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 Berezina 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 Dwight 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
Wingnut candidate the shrub is certified the winner of Florida’s electoral votes, giving him enough electoral votes to steal the US Presidency from Democrat Al Gore Jr., 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.