On This Day in History — November 3

Highlights of November 3

• 2002 — A CIA drone strike kills six militants in Yemen, constituting the first targeted killing of the war on terror. Read more
• 1996 — Abdullah Çatlı, a leader of the ultra-nationalist Grey Wolves, was killed in a car crash near Susurluk, Turkey, sparking a scandal that exposed the depth of the state's complicity in organized crime. Read more
• 1969 — U.S. president Richard Nixon made a plea for support from the "silent majority", referring to those Americans who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War at the time. Read more
• 1957 — The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the space dog Laika as the first living creature to enter orbit around Earth. Read more
• 1956 — Suez Crisis: During an invasion of the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers shot and killed hundreds of Palestinian refugees and local inhabitants in Khan Yunis. Read more
• 1954 — The first film featuring the giant monster known as Godzilla was released (poster pictured) nationwide in Japan. Read more
• 1948 — The Chicago Daily Tribune published the erroneous headline "Dewey Defeats Truman" (pictured) in its early morning edition shortly after incumbent U.S. president Harry S. Truman officially upset the heavily favored governor of New York Thomas Dewey in the presidential election. Read more
• 1943 — The Holocaust: The largest massacre of Jews by German forces began at Majdanek concentration camp. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: U.S. Marines and U.S. Army forces began an attempt to encircle and destroy a regiment of Imperial Japanese Army troops on Guadalcanal. Read more
• 1935 — In a widely criticised referendum, almost 98 percent of Greek voters supported the restoration of George II (pictured) as King of the Hellenes. Read more
• 1898 — The Fashoda Incident ended with French forces withdrawing after several months of military stalemate with the British in Fashoda (now in South Sudan). Read more
• 1881 — Indigenous Mapuche began an uprising against the occupation of Araucanía by Chile. Read more
• 1880 — The current melody of Kimigayo, the national anthem of Japan, was adopted. Read more
• 1848 — A new constitution drafted by Johan Rudolph Thorbecke was proclaimed, limiting the powers of the Dutch monarchy. Read more
• 1812 — French invasion of Russia: As Napoleon's Grande Armée began its retreat, its rear guard was defeated at the Battle of Vyazma. Read more
• 1805 — War of the Third Coalition: The Treaty of Potsdam was signed compelling Prussia to join the coalition if it failed to negotiate peace between Russia and France. Read more
• 1793 — French Revolution: Playwright, journalist and outspoken feminist Olympe de Gouges was guillotined. Read more
• 1534 — The Parliament of England passed the first Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII head of the Church of England, supplanting the pope and the Catholic Church. Read more

