Today in History

Today in History

Today is Monday, Nov. 23, the 327th day of 2015. There are 38 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 23, 1765, Frederick County, Maryland, became the first colonial American entity to repudiate the British Stamp Act.

On this date:

In 1804, the 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.

In 1889, the first jukebox made its debut in San Francisco, at the Palais Royale Saloon. (The coin-operated device consisted of four listening tubes attached to an Edison phonograph.)

In 1890, William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, died, ending 75 years of Dutch rule over Luxembourg.

In 1903, Enrico Caruso made his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, appearing in "Rigoletto."

In 1914, the seven-month U.S. military occupation of Veracruz, Mexico, ended.

In 1936, Life, the photojournalism magazine created by Henry R. Luce, was first published.

In 1945, most U.S. wartime rationing of foods, including meat and butter, was set to expire by day's end.

In 1959, the musical "Fiorello!," starring Tom Bosley as legendary New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, opened on Broadway.

In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed Nov. 25 a day of national mourning following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

In 1971, the People's Republic of China was seated in the U.N. Security Council.

In 1980, some 2,600 people were killed by a series of earthquakes that devastated southern Italy.

In 1995, movie director Louis Malle ("Pretty Baby"; "Atlantic City"; "My Dinner with Andre") died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 63.

Ten years ago: In Iraq, gunmen broke into the home of a senior Sunni Arab leader and killed him, three of his sons and a son-in-law. A commuter train slammed into several vehicles caught in a traffic jam on a busy road in Elmwood Park, Illinois, starting a chain reaction that injured at least 10 people. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was confirmed as the winner of Liberia's presidential election. American-born actress Constance Cummings died in Oxfordshire, England, at age 95.

Five years ago: North Korea bombarded South Korea's Yeonpyeong (yuhn-pyuhng) Island with artillery fire, killing four people and raising tensions between the two countries. Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton was a runaway winner of the American League's Most Valuable Player award. Actress Ingrid Pitt, who'd survived a Nazi concentration camp and dodged Communist police to become one of Britain's best known horror stars, died in London at 73.

One year ago: Israel's Cabinet approved a bill to legally define the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Former Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry died at age 78. Roger Federer defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the first reverse singles match as Switzerland won the Davis Cup final against France by taking an unassailable 3-1 lead. One Direction won three honors at the American Music Awards, including artist of the year; Katy Perry, absent because of her world tour, also won three awards.

Today's Birthdays: Former Labor Secretary William E. Brock is 85. Actress Elmarie Wendel is 87. Actor Franco Nero is 74. Actress Susan Anspach is 73. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is 71. Actor-comedy writer Bruce Vilanch is 68. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is 65. Singer Bruce Hornsby is 61. Former Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is 60. Actor Maxwell Caulfield is 56. Actor John Henton is 55. TV personality Robin Roberts ("Good Morning America") is 55. Rock singer-musician Ken Block (Sister Hazel) is 49. Rock musician Charlie Grover is 49. Actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield is 48. Actor Oded Fehr is 45. Rapper-actor Kurupt (Tha Dogg Pound) is 43. Actor Page Kennedy is 39. Actress Kelly Brook is 36. Actor Lucas Grabeel is 31. TV personality Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is 28. Actress-singer Miley Cyrus is 23. Actor Austin Majors is 20.

Thought for Today: "It is better to debate an important matter without settling it than to settle it without debating it." -- Author unknown.