Prof Frank McDonough
@fxmc1957.bsky.social
Historian of Germany 1918-1945. On X as @FXMC1957 with This Day in History at 8.30 AM (GMT). Website: http://proffrankmcdonough.com
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Jackie Kennedy, with children, Caroline and John Junior, at JFK’s funeral (1963). 📷 Fred Ward
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Jackie Kennedy, with children, Caroline and John Junior, at JFK’s funeral (1963). 📷 Fred Ward
FACT OF THE DAY. 25 November 2020. Argentinian Football star Diego Maradona died (aged 60). He’s regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He could win a game on his own. He was one of the 2 joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award (along with Pele).
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 25 November 2020. Argentinian Football star Diego Maradona died (aged 60). He’s regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He could win a game on his own. He was one of the 2 joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award (along with Pele).
PERSON OF THE DAY. 25 November 2005. Man Utd and Northern Ireland star George Best died (aged 59). He was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and ranked 6th in the FIFA Player of the 20th Century vote. He was one of the most skilful and exciting footballers of all time.
November 25, 2025 at 9:45 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 25 November 2005. Man Utd and Northern Ireland star George Best died (aged 59). He was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and ranked 6th in the FIFA Player of the 20th Century vote. He was one of the most skilful and exciting footballers of all time.
PHOTO OF THE DAY. John Lennon in Cafe La Fortuna near The Dakota, the apartment block where he lived in New York City (1980) 📷 Kishin Shinoyama
November 24, 2025 at 9:38 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. John Lennon in Cafe La Fortuna near The Dakota, the apartment block where he lived in New York City (1980) 📷 Kishin Shinoyama
PERSON OF THE DAY. 24 November 1991. Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) died of AIDS complications (aged 45). He was the lead singer-songwriter with Queen and known for his flamboyant stage persona and 4-octave vocal range. Undoubtedly one of rock’s greatest live performers.
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 24 November 1991. Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) died of AIDS complications (aged 45). He was the lead singer-songwriter with Queen and known for his flamboyant stage persona and 4-octave vocal range. Undoubtedly one of rock’s greatest live performers.
FACT OF THE DAY. 24 November 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald, charged with the murder of President John F Kennedy, was shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby live on national TV in the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters. Speculation now arose as to whether Oswald was being silenced.
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 24 November 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald, charged with the murder of President John F Kennedy, was shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby live on national TV in the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters. Speculation now arose as to whether Oswald was being silenced.
PHOTO OF THE DAY. John F Kennedy lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda, Washington DC (1963). 📷 George Mobley
November 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. John F Kennedy lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda, Washington DC (1963). 📷 George Mobley
PERSON OF THE DAY. 23 November 1990. Welsh-born writer Roald Dahl died (aged 74). His often macabre books aimed at children include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG. His books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.
November 23, 2025 at 10:16 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 23 November 1990. Welsh-born writer Roald Dahl died (aged 74). His often macabre books aimed at children include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG. His books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.
FACT OF THE DAY. 23 November 1963. BBC1 broadcast the 1st episode of science fiction series Doctor Who with William Hartnell in the title role. The 1st episode deals with Ian and Barbara’s discovery of the Doctor and reveals his time-space ship TARDIS which is disguised as a police box.
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 23 November 1963. BBC1 broadcast the 1st episode of science fiction series Doctor Who with William Hartnell in the title role. The 1st episode deals with Ian and Barbara’s discovery of the Doctor and reveals his time-space ship TARDIS which is disguised as a police box.
A great review in The Times today.
November 22, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A great review in The Times today.
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Commuters in a New York City railway carriage read the evening newspapers reporting the JFK assassination (22 November 1963). 📷 Carl Mydans
November 22, 2025 at 9:42 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Commuters in a New York City railway carriage read the evening newspapers reporting the JFK assassination (22 November 1963). 📷 Carl Mydans
PERSON OF THE DAY. 22 November 1963. 2:38 PM. Vice-President Lyndon B Johnson was sworn in as the 36th US President on Air Force One. Jackie, deeply traumatised, still wearing her blood-stained pink suit acted as the witness to the impromptu ceremony. Afterwards she drank a tumbler of whisky.
November 22, 2025 at 9:33 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 22 November 1963. 2:38 PM. Vice-President Lyndon B Johnson was sworn in as the 36th US President on Air Force One. Jackie, deeply traumatised, still wearing her blood-stained pink suit acted as the witness to the impromptu ceremony. Afterwards she drank a tumbler of whisky.
FACT OF THE DAY. 22 November 1963. 1:00 PM. John F Kennedy (aged 46), was officially pronounced dead at Parkland Hospital by Dr. William Kemp Clark who felt the damage caused by the fatal shot to the head was the ultimate cause of death. Kemp put 12:50 PM as the actual time of death.
