25 fun facts for November, 20
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
November 20th holds many historical and significant events, including the attack on the whaleship Essex that inspired Moby Dick, the beginning of the Nuremberg Trials, the patent for the first commercial instant camera, and the adoption of Universal Children's Day. This day presents a mixture of advancements in technology, human rights, and cultural milestones.
25 Fun facts
- On November 20th, 1820, the whaleship Essex was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean. This incident inspired Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick."
- November 20th is officially Universal Children's Day, celebrated to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and to improve children's welfare.
- On November 20, 1929, American inventor Edwin H. Land patented the first commercial instant camera, known as Polaroid, which revolutionized photography.
- The Nuremberg Trials, a series of military tribunals held to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany, began on November 20, 1945.
- November 20 is National Peanut Butter Fudge Day in the United States, celebrating the popular sweet and creamy confection.
- On November 20th, 1902, Geo W. DeLong patented the pencil with an attached eraser, an everyday tool we now take for granted.
- The first successful hovercraft, invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell, made its public debut on November 20, 1959, in Cowes, England.
- November 20, 1977, marked the end of an era in Egyptian history, as the last 'Black-footed' Egyptian president, Anwar al-Sadat, made the first official visit to Israel by an Arab leader.
- On November 20, 2013, Latvia completed the requirements for joining the Eurozone, paving the way for the country to adopt the Euro currency.
- On November 20, 1931, the US granted a patent for the first electric razor, invented by Jacob Schick.
- In 1998, on November 20th, the first module of the International Space Station, Zarya, was launched into orbit.
- November 20th is National Absurdity Day in the United States, a day to do things out of the ordinary and embrace the absurd in life.
- On November 20, 1969, Native American activists began their occupation of Alcatraz Island, a former federal prison, to reclaim it as Indigenous land.
- On November 20, 1974, the United States filed an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T, leading to the breakup of the telecommunications company.
- In 1805, on November 20th, Austrian composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, premiered in Vienna.
- On November 20, 2003, the musical Wicked, based on a novel that retells the story of The Wizard of Oz from the witches' perspective, opened on Broadway.
- November 20, 1947, was the date of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's wedding at Westminster Abbey in London.
- On November 20, 2011, the Mars Science Laboratory mission, also known as the Curiosity rover, was launched by NASA to explore the Red Planet.
- In 1803, on November 20th, United States acquired Louisiana from France, in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase.
- On November 20, 1928, the world saw the first Mickey Mouse cartoon with synchronized sound – Steamboat Willie – released in New York.
- In 1977, on November 20, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to address Israel's parliament, the Knesset.
- On November 20, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which emphasizes the need for special care and protections for all children.
- In 1945, a series of military tribunals known as the Nuremberg Trials began on November 20, prosecuting prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for their role in the Holocaust and other war crimes.
- On November 20, 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation after 11 years in power.
- November 20, 1985, marked the release of Microsoft Windows 1.0, the beginning of the popular operating system we know today.