Major Events of November 1913: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from November 1913 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of November 1913: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Nov 1913 First Feature-Length Film Premieres: The Count of Monte Cristo: A landmark moment in American cinema occurred with the premiere of 'The Count of Monte Cristo', which at one hour and nine minutes long, represented the first feature-length film in the United States. This milestone significantly departed from the previous norm of short one or two-reel films, signaling the evolution of cinematic storytelling.
02 Nov 1913 Birth of Burt Lancaster: Burt Lancaster was born in New York City, USA. He would later become a renowned Hollywood actor, famous for his iconic roles in critically acclaimed films such as 'From Here to Eternity' and 'Elmer Gantry'. Lancaster was known for his athletic physique and powerful screen presence, which made him one of the most prominent actors of his generation.
03 Nov 1913 Introduction of Income Tax in the United States: The United States officially introduced the federal income tax, a significant milestone in the nation's fiscal policy. This marked a transformative moment in American economic governance, establishing a new mechanism for government revenue collection.
04 Nov 1913 Iranian Students Storm U.S. Embassy in Tehran: Iranian students seized the United States Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 American diplomats and citizens hostage. This event was a pivotal moment in U.S.-Iran relations, marking the beginning of a diplomatic crisis that would last 444 days and significantly strain international relations between the two countries.
05 Nov 1913 First Successful Insulin Treatment for Diabetes: Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best reported the first successful insulin treatment for diabetes, a groundbreaking medical discovery that would revolutionize the management of this chronic disease and save millions of lives.
06 Nov 1913 Gandhi's Arrest in South African Miners' Protest: On November 6, 1913, Mohandas Gandhi was arrested while leading a peaceful march of Indian miners in South Africa, a pivotal moment in his early civil rights activism. This event was part of Gandhi's broader campaign against racial discrimination and unjust laws affecting Indian immigrants in South Africa, which would later inform his non-violent resistance strategies in India's independence movement.
07 Nov 1913 Great Lakes Storm of 1913 Begins: The first day of the Great Lakes Storm of 1913, a catastrophic blizzard that devastated the Great Lakes region. Hurricane-force winds and severe winter conditions led to massive maritime destruction, ultimately killing 250 people and causing over $5 million in damage (equivalent to approximately $118 million in 2013 dollars).
08 Nov 1913 Great Lakes Storm of 1913: A Maritime Disaster: On November 8, 1913, a severe storm engulfed the Great Lakes region, particularly centered over eastern Lake Superior and covering the entire lake basin. The storm led to significant maritime challenges, including two notable vessel incidents. The American steamboat *Louisiana* ran aground and caught fire near Washington Island in Lake Michigan. Fortunately, the entire crew successfully evacuated and reached safety. The wreck later became a point of interest for divers and maritime archaeologists. In another dramatic incident, the American steamer *Waldo* was driven onto Gull Rock in Lake Superior, breaking in two. The 24-person crew survived by taking shelter in the still-intact cabin for an extraordinary 90 hours before being rescued by the Portage Life-Saving Station on November 11.
09 Nov 1913 The Great Lakes Storm of 1913: The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 was a catastrophic natural disaster that struck the Great Lakes region, causing unprecedented maritime destruction. Historically known as the 'Big Blow', 'Freshwater Fury', and 'White Hurricane', this powerful blizzard with hurricane-force winds devastated the Great Lakes Basin across the Midwestern United States and Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The storm reached its peak intensity on November 9, causing massive maritime casualties by battering and overturning ships on four of the five Great Lakes, with Lake Huron experiencing the most severe impact. The disaster resulted in the destruction of 19 ships and claimed over 250 human lives, making it the most destructive natural event in Great Lakes maritime history.
10 Nov 1913 Great Lakes Storm of 1913: Devastating Maritime Disaster: The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, also known as the 'White Hurricane', was one of the most destructive and deadly maritime disasters in Great Lakes history. On November 10, 1913, the storm's intensity began to subside, revealing the catastrophic aftermath. A haunting symbol of the storm's devastation was the discovery of the American freighter *Charles S. Price* floating upside-down in Lake Huron, highlighting the storm's unprecedented fury. This cyclone-like system brought hurricane-force winds, massive waves, and blinding snow, causing numerous shipwrecks and claiming over 250 lives across the Great Lakes region.
12 Nov 1913 Pancho Villa's Innovative Military Strategy in Ciudad Juárez: During the Mexican Revolution, revolutionary leader Pancho Villa executed a brilliant and unconventional military tactic to capture Ciudad Juárez. After previous unsuccessful attempts to take the city, Villa ingeniously used a coal train as a covert transportation method. By hiding 2,000 of his revolutionary soldiers inside the train, he successfully infiltrated the city's defenses. Once inside, his forces engaged and ultimately battled against 4,000 well-fortified federal troops, demonstrating Villa's tactical creativity and strategic thinking.
13 Nov 1913 Great Lakes Storm of 1913: The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, also known as the 'White Hurricane', was one of the most devastating maritime disasters in Great Lakes history. The powerful storm claimed 19 ships and over 250 lives, highlighting the treacherous conditions sailors faced in early 20th-century maritime navigation.
14 Nov 1913 Publication of Swann's Way by Marcel Proust: Marcel Proust published the first volume of his monumental novel 'In Search of Lost Time', titled 'Swann's Way'. This groundbreaking work, spanning 3,200 pages, would become a landmark in modernist literature, revolutionizing narrative techniques and exploring complex themes of memory, time, and human experience.
