History Daily - This Many Years Ago
@thismanyyearsago.bsky.social
I post daily about something that is “this many years ago”. This account is a hobby project. Time zone is GMT+2 and I usually post between 9AM and 1PM.
239 years ago, on the 30th of November 1786, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany became the first modern state to abolish the death penalty. Grand Duke Leopold I, who was influenced in the decision by the book 'On Crimes and Punishments', would later become Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. #otd #history 🗃️
November 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
53 years ago, on the 29th of November 1972, Atari released Pong, which was originally created by Allan Alcorn as a training exercise. It was based on the ping-pong game available on the Magnavox Odyssey home video game console. Pong was the first commercially successful video game. #otd #history 🗃️
November 29, 2025 at 9:46 AM
182 years ago, on the 28th of November 1843, England and France recognized Hawaiian independence. This day is still celebrated as the Hawaiian Independence Day (or Lā Kūʻokoʻa) by proponents of Hawaiian sovereignty. Hawaii became an American territory in 1900 and a state in 1959. #otd #history 🗃️
November 28, 2025 at 9:25 AM
130 years ago, on the 27th of November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, using his estate to establish the Nobel Prize after his death. An unverified story suggests that Nobel changed his will after being labeled 'Merchant of Death' in a premature obituary. #otd #history 🗃️
November 27, 2025 at 9:07 AM
236 years ago, on the 25th of November 1789, George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving day in the U.S. In 1863, also on the 25th of November, Abraham Lincoln proclaims Thanksgiving to be celebrated annually on the final Thursday of November. #ord #history #thanksgiving 🗃️
November 26, 2025 at 8:59 AM
236 years ago, on the 25th of November 1789, George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving day in the U.S. In 1863, also on the 25th of November, Abraham Lincoln proclaims Thanksgiving to be celebrated annually on the final Thursday of November. #ord #history #thanksgiving 🗃️
55 years ago, on the 25th of November 1970, Japanese author Yukio Mishima and four members of the Tatenokai barricaded themselves in Tokyo military base, hoping to inspire a nationalist coup. This failed and both Mishima and one of his accomplices committed ritual seppuku. #otd #history 🗃️
November 25, 2025 at 8:42 AM
2558 years ago, on the 23rd of November 534 BCE, the poet Thespis of Icaria was the first to speak as a character in a play instead of as himself, according to Ancient Greek sources and Aristotle as well. He is called the Inventory of Tragedy and is the origin of the word 'thespian'. #otd #history 🗃️
November 23, 2025 at 9:54 AM
2558 years ago, on the 23rd of November 534 BCE, the poet Thespis of Icaria was the first to speak as a character in a play instead of as himself, according to Ancient Greek sources and Aristotle as well. He is called the Inventory of Tragedy and is the origin of the word 'thespian'. #otd #history 🗃️
62 years ago, on the 22nd of November 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. On the same day, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th president of the USA. Oswald was killed in the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters while on live television two days later #otd #history 🗃️
November 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
62 years ago, on the 22nd of November 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. On the same day, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th president of the USA. Oswald was killed in the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters while on live television two days later #otd #history 🗃️
105 years ago, on the 21st of November 1920, the Irisch Republican Army killed 14 suspected British intelligence officers in Dublin. That same afternoon, the British retaliated by killing 14 civilians at a Gaelic football match . The day is known as one of the 'Bloody Sundays'. #otd #history 🗃️
November 21, 2025 at 8:44 AM
![Abraham Lincoln (in the center) at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1863. Made from the original glass plate negative at the National Archives which had lain unidentified for fifty-five years until 1952 when Josephine Cobb recognized Lincoln in the image. To Lincoln's left is bodyguard Ward Hill Lamon. To his far left is Governor Andrew G. Curtin of Pennsylvania. The photograph is estimated to have been taken at about noontime, just after Lincoln arrived, before Edward Everett's arrival and about three hours before Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address[1]. LOC note: Photo is a reprint of a small detail of a photo showing the crowd gathered for the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Penn., where President Abraham Lincoln gave his now famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln is visible facing the crowd, not wearing a hat, about an inch below the third flag from the left. Josephine Cobb first found Lincoln's face while working with a glass plate negative at the National Archives in 1952. (Source: NARA, Rare Photo of Lincoln at Gettysburg, http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=2564) See also additional context published by USA Today at https://web.archive.org/web/20080117000842/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-15-gettysburg-images_N.htm](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:oemiulhunxbmnbtjn2xlngqf/bafkreick3kvubpn6cmxnaen66ocytos2u6zo6xqaypnndohm3lz27kpqjm@jpeg)
399 years ago, on the 18th of November 1626, Saint Peter's Basilica was consecrated. The church was financed with indulgences. Among those tasked with facilitating this was Johann Tetzel, who prompted a scandal that contributed to the Protestant Reformation. #otd #history 🗃️
November 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM
You definitely don't want to Tokyo drift your ship in there.
