Today in History

Today in History

Today is Saturday, Nov. 28, the 332nd day of 2015. There are 33 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 28, 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as British prime minister during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who then conferred the premiership on John Major.

On this date:

In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.

In 1861, the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy after Missouri's disputed secession from the Union.

In 1905, Sinn Fein was founded in Dublin.

In 1922, Captain Cyril Turner of the Royal Air Force gave the first public skywriting exhibition, spelling out, "Hello USA. Call Vanderbilt 7200" over New York's Times Square; about 47,000 calls in less than three hours resulted.

In 1942, nearly 500 people died in a fire that destroyed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston.

In 1958, Chad, Gabon and Middle Congo became autonomous republics within the French community.

In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course toward Mars, which it flew past in July 1965, sending back pictures of the red planet.

In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford nominated federal judge John Paul Stevens to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by William O. Douglas.

In 1979, an Air New Zealand DC-10 en route to the South Pole crashed into a mountain in Antarctica, killing all 257 people aboard.

In 1987, a South African Airways Boeing 747 crashed into the Indian Ocean with the loss of all 159 people aboard.

In 1994, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was slain in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate. Sixties war protester Jerry Rubin died in Los Angeles, two weeks after being hit by a car; he was 56.

In 2001, Enron Corp., once the world's largest energy trader, collapsed after would-be rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion takeover deal.

Ten years ago: Eight-term Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to graft and tearfully resigned; the California Republican had admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes mostly from defense contractors in exchange for government business and other favors. (Cunningham was later sentenced to eight years, four months in prison; his term was cut by more than a year for good behavior.) A corruption scandal brought down the minority government of Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, the same day a 10-day U.N. Climate Control Conference opened in Montreal.

Five years ago: European Union nations meeting in Brussels agreed to give 67.5 billion euros ($89.4 billion) in bailout loans to Ireland to help it weather the cost of its massive banking crisis. WikiLeaks began disclosing over 250,000 private cables written by U.S. diplomats, divulging candid comments from world leaders and detailing occasional U.S. pressure tactics aimed at hot spots in Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea. Actor Leslie Nielsen died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at age 84. Samuel T. Cohen, the inventor of the neutron bomb, died in Los Angeles at age 89. Roger Federer won his fifth season-ending title by beating top-ranked Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

One year ago: French President Francois Hollande brought a message of hope to Guinea, where thousands of residents turned out to catch a glimpse of the first Western leader to visit a country hard hit by Ebola. Pope Francis urged Muslim leaders to condemn the "barbaric violence" being committed in the name of Islam against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria as he arrived in neighboring Turkey for a visit aimed at improving interfaith ties. A gunman fired more than 100 rounds at downtown buildings in Austin, Texas, and tried to set the Mexican Consulate ablaze before he died during a confrontation with police.

Today's Birthdays: Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 86. Former Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., is 79. Singer-songwriter Bruce Channel is 75. Singer Randy Newman is 72. CBS News correspondent Susan Spencer is 69. Movie director Joe Dante is 68. Former "Late Show" orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 66. Actor Ed Harris is 65. Former NASA teacher in space Barbara Morgan is 64. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson is 63. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is 62. Country singer Kristine Arnold (Sweethearts of the Rodeo) is 59. Actor Judd Nelson is 56. Movie director Alfonso Cuaron is 54. Rock musician Matt Cameron is 53. Actress Jane Sibbett is 53. Comedian Jon Stewart is 53. Actress Garcelle Beauvais is 49. Actor/comedian Stephnie Weir (TV: "The Comedians"; "MadTV") is 48. Rhythm-and-blues singer Dawn Robinson is 47. Actress Gina Tognoni is 42. Hip-hop musician apl.de.ap (Black Eyed Peas) is 41. Actor Malcolm Goodwin (TV: "iZombie") is 40. Actor Ryan Kwanten is 39. Actress Aimee Garcia is 37. Rapper Chamillionaire is 36. Actor Daniel Henney is 36. Rock musician Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) is 32. Rock singer-keyboardist Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) is 32. Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is 31. R&B singer Trey Songz is 31. Actress Scarlett Pomers (TV: "Reba") is 27.

Thought for Today: "Knowledge is proud that it knows so much; wisdom is humble that it knows no more." -- William Cowper, English poet (1731-1800).