Following are some of the major events that occurred on November 13:
- 1002 – St. Brice’s Day Massacre: King Æthelred II of England orders a massacre of Danes living in England, fearing they were plotting to overthrow him.
- 1833 – Great Leonid Meteor Storm: One of the most intense meteor showers in recorded history, with thousands of meteors observed per hour across North America.
- 1841 – James Braid Discovers Hypnosis: The Scottish surgeon James Braid first observes and coins the term “hypnotism,” which later laid the foundation for the study of hypnosis.
- 1851 – The Denny Party lands at Alki Point: This event marks the beginning of the establishment of Seattle, Washington.
- 1907 – The first helicopter flight: French inventor Paul Cornu makes the first piloted, free flight of a rotary-wing aircraft.
- 1940 – Walt Disney releases “Fantasia”: Disney’s animated musical “Fantasia” premieres in New York City, revolutionizing animation and sound synchronization.
- 1947 – Russia’s exclusion from the Marshall Plan: The Soviet Union refuses to participate in the Marshall Plan, marking a clear line in the developing Cold War divide.
- 1956 – U.S. Supreme Court rules bus segregation unconstitutional: The Supreme Court rules against Alabama bus segregation laws, effectively ending the Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1985 – The eruption of Nevado del Ruiz: A volcanic eruption in Colombia leads to massive mudflows that bury the town of Armero, killing an estimated 25,000 people.
- 2015 – Paris Attacks: A coordinated series of terrorist attacks occurs across Paris, including a mass shooting at the Bataclan theatre, killing 130 people and injuring hundreds more.
