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November 15CalendarNovember 17
This Day
16November

23 indexed achievements across recorded history.


533
Theodora
Politics

Commemoration of Theodora in the Roman Martyrology.

Theodora's feast day as a saint in the Roman Martyrology, recognized for her reforms.

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Theodora·The Roman Martyrology
1720
Anne Bonny
Science

Tried and sentenced to death for piracy in Jamaica

Anne Bonny and Mary Read were tried at the Admiralty Court in St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, convicted of piracy, and sentenced to hang.

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Anne Bonny·The Life and Trial of Anne Bonny (Library of Congress Blogs)
1776
Margaret Corbin
Science

Combat service at the Battle of Fort Washington

After her husband was killed manning a cannon, Margaret Corbin took his place, loading and firing until severely wounded.

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Margaret Corbin·Wikipedia (Spanish): Margaret Corbin
1796
Catherine the Great
Politics

Catherine suffers a fatal stroke

Catherine suffers a severe stroke at Tsarskoye Selo on 16 November 1796 and falls into a fatal coma.

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Catherine the Great·The True Story of Catherine the Great - Smithsonian Magazine
1796
Catherine II
Science

Stroke and final illness

On 16 November 1796, Catherine suffers a stroke and falls into a coma at age 67, the day before her death.

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Catherine II·The True Story of Catherine the Great - Smithsonian Magazine
1800
Abigail Adams
Politics

First First Lady to reside in the White House

Abigail Adams became the first First Lady to reside in the White House.

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Abigail Adams·Wikipedia - Abigail Adams
1806
Mary Tyler Peabody Mann
Science

Birth of Mary Tyler Peabody

Mary Tyler Peabody was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the second of the three literary Peabody sisters.

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Mary Tyler Peabody Mann·Mary Tyler Peabody Mann - Wikipedia
1886
Harriet Williams Russell Strong
Science

Patent granted for window sash holder

Strong was granted a U.S. patent for a window sash holder, continuing her series of household mechanical inventions.

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Harriet Williams Russell Strong·Harriet Russell Strong - Whittier Museum
1899
Mary Margaret McBride
Arts

Birth of Mary Margaret McBride

Mary Margaret McBride was born on November 16, 1899, in Paris, Missouri.

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Mary Margaret McBride·Missouri Encyclopedia: Mary Margaret McBride
1908
Cixi
Politics

Succession of the Xuantong Emperor

Xuantong Emperor follows Cixi's death, continuing her legacy within the Qing dynasty.

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Cixi·Wikipedia - Empress Dowager Cixi
1911
Ida Tarbell
Law

U.S. Supreme Court orders Standard Oil breakup

The Supreme Court's landmark antitrust ruling dissolved Standard Oil, a decision historians link to the public scrutiny Tarbell's reporting generated.

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Ida Tarbell·Ida Tarbell | Allegheny College
1932
Helen Hayes
Science

First major stage actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress

Hayes won the Best Actress Oscar for The Sin of Madelon Claudet, becoming the first major stage actress honored with an Academy Award.

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Helen Hayes·Helen Hayes - Encyclopedia.com
1941
Miina Härma
Arts

Death of Miina Härma

Miina Härma died on November 16, 1941, in Tartu, Estonia.

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Miina Härma·Miina Härma - Wikipedia
1972
Vera Karalli
Arts

Death of Vera Karalli

Vera Karalli passed away on November 16, 1972, in Russia.

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Vera Karalli·Wikipedia - Vera Karalli
1983
Greta Garbo
Arts

Kennedy Center Honor

Garbo was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor on November 16, 1983, in Washington, D.C.

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Greta Garbo·Kennedy Center - Greta Garbo
1983
Dora Gabe
Literature

Death of Dora Gabe

Dora Gabe passed away on November 16, 1983.

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Dora Gabe·Wikipedia: Дора Габе (Bulgarian)
1986
Elfriede Jelinek
Literature

Heinrich Böll Prize from the City of Cologne

Received the Heinrich Böll Prize for her contribution to German literature.

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Elfriede Jelinek·Centre for the Study of Contemporary Women’s Writing
1988
Benazir Bhutto
Politics

Elected first woman prime minister of Pakistan and first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation

Following parliamentary elections, Bhutto was elected Prime Minister, becoming Pakistan's first woman PM and first woman elected to lead a Muslim-majority country.

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Benazir Bhutto·History Today: Benazir Bhutto first woman PM of Pakistan
1990
Nancy Lopez
Sports

Competes in and Wins Inaugural Solheim Cup

Lopez competes in the first-ever Solheim Cup, helping the U.S. win.

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Nancy Lopez·Rolex.com
1991
Mia Hamm
Sports

Youngest player on first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup–winning team

At 19, Hamm was the youngest on the U.S. team for the inaugural Women's World Cup win.

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Mia Hamm·Mia Hamm - North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame
1996
Mother Teresa
Activism

Honorary U.S. Citizenship

Mother Teresa receives honorary U.S. citizenship from Congress.

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Mother Teresa·Mother Teresa Prize Listings
2014
Jadwiga Pilsudska-Jaraczewska
Aviation

Death of Jadwiga Piłsudska-Jaraczewska

Jadwiga Piłsudska-Jaraczewska passed away at the age of 94 in Warsaw, Poland.

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Jadwiga Pilsudska-Jaraczewska·Jadwiga Piłsudska-Jaraczewska: Pilot, daughter of Marshal Piłsudski, who served the Air Transport Auxiliary during WW2
2016
Margaret Hamilton
Science

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Margaret Hamilton

Margaret Hamilton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 16, 2016.

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Margaret Hamilton·Apollo code developer Margaret Hamilton receives Presidential Medal of Freedom | MIT News