Today in History

Today in History

Today is Saturday, Jan. 23, the 23rd day of 2016. There are 343 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 23, 1516, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who with his late queen consort, Isabella of Castile, sponsored the first voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492, died in Madrigalejo, Spain.

On this date:

In 1789, Georgetown University was established in present-day Washington, D.C.

In 1845, Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the so-called "Lame Duck Amendment," was ratified as Missouri approved it.

In 1944, Norwegian painter Edvard Munch ("The Scream") died near Oslo at age 80.

In 1950, the Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In 1960, the U.S. Navy-operated bathyscaphe Trieste carried two men to the deepest known point in the Pacific Ocean, reaching a depth of more than 35,000 feet.

In 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it.

In 1968, North Korea seized the Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo, charging its crew with being on a spying mission. (The crew was released 11 months later.)

In 1973, President Richard Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War, and would be formally signed four days later in Paris.

In 1989, surrealist artist Salvador Dali died in his native Figueres, Spain, at age 84.

In 1995, the Supreme Court, in McKennon vs. Nashville Banner Publishing Co., ruled that companies accused of firing employees illegally could not escape liability by later finding a lawful reason to justify the dismissal.

In 2005, former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson died in Los Angeles at age 79.

Ten years ago: Ford Motor Co. said it would cut up to 30,000 jobs and idle 14 facilities in North America by 2012. A U.S. military jury at Fort Carson, Colorado, ordered a reprimand, but no jail time, for Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer Jr., an Army interrogator convicted of killing an Iraqi general. Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party won Canada's national elections, ending 13 years of Liberal rule.

Five years ago: Allies and adversaries of President Hugo Chavez took to the streets of Caracas by the thousands, staging rival demonstrations to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Venezuela's democracy. Fitness guru Jack LaLanne died in Morro Bay, California, at age 96. The Pittsburgh Steelers advanced to their third Super Bowl in six years with a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets to win the AFC championship. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears, 21-14, in the NFC championship game.

One year ago: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, 90, the powerful U.S. ally who'd fought against al-Qaida and sought to modernize the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom, died in Riyadh. Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, 83, died. Roger Federer was ousted from the Australian Open in the third round, beaten by Andreas Seppi 6-4, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (5).

Today's Birthdays: Actress Jeanne Moreau is 88. Actress Chita Rivera is 83. Actor-director Lou Antonio is 82. Jazz musician Gary Burton is 73. Actor Gil Gerard is 73. Actor Rutger Hauer is 72. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jerry Lawson is 72. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., is 69. Singer Anita Pointer is 68. Actor Richard Dean Anderson is 66. Rock musician Bill Cunningham is 66. Rock singer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) is 63. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is 63. Princess Caroline of Monaco is 59. Singer Anita Baker is 58. Reggae musician Earl Falconer (UB40) is 57. Actress Gail O'Grady is 53. Actress Mariska Hargitay is 52. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Nelson is 45. Actress Tiffani Thiessen is 42. Rock musician Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie) is 41. Christian rock musician Nick DePartee (Kutless) is 31. Singer-actress Rachel Crow is 18.

Thought for Today: "It's not what you are, it's what you don't become that hurts." -- Oscar Levant, pianist-composer-actor (1906-1972).