November 26

Scott Winters November 26, 2025 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1716 – The first lion to be exhibited in America went on display in Boston, MA.

1789 – A national Thanksgiving Day was observed in the U.S. as proclaimed by President George Washington at the request of Congress.

1825 – The first college social fraternity, Kappa Alpha, was formed at Union College in Schenectady, NY.

1832 – A public streetcar service began in New York, NY.

1842 – The University of Notre Dame was founded.

1863 – After a 40 year effort begun by Boston journalist Sarah Hale, President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday, falling on the last Thursday in November. (Since 1941, it has been on the fourth Thursday.)

1865 – Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” was first published.

1867 – J.B. Sutherland patented the refrigerated railroad car.

1917 – The National Hockey League was officially formed in Montreal, Canada. The first teams are the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas.

1922 – In Egypt, the entrance to child-king Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered by archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.

1942 – The movie “Casablanca”, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, premiered in New York, NY.

1942 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing to begin December 1.

1948 – The first Polaroid instant camera, known as a Land Camera, went on sale in Boston, MA for $90 (which would be about $900 today).

1965 – France became the third country to enter space when it launched its first satellite the Diamant-A.

1973 – Rose Mary Woods, President Richard Nixon’s personal secretary, told a federal court that she was responsible for the 18 1/2 minute gap in a key Watergate tape.

1975 – Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a member of the Manson Family, was found guilty of trying to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford on September 5th.

1979 – The International Olympic Committee voted to re-admit China after a 21-year absence.

1983 – A Brinks vault in London’s Heathrow Airport was robbed by gunmen, who made off with 6,800 gold bars worth nearly $40 million. Only a fraction of the gold has ever been recovered and only two men were convicted in the heist.

1986 – President Ronald Reagan appointed a commission headed by former Sen. John Tower to investigate his National Security Council staff after the Iran-Contra affair.

1989 – The TV show “America’s Funniest Home Videos” debuted with host Bob Saget.

1989 – “MTV Unplugged” debuted, with its co-creator, singer, songwriter Jules Shear, as host. Squeeze, Syd Straw and Cars’ guitarist Elliot Easton were the guests on the first episode.

1990 – The Delta II rocket made its maiden flight.

1990 – Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. agreed to acquire MCA Inc. for $6.6 billion.

1995 – Two men set fire to a subway token booth in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The clerk inside was fatally burned.

1998 – Hulk Hogan announced that he was retiring from pro wrestling and would run for President in 2000.

2000 – Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified George W. Bush the winner over Al Gore in the state’s hotly contested Presidential balloting by 537 votes. Bush went on to win the Presidential election, despite losing in the national popular vote.

2001 – An minor earthquake was centered at Scotts, MI.

2002 – The movie “Bad Santa”, starring Billy Bob Thornton, premiered in theaters.

2003 – The Concorde made its final flight, over Bristol, England.

2010 – Willie Nelson was arrested at a border patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, TX and charged with possession of six ounces of marijuana. He was taken to jail and released on $2,500 bail.

2010 – The movie “The Kings Speech” debuted in theaters. It would win Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor,

2011 – The Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. The Mars rover Curiosity landed on the floor of Gale Crater on August 6, 2012.

2018 – The robotic probe Insight landed on the planet Mars.

2021 – The World Health Organization identified the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

BIRTHDAYS:

Jerry Jameson – 91 years old (1934) – Director and producer

Porter Goss – 87 years old (1938) – Soldier and politician, 19th Director of the CIA

Rich Little – 87 years old (1938) – Canadian-American comedian, actor, and singer

Susanne Marsee – 84 years old (1941) – Mezzo-soprano

Jan Stenerud – 83 years old (1942) – Norwegian-American football player

Marilynne Robinson – 82 years old (1943) – Novelist and essayist

Jean Terrell – 81 years old (1944) – Singer

Daniel Davis – 80 years old (1945) – Actor

John McVie – 80 years old (1945) – English-American bass player

Michael Omartian – 80 years old (1945) – Singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer

Art Shell – 79 years old (1946) – Football player and coach

Roger Wehrli – 78 years old (1947) – Football player

Elizabeth Blackburn – 77 years old (1948) – Australian-American biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Marianne Muellerleile – 77 years old (1948) – Actress

Vincent A. Mahler – 76 years old (1949) – Political scientist and academic

Elsa Salazar Cade – 73 years old (1952) – Mexican-American science teacher and entomologist

Shelley Moore Capito – 72 years old (1953) – Politician

Harry Carson – 72 years old (1953) – Football player

Roz Chast – 71 years old (1954) – Cartoonist

Dale Jarrett – 69 years old (1956) – Race car driver and sportscaster

Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs – 66 years old (1959) – Author and academic