November 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
You definitely don't want to Tokyo drift your ship in there.
87 years ago, on the 16th of November 1938, LSD was first synthesized by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman with the goal of obtaining a respiratory and circulatory stimulant with no effect on the uterus. Hoffman also discovered LSD's psychedelic effects in 1943 after accidentally ingesting it. #otd 🗃️
November 16, 2025 at 8:36 AM
87 years ago, on the 16th of November 1938, LSD was first synthesized by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman with the goal of obtaining a respiratory and circulatory stimulant with no effect on the uterus. Hoffman also discovered LSD's psychedelic effects in 1943 after accidentally ingesting it. #otd 🗃️
2356 years ago, on the 14th of November 332 BCE, Alexander the Great was crowned pharaoh of Egypt. He had previously been pronounced the son of Amun on a visit tot the oracle at the Siwa Oasis. Due to this supposed lineage, Alexander was sometimes depicted with the Horns of Ammon. #otd #history 🗃️
November 14, 2025 at 8:22 AM
192 years ago, on the 13th of November 1833, the Leonid meteor storm appeared over north America. Together with Halley's Comet this greatly impacted the study of meteors. It was described by Native American nations, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln among others. #otd 🗃️
November 13, 2025 at 8:04 AM
192 years ago, on the 13th of November 1833, the Leonid meteor storm appeared over north America. Together with Halley's Comet this greatly impacted the study of meteors. It was described by Native American nations, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln among others. #otd 🗃️
166 years ago, on the 12th of November 1859, Jules Léotard performed the first flying trapeze routine. The one-piece garment he invented was named after him. Léotard had passed law exams at age 18 before becoming a professional gymnast and died at age 32, presumably due to smallpox. #otd #history 🗃️
November 12, 2025 at 8:12 AM
166 years ago, on the 12th of November 1859, Jules Léotard performed the first flying trapeze routine. The one-piece garment he invented was named after him. Léotard had passed law exams at age 18 before becoming a professional gymnast and died at age 32, presumably due to smallpox. #otd #history 🗃️
102 years ago, on the 11th of November 1923, Adolf Hitler was arrested for high treason for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch days earlier. He was sentenced to five years but received friendly treatment by guards, was allowed to meet with party members and was released again in December 1924. #otd 🗃️
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
102 years ago, on the 11th of November 1923, Adolf Hitler was arrested for high treason for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch days earlier. He was sentenced to five years but received friendly treatment by guards, was allowed to meet with party members and was released again in December 1924. #otd 🗃️
351 years ago, on the 10th of November 1674, the Netherlands ceded their colony of Nieuw Nederland to England, including the city of New Amsterdam which would permanently be renamed to New York after already having been under English control since 1664 and temporarily renamed. #otd #history 🗃️
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
When asked when the regulations would take effect, Schabowski answered: "As far as I know, it takes effect immediately, without delay." Questions on what this meant for the Wall could not be answered. Crowds gathered at the border checkpoints. At night on the same day, the checkpoints were opened.
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM
When asked when the regulations would take effect, Schabowski answered: "As far as I know, it takes effect immediately, without delay." Questions on what this meant for the Wall could not be answered. Crowds gathered at the border checkpoints. At night on the same day, the checkpoints were opened.
36 years ago, on the 9th of November 1989, during a press conference Günter Schabowski announced East German citizens could travel abroad with less restrictions and even permanent emigration between east and west would become possible, leading to the Fall of the Berlin Wall. #otd #history 🗃️
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM
506 years ago, on the 8th of November 1519, Moctezuma welcomed Cortés in Tenochtitlán in peace after the Spaniard had parts of the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma intended to learn the weaknesses of the Spaniards but found himself taken hostage, with Cortés ruling Tenochtitlán through him. #otd #history 🗃️
November 8, 2025 at 9:27 AM