On This Day in History
November 8
First Broadcast of British TV Channel BBC Two
BBC Two, the second television channel of the BBC, began broadcasting, expanding public television in the UK.
John F. Kennedy Elected 35th U.S. President
John F. Kennedy was elected as the youngest and first Catholic President of the United States, marking a new era in American politics.
First Broadcast of British Soap Opera *Coronation Street*
*Coronation Street*, the world's longest-running TV soap opera, aired its first episode in the UK.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Elected for Fourth Term
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term as U.S. President during World War II.
First Jet Plane Flight in Germany
Germany conducted the first successful flight of a jet-powered aircraft, the Heinkel He 178, marking the dawn of the jet age.
Xinhua News Agency Established in China
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency was founded, becoming one of the largest news agencies in the world.
Adolf Hitler Launches Beer Hall Putsch
Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party attempted a coup in Munich, known as the Beer Hall Putsch, which ultimately failed but marked a key moment in Nazi rise.
Hitler’s Failed Beer Hall Putsch Ends
Adolf Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch, an attempted coup in Munich, ended in failure, leading to Hitler’s imprisonment and the writing of *Mein Kampf*.
Birth of Jack Kilby, Inventor of the Integrated Circuit
Jack Kilby, co-inventor of the integrated circuit and Nobel laureate, was born, paving the way for modern electronics.
Discovery of the Tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun
Howard Carter entered the sealed burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, making one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history.
Discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen
Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays, revolutionizing medical diagnostics and earning the first Nobel Prize in Physics.
Election of Grover Cleveland for Second Non-Consecutive Term
Grover Cleveland was elected U.S. President for a second, non-consecutive term, the only president to achieve this.
Montana Becomes 41st U.S. State
Montana was admitted to the United States as the 41st state, expanding U.S. territory in the west.
Death of Doc Holliday, American Gunslinger
Doc Holliday, famed gambler and gunfighter of the American Old West, died of tuberculosis in Colorado.
Election of Abraham Lincoln to Second Term
Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as U.S. President during the Civil War, ensuring the continuation of Union leadership.
Montreal’s First Railway Tunnel Opens
Montreal inaugurated Canada’s first railway tunnel, enhancing transportation and trade across the region.
Death of Christian Doppler, Austrian Physicist
Christian Doppler, known for describing the Doppler Effect in wave physics, died in Venice.
Birth of Bram Stoker, Author of *Dracula*
Bram Stoker, Irish author famed for his gothic novel *Dracula*, was born in Dublin.
First U.S. National Museum Opens (Smithsonian Institution)
The Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum complex in the world, officially opened to the public in Washington, D.C.
Birth of Edmond Halley, Astronomer of Halley’s Comet
Edmond Halley, English astronomer best known for calculating the orbit of the comet later named after him, was born.