On This Day in History

Explore This Day in History

Learn what happened on this day in history. Browse historical events, famous birthdays and notable deaths for any date, all sourced from Wikipedia.

Today in numbers

69events
944born
796died

What Happened On This Day in History

Find out what happened on this day in history through today's featured event, latest article, famous birthday, notable death, holidays and observances, your birthday in history, and this month in history. Each card opens the complete history page.

Daily History Challenge

Put Today's Events in Order

Four events that happened on this day, in four different years. Tap them from the oldest to the newest, you have three tries, then share your result. A new puzzle every day.

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Holidays and Observances Today

International days, national holidays and religious feast days that fall on today's date. Each card opens the holiday in the full holidays calendar. See all 25 holidays today.

International day

Day of the Imprisoned Writer (International observance)

International day to support persecuted writers

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National or local holiday

America Recycles Day (United States)

National environmental observance

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National or local holiday

Day of the German-speaking Community of Belgium (German-speaking Community of Belgium)

The Day of the German-speaking Community is a holiday in Belgium celebrated on 15 November each year. It is a public holiday for the German-speaking…

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National or local holiday

Independence Day, unilaterally declared in 1988. (Palestine)

1988 statement that formally established the State of Palestine

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National or local holiday

National Tree Planting Day (Sri Lanka)

Secular holiday celebrating trees

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National or local holiday

Peace Day (Ivory Coast)

National or local holiday on November 15.

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National or local holiday

Republic Proclamation Day (Brazil)

In Brazil, public holidays may be legislated at the federal, statewide and municipal levels. Most holidays are observed nationwide.

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National or local holiday

Shichi-Go-San (Japan)

Annual Japanese festival

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National or local holiday

Republic Day (Northern Cyprus)

Public holiday in Northern Cyprus

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National or local holiday

The beginning of Nativity Fast (Eastern Orthodox)

Period of abstinence and penance in Christianity

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Religious feast day

Abibus of Edessa

4th-century Christian martyr and saint

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Religious feast day

Albert the Great

German Dominican friar and saint (c. 1200 – 1280)

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Religious feast day

Blessed Caius of Korea

Recognition by the Catholic Church of a holy person

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Religious feast day

Didier of Cahors

Merovingian official

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Religious feast day

Francis Asbury and George Whitefield (Episcopal Church)

Methodist minister and bishop in America (1745–1816)

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Religious feast day

Blessed Hugh Faringdon

English Catholic monk and martyr

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Religious feast day

Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe

Ugandan Roman Catholic martyr

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Religious feast day

Leopold III, a public holiday in Lower Austria and Vienna

Margrave of Austria from 1095 to 1136

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Religious feast day

Blessed Lucy Brocadelli

Recognition by the Catholic Church of a holy person

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Religious feast day

Malo

Founder of Saint-Malo, Brittany (d. 621)

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Religious feast day

Mechell

Saint Mechell was the 6th century founder and first abbot of the clas of Llanfechell, on Anglesey in north-west Wales. St Mechell's day is celebrated on 15…

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Religious feast day

Raphael Kalinowski

Polish friar and saint (1835–1907)

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Religious feast day

Roque González y de Santa Cruz

Paraguayan missionary

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Religious feast day

November 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Day in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar

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Religious feast day

King's Feast (Belgium)

Annual Belgian celebration

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What Happened This Month

November in History

See what happened in November in history, from the battles, treaties and discoveries that shaped the world to the famous November birthdays and holidays, with a page for every day of the month.

See November in History

On This Day in History Articles

A new history article is published every day covering one significant event from the past. Each post explores the causes, key figures, immediate impact, and the legacy that still resonates in the world today.

How did 20 Cherokee slaves try to reach Mexico in 1842?
November 15, 2026

How did 20 Cherokee slaves try to reach Mexico in 1842?

On November 15, 1842, 20 enslaved Africans escaped Cherokee owners in Indian Territory, aiming for Mexico where slavery had been abolished in 1829.

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How did Gottfried Kirch first spot the Great Comet of 1680?
November 14, 2026

How did Gottfried Kirch first spot the Great Comet of 1680?

German astronomer Gottfried Kirch discovers the Great Comet of 1680 in Coburg, marking the first comet found by telescope.

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Israeli military launches cross-border assault on Samu
November 13, 2026

Israeli military launches cross-border assault on Samu

Israel launched Operation Shredder, a large cross-border assault on the West Bank village of Samu, following a mine attack that killed three soldiers.

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Saudia Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collide over Charkhi Dadri
November 12, 2026

Saudia Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collide over Charkhi Dadri

Saudia Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collided over Charkhi Dadri, killing all 349 people on board in the deadliest mid-air collision…

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How did a faulty hydraulic pipe ignite the Kaprun fire?
November 11, 2026

How did a faulty hydraulic pipe ignite the Kaprun fire?

A fire in a Kaprun funicular tunnel killed 155 skiers and snowboarders when atomized oil from a faulty hydraulic pipe ignited near a fan heater.

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How did a Vickers Viscount vanish off Padang?
November 10, 2026

How did a Vickers Viscount vanish off Padang?

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

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How did the 1880 Zagreb quake reshape the Lower Town?
November 9, 2026

How did the 1880 Zagreb quake reshape the Lower Town?

At 07:33 AM CET on November 9, 1880, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Zagreb, with its epicenter located in the Medvednica mountain north of the city.

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Government of India announces demonetisation of banknotes
November 8, 2026

Government of India announces demonetisation of banknotes

India withdrew ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes, causing cash shortages and economic disruption while aiming to curb black money and terrorism funding.

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November

On This Day, November 15

  • 2025: Anti-government demonstrations are held across Mexico following the assassination of Carlos Manzo earlier that month.
  • 2022: The world population reached eight billion.
  • 2020: Lewis Hamilton wins the Turkish Grand Prix and secures his seventh drivers' title, equaling the all-time record held by Michael Schumacher.
  • 2017: A flood a few miles outside of Athens results in the death of 25 people.
  • 2017: Khabarovsk Airlines Flight 463 crashes on approach to Nelkan Airport, killing six people.

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