Today in History

On this Day - 25th November:

1965 - The Beatles
Harrods department store in London, England, closed to the public so The Beatles could do their Christmas shopping in private.

1969 - John Lennon
John Lennon returned his MBE to The Queen on the grounds of the UK's involvement in the Nigeria Biafra war, America in Vietnam, and against his latest single 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts.

 

On this Day - 26th November:
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1476 Vlad III Dracula defeats Basarab Laiota
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He fought in Corvinus's army against the Ottomans in Bosnia in early 1476 with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Bathory and becomes the ruler of Wallachia for the third time
Hungarian and Moldavian troops helped him to force Basarab Laiotă (who had dethroned Vlad's brother, Radu) to flee from Wallachia in November.
Basarab returned with Ottoman support before the end of the year

 

On This Day - 26th November
1645 English Civil War - The third siege of Newark, which lasted from 26th November 1645 to 8th May 1646. Newark was important to both sides, as two important roads ran through the town - the Great North Way and Fosse Way. Newark Castle was deliberately destroyed as a fortress in 1648.


1703 Henry Winstanley, the engineer who built the first Eddystone lighthouse, was among those who died when it was destroyed in the Great Storm that claimed 9000 lives and lasted from the 25th to the 27th November.


1805 The official opening of Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in Wales. It is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain, a Grade I Listed Building and a World Heritage Site.


1836 The death of John Loudon McAdam. He invented a new process, "macadamization", for building roads with a smooth hard surface, using controlled materials. Modern road construction still reflects McAdam's influence. He had extensive responsibilities in the north of England including the road from Penrith to Greta Bridge (A66), the road from Penrith to Cockermouth (also the A66), and the road from Penrith to Carlisle (A6). Whilst in the area he lived here - 1, Cockell House, Penrith


1864 Oxford professor Charles Dodgson presented a little girl called Alice Liddell with a handwritten manuscript of a story she had inspired him to write. It was called Alice's Adventures Under Ground. Dodgson's tale was published in 1865 as 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll'. Alice's shop in Oxford at 83, St. Aldates was the inspiration for a whole chapter in the Alice in Wonderland stories. Lewis Carroll was born at Daresbury and this ( is the site of the former parsonage where he was born. There is also a Lewis Carroll window in the parish church of All Saints in Daresbury.

1867 Mrs. Lily Maxwell of Manchester became the first-ever woman to vote in a British election, due to a mistake in the electoral register. She had to be escorted to the polling station by a bodyguard to protect her from those opposed to women’s suffrage.


1908 The birth of Lord Forte (Charles Forte), British business magnate and Chairman of Trusthouse Forte, one of the largest hotel and restaurant groups in the world.


1922 Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon, Carter’s sponsor, became the first men to see inside the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun near Luxor since it was sealed 3,000 years previously. Having escaped detection by tomb robbers, it was complete with gold statues and a gold throne inlaid with gems.


1944 World War II: A German V-2 rocket hit a Woolworth's store on New Cross High Street in Lewisham and killed 168 shoppers.


1945 The release of the classic romantic film Brief Encounter, starring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway and Joyce Carey. The film was partially shot at Carnforth railway station and buffet room.

1953 Peers backed the Government's proposals for commercial television.


1954 Donald Campbell's new Bluebird K7 (a turbo jet-engined hydroplane) was handed over to him On This Day. Campbell set seven world water speed records in Bluebird K7 and it was in her that he was killed on Coniston Water on 4th January 1967 whilst attempting another water speed record, his target being 300 mph. He is buried in the Coniston graveyard.


1968 The new Race Relations Act made it illegal to refuse housing, employment, or public services to people because of their ethnic background.


1983 The Brinks Mat security warehouse at London’s Heathrow Airport was robbed of £25 million worth of gold bars weighing three tons. The gang gained entry to the warehouse from an insider security guard called Anthony Black. The robbers expected to steal £3 million in cash, but when they arrived, they found the gold bullion, most of which was never recovered.

1987 Drawings of English banknotes by US artist James Boggs were declared works of art and not illegal replicas of UK currency by an Old Bailey jury.


1988 Mrs. Rita Lockett of Torquay, Devon, spent £10,000 to repeat her daughter’s wedding two months after the event because she did not like the video. The couple went through the reception with all 200 wedding guests wearing the same outfits and having to listen to the same speeches, this time with a professional video crew on hand.


1992 It was announced that as from 1993 the Queen would make arrangements to pay income tax, the first British monarch to do so since the 1930s.


2014 The Save the Children charity was criticised for giving former Prime Minister Tony Blair an award for his anti-poverty work in Africa. Critics said that his role in the Iraq war should disqualify him from receiving the honour.

 

On this Day - 26th November:
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1922 English archaeologist Howard Carter
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A team led by archaeologist Howard Carter enters the antechamber of King Tutankhamen's tomb.
Despite some evidence of ancient plundering, it is by far the best preserved of the Egyptian royal tombs.