Events

• 2020 — The 2020 United States presidential election takes place between Democratic Joe Biden and Republican incumbent President Donald Trump. On November 7, Biden was declared the winner. Read more
• 2014 — One World Trade Center officially opens in New York City, replacing the Twin Towers after they were destroyed during the September 11 attacks. Read more
• 1997 — The United States imposes economic sanctions against Sudan in response to its human rights abuses of its own citizens and its material and political assistance to Islamic extremist groups across the Middle East and East Africa. Read more
• 1996 — Abdullah Çatlı, the leader of the Turkish ultranationalist organization Grey Wolves, dies in the Susurluk car crash, leading to the resignation of Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar (a leader of the True Path Party). Read more
• 1994 — Space Shuttle program: Atlantis launches on STS-66. Read more
• 1992 — Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton defeats Republican President George H. W. Bush and Independent candidate Ross Perot in the 1992 United States presidential election. Read more
• 1988 — Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries attempt to overthrow the Maldivian government. At President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's request, the Indian military suppresses the rebellion within 24 hours. Read more
• 1986 — Iran–Contra affair: The Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reports that the United States has been secretly selling weapons to Iran in order to secure the release of seven American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon. Read more
• 1986 — The Compact of Free Association becomes law, granting the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands independence from the United States. Read more
• 1982 — The Salang Tunnel fire in Afghanistan kills 150–2000 people. Read more
• 1980 — A Latin Carga Convair CV-880 crashes at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Venezuela, killing four. Read more
• 1979 — Greensboro massacre: Five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot dead and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis during a "Death to the Klan" rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Read more
• 1978 — Dominica gains its independence from the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1976 — Carrie, an American supernatural horror film directed by Brian De Palma, is premiered in 17 theaters in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area. Read more
• 1975 — Four Bangladeshi politicians are killed in the Dhaka Central Jail. Read more
• 1973 — Mariner program: NASA launches the Mariner 10 toward Mercury. On March 29, 1974, it becomes the first space probe to reach that planet. Read more
• 1969 — Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard M. Nixon addresses the nation on television and radio, asking the "silent majority" to join him in solidarity on the Vietnam War effort and to support his policies. Read more
• 1967 — Vietnam War: The Battle of Dak To begins. Read more
• 1964 — Lyndon B. Johnson is elected to a full term as U.S. president, winning 61% of the vote and 44 states, while Washington D.C. residents are able to vote in a presidential election for the first time, casting the majority of their votes for Lyndon Johnson. Read more
• 1961 — U Thant is unanimously appointed as the 3rd Secretary-General of the United Nations, becoming the first non-European individual to occupy the post. Read more
• 1960 — The land that would become the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is established by an Act of Congress after a year-long legal battle that pitted local residents against Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials wishing to turn the Great Swamp into a major regional airport for jet aircraft. Read more
• 1957 — Sputnik program: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2. On board is the first animal to enter orbit, a dog named Laika. Read more
• 1956 — Suez Crisis: The Khan Yunis killings by the Israel Defense Forces in Egyptian-controlled Gaza result in the deaths of 275 Palestinians. Read more
• 1956 — Hungarian Revolution: A new Hungarian government is formed, in which many members of banned non-Communist parties participate. János Kádár and Ferenc Münnich form a counter-government in Moscow as Soviet troops prepare for the final assault. Read more
• 1950 — Air India Flight 245 crashes into Mont Blanc while on approach to Geneva Airport, killing all 48 people on board. Read more
• 1949 — Chinese Civil War: The Battle of Dengbu Island occurs. Read more
• 1946 — The Constitution of Japan is adopted through Emperor's assent. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Two supreme commanders of the Slovak National Uprising, Generals Ján Golian and Rudolf Viest, are captured, tortured and later executed by German forces. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: Five hundred aircraft of the U.S. 8th Air Force devastate Wilhelmshaven harbor in Germany. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Koli Point action begins during the Guadalcanal campaign and ends on November 12. Read more
• 1936 — Franklin D. Roosevelt is reelected as President of the United States. Read more
• 1935 — George II of Greece regains his throne through a popular, though possibly fixed, plebiscite. Read more
• 1932 — Panagis Tsaldaris becomes the 142nd Prime Minister of Greece. Read more
• 1930 — Getúlio Vargas becomes Head of the Provisional Government in Brazil after a bloodless coup on October 24. Read more
• 1929 — The Gwangju Student Independence Movement occurred. Read more
• 1920 — Russian Civil War: The Russian Army retreats to Crimea, after a successful offensive by the Red Army and Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine. Read more
• 1918 — The German Revolution of 1918–19 begins when 40,000 sailors take over the port in Kiel. Read more
• 1911 — Chevrolet officially enters the automobile market in competition with the Ford Model T. Read more
• 1908 — William Howard Taft is elected the 27th President of the United States. Read more
• 1903 — With the encouragement of the United States, Panama separates from Colombia. Read more
• 1898 — France withdraws its troops from Fashoda (now in Sudan), ending the Fashoda Incident. Read more
• 1881 — The Mapuche uprising of 1881 begins in Chile. Read more
• 1868 — John Willis Menard (R-LA) becomes the first African American elected to the United States Congress. Because of an electoral challenge, he is never seated. Read more
• 1867 — Giuseppe Garibaldi and his followers are defeated in the Battle of Mentana and fail to end the Pope's Temporal power in Rome (it would be achieved three years later). Read more
• 1848 — A greatly revised Dutch constitution, which transfers much authority from the king to his parliament and ministers, is proclaimed. Read more
• 1838 — The Times of India, the world's largest circulated English language daily broadsheet newspaper is founded as The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce. Read more
• 1817 — The Bank of Montreal, Canada's oldest chartered bank, opens in Montreal. Read more
• 1812 — Napoleon's armies are defeated at the Battle of Vyazma. Read more
• 1793 — French playwright, journalist and feminist Olympe de Gouges is guillotined. Read more
• 1791 — The University of Vermont, the oldest university in Vermont, and fifth-oldest in New England, is chartered. Read more
• 1783 — The American Continental Army is disbanded. Read more
• 1534 — English Parliament passes the first Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII head of the Anglican Church, supplanting the pope and the Roman Catholic Church. Read more
• 1493 — Christopher Columbus first sights the island of Dominica in the Caribbean Sea. Read more
• 1492 — Peace of Etaples between Henry VII of England and Charles VIII of France. Read more
• 1468 — Liège is sacked by the troops of Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy. Read more
• 1333 — The River Arno floods causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani. Read more
• 1090 — The Rouen Riot, an attempt by English king William Rufus to take possession of Rouen, the capital city of his brother Robert, duke of Normandy, fails. Read more
• 361 — Emperor Constantius II dies of a fever at Mopsuestia in Cilicia; on his deathbed he is baptised and declares his cousin Julian rightful successor. Read more

