Historical eventNovember 41912
Keel
The keel of USS Nevada was laid down, beginning construction on the United States Navy's first "super-dreadnought".
In context
- When
- Monday, November 4 1912114 years ago
- Category
- Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Era
- 20th century · 1910s
- Recorded from
- Wikipedia “On this day” feed
Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.
At a glance
Dates: From 1912.
Type: nautical term.
What came before
Part of: hull.
What happened
History Origins Carvel-built hull construction (right) lines planks up edge to edge The use of a keel in sailing vessels dates back to antiquity . The wreck of an ancient Greek merchant ship known as the Kyrenia ship establishes the origin of the keel at least as far back as 315 BC. [ 1 ] [ page needed ] The Uluburun shipwreck ( c. 1325 BC) had a rudimentary keel, but it may have been more of a center plank than a keel. [ 2 ]
The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element of a watercraft, important for stability. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose as well. The laying of the keel is often the initial step in constructing a ship. In the British and American shipbuilding traditions, this event marks the beginning date of a ship's construction.
November 4 through the years
Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.
Also in 1912
- September 4Albanian revolt of 1912The Albanian revolt ended when the Ottoman government agreed to meet most of the rebels' demands.
- January 6Alfred WegenerGerman geophysicist Alfred Wegener presented his theory of continental drift, the precursor of plate tectonics, to the German Geological…
- January 17Robert Falcon ScottRobert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition reached the South Pole, only to find that Roald Amundsen's team had beaten them by…
- March 30Abd al-Hafid of MoroccoSultan Abd al-Hafid signed the Treaty of Fes, making Morocco a French protectorate.
- October 9Little Falls, New YorkFollowing a reduction in pay, textile workers in Little Falls, New York, walked out of their mill, starting a three-month strike.
- January 11Lawrence, MassachusettsImmigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, went on strike in response to a pay cut corresponding to a new state law shortening…
- November 28All-Albanian CongressAt the All-Albanian Congress, the Assembly of Vlorë was constituted, which declared the independence of the Albanian Vilayet from the Ott…
- June 6NovaruptaThe largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century began, forming the volcano Novarupta in the Alaska Peninsula.
Sources
- Wikipedia article (text, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 for adapted text · how we source this
Cite this page
“Keel”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/keel-1912-november-4, accessed October 29, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about this entry
When did Keel happen?
November 4 1912 — 114 years ago, on a Monday.
Where does this text come from?
Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.
How do I cite this page?
Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.
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