Though they wouldn't enter the burial chamber itself until the following day, the entrance to the 3,300-year-old necropolis, with its royal seals intact, told Carter he had found what he'd been looking for since 1907.

Carter was fortunate to discover the tomb when he did, because he was just about out of chances. His benefactor, Lord Carnarvon, was short of money and losing patience and about to pull the plug on the project. Carter talked him into bankrolling a final season, promising to pay the costs himself if the dig came up empty.

The final dig began in earnest on Nov. 1. Three days later, workers tearing down a hut exposed the top of a staircase. Within three weeks the entire staircase had been excavated and Carter and Carnarvon found themselves standing in front of a plaster wall. Carter broke through the wall at about 4 p.m. on the 26th. King Tut had been found.

Carnarvon died shortly after the tomb was opened, giving rise to the so-called "mummy's curse." Carter, meanwhile, shipped the artifacts, including the mummy, to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where the cataloguing took 10 years.

 

On this Day - 26th November:
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1978 1st lesbian theme TV movie - "A Question of Love"


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((In 1972 That Certain Summer aired, a landmark TV movie about a father revealing his homosexuality to his teenage son.))
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<> Six years later, on Nov. 26, 1978, ABC again aired another critically acclaimed movie about gay issues, A Question of Love.
It told the story of a lesbian couple drawn into a child custody battle by an ex-husband who disapproves of their lifestyle.
The lesbian couple was played by the illustrious Gena Rowlands and Jane Alexander.
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((The next high profile movie about lesbians would be 16 years later when Glenn Close and Judy Davis starred in Serving in Silence.))

 

On this Day - 26th November:

1962 - The Beatles
The Beatles recorded their second single ‘Please Please Me’ in 18 takes and ‘Ask Me Why’ for the flip side at EMI studio’s London.
When released in the US on the Vee-Jay label, the first pressings featured a typographical error: The band's name was spelled "The Beattles".
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1967 - The Beatles on Ed Sullivan
The promotional film of The Beatles 'Hello, Goodbye' was aired on The Ed Sullivan show in the US.
It was never shown at the time in the UK due to a musician's union ban on miming.

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2000 - The Beatles Number 1
The Beatles went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Beatles 1.
' The album features virtually every number-one single released from 1962 to 1970. Issued on the 30th anniversary of the band's break-up,
it was their first compilation available on one CD. The world's best-selling album of the 21st century, 1 has sold over 31 million copies.

 

On this Day - 26th November:
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1976 - Sex Pistols
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The Sex Pistols released the single 'Anarchy In The UK'. Originally issued in a plain black sleeve, the single was the only Sex Pistols recording released by EMI, and reached No.38 on the UK Singles Chart before EMI dropped the group on 6 January 1977.
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2016 - Punk on Fire
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Punk memorabilia said to be worth £5m ($6m) was set on fire in the middle of the River Thames in London, England.
Joe Corre, the son of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, burnt the items on the 40th anniversary of the Sex Pistols debut single. The 48-year-old told the crowd that "punk was never meant to be nostalgic".

 

On this Day - 27th November:
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1868 Battle at Washita River

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General George A. Custer attacks group of Native American Indians, their chief Black Kettle dies in the attack

Battle of Washita River - Wikipedia
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1901 U.S. Army War College is established in Washington, D.C.

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Army War College

 

On this Day - 27th November:
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1934 " Baby Face Nelson "



Bank robber Baby Face Nelson dies in a shoot-out with the FBI.
He had been severely wounded — hit by 17 bullets — in the standoff, but he, Chase and his wife managed to get away. however, on November 28, 1934, the 25-year-old Nelson succumbed to his injuries.
His body was left near the St. Peter Catholic Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois.

Baby Face Nelson - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 27th November:
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Jimi Hendrix
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= Hendrix performing on the Dutch television show Hoepla in 1967
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Birth name Johnny Allen Hendrix
Born November 27, 1942 - Seattle, Washington, US
Died September 18, 1970 (aged 27) - Kensington, London, England

Jimi Hendrix - Wikipedia

Jimi Hendrix, guitarist, singer, songwriter who had the 1967 UK No.6 single 'Hey Joe', the 1970 UK No.1 single 'Voodoo Chile', and the 1968 US No.1 and UK No.6 album 'Electric Ladyland'.

** in 1967 He appeared on a 16-date UK package tour with Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice, The Outer Limits, The Eire Apparent and Amen Corner.
He travelled to Belfast to appear for two shows at the Whitla Hall, Queens College.
It was Jimi's 25th birthday and before the shows the guitarist was given a birthday cake by the promoters
This was to be the only concert that The Jimi Hendrix Experience ever played in Ireland.

Hendrix who is widely considered to be the greatest guitarist in musical history made appearances at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival.
--- Hendrix died on 18th September 1970 after choking on his own vomit.

 

On this Day - 27th November:
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1962 - The Beatles
The Beatles recorded their first BBC radio session at the BBC Paris studio on Regent Street in London. They played 'Twist and Shout', 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You', the tracks were aired on the BBC Light Program 'Talent Spot.'

