This Day In History : November 28

1964 United States

NASA Launches Mariner 4 Spacecraft

On November 28, 1964, NASA successfully launched the Mariner 4 spacecraft. Mariner 4 became the first spacecraft to successfully fly by Mars, capturing the first close-up images of the Martian surface and providing crucial data about the planet's atmosphere and geology.

Also on This Day in History November 28

Discover what happened on November 28 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, November 28
  • 1866 Henry Bacon

    American architect who designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

  • 1837 John Wesley Hyatt

    American inventor who simplified the production of celluloid

  • 1858 Robert Abbott Hadfield

    British metallurgist who developed manganese steel

  • 1650 Jan Palfijn

    Flemish physician and inventor (obstetrical forceps)

  • 1772 Luke Howard

    British manufacturing chemist and meteorologist (nomenclature system for clouds)

Deaths on This Day, November 28
  • 1954 Enrico Fermi

    Italian-American nuclear physicist, gone fission, fermium (Nobel Prize 1938)

  • 1876 Karl Ernst von Baer

    Estonian-German embryologist (founding father of embryology)

  • 1939 James Naismith

    Canadian-American physical educator and inventor (basketball, football helmet)

  • 2015 Janez Strnad

    Slovenian physicist, and author

  • 1987 Choh Hao Li

    Chinese-American bio-chemist (isolated growth hormones)

1967

First Pulsar Detected as Pulsating Radio Source

On November 28, 1967, astronomers Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish at Cambridge University detected the first pulsar, a rapidly spinning neutron star emitting regular radio pulses. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of astrophysics and neutron stars, marking a significant milestone in the study of cosmic phenomena.
1912

Albania Declares Independence from Ottoman Empire

On November 28, 1912, Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire. This proclamation followed a period of nationalist movements and uprisings within Albania, marking the beginning of its sovereignty as a modern nation-state.
1821

Panama declared its separation from Spain

On November 28, 1821, Panama declared its separation from Spain and joined Gran Colombia, a union of several South American nations led by Simón Bolívar. This marked Panama's move towards independence and its integration into the broader struggle for liberation from Spanish colonial rule in the region.
1843

United Kingdom Recognizes Kingdom of Hawaii

On November 28, 1843, the United Kingdom formally recognized the Kingdom of Hawaii as an independent nation. This diplomatic recognition bolstered Hawaii's sovereignty and international standing during the 19th century.
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