Born on November 3

• 2005 — Fina Strazza, American actress Read more
• 2005 — Lara Raj, American singer Read more
• 2001 — Hailey Baptiste, American tennis player Read more
• 2001 — Jake LaRavia, American basketball player Read more
• 1998 — Maddison Elliott, Australian paralympic swimmer Read more
• 1997 — Izuchuckwu Anthony, Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Sarthak Golui, Indian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Takumi Kitamura, Japanese actor Read more
• 1997 — Lázaro Martínez, Cuban athlete Read more
• 1995 — Matt Bushman, American football player Read more
• 1993 — Kenny Golladay, American football player Read more
• 1993 — Lee Min-hyuk, South Korean singer and MC Read more
• 1993 — Martina Trevisan, Italian tennis player Read more
• 1992 — Joe Clarke, English slalom canoeist Read more
• 1992 — Valeria Solovyeva, Russian tennis player Read more
• 1991 — Damisha Croney, Barbadian netball player Read more
• 1990 — Ellyse Perry, Australian footballer and cricketer Read more
• 1989 — Paula DeAnda, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1989 — Andrade El Idolo, Mexican wrestler Read more
• 1989 — Joyce Jonathan, French singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1988 — Diante Garrett, American basketball player Read more
• 1988 — Jessie Loutit, Canadian rower Read more
• 1987 — Courtney Barnett, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1987 — Ty Lawson, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Felix Schütz, German ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Kyle Seager, American baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Paul Derbyshire, Italian rugby player Read more
• 1986 — Davon Jefferson, American basketball player Read more
• 1986 — Piet Velthuizen, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1986 — Heo Young-saeng, South Korean singer Read more
• 1985 — Tyler Hansbrough, American basketball player Read more
• 1985 — Philipp Tschauner, German footballer Read more
• 1984 — Christian Bakkerud, Danish race car driver (died 2011) Read more
• 1984 — Ryo Nishikido, Japanese singer-songwriter and actor Read more
• 1984 — LaMarr Woodley, American football player Read more
• 1983 — Tamba Hali, American football player Read more
• 1982 — Jay Harrison, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1982 — Moniek Kleinsman, Dutch speed skater Read more
• 1982 — Egemen Korkmaz, Turkish footballer Read more
• 1982 — Janel McCarville, American professional basketball player Read more

