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32 fun facts for November, 12

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
November 12th boasts a varied range of fun facts and celebrations, from scientific achievements such as the observation of the first meteor shower in the U.S. and the landing of the Philae space probe on a comet, to birthdays of famous individuals like Auguste Rodin and Anne Hathaway. This day also hosts National Pizza with the Works except Anchovies Day and World Pneumonia Day, acknowledging tasty treats and important global health issues.
32 Fun facts
  1. In 1799, the first meteor shower observed in the United States happened, with over 300 shooting stars witnessed in one evening. The event is now known as the Leonid meteor shower.
  2. French sculptor Auguste Rodin, creator of The Thinker, was born on November 12, 1840.
  3. In 1866, the first recorded game of Cuju, which is considered the earliest soccer-like game in human history, was played in China.
  4. In 1892, William Heffelfinger became the first professional American football player when he was paid $500 for a single game.
  5. French inventor Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered the Hertz effect, which later became the basis for photoelectric cells, on November 12, 1899.
  6. In 1908, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were reportedly killed in Bolivia during a shootout with local authorities, although their true fates are still unknown.
  7. In 1912, the frozen bodies of British explorer Robert Scott and his team were discovered in Antarctica, having perished during their attempt to reach the South Pole.
  8. The Tomb of the Unknowns, a monument dedicated to the unidentified U.S. soldiers killed in World War I, was dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery on November 12, 1921.
  9. In 1927, the SS Vestris sank off the coast of Virginia, killing approximately 110 passengers and crew members.
  10. Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly known as Grace Kelly, was born on November 12, 1929.
  11. In 1933, the first recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster occurred in Scotland when Hugh Gray reported seeing a large creature emerge from the water.
  12. November 12 is National Pizza with the Works except Anchovies Day in the United States, a day to enjoy a loaded pie without the fishy topping.
  13. In 1936, the San Francisco and Oakland sections of the Bay Bridge opened, connecting the two cities via the largest bridge of its time.
  14. American actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg was born on November 12, 1955.
  15. In 1969, independent investigative journalist Seymour Hersh broke the story of the My Lai Massacre, a large-scale killing of civilians by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam.
  16. November 12 is National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day in the United States, celebrating the popular book series and the comfort of a warm, homemade meal.
  17. On this day in 1970, a 45-foot sperm whale beached itself in Oregon, inspiring the infamous "exploding whale" story when locals used dynamite to dispose of the carcass.
  18. In 1971, the Oregon coastal town of Cannon Beach held its first annual Stormy Weather Arts Festival, which continues to this day.
  19. November 12 is World Pneumonia Day, an international day to raise awareness about one of the leading causes of death among children globally.
  20. The Church of England voted to admit women as priests on November 12, 1992.
  21. In 1993, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event took place in Denver, Colorado.
  22. November 12 is National Sundae Day in the United States, celebrating the rich and tasty ice cream dessert.
  23. South African judge Albie Sachs wins the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order on November 12, 2009.
  24. On November 12, 2011, Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou resigned due to mounting pressure brought on by a financial crisis.
  25. In 2013, the European Space Agency launched the MAVEN probe, which successfully arrived at Mars in September 2014.
  26. November 12 is celebrated as National Education Day in India, honoring the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, an important leader in the Indian education system.
  27. Australian actress Anne Hathaway was born on November 12, 1982.
  28. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated its first Face to Face event on November 12, 2014, a live interactive broadcast where youth could ask questions and support each other.
  29. In 2014, the Philae space probe was the first successful spacecraft to land on a comet, specifically comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
  30. November 12 is World Quality Day, a global day to raise awareness about the importance of quality in all aspects of our lives.
  31. On November 12, 2016, the International Organization for Standardization published ISO 37001, setting forth a global standard for anti-bribery management systems.
  32. In 2019, astronomers observed an unusually bright "burst" of radiation coming from a galaxy nearly 4 billion light-years away, later determined to be from a black hole tearing apart a star.

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