Today in History
Significant Events
- 1680 Gottfried Kirch discovers the Great Comet of 1680 (Kirch's Comet/Newton's Comet)
- 1896 Power plant at Niagara Falls begins operation
- 1908 Albert Einstein presents his quantum theory of light
- 1920 The Russian Bolshevik army occupies Sebastopol, ending anti-communist attempts to regain the government of Russia
Did You Know?
CFBDSIR 2149-0403 is discovered, the closest rogue planet to earth (100 light-years away)
On this day in 2012
Jawaharlal Nehru
Frederick Banting
Aaron Copland
William Herschel
Gerhart Hauptmann
Erwin RommelWould You Believe?
New York World reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) begins her attempt to surpass fictitious journey of Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg by traveling around the world in under 80 days. She succeeds, finishing the trip in 72 days, 6 hours
On this day in 1889
Famous Weddings
- 1532 King Henry VII of England secretly marries Anne Boleyn (officially married 25th January 1533)
- 1677 Prince William of Orange (27) marries English princess Mary Stuart (15)
- 1855 Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart (22) weds Flora Cooke in Fort Riley, Kansas
- 1951 Musician Louis Jordan (43) weds dancer Vicky Hayes
- 1964 MLB right fielder Roberto Clemente (30) weds Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina
Famous Divorces
- 1983 Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (35) divorces Sarah Hugill after more than 11 years of marriage
Alexander Nevsky
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Booker T. Washington
Justinian I
Johannes Kepler
Lionel BarrymoreThis Month in History
How Britain Fell in Love with Lady Chatterley
After a sensational trial, the courts cleared the way for the controversial novel Lady Chatterley's Lover to go on sale in Britain, causing a stampede.
November 10, 1960
The War's Over, But Don't Get Too Excited
It was 'the war to end all wars' that came to a weary climax on this day. But this was no time to lose your inhibitions, at least not for one famous Englishman.
November 11, 1918
Nell Gwyn, the Whore Who Enchanted a King
Nell Gwyn, who was brought up in a bawdy-house in London, caught the eye of King Charles II and became one of England’s most famous royal mistresses.
November 14, 1687
All Eyes on Birthplace of British Rock 'n' Roll
Tommy Steele, Britain's first rock 'n' roll star, was discovered on this day at a coffee bar in central London, appearing live on the BBC's first pop music show.
November 16, 1957
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