On This Day in History – November 29

November 29 has been a day of pivotal moments — from the establishment of nations to discoveries that changed the course of human understanding. This date marks milestones in independence, exploration, and cultural innovation that have shaped our shared world.

Major Events

1. 1530 – Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a former chief advisor to King Henry VIII, dies en route to London on charges of treason, symbolizing the growing power struggle between crown and church.
2. 1777 – San José del Cabo is founded in Mexico, one of the oldest settlements in Baja California.
3. 1781 – The crew of the British slave ship Zong throws 133 enslaved Africans overboard to collect insurance, leading to a landmark legal case that fueled the abolitionist movement.
4. 1830 – November Uprising: Polish revolutionaries begin an armed rebellion against Russian rule in Warsaw.
5. 1847 – Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman are killed by Cayuse Native Americans in Oregon, an event that sparks years of conflict in the Pacific Northwest.
6. 1877 – Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph for the first time, marking a breakthrough in recorded sound.
7. 1890 – The first Army-Navy football game is played at West Point, launching one of America’s most enduring sports rivalries.
8. 1929 – U.S. Admiral Richard E. Byrd makes the first flight over the South Pole, a milestone in polar exploration.
9. 1947 – The United Nations votes to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, leading to the creation of Israel in 1948.
10. 1961 – Mercury-Atlas 5 launches, carrying the chimpanzee Enos into orbit as part of NASA’s early human spaceflight tests.
11. 1972 – Atari releases Pong, the first commercially successful video game, sparking the birth of the gaming industry.
12. 2001 – George Harrison, lead guitarist of The Beatles, dies at age 58 after a battle with cancer.

Famous Birthdays

1. Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) — American novelist and poet, author of Little Women and other classics.
2. Christian Doppler (1803–1853) — Austrian physicist who discovered the Doppler effect, explaining frequency changes in waves.
3. C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) — British author and theologian known for The Chronicles of Narnia and works on faith and philosophy.
4. Jacques Chirac (1932–2019) — French President (1995–2007), remembered for his leadership in European politics.
5. John Mayall (1933– ) — British musician known as the “Godfather of British Blues.”
6. Peter Bergman (1939–1996) — American comedian and member of The Firesign Theatre.
7. Chuck Mangione (1940– ) — American flugelhorn player and composer known for Feels So Good.
8. Don Cheadle (1964– ) — American actor known for Hotel Rwanda and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
9. Anna Faris (1976– ) — American actress and comedian, star of Scary Movie and Mom.
10. Gemma Chan (1982– ) — British actress known for Crazy Rich Asians and Eternals.

Notable Deaths

1. Thomas Wolsey (1473–1530) — English cardinal and statesman, whose downfall marked a turning point in the English Reformation.
2. Horace Greeley (1811–1872) — American newspaper editor, politician, and founder of the New-York Tribune.
3. Natalie Wood (1938–1981) — American actress known for West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause, whose mysterious death remains a topic of intrigue.
4. George Harrison (1943–2001) — British musician, songwriter, and lead guitarist of The Beatles, known for his spiritual influence on popular music.
5. Cary Grant (1904–1986) — British-American actor, one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men.
6. Ralph Bellamy (1904–1991) — American stage and screen actor, remembered for His Girl Friday.
7. John Wesley Powell (1834–1902) — American geologist and explorer who led the first expedition through the Grand Canyon.
8. Jerry Rubin (1938–1994) — American social activist and founder of the Youth International Party (Yippies).
9. Dorothy Lamour (1914–1996) — American actress and singer famous for her Road to… films with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

Holidays

• Independence Day (Albania) — Commemorates the nation’s 1912 declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire.
• Liberation Day (Panama) — Marks Panama’s independence from Spain in 1821.
• Unity Day (Vanuatu) — Celebrates national unity in the Pacific island nation.
• International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (UN) — Recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination and peace.
• Electronic Greetings Day (U.S.) — Encourages sharing messages of kindness and connection online.

Fun Facts

• Edison’s phonograph demonstration in 1877 featured him reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” the first words ever recorded.
• The UN’s 1947 partition vote (Resolution 181) passed by a margin of 33–13, reshaping Middle Eastern history.
• Pong, created by Atari engineer Allan Alcorn, was based on a simple table tennis game yet became a cultural sensation.
• Admiral Byrd’s South Pole flight in 1929 lasted nearly 19 hours and proved the power of aviation in exploration.
• George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh was one of the first major charity concerts in history, setting the stage for Live Aid.