Europa
- 1855 – Foundation of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, England
Albert, Prince Consort, laid the foundation stone for this important educational and cultural institution in Birmingham, England, marking a significant development in the city’s Victorian-era growth. - 1869 – Launch of the Cutty Sark, Scotland
The famous clipper ship Cutty Sark was launched in Dumbarton, Scotland. It would become one of the last and fastest tea clippers to be built, now preserved as a museum ship in London. - 1873 – Ville du Havre Disaster, France
The French steamer SS Ville du Havre sank in the Atlantic after colliding with the Scottish iron clipper Loch Earn, resulting in the tragic loss of 226 lives. - 1908 – The Congress of Manastir, Albania
This congress established the modern Albanian alphabet, a key moment in Albanian national identity and linguistic unity. - 1921 – The Troubles, Northern Ireland
On this day, 22 Irish Nationalists were killed in Belfast, marking one of the deadliest days during the Irish War of Independence. - 1940 – World War II: Greek Counterattack in Albania
Greek troops counterattacked into Italian-occupied Albania and captured Korytsa, reversing the initial Italian invasion and marking a turning point in the Greco-Italian War. - 1942 – Battle of Stalingrad, Eastern Front
German General Friedrich Paulus informed Adolf Hitler that the German 6th Army was surrounded at Stalingrad, a pivotal moment in World War II. - 1971 – Cairngorm Plateau Disaster, Scotland
Britain’s worst mountaineering tragedy occurred when five children and a leader died from exposure in the Scottish mountains. - 1975 – Juan Carlos Becomes King of Spain
Following the death of dictator Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was declared King of Spain, beginning the country’s transition to democracy. - 1990 – Margaret Thatcher Resigns as UK Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, the first female British Prime Minister, announced her resignation after 11 years in office, ending a significant era in British politics. - 2004 – Orange Revolution Begins, Ukraine
Mass protests erupted in Ukraine after disputed presidential elections, leading to the Orange Revolution and significant political reforms. - 2005 – Angela Merkel Becomes Chancellor of Germany
Angela Merkel took office as the first female Chancellor of Germany, marking a major milestone in European and German political history.
America
- Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1963)
The most significant event in American history on November 22 is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. On this day in 1963, Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. Texas Governor John Connally, who was in the same car, was seriously wounded. The suspected gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, was arrested shortly afterward. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President less than two hours after the assassination. - The event shocked the nation and the world, leading to days of mourning and extensive media coverage. Kennedy’s assassination remains one of the most notorious political murders in American history and has had a lasting impact on the country.
- 1718: The infamous pirate Blackbeard (Edward Teach) was killed off the coast of North Carolina in a battle with British forces.
- 1935: The China Clipper, a flying boat, took off from Alameda, California, carrying over 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight.
- 1922: A mine explosion in Dolomite, Alabama, claimed 90 lives.
- 1986: Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history at age 20 by defeating Trevor Berbick.
- 1995: Pixar released Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated feature-length film, which would revolutionize the animation industry.
Asia
- Lebanon’s Independence Day (1943):
Lebanon gained its independence from France on November 22, 1943, after nearly two years since it was first announced by the Free French government. This day is celebrated annually as a national holiday in Lebanon, marking the end of the French Mandate and the birth of the modern Lebanese state. - Cairo Conference (1943):
On this day, the Cairo Conference began in Egypt, where U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek met to discuss strategies to defeat Japan during World War II. The conference was significant for shaping the post-war order in Asia and reaffirming Allied intentions regarding Japanese-occupied territories. - Soviet Hydrogen Bomb Test (1955):
The Soviet Union detonated the RDS-37, a two-stage hydrogen bomb, over Semipalatinsk (now in Kazakhstan). This was a major milestone in the nuclear arms race during the Cold War. - India-Pakistan Air Conflict (1971):
On November 22, 1971, India and Pakistan violated each other’s air borders, leading to the beginning of air conflicts between the two nations, which would escalate into the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Africa
- 1970 – Portuguese Invasion of Guinea (Operation Green Sea)
On November 22, 1970, Portuguese soldiers launched a surprise seaborne invasion of Conakry, the capital of Guinea, in an attempt to overthrow President Ahmed Sékou Touré and capture Amílcar Cabral, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). The operation failed to achieve its main objectives, but the Portuguese managed to release 26 prisoners from the PAIGC headquarters. In response, President Touré sought international condemnation of the invasion, leading to United Nations resolutions against Portugal and strong support from African nations such as Nigeria and Algeria. - 1988 – Angola, Cuba, and South Africa Endorse Troop Withdrawal Plan
The South African government announced it had joined Cuba and Angola in endorsing a plan to remove Cuban troops from Angola, a significant step toward ending the Angolan Civil War and reducing regional tensions in southern Africa. - 1497 – Vasco da Gama Rounds the Cape of Good Hope
On this day, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama became the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, marking a pivotal moment in the Age of Exploration and opening the sea route to India. This event had a profound impact on African and global history, initiating centuries of European involvement in the region. - 1899 – Battle of Willow Grange, Anglo-Boer War
During the Anglo-Boer War, the Battle of Willow Grange took place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Notably, two British soldiers and two burghers were knocked unconscious by lightning, highlighting the unpredictable conditions faced during the conflict. - South Africa and Switzerland Agreement (1994): South Africa and Switzerland signed an agreement to support the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), reflecting international support for South Africa’s post-apartheid transformation.
- UN Security Council Resolution 242 (1967): The UN adopted Resolution 242, establishing principles for an Arab-Israeli peace settlement, with significant implications for North African states involved in the Middle East conflict.
This day in history: 22 november