1851-11-14
Moby-Dick, an epic novel by American writer Herman Melville, was first published in the United States.
1820-11-20
The American whaleship Essex sank 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) west of the western coast of South America after it was attacked by a sperm whale, an event which inspired the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (pictured).