On this day

30 November in history.

5 moments from 1803 to 1979: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Portrait of Alan Turing in 1951.

1936

Alan Turing describes the Turing machine. Mathematician Alan Turing published the first details of the Turing machine, an imaginary device that can follow the steps of any computer program.

Wikipedia: Alan Turing

Photo: Elliott & Fry / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 30 November

  1. A memorial in A Coruña honouring the Balmis vaccine expedition.

    1803

    A voyage sets out to vaccinate the world

    Francisco Javier de Balmis led an expedition out of A Coruña, Spain, aiming to vaccinate millions of people in South America and Asia against smallpox.

    Wikipedia: Balmis ExpeditionWikipedia: Francisco Javier de BalmisWikipedia: A Coruña

    Photo: Nemigo / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  2. A poster advertising the first England v Scotland football match in 1872.

    1872

    The first international football match

    Scotland and England met at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow for the first international football match ever played.

    Wikipedia: 1872 Scotland v England football matchWikipedia: Hamilton CrescentWikipedia: Glasgow

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. The Flying Scotsman steam locomotive under way.

    1934

    Flying Scotsman hits 100 mph

    The Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive officially recorded going faster than 100 miles per hour (161 km/h).

    Wikipedia: LNER Class A3 4472 Flying ScotsmanWikipedia: Steam locomotive

    Photo: ARG_Flickr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

  4. 1979

    Pink Floyd releases The Wall

    Pink Floyd released The Wall, their rock opera and concept album.

    Wikipedia: The WallWikipedia: Rock operaWikipedia: Concept album

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