On this day

14 November in history.

5 moments from 1680 to 2003: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Ruby Bridges speaking as an adult.

1960

Ruby Bridges goes to school. In Louisiana, no Black child had ever gone to an all-white elementary school until Ruby Bridges walked through the doors.

Wikipedia: Ruby Bridges

Photo: Texas A&M University-Commerce Marketing Communications Photography / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

More from 14 November

  1. Portrait of astronomer Gottfried Kirch.

    1680

    The first comet found by telescope

    German astronomer Gottfried Kirch spotted the Great Comet of 1680, the first comet ever discovered using a telescope.

    Wikipedia: Gottfried KirchWikipedia: Great Comet of 1680Wikipedia: Comet

    Photo: Georg Paul Busch / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. Title page of the first edition of Moby-Dick, 1851.

    1851

    Moby-Dick is published in America

    Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick came out in the United States for the first time.

    Wikipedia: Moby-DickWikipedia: Herman Melville

    Photo: The original uploader was Chick Bowen at English Wikipedia . / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Pilot Eugene Ely in 1910.

    1910

    A plane takes off from a ship for the first time

    Pilot Eugene Burton Ely flew off a temporary wooden deck on the USS Birmingham in Hampton Roads, Virginia, the first take-off ever made from a ship.

    Wikipedia: Eugene Burton ElyWikipedia: TakeoffWikipedia: USS Birmingham (CL-2)

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. Astronomer Mike Brown at Caltech.

    2003

    Astronomers discover Sedna

    A team of three astronomers, Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo and David L. Rabinowitz, found Sedna, a far-off world orbiting beyond Neptune.

    Wikipedia: Michael E. BrownWikipedia: Chad TrujilloWikipedia: David L. Rabinowitz

    Photo: Christopher Michel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.