Death of Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet known for "The Canterbury Tales."
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What Happened Today in History on November 9
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on November 9th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Mayflower, with 102 Pilgrims and about 30 crew, spots land (current Cape Cod), 66 days after leaving on their trip from Plymouth, England. on September 16, 1620 (Gregorian Calendar).
The Mayflower and its companion the smaller vessel the Speedwell had originally departed from South Hampton on August 15 but the Speedwell was twice, forced to return to port and was declared unseaworthy. After taking on some of the Speedwell's passengers and supplies, the Mayflower set out alone on its historic journey. More
Napoleon Bonaparte stages a coup d'état, establishing himself as First Consul of France.
Sinclair Lewis wins the 1930 Nobel Prize for Literature, the first American to receive the honor. More
Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass, a massive, coordinated attack on Jews throughout Greater Germany takes place. The German authorities looked on without intervening as Jewish homes, hospitals and schools were ransacked and buildings were demolished. The name Kristallnacht (literally 'Crystal Night') comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after the attack. More
The Berlin Wall, which had divided East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years, is opened, leading to the eventual reunification of Germany. More
A series of coordinated bombings in Amman, Jordan, target three hotels, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds. Al-Qaeda in Iraq quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.