Jamie Rose – 66 years old (1959) – Actress, singer, and dancer

Jerry Schemmel – 66 years old (1959) – Sportscaster

Chuck Eddy – 65 years old (1960) – Journalist

Harold Reynolds – 65 years old (1960) – Baseball player and sportscaster

Ivory – 64 years old (1961) – Wrestler and trainer

Chuck Finley – 63 years old (1962) – Baseball player

Mario Elie – 62 years old (1963) – Basketball player and coach

Scott Adsit – 60 years old (1965) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Kristin Bauer van Straten – 59 years old (1966) – Actress

Garcelle Beauvais – 59 years old (1966) – Haitian-American actress and singer

Sue Wicks – 59 years old (1966) – Basketball player and coach

Edna Campbell – 57 years old (1968) – Basketball player

Shawn Kemp – 56 years old (1969) – Basketball player

Kara Walker – 56 years old (1969) – Painter and illustrator

John Amaechi – 55 years old (1970) – American-English basketball player and sportscaster

Vicki Pettersson – 54 years old (1971) – Author

Winky Wright – 54 years old (1971) – Boxer and actor

James Dashner – 53 years old (1972) – Author

Peter Facinelli – 52 years old (1973) – Actor, director, and producer

Tammy Lynn Michaels – 51 years old (1974) – Actress

DJ Khaled – 50 years old (1975) – Rapper and producer

Maia Campbell – 49 years old (1976) – Actress

Maven – 49 years old (1976) – Wrestler

Brian Schneider – 49 years old (1976) – Baseball player and manager

Paris Lenon – 48 years old (1977) – Football player

Jessica Bowman – 45 years old (1980) – Actress

Jackie Trail – 45 years old (1980) – Tennis player

Keith Ballard – 43 years old (1982) – Ice hockey player

Luther Head – 43 years old (1982) – Basketball player

Matt Garza – 42 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Chris Hughes – 42 years old (1983) – Publisher and businessman, co-founded Facebook

Matt Carpenter – 40 years old (1985) – Baseball player

Kat DeLuna – 38 years old (1987) – Singer, songwriter and dancer

Blake Harnage – 37 years old (1988) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Avery Bradley – 35 years old (1990) – Basketball player

Corey Knebel – 34 years old (1991) – Baseball player

Malik Beasley – 29 years old (1996) – Basketball player

Brandon Carlo – 29 years old (1996) – Ice hockey player

Aubrey Joseph – 28 years old (1997) – Actor

Jaycee Horn – 26 years old (1999) – Football player

Olivia O'Brien – 26 years old (1999) – Singer-songwriter

TODAY IS:

National Cake Day: From choc to cheese, bundt to butterfly – share a slice with friends, try your hand at decorating or ask the local bakery to whip up a gorgeous gateau.
Coton de Tulear Day: Lively, affectionate companions with a distinctive, cotton-like coat, Coton de Tulear dogs radiate charm and joy in every step.
Good Grief Day: Good Grief Day is a special time that honors the legacy of Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the beloved "Peanuts" comic strip. This day celebrates the joy and comfort his characters have brought to millions. From the adventures of Snoopy and Charlie Brown to the wisdom of Linus, Schulz's...
DrinksGiving: Heading home on the evening before Thanksgiving is an American tradition. And in preparation for spending the weekend with Aunt Martha and her pumpkin pie, the night before is often spent at a bar, catching up with old friends who are also back from out of town. In some cities...
National Jukebox Day: Crank up your favorite 50s tunes at a local greasy diner or tap into modern-day jukeboxes via the TouchTunes app to get the whole bar boogying.
Anti-Obesity Day: Anti-Obesity Day is a global event that brings attention to the health risks associated with obesity. It encourages people to adopt healthier lifestyles and make informed choices about their well-being. The day serves as a platform to educate the public on the importance of balanced nutrition and regular physical activity...
National Tie One On Day: Have you ever been worried about preparing for Thanksgiving? Well, there’s a day just for that. National Tie One On Day is all about putting on aprons and getting your pre-prep going for the big cooking fiasco. Not only is it about just cooking for that big day, but it’s...
National Book Week: Have you ever thought about how books can take you anywhere without leaving your seat? National Book Week is a time to celebrate that magic. Did you know the longest novel ever written has over 1.2 million words? That’s about 2,000 pages of pure storytelling! Whether you’re picking up an...
National Deal Week: Discovering hidden gems and cost-effective finds while exploring retail options, turning every purchase into a rewarding adventure.
National Game & Puzzle Week: A realm of strategic tabletop pastimes, these engaging diversions offer a gateway to shared amusement and intellectual challenges.
National Farm-City Week: National Farm-City Week shines a light on the vital link between farm fields and city tables. Celebrated the week leading up to Thanksgiving, this time honors the teamwork between rural farmers and urban workers. Together, they ensure we all enjoy safe and abundant food. Why do we celebrate it? The week...
Better Conversations Week: For some folks, it seems like every year of getting together for the holidays is the same. Family members are gathered around the television to watch the parade or football game, others are in the kitchen peeling potatoes and baking pies. But what happens relationally between these family members and...