November 26 in History

Significant events that happened on this day.

Today

Historical Events

2011

NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory carrying the Curiosity rover

Major

The car-sized rover successfully landed on Mars on August 6, 2012, and has been exploring the Gale Crater ever since. Curiosity has sent back thousand...

2000

George W. Bush was certified as the winner of Florida's electoral votes, effectively winning the presidency

Major

Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified Bush's 537-vote margin over Al Gore, ending one of the most controversial elections in American...

1975

The British government nationalized all court astrologers who were previously self-employed

In a bizarre bureaucratic move during economic reforms, traditional court astrology positions were brought under government payroll. The change was la...

1968

Cream played their farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The legendary rock power trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker disbanded at the height of their popularity after just two and a half year...

1965

France launched its first satellite, Astérix, becoming the third country to reach space independently

The satellite was launched from Algeria using a Diamant rocket. France joined the Soviet Union and the United States as the only nations capable of in...

1942

The movie Casablanca premiered in New York City

Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the film was rushed to capitalize on the Allied invasion of North Africa. It went on to win three Academy...

1922

Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was born in Minneapolis

Schulz would go on to create Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the beloved Peanuts gang, which ran for nearly 50 years. His comic strip became one of the mos...

1922

British archaeologist Howard Carter opened King Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt

Major

Carter and his team made a small breach in the doorway and peered inside by candlelight, with Carter uttering the famous words 'wonderful things' when...

1917

The National Hockey League was founded in Montreal

The NHL was created with just four teams, all Canadian: Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Arenas. The league has si...

1867

The first patent for a refrigerated railroad car was issued to J.B. Sutherland of Detroit

This invention revolutionized the food industry by allowing fresh meat, dairy, and produce to be shipped long distances without spoiling. The technolo...

1832

A streetcar in New York City made the first known trip with a fare-paying passenger

The horse-drawn streetcar ran along Fourth Avenue in Manhattan, charging passengers to ride rather than requiring private carriage ownership. This inn...

1789

George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in the United States

Major

Washington declared Thursday, November 26, 1789, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. This was the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under...

1716

The first lion ever seen in America arrived in Boston

The exotic animal was displayed as a traveling curiosity, with colonists paying admission to see the 'king of beasts' for the first time. The event ca...