Today marks significant historical events as well as a day to celebrate notable individuals born on this date.
On November 22, 2017, Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb general, was convicted of genocide and other war crimes by the United Nations’ Yugoslav war crimes tribunal, receiving a life sentence for his role in the Srebrenica massacre, which remains the worst mass killing in Europe since World War II.
This date carries other historical weight as well. In 1718, the notorious English pirate Edward Teach, famously known as Blackbeard, met his demise during a fierce battle against British naval forces near Ocracoke Island in North Carolina.
Fast forward to 1935, when the China Clipper made aviation history as it embarked on the inaugural trans-Pacific airmail flight from Alameda, California, carrying over 100,000 pieces of mail, showcasing the early days of international air travel.
A major turning point in American history occurred on this day in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. The tragic event shocked the nation, leading to the swearing-in of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson as the new president.
Further developments included 20-year-old Mike Tyson making headlines in 1986 by becoming the youngest heavyweight boxing champion ever, knocking out WBC titleholder Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas.
The political landscape of Britain shifted in 1990 when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation after failing to secure reelection within her party’s leadership, marking an end to her influential tenure.
Angela Merkel made history in 2005 as she assumed the role of Germany’s first female chancellor, defining a new chapter in German politics.
Tragedy also struck on this date in 2010, when a chaotic crush occurred at a festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, resulting in nearly 350 fatalities and hundreds of injuries, a somber reminder of the dangers of large gatherings.
More recently, in 2022, an alarming incident unfolded at a Walmart store in Chesapeake, Virginia, where a manager tragically opened fire during a staff meeting, resulting in the loss of six lives and injuries to six others before taking his own.
As we reflect on these significant moments in history, we also celebrate today’s birthdays, honoring those who share this day with such impactful events.