This Day In History : November 15

1971 United States

Intel Releases 4004, World's First Commercial Single-Chip Microprocessor

On November 15, 1971, Intel released the 4004, recognized as the world's first commercial single-chip microprocessor. This groundbreaking advancement revolutionized computing by integrating all essential components onto a single silicon chip, setting the stage for rapid technological advancement in the digital age.

Also on This Day in History November 15

Discover what happened on November 15 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, November 15
  • 1888 H. U. Sverdrup

    Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian meteorologist and oceanographer known for his studies of the physics, chemistry, and biology of the oceans.

  • 1738 William Herschel

    German-born British astronomer, the founder of sidereal astronomy for the systematic observation of the heavens.

  • 1847 August Krogh

    He contributed a number of fundamental discoveries within several fields of physiology, and is famous for developing the Krogh Principle.

  • 1873 Sara Josephine Baker

    American physician who was a pioneer in public health and child welfare in the United States.

  • 1891 Erwin Rommel

    He was a German Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. Popularly known as the Desert Fox, he served in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany, as well as in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, and the army of Imperial Germany.

Deaths on This Day, November 15
  • 1967 Elmer McCollum

    American biochemist who originated the letter system of naming vitamins. He discovered vitamins A, B and worked with others on vitamin D.

  • 1919 Alfred Werner

    Swiss chemist whose founding research into the structure of coordination compounds brought him the 1913 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

  • 1839 William Murdock

    Scottish inventor who was the first to make extensive use of coal gas for illumination and a pioneer in the development of steam power.

  • 1630 Johannes Kepler

    German astronomer who formulated three major laws of planetary motion which enabled Isaac Newton to devise the law of gravitation.

  • 1819 Daniel Rutherford

    Scottish chemist and photographer who discovered the portion of air that does not support combustion, now known to be nitrogen.

1988

Soviet space shuttle

In 1988, the Soviet Union launched its first space shuttle, Buran ("Snowstorm"), unmanned, on its first and only orbital flight.
2013

Sony Launches PlayStation 4, Sells One Million Units on First Day

On November 15, 2013, Sony launched the PlayStation 4 (PS4), achieving sales of one million units on its first day of availability. The PS4 introduced advanced gaming features, enhanced graphics, and social integration, becoming a major success in the gaming industry.
1966

Gemini 12 splashes down safely in the Atlantic Ocean

On November 15, 1966, Gemini 12 safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, concluding NASA's Project Gemini. Astronauts James A. Lovell Jr. and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin returned from a mission that validated extravehicular activities, crucial for the subsequent Apollo Moon landings.
2001

Microsoft Releases First Xbox Game Console in the US

On November 15, 2001, Microsoft launched the first Xbox game console in the United States. This marked Microsoft's entry into the gaming console market, offering advanced graphics, online gaming capabilities, and a robust lineup of games, competing with established rivals like Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's GameCube.
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