15 Nov 1913 Birth of Arthur Haulot, Belgian Resistance Hero: Arthur Haulot was born on this day, who would later become a prominent Belgian journalist and a courageous resistance fighter during World War II. His life was dedicated to fighting against Nazi occupation and documenting the struggles of his people. Haulot's journalistic work and resistance activities would play a significant role in Belgium's fight for freedom during the war.
16 Nov 1913 Portuguese Legislative Elections of 1913: Afonso Costa, a prominent Portuguese political leader, and his Democratic Party secured a significant electoral victory by winning a majority of seats in the national legislative elections. This election represented an important moment in Portugal's early 20th-century democratic development, solidifying Costa's political influence and the Democratic Party's position in the country's parliamentary system.
17 Nov 1913 Panama Canal Officially Opens: The Panama Canal, a monumental engineering project connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, was officially inaugurated. This transformative infrastructure dramatically reduced maritime shipping distances and revolutionized global trade routes, significantly impacting international commerce and naval transportation.
18 Nov 1913 First Airplane Loop-the-Loop by Lincoln Deachey: On November 18, 1913, pioneering aviator Lincoln Deachey made aviation history by performing the first successful airplane loop-the-loop maneuver in San Diego, California. This groundbreaking aerobatic feat demonstrated the emerging capabilities of early aircraft and marked a significant milestone in the development of aerial acrobatics and pilot skill.
19 Nov 1913 Jack Thompson's Surprising Funeral Appearance: In a remarkable turn of events, Jack Thompson dramatically disrupted his own funeral visitation in Hamilton, Ontario. Eight days after being presumed dead and drowned, Thompson unexpectedly appeared at the event, shocking mourners and challenging the prevailing belief of his demise. This extraordinary incident highlights the unpredictability of life and the potential for misidentification in early 20th-century death reporting.
20 Nov 1913 Eiffel Tower as Radio Transmission Antenna: On November 20, 1913, the Eiffel Tower served a groundbreaking technological purpose when the Paris Observatory utilized it as a sophisticated radio antenna for wireless transmission and reception. This innovative application demonstrated the tower's potential beyond its original architectural design, marking an important moment in early telecommunications technology.
21 Nov 1913 Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics Establishment: The Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics was officially inaugurated on a demonstration farm in Olds, Alberta, Canada. This educational institution represented an important milestone in agricultural and home economics education in the region, providing specialized training for rural communities.
22 Nov 1913 Benjamin Britten Birth: Benjamin Britten was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. He would become a renowned 20th-century classical composer known for his operas, orchestral works, and vocal compositions, including notable works like 'Peter Grimes' and 'War Requiem'.
23 Nov 1913 Founding of Brazil's First Technical Institute in Itajubá: On November 23, 1913, the Instituto Eletrotécnico e Mecânico de Itajubá was officially inaugurated, marking a significant milestone in Brazil's technological education. Located in the city of Itajubá, this pioneering institution represented a crucial step in developing technical and engineering education in the country. The institute was established to provide specialized training in electrical and mechanical engineering, addressing the growing industrial needs of early 20th-century Brazil.
24 Nov 1913 Bulgarian Liberal Parties Secure Parliamentary Victory: In a significant political development, a coalition of liberal parties in Bulgaria, strategically led by Prime Minister Vasil Radoslavov, secured a substantial plurality in the national parliamentary election. The coalition won 95 out of 204 seats, demonstrating their growing political influence and public support during a pivotal period in early 20th-century Bulgarian political history.
25 Nov 1913 Birth of Lewis Thomas: Lewis Thomas, a renowned American physician, essayist, and medical researcher, was born in Flushing, Queens, New York City. He would later become a significant contributor to medical literature and philosophical writings about science and medicine.
26 Nov 1913 Launch of HMS Warspite: The Royal Navy battleship Warspite was ceremonially launched at Devonport Shipyard in Plymouth. This powerful vessel would go on to play a significant role in World War I, most notably participating in the pivotal Battle of Jutland in 1916, and would later become one of the most decorated warships in British naval history.
27 Nov 1913 Penn Station Opens in New York City: On November 27, 1913, Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station) was inaugurated in New York City, marking a significant milestone in transportation infrastructure. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, the Beaux-Arts style terminal was groundbreaking for its time, featuring an expansive, grand concourse with massive Roman-inspired architectural elements. At its opening, it was indeed the world's largest railway terminal, symbolizing the golden age of rail transportation in the United States. The station served as a critical transportation hub connecting multiple rail lines and facilitating travel between New York City and other major metropolitan areas.
28 Nov 1913 Prussian Military Suppresses Civilian Protest in Saverne: On November 28, 1913, Prussian soldiers in Saverne, Alsace (then part of the German Empire), forcibly arrested and imprisoned 26 civilian demonstrators without legal justification. The incident highlighted the tensions between military authorities and local populations, reflecting the authoritarian nature of the Prussian military system in the pre-World War I era. The arbitrary detention of protesters underscored the lack of civil liberties and the heavy-handed approach of military leadership towards civilian dissent.
29 Nov 1913 Ford's Revolutionary Assembly Line: The Ford Motor Company introduces the first highly efficient moving assembly line, dramatically reducing chassis assembly time from 12½ hours to just 2 hours and 40 minutes. While not the absolute first to use an assembly line, Ford's successful implementation revolutionizes industrial manufacturing, sparking the era of mass production and fundamentally transforming industrial productivity.
30 Nov 1913 Erie Philharmonic Orchestra Establishment: The Erie Philharmonic Orchestra company was founded in Erie, Pennsylvania on November 30, 1913. Despite its promising start, the orchestra would only operate for approximately two years, representing a brief but notable moment in the city's cultural history.