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 6 Friday, November 6, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 6 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
4
Holidays
1963
Politics 63 years ago
Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ is appointed to head the South Vietnamese government by General Dương Văn Minh's junta, five days after the latter deposed and assassinated President Ngô Đình Diệm.
Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ is appointed to lead the South Vietnamese government by General Dương Văn Minh's junta, five days after it deposed and assassinated President Ngô Đình Diệm.
History
What happened on November 6
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 447Disaster
A powerful earthquake destroys large portions of the Walls of Constantinople, including 57 towers.
A powerful earthquake severely damages the Walls of Constantinople, destroying 57 towers and leaving the Byzantine capital vulnerable to attack.
- 963European history
Synod of Rome: Emperor Otto I calls a council at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Pope John XII is deposed on charges of an armed rebellion against Otto.
Otto I convenes the Synod of Rome at St. Peter's Basilica, leading to Pope John XII's deposition for rebelling against him.
- 1217UK history
The Charter of the Forest is sealed at St Paul's Cathedral, London by King Henry III, acting under the regency of William Marshall, 1st Earl of Pembroke which re-establishes for free men rights of access to the royal forest that had been eroded by William the Conqueror and his heirs.
King Henry III seals the Charter of the Forest at St Paul's Cathedral, restoring free men’s rights to use the royal forests.
- 1792War
Battle of Jemappes in the French Revolutionary Wars.
French revolutionary forces defeat Austrian troops near Mons, Belgium.
- 1860US history
Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States with only 40% of the popular vote, defeating John C. Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen A. Douglas in a four-way race.
Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president, securing victory over three opponents with just 40% of the popular vote.
- 1869Sports
In New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rutgers College defeats Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey), 6-4, in the first official intercollegiate American football game.
Rutgers College defeats the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) 6-4 in the first official intercollegiate American football game.
- 1936War
Spanish Civil War: The republican government flees from Madrid to Valencia, leading to the formation of the Madrid Defense Council in its stead.
The republican government evacuates Madrid for Valencia, establishing the Madrid Defense Council to oversee the city's defense.
- 1963Politics
Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ is appointed to head the South Vietnamese government by General Dương Văn Minh's junta, five days after the latter deposed and assassinated President Ngô Đình Diệm.
Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ is appointed to lead the South Vietnamese government by General Dương Văn Minh's junta, five days after it deposed and assassinated President Ngô Đình Diệm.
- 2002Politics
Jiang Lijun is detained by Chinese police for signing the Open Letter to the 16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.
Jiang Lijun is detained by Chinese authorities for signing an open letter critical of government policies.
- 2004Disaster
An express train collides with a stationary car near the village of Ufton Nervet, England, killing seven and injuring 120.
A train collision near Ufton Nervet kills seven and injures 120.
- 2012Politics
Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly gay politician to be elected to the United States Senate.
Tammy Baldwin is elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first openly gay senator.
- 2016War
Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces launch an offensive to capture the ISIL-held city of Raqqa.
The Syrian Democratic Forces begin an operation to liberate Raqqa from ISIL control.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 6
7 this date All birthdays
Frank Vandenbroucke
Belgian cyclist
Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgian professional cyclist who showed early promise and became one of his country's great cycling hopes in the 1990s with victories including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, would have turned 51 today.
Born
1974
Died
2009
Zina Hitchcock
New York politician
1755 – 1832
Nelson W. Aldrich
American businessman and politician
1841 – 1915
Leo Goeke
American tenor and actor
1937 – 2012
Sally Field
American actress
b. 1946 · 80
Rozz Williams
American singer, musician and artist
1963 – 1998
Rebecca Romijn
American model and actress
b. 1972 · 54
Music
The number one songs on November 6
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 6, 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 6, 1869
In New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rutgers College defeats Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey), 6-4, in the first official intercollegiate American football game.
Rutgers College defeats the College of New Jersey 6, 4 in the first official intercollegiate American football game.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 6, 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
4 celebrated today
Gustavus Adolphus Day (in Sweden, Finland and Estonia)
International
Gustavus Adolphus Day is celebrated in Sweden on 6 November in memory of King Gustavus Adolphus
Finnish Swedish Heritage Day (in Finland)
International
Finland-Swedish Heritage Day, also known as the Swedish Day, is a general flag flying day, which is celebrated in Finland on 6 November
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
International
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is an international day observed annually on November 6
Obama Day (in Kenya)
International
Barack Obama Day refers to three days of recognition in the United States in honor of Barack Obama, who served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017