1789: A national Thanksgiving Day is observed in the United States as recommended by President George Washington and approved by Congress.

1863: During the American Civil War at Mine Run, Union forces under General George Meade position against troops led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

1914: The battleship HMS Bulwark was destroyed by an internal explosion whilst moored at Sheerness, with the loss of 730 crew.

She had been commissioned at Devonport on 18th March 1907 and it was intended she should become the flagship for the Mediterranean Fleet. However because of a long refit she became the flagship to the Home Fleet instead. In October 1907 she became grounded and received some damage requiring repairs. In August 1908 (she was commanded by the most junior battleship Captain at that time, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who later earned fame as the Antarctic explorer), she joined the Channel Fleet and then Home Fleet, reduced to the Reserve in March 1910 but was recommissioned in 1912 to join the 5th Battle Squadron.

From the outbreak of World War I she carried out Channel patrol duty and on the 26th November 1914 while loading ammunition at Sheerness, she was destroyed by a huge explosion, probably caused by black powder charges being mishandled. Only 12 men survived.

1922: Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon became the first people to enter the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamun in over 3000 years.

1940: Sixth and last group of ships involved in Destroyers-for-Bases Agreement were handed over to the Royal Navy at Nova Scotia. The USS Bailey was recommissioned as HMS Reading, USS Meade as HMS Ramsey, USS Shubriak as HMS Ripley, USS Swasey as HMS Rockingham and USS Fairfax as HMS Richmond

The British Government announced bananas will no longer be imported to conserve shipping capacity

In the Med, a fast convoy under the codename Operation Collar sailed from Gibraltar with ships for Malta and Alexandria. Cover was provided by Force H with HMS Renown, Ark Royal, Despatch & Sheffield. Meanwhile, units of the Mediterranean Fleet including HMS Ramillies, Newcastle, Berwick & Coventry headed for a position south of Sardinia to meet them. As part of the operation, the two Mediterranean Fleet carriers mounted separate attacks on Italian targets – HMS Eagle on Tripoli and HMS Illustrious on Rhodes

1941: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

American Secretary of State Hull warned United States Army and Navy officials of the possibility of an imminent Japanese surprise attack. Meanwhile Japanese naval carrier forces left their bases bound for Pearl Harbor

1943: Australian troops of the 2/43rd Battalion repulsed a strong Japanese counter-attack at Pabu Hill in New Guinea, one of the outlying features near Sattelberg

1944: Germany begans V-1 and V-2 attacks on Antwerp

1950: In Korea, troops from the People's Republic of China launched a massive counterattack - the Battle of Chosin Reservoir - against South Korean and American forces, ending any hopes of a quick end to the conflict.

1968: United States Air Force helicopter pilot James P. Fleming rescued an Army Special Forces unit pinned down by Viet Cong fire and is awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions