Today in History

1688   Louis XIV declares war on the Netherlands.  
1774   A congress of colonial leaders criticizes British influence in the colonies and affirms their right to "Life, liberty and property."  
1789   George Washington proclaims this a National Thanksgiving Day in honor of the new Constitution. This date was later used to set the date for Thanksgiving.  
1812   Napoleon Bonaparte's army begins crossing the Beresina River over two hastily constructed bridges. 1825   The Kappa Alpha Society, the second American college Greek-letter fraternity, is founded.  
1863   The first National Thanksgiving is celebrated.  
1901   The Hope diamond is brought to New York.  
1907   The Duma lends support to Czar in St. Petersburg, who claims he has renounced autocracy.  
1917   The Bolsheviks offer an armistice between Russian and the Central Powers.  
1922   Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, archeologists, open King Tut's tomb, undisturbed for 3,000 years.  
1938   Poland renews nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union to protect against a German invasion.  
1939   The Soviet Union charges Finland with artillery attack on border.  
1941   The Japanese fleet departs from the Kuril Islands en route to its attack on Pearl Harbor.
1947   France expels 19 Soviet citizens, charging them with intervention in internal affairs.
1949   India becomes a sovereign Democratic republic.  
1950   North Korean and Chinese troops halt a UN offensive.  
1957   President Eisenhower suffers a minor stroke.  
1975   Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme is found guilty of an attempt on President Gerald Ford's life.
1979   Oil deposits equaling OPEC reserves are found in Venezuela.
1982   Yasuhiro Nakasone is elected the 71st Japanese prime minister.  
1983   At London's Heathrow Airport, almost 6,800 gold bars worth nearly £26 million stolen from Brinks-MAT vault.  
1998   Tony Blair becomes the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to address the Republic of Ireland's parliament.
 2000   repugican candidate the shrub is certified the winner of Florida's electoral votes, giving him enough electoral votes to defeat Democrat Al Gore Jr. for the US presidency, despite losing the popular vote.  
2011   NATO forces in Afghanistan attack a Pakistani checkpost in a friendly fire incident, killing 24 soldiers and wounding 13 others.