November 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 22 November 1963. 1:00 PM. John F Kennedy (aged 46), was officially pronounced dead at Parkland Hospital by Dr. William Kemp Clark who felt the damage caused by the fatal shot to the head was the ultimate cause of death. Kemp put 12:50 PM as the actual time of death.
PHOTO OF THE DAY. President John F Kennedy, during his motorcade through San Antonio, Texas, on 21 November 1963. On the next day, he would visit Dallas. 📷 google images
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. President John F Kennedy, during his motorcade through San Antonio, Texas, on 21 November 1963. On the next day, he would visit Dallas. 📷 google images
PERSON OF THE DAY. 21 November 1898. René Magritte was born in Lessines, Belgium. He became well known for creating a number of witty and thought-provoking images often depicting everyday objects in an unusual way. His imagery influenced pop art, minimalist art and conceptual art.
November 21, 2025 at 9:37 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 21 November 1898. René Magritte was born in Lessines, Belgium. He became well known for creating a number of witty and thought-provoking images often depicting everyday objects in an unusual way. His imagery influenced pop art, minimalist art and conceptual art.
FACT OF THE DAY. 21 November 1974. 21 people were killed by bombs in 2 Birmingham pubs (The Mulberry Bush and The Tavern in the Town). The 6 men (“Birmingham 6”) originally convicted of the crimes were subsequently declared innocent and acquitted. The real culprits have never been found.
November 21, 2025 at 9:36 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 21 November 1974. 21 people were killed by bombs in 2 Birmingham pubs (The Mulberry Bush and The Tavern in the Town). The 6 men (“Birmingham 6”) originally convicted of the crimes were subsequently declared innocent and acquitted. The real culprits have never been found.
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Sophia Loren trying Whelks in a fish bar, near the River Thames (1960). 📷 Bob Hope and Alisdair MacDonald
November 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Sophia Loren trying Whelks in a fish bar, near the River Thames (1960). 📷 Bob Hope and Alisdair MacDonald
PERSON OF THE DAY. 20 November 1925. Robert F Kennedy (also known as”Bobby” and “RFK”), was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA. He served as the 64th United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as a US Senator for New York from 1965 until his assassination in June 1968.
November 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 20 November 1925. Robert F Kennedy (also known as”Bobby” and “RFK”), was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA. He served as the 64th United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as a US Senator for New York from 1965 until his assassination in June 1968.
FACT OF THE DAY. 20 November 1995. Princess Diana in an interview with Martin Bashir, broadcast on the BBC programme Panorama, gave intimate details of her marriage to Prince Charles including an admission they had both had extra marital affairs. Bashir had obtained the interview by deception.
November 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 20 November 1995. Princess Diana in an interview with Martin Bashir, broadcast on the BBC programme Panorama, gave intimate details of her marriage to Prince Charles including an admission they had both had extra marital affairs. Bashir had obtained the interview by deception.
PHOTO OF THE DAY. A woman in New York City walking her dog in the driving rain (1957). 📷 Saul Leiter
November 19, 2025 at 9:36 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. A woman in New York City walking her dog in the driving rain (1957). 📷 Saul Leiter
PERSON OF THE DAY. 19 November 1703. The Man in The Iron Mask died. He was an unidentified prisoner held for 34 Years in several French prisons. Mystery still surrounds his actual identity. The story was made popular via the Alexandre Dumas novel, with the English title, The Man In The Iron Mask.
November 19, 2025 at 9:35 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 19 November 1703. The Man in The Iron Mask died. He was an unidentified prisoner held for 34 Years in several French prisons. Mystery still surrounds his actual identity. The story was made popular via the Alexandre Dumas novel, with the English title, The Man In The Iron Mask.
19 November 1863. Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address. It’s regarded as one of the greatest and most influential speeches by a US President. The words of the speech are carved in stone on the south wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
November 19, 2025 at 9:33 AM
19 November 1863. Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address. It’s regarded as one of the greatest and most influential speeches by a US President. The words of the speech are carved in stone on the south wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Grand Central Terminal, New York City (1941).
📷 John Collier
📷 John Collier
November 18, 2025 at 9:32 AM
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Grand Central Terminal, New York City (1941).
📷 John Collier
📷 John Collier
PERSON OF THE DAY. 18 November 1926. Irish-born playwright George Bernard Shaw turned down the huge cash prize attached to the Nobel Prize for Literature, saying: ‘I never forgave Alfred for inventing dynamite.’
November 18, 2025 at 9:31 AM
PERSON OF THE DAY. 18 November 1926. Irish-born playwright George Bernard Shaw turned down the huge cash prize attached to the Nobel Prize for Literature, saying: ‘I never forgave Alfred for inventing dynamite.’