Thursday, 26th November 1959 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's World Sustainable Transport Day. Explore 53 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 6°C and 11°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Sagittarius. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Thursday, 26th November in London, GB.

On 26th November 1959, London experienced drizzly conditions typical of the capital's autumnal weather patterns. The city, situated on the Thames estuary in south-east England, has served as a major political and cultural centre for centuries, with its metropolitan area comprising numerous districts and boroughs that extend well beyond the historic City of London. The date coincided with the waxing gibbous moon phase, whilst those born on this day would fall under the Sagittarius zodiac sign.
The historical record for 26th November contains several significant events spanning multiple centuries. In 1942, the film Casablanca premiered at the Hollywood Theatre in New York City, timed to coincide with the Allied invasion of French North Africa and the capture of Casablanca. That same year marked a pivotal moment in European resistance when Josip Broz Tito and the Yugoslav Partisans convened the first meeting of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia at Biha in northwestern Bosnia, establishing institutional foundations for post-war Yugoslav governance.
Closer to the present day, significant events continued to occur on this date. In 1983, robbers executed a high-profile heist at a Brink's-Mat warehouse located at Heathrow Airport in London, making off with 26 million pounds in gold, diamonds and cash. More recently, in 2011, NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory mission from Cape Canaveral, carrying the Curiosity rover aboard, whilst also witnessing a separate military incident along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, significant events, and notable births and deaths for any chosen date and location. Users can explore historical records and celestial data alongside meteorological information, making the platform a resource for understanding what occurred on specific days throughout history.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 26th November 1959
Observers of small details inherit understanding of larger patterns.
Fortune of the Day
26th November in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on November 26th blend Sagittarius fire with sunny vitality. Natural optimists with a strong drive for freedom and philosophical depth, they stand out through their direct, honest nature. Their infectious enthusiasm makes them captivating conversationalists.
Strengths & Weaknesses These individuals bring enthusiasm and vision to every situation. Their courage and inspiring presence are remarkable assets. However, their bluntness can hurt others, and their overoptimism sometimes leads to unrealistic expectations.
Love In relationships, November 26th natives are passionate and sincere. They need partners who understand their adventurous spirit and intellectual needs. Long-term commitment works when both honor the balance between intimacy and personal freedom.
Caree & Finance Professionally, these people pursue meaningful, far-reaching goals. Ideal careers leverage their teaching talent and innovative energy. Financially, they're optimistic to the point of carelessness; structured planning helps them build wealth.
Health Energetic and active, they require physical challenges to thrive. Mental restlessness emerges when their expansive drive is blocked. Regular movement and philosophical growth sustain their natural vitality.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Pig (Earth).
Fun Facts About 26th November
Name Days in Your Language: Mallory, Rashad, Rashawn, Yesenia and Yessenia
Someone born on this day in 1959 would be 66 years old today — just 24,245 days into life, which is roughly 581,887 hours, 34,913,240 minutes, or 2,094,794,401 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 330. day of the year.
There are 35 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 48 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 26th November
- Fernando Bandeirinha, Portuguese footballer and manager (1962)
- Chuck Finley, American baseball player (1962)
- Karan Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria, Indian-English businessman, co-founded Cobra Beer (1961)
- Tom Carroll, Australian surfer (1961)
- Ivory, American wrestler and trainer (1961)
- Chuck Eddy, American journalist (1960)
- Harold Reynolds, American baseball player and sportscaster (1960)
- Dai Davies, Welsh politician (1959)
- Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, American author and academic (1959)
- Jamie Rose, American actress, singer, and dancer (1959)
Lives Remembered on 26th November
- Albert Sarraut, French lawyer and politician, 106th Prime Minister of France (born 1872) (1962)
- Albert Ketèlbey, English pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1875) (1959)
- Tommy Dorsey, American trombonist, trumpet player, and composer (born 1905) (1956)
- Bill Doak, American baseball player and coach (born 1891) (1954)
- Sven Hedin, Swedish geographer and explorer (born 1865) (1952)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 26th November
- Christian feast days: Alypius the Stylite
- Christian feast days: Basolus (Basle)
- Christian feast days: Bellinus of Padua
- Christian feast days: Conrad of Constance
- Christian feast days: Ethelwine of Athelney
- Christian feast days: Blessed Gaetana Sterni
- Christian feast days: John Berchmans
- Christian feast days: Pope Siricius
- Christian feast days: Sylvester Gozzolini
- Christian feast days: Isaac Watts (Episcopal Church (USA))
- Christian feast days: November 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Constitution Day (Abkhazia, Georgia)
- Constitution Day (India)
- Republic Day (Mongolia)
What Happened on 26th November?
- The Wang Fuk Court fire, a catastrophic fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, leaves at least 168 dead and 79 injured. (2025)
- COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization identifies the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (2021)
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes western Albania leaving at least 52 people dead and over 1,000 injured. This was the world's deadliest earthquake of 2019, and the deadliest to strike the country in 99 years. (2019)
- The robotic probe Insight lands on Elysium Planitia, Mars. (2018)
- NATO attack in Pakistan: NATO forces in Afghanistan attack a Pakistani check post in a friendly fire incident, killing 24 soldiers and wounding 13 others. (2011)
- The Mars Science Laboratory launches to Mars with the Curiosity Rover. (2011)
- Mumbai attacks, a series of terrorist attacks killing approximately 175 citizens by 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan based extremist Islamist terrorist organisation. (2008)
- The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2, now out of service, docks in Dubai. (2008)
- Ruzhou School massacre: A man stabs and kills eight people and seriously wounds another four in a school dormitory in Ruzhou, China. (2004)
- The last Poʻouli (Black-faced honeycreeper) dies of avian malaria in the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda, Hawaii, before it could breed, making the species in all probability extinct. (2004)