Today in History

Today is Monday, Nov. 14, the 318th day of 2011. There are 47 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 14, 1851, Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale" was first published in the United States.

On this date:

In 1881, Charles J. Guiteau went on trial for assassinating President James A. Garfield. (Guiteau was convicted and hanged the following year.)

In 1889, inspired by Jules Verne, New York World reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) set out to travel around the world in less than 80 days. (She made the trip in 72 days.) Jawarharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, was born.

In 1910, Eugene B. Ely became the first aviator to take off from a ship as his Curtiss pusher rolled off a sloping platform on the deck of the scout cruiser USS Birmingham off Hampton Roads, Va.

In 1922, the British Broadcasting Corporation began its domestic radio service.

In 1940, during World War II, German planes destroyed most of the English town of Coventry.

In 1944, Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded "Opus No. 1" for RCA Victor.

In 1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon.

In 1970, a chartered Southern Airways DC-9 crashed while trying to land in Huntington, W.Va., killing all 75 people on board, including the Marshall University football team and its coaching staff.

In 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time, ending the day at 1,003.16.

In 1986, the Securities and Exchange Commission imposed a $100 million penalty against inside-trader Ivan F. Boesky and barred him from working again in the securities industry.

Ten years ago: The temporary rout of the Taliban in Afghanistan accelerated with the Islamic militia losing control of Jalalabad in the east, once-loyal Pashtun tribesmen joining in the revolt in the south and many of their fighters fleeing into the mountains to evade U.S. airstrikes. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin continued their talks at Bush's Texas ranch, a day after the two leaders agreed at the White House to reduce their countries' nuclear stockpiles.

Five years ago: Gunmen kidnapped up to 200 staff and visitors in a raid on a Higher Education Ministry office in Baghdad, Iraq. President George W. Bush left the White House on a state visit to Vietnam. Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks won a wide-open race for the NL Cy Young Award.

One year ago: A 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in Yokohama, Japan, concluded with a unanimous pledge by members to avoid raising more trade barriers and to roll back those they may have erected in the midst of crisis. Somali pirates released British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were held for 388 days after they were abducted from their 38-foot-yacht.

Today's Birthdays: Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is 89. Actress Kathleen Hughes is 83. Former NASA astronaut Fred Haise is 78. Jazz musician Ellis Marsalis is 77. Composer Wendy Carlos is 72. Writer P.J. O'Rourke is 64. Zydeco singer-musician Buckwheat Zydeco is 64. Britain's Prince Charles is 63. Rock singer-musician James Young (Styx) is 62. Singer Stephen Bishop is 60. Blues musician Anson Funderburgh is 57. Pianist Yanni is 57. Formeris 57. Presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett is 55. Actress Laura San Giacomo is 50. Actor D.B. Sweeney is 50. Rapper Reverend Run (Run-DMC) is 47. Actor Patrick Warburton is 47. Rock musician Nic Dalton is 47. Country singer Rockie Lynne is 47. Pop singer Jeanette Jurado (Expose) is 46. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling is 45. Rock musician Brian Yale is 43. Rock singer Butch Walker is 42. Actor Josh Duhamel is 39. Rock musician Travis Barker is 36. Contemporary Christian musician Robby Shaffer is 36. Actor Brian Dietzen (TV: "NCIS") is 34. Rapper Shyheim is 34. Rock musician Tobin Esperance (Papa Roach) is 32. Actress Olga Kurylenko is 32.

Thought for Today: "Comfort, opportunity, number and size are not synonymous with civilization." -- Abraham Flexner, American educator and author (1866-1959).

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.