Died on November 3

• 2025 — Dick Cheney, American businessman and politician, 46th Vice President of the United States (born 1941) Read more
• 2025 — Kim Yong-nam, North Korean politician (born 1928) Read more
• 2024 — Quincy Jones, American producer (born 1933) Read more
• 2018 — Sondra Locke, American actress and director (born 1944) Read more
• 2016 — Kay Starr, American singer (born 1922) Read more
• 2015 — Ahmed Chalabi, Iraqi businessman and politician (born 1944) Read more
• 2014 — Gordon Tullock, American economist and academic (born 1922) Read more
• 2014 — Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Indian actor (born 1950) Read more
• 2013 — Gerard Cieślik, Polish footballer and manager (born 1927) Read more
• 2012 — Tommy Godwin, American-English cyclist and coach (born 1920) Read more
• 2011 — Peeter Kreitzberg, Estonian lawyer and politician (born 1948) Read more
• 2010 — Jerry Bock, American composer (born 1928) Read more
• 2010 — Viktor Chernomyrdin, Russian politician and diplomat, 30th Prime Minister of Russia (born 1938) Read more
• 2009 — Francisco Ayala, Spanish sociologist, author, and critic (born 1906) Read more
• 2008 — Jean Fournet, French conductor (born 1913) Read more
• 2007 — Aleksandr Dedyushko, Belarusian-Russian actor (born 1962) Read more
• 2006 — Paul Mauriat, French pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1925) Read more
• 2006 — Alberto Spencer, Ecuadorean footballer (born 1937) Read more
• 2004 — Sergejs Žoltoks, Latvian ice hockey player (born 1972) Read more
• 2003 — Rasul Gamzatov, Russian poet and educator (born 1923) Read more
• 2002 — Lonnie Donegan, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1931) Read more
• 2002 — Jonathan Harris, American actor (born 1914) Read more
• 2001 — Ernst Gombrich, Austrian-English historian and author (born 1909) Read more
• 1999 — Ian Bannen, Scottish actor (born 1928) Read more
• 1998 — Bob Kane, American author and illustrator, co-created Batman (born 1915) Read more
• 1997 — Ronald Barnes, American carillon player and composer (born 1927) Read more
• 1996 — Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Central African general and politician, 2nd President of the Central African Republic (born 1921) Read more
• 1995 — Gordon S. Fahrni, Canadian physician (born 1887) Read more
• 1994 — Valter Palm, Estonian-American boxer (born 1905) Read more
• 1993 — Léon Theremin, Russian physicist and engineer, invented the Theremin (born 1895) Read more
• 1992 — Freddie Moore, American jazz drummer, washboarder, and singer (born 1900) Read more
• 1991 — Chris Bender, American singer (born 1972) Read more
• 1990 — Kenan Erim, Turkish archaeologist and academic (born 1929) Read more
• 1990 — Nusret Fişek, Turkish physician and politician, Turkish Minister of Health (born 1914) Read more
• 1990 — Mary Martin, American actress and singer (born 1913) Read more
• 1989 — Dorothy Fuldheim, American journalist (born 1893) Read more
• 1988 — Henri van Praag, Dutch philosopher, theologian, and educator (born 1916) Read more
• 1987 — Mary Shane, American sportscaster and educator (born 1945) Read more
• 1983 — Alfredo Antonini, Italian-American conductor and composer (born 1901) Read more
• 1983 — Jerry Pentland, Australian fighter ace (born 1894) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Acepsimas of Hnaita and companions (Greek Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: Alpaïs of Cudot; Christian feast day: Elias I of Antioch (Syriac Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: Ermengol (Hermengaudius); Christian feast day: Gaudiosus of Tarazona; Christian feast day: Gwenhael; Christian feast day: Hubertus; Christian feast day: Libertine; Christian feast day: Malachy O' More; Christian feast day: Blessed Manuel Lozano Garrido; Christian feast day: Martin de Porres; Christian feast day: Papulus; Christian feast day: Pirmin; Christian feast day: Richard Hooker (Anglican Communion); Christian feast day: Blessed Rupert Mayer; Christian feast day: Silvia; Christian feast day: Winifred; Christian feast day: November 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Culture Day (Japan); Flag Day (United Arab Emirates); Independence Day / Separation Day, celebrates the separation and independence of Panama from Colombia in 1903.; Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Dominica from the United Kingdom in 1978.; Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Federated States of Micronesia from the United States in 1986.; Independence Day of Cuenca (Ecuador); Mother's Day (East Timor); Victory Day (Maldives)

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