November 30th in History

The Flying Scotsman becomes the first steam locomotive authenticated to hit 100 mph, November 30, 1934

Today in History

  • The Folies Bergère stages its first revue (1886)
  • The Flying Scotsman becomes the first steam locomotive to reach 100 mph (1934)
  • Lucille Ball marries Desi Arnaz (1940)
  • The Hodges Meteorite crashes through a roof in Sylacauga, Alabama, killing a woman taking an afternoon nap — the only documented case of a human being hit by a rock from space (1954)
  • Barbados and Yemen gain independence from the United Kingdom (1967)
  • Zulkifar Ali Bhutto founds the Pakistan Peoples Party (1967)
  • Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the best-selling record album in history, is released (1982)
  • Operation Desert Storm officially ends (1995)
  • Exxon and Mobil merge to create the world’s largest company (1999)
  • Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings finally loses after amassing the biggest game show winnings (over US$2 million) in television history (2004)

Birthdays

  • Gregory of Tours, bishop and saint (539)
  • Andrea Doria, Italian admiral (1466)
  • Jonathan Swift, writer (1667)
  • Oliver Winchester, gun manufacturer (1810)
  • Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens), writer (1835)
  • Winston Churchill, prime minister (1874)
  • Lucy Maud Montgomery, writer (1874)
  • John Dickson Carr, mystery writer (1906)
  • Jacques Barzun, historian (1907)
  • Gordon Parks, cinematographer (1912)
  • Efrem Zimbalist Jr, actor (1918)
  • Virginia Mayo, actress (1920)
  • Shirley Chisholm, presidential candidate (1924)
  • Allan Sherman, comedian (1924)
  • Richard Crenna, actor (1926)
  • Robert Guillaume, actor (1927)
  • Dick Clark, television personality (1929)
  • G. Gordon Liddy, Watergate figure (1930)
  • Abbie Hoffman, yippie (1936)
  • Ridley Scott, director (1937)
  • Dian Parkinson, model (1944)
  • David Mamet, playwright and director (1947)
  • Chris Claremont, comic book writer (1950)
  • Mandy Patinkin, actor and singer (1952)
  • June Pointer, singer (1953)
  • Billy Idol, singer-songwriter (1955)
  • Bob Tewksbury, baseball player and coach (1960)
  • Bo Jackson, football and baseball player (1962)
  • Ben Stiller, actor (1965)
  • Clay Aiken, singer (1978)
  • Elisha Cuthbert, actress (1982)
  • Kaley Cuoco, actress (1985)

Deaths

  • Oscar Wilde, writer (1900)
  • Zeppo Marx, comedian (1979)
  • Tiny Tim, ukulele player and singer (1996)
  • Charlie Byrd, jazz guitarist (1999)
  • Eloise Jarvis McGraw, fantasy writer (2000)
  • Evel Knievel, stuntman (2007)

Holidays and Celebrations

  • Bonifacio Day (Philippines)
  • Cities for Life Day (International)
  • Computer Security Day
  • Independence Day (Barbados)
  • Independence Day (Yemen)
  • National Day (Benin)
  • National Meth Awareness Day
  • National Mousse Day
  • Regina Mundi Day (South Africa)
  • St. Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
  • Stay Home Because You’re Well Day

November 30 is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years). There are 31 days remaining until the end of the year.