On this day, September 28, 1928, the world of medicine changed forever. Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first effective antibiotic. This monumental breakthrough would save millions of lives and lead to the development of modern antibiotics, revolutionizing the treatment of bacterial infections. Before this discovery, even minor injuries could prove fatal due to infections.
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In 1781, American forces, bolstered by a French naval fleet, initiated the Siege of Yorktown in Virginia during the Revolutionary War. This pivotal military action marked the beginning of the end of British control in America. The successful siege would lead to the surrender of British General Cornwallis, signaling the imminent victory for the American colonies and the eventual birth of a new nation.
In 1924, three intrepid U.S. Army pilots touched down in Seattle, completing the first round-the-world flight. After 175 grueling days in the air, these men became international heroes, showcasing the potential of aviation as a tool for connecting distant corners of the globe. Their journey helped lay the groundwork for modern commercial air travel.
In 1941, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox etched his name in the annals of baseball history by batting .406 for the season, becoming the last player in the American League to hit over .400. More than just a statistic, Williams’ achievement demonstrated the unparalleled skill required to maintain such a high level of play across an entire season—something that remains unmatched to this day.
In 1962, the Civil Rights Movement took center stage when Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett was held in contempt of court for defying a federal mandate to admit James Meredith, a Black student, to the University of Mississippi. Meredith’s enrollment marked a significant moment in the fight for desegregation, triggering violent clashes but ultimately leading to a monumental step toward equal access to education in the South.
In 1995, history was made at the White House when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat signed an accord ending Israel’s military occupation of major cities in the West Bank. This agreement, facilitated by the U.S., set the stage for what many hoped would be lasting peace in the region and the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.
In 2000, after a contentious 12-year political and legal battle, the U.S. government approved the use of the abortion pill RU-486. This decision marked a significant moment in reproductive rights, offering women a non-surgical option for terminating early pregnancies, which has remained a focal point of the ongoing debate over abortion access in the United States.
In 2020, the grim milestone of 1 million deaths worldwide from the coronavirus pandemic was reached, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. The COVID-19 pandemic would go on to disrupt global economies, healthcare systems, and the daily lives of billions, leaving an indelible mark on modern history.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian ravaged the coast of southwestern Florida, making landfall as a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph. Over 2.5 million people were ordered to evacuate as the hurricane caused catastrophic damage, particularly in communities such as Fort Myers and Naples. Ian was one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in Florida, and its aftermath required years of recovery efforts.
Today in History: November 14
Today in History: November 14. On November 14, 1889, journalist Nellie Bly began an attempt to travel around the world in 80 days; she would successfully complete the journey in just over 72 days. In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel ‘Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale’ was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain. In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. In 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang.In 1993, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula became the NFL’s all-time winningest coach with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Today in History: November 13
Today in History: November 13:On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II. In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling which found Alabama bus segregation laws were illegal. In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city. In 2001, U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan entered Kabul as Taliban forces retreated from the capital city.
Today in History: November 12
Today in History: On November 12: 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party. In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic. In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal. In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.
Today in History: November 11
Today in History: November 11: On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compiègne in northern France. In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed the Mayflower Compact, calling for a “civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation.” In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding. In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the tenth and final crewed flight of NASA’s Gemini program.
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