On This Day
What Happened on November 14 in History
8 events that happened on November 14, oldest first. Every entry is written in our own words and links to its source.
The Young Republic and the Civil War Era
1851
Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick was published in the United States.
The tale of Captain Ahab's hunt for a white whale sold poorly at first but is now ranked among the classics of American literature. Melville drew on his own years at sea, including time aboard a whaling ship.
Source: history.com
The Cold War
1960
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, escorted by federal marshals.
A court order desegregating New Orleans schools took effect that day. Bridges walked past angry crowds and became a lasting symbol of the civil rights movement.
Source: history.com; pbs.org
1965
The Battle of Ia Drang began, the first major clash between regular American and North Vietnamese troops.
A battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division landed by helicopter at Landing Zone X-Ray in South Vietnam's Central Highlands and came under heavy attack that lasted into the night.
Source: history.com
1969
Apollo 12 launched from Florida on the second crewed mission to land on the Moon.
The crew of Pete Conrad, Richard Gordon and Alan Bean lifted off four months after Apollo 11 made the first lunar landing.
Source: history.com
1970
A chartered jet carrying the Marshall University football team crashed in West Virginia, killing all aboard.
The plane was returning from a game at East Carolina when it struck trees near the Tri-State Airport. Players, coaches, university staff and boosters from Huntington were among the dead.
Source: history.com
1971
NASA's Mariner 9 entered orbit around Mars, the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.
Mariner 9 arrived ahead of the Soviet Mars 2 probe and went on to map most of the Martian surface.
Source: science.nasa.gov; nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
The Modern Era
1995
The federal government partially shut down after President Bill Clinton and Congress deadlocked over spending.
Clinton said that by noon almost half of all federal employees were idle because Congress had not passed the legislation needed to keep the government running.
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
2008
Leaders of the Group of 20 gathered in Washington for their first summit on the global financial crisis.
President George W. Bush welcomed the leaders and hosted a White House dinner on the eve of the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy.