What Happened in November 1781

Historical Events

  • Nov 5 John Hanson elected first "President of US in Congress assembled"
  • Nov 13 British troops occupy Negapatam, Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
  • Nov 29 Crew of slave ship Zong murder about 142 African slaves by dumping them into the sea, to claim insurance

Famous Birthdays

  • Nov 3 Friedrich Wollank, German composer, born in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany) (d. 1831)
  • Nov 18 Felice Blangini, Italian composer, born in Turin, Italy (d. 1841)
  • Nov 20 Karl Friedrich Eichhorn, German jurist, born in Jena, Germany (d. 1854)
  • Nov 29 Andres Bello, Venezuela poet, diplomat and scholar (Silvas Americanas), born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1865)
  • Nov 30 Alexander Berry, Scottish surgeon and adventurer (established the first European settlement on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia), born in Hilltarvit Mains Farmhouse, Cupar, Fife, Scotland (d. 1873)

Famous Deaths

  • Nov 2 Jose Francisco de Isla [Francisco de Salazar], Spanish Jesuit preacher and satirist, dies at 78
  • Nov 4 Johann Nikolaus Götz, German poet (Die Mädcheninsel), dies at 60
  • Nov 22 Jan Ekels the Elder, Amsterdam painter and cartoonist, dies at 57
  • Nov 24 James Caldwell, American revolutionary (b. 1734)