hawaiian Independence Day
On November 28, 1843, France and the United Kingdom officially recognized Hawaii as an independent kingdom. The day has since been celebrated as Hawaiian Independence Day.
American History
Birth of Robert R. Livingston
Robert Robert Livingston was born on November 27, 1746, in New York City, New York. One of America’s founding fathers, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence, swore George Washington into his first term in office, and helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.
Capture of Fort Duquesne
On November 25, 1758, British and Colonial American forces successfully took over Fort Duquesne from the French. This came near the end of several years of fighting in the French and Indian Wars.
Zachary Taylor Born
Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, was born near Barboursville, Virginia on November 24, 1784. A hero of the Mexican-American War, he only served 16 months of his time in office.
Birth of Alan Shepard
Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr was born on November 18, 1923, in Derry, New Hampshire. He was the first American (second person after Yuri Gagarin) to travel into space and the fifth person to walk on the Moon.
Nellie Bly Begins Record-Setting Trip Around the Globe
On November 14, 1889, Nellie Bly embarked on a trip around the globe, inspired by Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days.
Supreme Court Rules Bus Segregation Illegal
The Civil Rights Movement took a major step forward on November 13, 1956, when the Supreme Court ruled that the bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama, was unconstitutional.
Veterans Day
On November 11, 1954, America first observed Veterans Day, previously known as Armistice Day. Initially a day set aside to honor the veterans of World War I, it was expanded in 1954 to pay tribute to all veterans.
First Convention of the American Legion
On November 10, 1919, the American Legion held its first convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Legion has been a champion for military service members for over a century.