1970 - George Harrison
George Harrison released All Things Must Pass which includes the hit singles 'My Sweet Lord' and 'What Is Life', as well as songs such as 'Isn't It a Pity' and the title track that had been turned down for inclusion on releases by the Beatles.
The triple album would go on to be certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA, making it the best selling album by a solo Beatle.

 

On this Day - 28th November:
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1717 Blackbeard
Attacks and captures a French merchant slave ship, which he renames as his flagship the "Queen Anne's Revenge"



Queen Anne's Revenge - Wikipedia
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1720 Anne Bonny and Mary Read
Are tried, found guilty of pirating, and sentenced to death



They were caught up with the William at Negril Point, Jamaica and tried on November 28.
Though they too were found guilty and sentenced to death, their recently discovered pregnancies won them stays of execution.
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On this Day - 28th November:
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

1929 - Berry Gordy



Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records. In 1957 Jackie Wilson recorded 'Reet Petite', a song Gordy had co-written with his sister Gwen and writer-producer Billy Davis. Wilson recorded six more songs co-written by Gordy over the next two years, including 'Lonely Teardrops'. Gordy reinvested the profits from his songwriting success into producing.
In 1957, he discovered the Miracles (originally known as the Matadors) and began building a portfolio of successful artists.
Over the next decade, he signed such artists as The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5.

1943 - Randy Newman



Randy Newman, singer, songwriter, Composer of 'Mama Told Me Not To Come', 'Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear', 1977 US No.2 single 'Short People.' Film soundtracks including 'Ragtime.' Once hailed as the greatest songwriter alive by Paul McCartney.
Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer, his film scores include Ragtime, Toy Story; A Bug's Life; Toy Story 2; Monsters, Inc.; Cars; Toy Story 3; and Monsters University.

 

On this Day - 28th November:
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1962 - The Beatles
The Beatles performed two evening shows: the first at The Cavern Club in Liverpool and the second at the 527 Club in Liverpool.
The 527 Club show was a dance for the staff of Lewis Department Store in Liverpool, held on the top floor of the store.

1967 - The Beatles
The Beatles recorded their last fan club record as a group; 'Christmas Time Is Here Again!' The Beatles' Christmas records were spoken and musical messages from the group that were posted out on flexi disc at Christmas time to members of their official fan-clubs in the United Kingdom and the United States.

1974 - John Lennon
John Lennon made his last ever concert appearance when he joined Elton John on stage at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.
Lennon performed three songs; 'Whatever Gets You Thru The Night', 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.'

2013 - George Harrison
It was reported that George Harrison's sister was living in a pre-fabricated home and "struggling for money" since her allowance from The Beatles star's estate was cut off about a year after he died.
82-year-old Louise Harrison admitted that she had no access to her brother's multi-million dollar fortune and was cash-poor living in rural Missouri.
She never challenged her brother's estate, adding "I don't care about the money, it's been over ten years and I haven't made any ripples."

 

Today in History November 28th

The Coconut Grove fire in Boston 490 Dead, hundreds of others wounded.





The Boston Fire Department's official number of dead was 490 although some books have claimed it was 492




Star of stage and screen cowboy Buck Jones died in the fire

 

On this Day - 29th November:
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1877 US inventor Thomas Edison demonstrates his hand-cranked phonograph

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Thomas Edison with his second phonograph, photographed in 1878
He invented the first practical light bulb, the motion picture camera and the phonograph. Others had attempted to invent the latter but Edison's was the first to actually reproduce the sound. ... He demonstrated the device on November 29, 1877, having announced its invention days before.

 

On this Day - 29th November:
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1961 Following the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion CIA Director Allen Dulles resigns and is replaced by John McCone
John A McCone replaces Allen W Dulles as 6th director of CIA

• John A. McCone - Wikipedia

• Allen Dulles - Wikipedia
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Bay of Pigs Invasion - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 29th November:
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1963 LBJ sets up Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of JFK
= 36th US PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
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35th US PresidentJohn F. Kennedy

The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established by President Lyndon B. Johnson through Executive Order 11130 on November 29, 1963, to investigate the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy

Warren Commission - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 29th November:
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• 1949 Uranium mine explosions in East Germany kills 3,700
• 1951 1st underground atomic explosion at Frenchman Flat in Nevada

• 1971 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
• 1978 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
• 1979 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
• 1982 USSR performs underground nuclear test
• 1983 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
• 1987 France performs nuclear test at Mururoa atoll

 

On this Day - 29th November:
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1963 - The Beatles
'I Want To Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles was released in the UK.
For the first time ever in the UK advanced orders passed the million mark before it was released.

1969 - The Beatles
The Beatles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their twenty-sixth release in the United States.'Come Together / Something', which became the group's 18th US No.1.
Lennon was inspired by Timothy Leary's campaign for governor of California titled "Come together, join the party" against Ronald Reagan giving him the idea for the track. ’Something’ was the first Beatles song written by George Harrison to appear as an A-side.