On This Day – November 1
Image credit: The GrayVine
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Let’s look back at some of the most significant events in American history that happened on this day, starting with…
1755: The Lisbon Earthquake Devastated Portugal
One of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck Lisbon, killing over 50,000 people and destroying much of the city. The disaster led to major advances in seismology and urban planning.
1814: The Congress of Vienna Convened
European leaders gathered in Vienna to redraw the continent’s political map after Napoleon’s defeat, aiming to restore stability and balance of power across Europe.
1848: WHSmith Was Founded in England
The retail giant WHSmith was established by Henry Walton Smith’s widow, Anna Smith, after she took over the family’s small newsstand and turned it into a pioneering book and newspaper business.
1894: The Diphtheria Vaccine Was Announced
Dr. Émile Roux of Paris introduced a vaccine for diphtheria, marking a major milestone in modern medicine and saving countless lives from the deadly infectious disease.
1916: Miliukov’s “Stupidity or Treason” Speech Shook Russia
Russian statesman Paul Miliukov’s fiery speech in the State Duma condemned the Tsarist government’s failures, intensifying unrest that would soon lead to the Russian Revolution.
1922: The Ottoman Empire Officially Ended
Following the Turkish War of Independence, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and abolished the Ottoman sultanate, ending over six centuries of imperial rule.
1928: Turkey Adopted the Latin Alphabet
As part of Atatürk’s modernization reforms, Turkey replaced the Arabic script with the Latin alphabet, dramatically increasing literacy and transforming national identity.
1950: Chuck Cooper Broke the NBA Color Barrier
Boston Celtics forward Chuck Cooper became the first African American to play in an NBA game, paving the way for generations of Black athletes in professional basketball.
1952: The First Hydrogen Bomb Was Detonated
Codenamed “Ivy Mike,” the world’s first thermonuclear device was tested in the Marshall Islands. The explosion, designed by Edward Teller and Stanislaw Ulam, marked the dawn of the hydrogen bomb era.
1959: The First NHL Goalie Mask Was Worn
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante made history by wearing a fiberglass mask during a game after being struck in the face by a puck—revolutionizing player safety in hockey.
1969: The Beatles’ Abbey Road Hit No. 1 in the US
The Beatles’ final recorded album, Abbey Road, reached number one on the American charts, staying there for 11 weeks and becoming one of the most beloved albums in rock history.
1997: Titanic Premiered in Tokyo
James Cameron’s epic film Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival. It went on to win 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
2012: Scientists Detected Light From the Universe’s First Stars
Astronomers found evidence of light emitted from the universe’s earliest stars, believed to have formed 500 million years after the Big Bang—providing key insights into cosmic history.
Do you remember any of these events? Or do you have more events (historical or not!) you'd like to share with the community? Post them below and let's reminisce together!
