Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
November 13 Friday, November 13, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 13 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
2
Holidays
1775
War 251 years ago
American Revolutionary War: Patriot revolutionary forces under Gen. Richard Montgomery occupy Montreal.
General Richard Montgomery leads Patriot forces in occupying Montreal, marking a significant early victory in the American Revolutionary War.
History
What happened on November 13
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1002UK history
English king Æthelred II orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St. Brice's Day massacre.
English king Æthelred II orders the killing of all Danes in England in what becomes known as the St. Brice's Day massacre.
- 1093UK history
Battle of Alnwick: in an English victory over the Scots, Malcolm III of Scotland, and his son Edward, are killed.
Malcolm III of Scotland and his son Edward are killed in a battle at Alnwick, resulting in an English victory.
- 1160European history
Louis VII of France marries Adela of Champagne.
Louis VII of France marries Adela of Champagne, his third wife.
- 1642UK history
First English Civil War: Battle of Turnham Green: The Royalist forces withdraw in the face of the Parliamentarian army and fail to take London.
The Royalist forces retreat without engaging in battle, failing to capture London from the Parliamentarians.
- 1715UK history
Jacobite rising in Scotland: Battle of Sheriffmuir: The forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain halt the Jacobite advance, although the action is inconclusive.
The British forces stall the Jacobite advance at the Battle of Sheriffmuir, resulting in an indecisive outcome.
- 1775War
American Revolutionary War: Patriot revolutionary forces under Gen. Richard Montgomery occupy Montreal.
General Richard Montgomery leads Patriot forces in occupying Montreal, marking a significant early victory in the American Revolutionary War.
- 1887UK history
Bloody Sunday clashes in central London.
Police clash with anti-war protesters in Trafalgar Square, resulting in over 200 arrests.
- 1893World history
13 November stabbing is committed by Léon Léauthier during the Ère des attentats. This is an influential event in the birth of modern terrorism.
Anarchist Léon Léauthier stabs Serbian diplomat Mihailo Pavlović in Paris, marking a pivotal moment in the wave of propaganda-by-deed attacks across Europe.
- 1914War
Zaian War: Berber tribesmen inflict the heaviest defeat of French forces in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri.
Berber tribesmen deal a significant blow to French forces in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri.
- 1969US history
Vietnam War: Anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C. stage a symbolic March Against Death.
Anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C., symbolically march to mourn victims of the Vietnam War.
- 2012World history
A total solar eclipse occurs in parts of Australia and the South Pacific.
A total solar eclipse crosses parts of Australia and the South Pacific, casting a shadow over vast stretches of land and sea.
- 2015World history
Islamic State operatives carry out a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris, including suicide bombings, mass shootings and a hostage crisis. The terrorists kill 130 people, making it the deadliest attack in France since the Second World War.
Terrorists carry out coordinated attacks in Paris, killing 130 people in bombings and shootings.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 13
7 this date All birthdays
Lon Nol
Cambodian general and politician, 37th Prime Minister of Cambodia
Lon Nol, Cambodian general and politician who served as Prime Minister twice and led the 1970 military coup that abolished the monarchy, was born in 1913.
Born
1913
Died
1985
Edward III of England
1312 – 1377
Cyril Lucaris
Greek patriarch and theologian
1572 – 1638
Motoo Kimura
Japanese biologist and geneticist
1924 – 1994
Fred Phelps
American lawyer, pastor, and activist, founded the Westboro Baptist Church
1929 – 2014
Masahiro Hasemi
Japanese race car driver
b. 1945 · 81
Zulfiqer Russell
Bangladeshi journalist and lyricist
b. 1977 · 49
Music
The number one songs on November 13
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 13, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport November 13, 1954
Great Britain defeats France to capture the first ever Rugby League World Cup in Paris in front of around 30,000 spectators.
Great Britain wins the inaugural Rugby League World Cup in Paris, drawing a crowd of about 30,000 spectators.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 13, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
Sadie Hawkins Day (United States)
International
Sadie Hawkins Day is an American folk event and pseudo-holiday originated by Al Capp's hillbilly comic strip Li'l Abner (1934-1977)
World Kindness Day
International
World Kindness Day is an international observance on 13 November