November 28th doesn’t seem like that big a deal unless you’re celebrating it for personal reasons. That said, there are actually plenty of great excuses to mark the occasion – and in this guide, we’ve brought together some historical facts, some famous birthdays, and a quick introduction to the star sign of the day. Let’s dive into November 28th…
On this day
1Eleanor of Castile died.
On 28 November 1290, Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I, died in Nottinghamshire. The grieving king had stone crosses built at each place her body rested on its way to London. Three survive, and Charing Cross is named after the last one.
2The Royal Society was founded.
On 28 November 1660, twelve men met at Gresham College in London after a lecture by Christopher Wren and agreed to found a society to promote experimental science. It became the Royal Society, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
3Women voted for the first time – anywhere!
In 1893, women voted for the first time in a national election. This occurred in New Zealand, during the country’s general election for that year. It’s hard to believe women haven’t always had the privilege of voting – but thankfully, New Zealand was there to lead the way.
4Nancy Astor was elected to Parliament.
On 28 November 1919, the American-born Nancy Astor won a by-election in Plymouth and became the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. Constance Markievicz had been elected a year earlier but did not take her seat. Astor served until 1945.
5NASA launched its Mariner 4 spacecraft.
Today also marked a major first for NASA, as back in 1964, it was the date it launched the history-making Mariner 4 – the first spacecraft of its kind to fly past Mars, and even send images back to Earth. We got a little closer to exploring the stars on this day all those years ago!
Special Days Falling on November 28th
This November 28th, we recommend looking to the people around you and seeing what makes today so special for them. To help you get started, here are some of the most important events taking place around the world today.
Albania Independence Day
For the people of Albania, November 28th is one of the most important days of the year. That’s because it’s their Independence Day! The day celebrates the moment the Albanian Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire was taken into account by Ismail Qemali on this very date in 1912. It also celebrates the rise of the Albanian flag in Vlora.
Mauritania Independence Day
For the people of Mauritania, November 28th is just as important as it is for the people of Albania as it is their Independence Day, too! The people of Mauritania gained their independence from the French on this very day decades ago, and they have celebrated this day ever since.
Red Planet Day
November 28th is also dedicated to the red planet herself, Mars. This incredible planet has captivated our curiosity and imagination for centuries, so it is only right that it has its own celebration – will we ever set foot on the red planet? Who’s going to get there first? Time will tell!
This month in history
Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope. On 22 November 1497, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama sailed round the Cape of Good Hope on his way to India. Bartolomeu Dias had first rounded it in 1488, but da Gama went on to complete the first sea voyage from Europe to India.
Famous Birthdays on November 28th
- Margaret Tudor, Queen consort of Scots, born 1489
- William Blake, English poet, born 1757
- Randy Newman, American musician, born 1943
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead, American actor, born 1984
- Karen Gillan, Scottish actor, born 1987
If you were born on November 28th…
…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re a great person to talk to! You’re open-minded, intelligent, and always ready to make people laugh. You’re also pretty self-confident, too – you know your strengths! If you’re new to reading horoscopes and are fascinated by the stars, we’ve lined up even more facts for you.
Head over to our Sagittarius facts page to learn more.
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