On this date...

Edgar Allen Poe

In 1789, From the 1st Presidential Residence on Cherry and Pearl Streets in New York City, President Washington proclaimed the First National Thanksgiving Day to be held on November 26.

In 1839, Maya explorers John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood depart New York on their first expedition to the Yucatan

In 1849, American author Edgar Allan Poe is found delirious in a gutter in Baltimore, Maryland under mysterious circumstances; it is the last time he is seen in public before his death

In 1862, The Battle of Corinth, an American Civil War conflict that ended in a decisive Union victory over Confederate forces in northeastern Mississippi, began.

In 1863, expressing gratitude for a pivotal Union Army victory at Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln announces that the nation will celebrate an official Thanksgiving holiday on November 26, 1863.

In 1873, the United States military hangs four Native Americans found guilty of murdering the Civil War general Edward Canby during the Modoc War in Oregon. Canby was the highest ranking military official and one of the only generals ever killed by Native Americans.

In 1913, US federal income tax at 1% is signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson,

In 1917, six months after the United States declared war on Germany and began its participation in the First World War, the U.S. Congress passes the War Revenue Act, increasing income taxes to unprecedented levels in order to raise more money for the war effort.

In 1922, Governor of Georgia names Progressive writer Rebecca Felton (87) to fill an unexpired term in the US Senate; she becomes the first woman in Congress, the oldest person, and the shortest-termed, as she serves only 24 hours in November.

In 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt forms the Office of Economic Stabilization.

In 1944, during World War II, U.S. Army troops cracked the Siegfried Line north of Aachen, Germany.

In 1945, The May-Johnson bill, keeping atomic research a secret and establishing security regulations, was introduced into the U.S. Congress; although it never became law, the debate over the proposed legislation resulted in the passage of the Atomic Energy Act (1946).

In 1945, Elvis Presley performs publicly for the first time at the age of 10, singing "Old Shep" in a youth talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo, Mississippi; the contest is broadcast over WELO Radio, and he wins fifth prize: $5.00 in fair ride tickets.

In 1950, The comedy series "Beulah" debuts, the first nationally broadcast TV show to star an African American in a leading role: blues singer-turned-actress Ethel Waters. She later became the first Black actress nominated for an Emmy for the show "Route 66."

In 1951, third baseman Bobby Thomson hits a one-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the National League pennant for the New York Giants.

In 1955, "Captain Kangaroo" premiered on CBS and "The Mickey Mouse Club" premiered on ABC.

In 1960, The Andy Griffith Show debuted on American television and was an immediate success.

In 1961, The Dick Van Dyke Show, a pioneer of the sitcom genre, began airing on CBS.

In 1974, Frank Robinson was named the American League’s first Black manager after he was hired by the Cleveland Indians.

In 1990, Florida record store owner Charles Freeman is found guilty of obscenity for selling records by the rap group "2 Live Crew".

In 1993, 18 U.S. service members and hundreds of Somalis were killed in the Battle of Mogadishu — the deadliest battle for U.S. troops since the Vietnam War inspired the film “Black Hawk Down.

In 1995, One of the most sensational trials in U.S. history ended as a jury found O.J. Simpson not guilty of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

In 2003, A tiger attacked magician Roy Horn of the duo "Siegfried & Roy" during a performance in Las Vegas, leaving him partially paralyzed.

In 2008, O.J. Simpson was found guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room. (Simpson was later sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison; he was granted parole in July 2017 and released from prison in October of that year.)

In 2008, The $700 billion bailout bill for the US financial system is signed by President George W. Bush

In 2009, Maine voters voted to repeal a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry.

In 2023, Republican Kevin McCarthy was voted out as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the first time in history a speaker was removed from office.