November 13 in history — What Happened Today in History

The Republic of Karelia, an autonomous republic of Russia, is formed from the former Karelian ASSR.

In Aramoana, New Zealand, David Gray shoots dead 13 people in a massacre before being tracked down and killed by police the next day.

Hans-Adam II, the present Prince of Liechtenstein, begins his reign on the death of his father.

The volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupts and melts a glacier, causing a lahar (volcanic mudslide) that buries Armero, Colombia, killing approximately 23,000 people.

Xavier Suárez is sworn in as Miami's first Cuban-born mayor.

Ray Mancini defeats Duk Koo Kim in a boxing match held in Las Vegas. Kim's subsequent death (on November 18) leads to significant changes in the sport.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site by thousands of Vietnam War veterans.

Bhola cyclone: A 240 km/h (150 mph) tropical cyclone hits the densely populated Ganges Delta region of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), killing an estimated 500,000 people in one night.

Vietnam War: Anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C. stage a symbolic March Against Death.

The first of its many UFO sightings is made at Pudasjärvi, Finland.

In response to Fatah raids against Israelis near the West Bank border, Israel launches an attack on the village of As-Samu.

All Nippon Airways Flight 533 crashes into the Seto Inland Sea near Matsuyama Airport in Japan, killing 50 people.

The SS Yarmouth Castle catches fire and sinks, killing 87.

The Supreme Court of the United States affirmed a lower court ruling that invalidated Alabama laws requiring segregated buses, thus ending the Montgomery bus boycott.

Great Britain defeats France to capture the first ever Rugby League World Cup in Paris in front of around 30,000 spectators.

General Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, President of Venezuela, is assassinated in Caracas.

The Soviet Union completes development of the AK-47, one of the first proper assault rifles.

FC Dynamo Moscow open their exhibition tour of the United Kingdom with a 3–3 draw against Chelsea, breaking the record attendance for a British club football match.

World War II: Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: U.S. and Japanese ships engage in an intense, close-quarters surface naval engagement during the Guadalcanal campaign.

Walt Disney's animated musical film Fantasia is first released at New York's Broadway Theatre, on the first night of a roadshow.

The Holland Tunnel opens to traffic as the first Hudson River vehicle tunnel linking New Jersey to New York City.

The United States Supreme Court upholds mandatory vaccinations for public school students in Zucht v. King.

World War I: Allied troops occupy Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

World War I: beginning of the First Battle of Monte Grappa (in Italy known as the "First Battle of the Piave"). The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces, despite help from the German Alpenkorps and numerical superiority, will fail their offensive against the Italian Army now led by its new chief of staff Armando Diaz.

World War I: Prime Minister of Australia Billy Hughes is expelled from the Labor Party over his support for conscription.

Zaian War: Berber tribesmen inflict the heaviest defeat of French forces in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri.

The 1901 Caister lifeboat disaster occurs, killing 9 of the 12 crew members.

13 November stabbing is committed by Léon Léauthier during the Ère des attentats. This is an influential event in the birth of modern terrorism.

Hatsune Matsushima, Japanese model and actress

Dana Vollmer, American swimmer

Kevin Bridges, Scottish comedian and actor

Wade Miley, American baseball player

Asdrúbal Cabrera, Venezuelan baseball player

Lucas Barrios, Paraguayan footballer

Kurt Morath, Tongan rugby player

Kalle Kriit, Estonian cyclist

Maleli Kunavore, Fijian rugby player (died 2012)

Michael Copon, American actor, singer, and producer

Samkon Gado, Nigerian-American football player

Kumi Koda, Japanese singer-songwriter and actress

Ryan Bertin, American wrestler and coach

Hans-Jürgen Heise, German author and poet (born 1930)

Chieko Aioi, Japanese actress and voice actress (born 1934)

Erazm Ciołek, Polish photographer and author (born 1937)

Manuel Peña Escontrela, Spanish footballer (born 1965)

John Sheridan, English rugby player and coach (born 1933)

Luis García Berlanga, Spanish director and screenwriter (born 1921)

Allan Sandage, American astronomer and cosmologist (born 1926)

Wahab Akbar, Filipino lawyer and politician (born 1960)

John Doherty, English footballer and manager (born 1935)

Kazuhisa Inao, Japanese baseball player and manager (born 1937)

Vine Deloria, Jr., American historian, theologian, and author (born 1933)

Eddie Guerrero, American wrestler (born 1967)

John Balance, English singer-songwriter (born 1962)