Today in History

Today in History

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 16, the 321st day of 2016. There are 45 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 16, 1966, Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard was acquitted in his second trial of murdering his pregnant wife, Marilyn, in 1954.

On this date:

In 1776, British troops captured Fort Washington in New York during the American Revolution.

In 1885, Canadian rebel leader Louis Riel was executed for high treason.

In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state of the union.

In 1914, the newly created Federal Reserve Banks opened in 12 cities.

In 1933, the United States and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations.

In 1939, mob boss Al Capone, ill with syphilis, was released from prison after serving 7 1/2 years for tax evasion and failure to file tax returns.

In 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded at the conclusion of a conference in London.

In 1959, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music" opened on Broadway.

In 1973, Skylab 4, carrying a crew of three astronauts, was launched from Cape Canaveral on an 84-day mission.

In 1981, the Senate confirmed Dr. C. Everett Koop to be surgeon general. Oscar-winning actor William Holden, 63, was found dead in his Santa Monica, California, apartment.

In 1991, former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards won a landslide victory in his bid to return to office, defeating State Rep. David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, making it harder for government to interfere with religious practices.

Ten years ago: Democrats embraced Nancy Pelosi as the first woman House speaker in history, but then selected Steny Hoyer as majority leader against her wishes. African, Arab, European and U.N. leaders agreed in principle to a joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force for Sudan's Darfur region. Gunmen abducted a private security team of four Americans and an Austrian in southern Iraq. (All five were later slain.) Minnesota Twins' ace Johan Santana won the AL Cy Young Award. Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman died in San Francisco at age 94.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama, visiting Canberra, said he would send military aircraft and up to 2,500 Marines to northern Australia for a training hub to help allies and protect American interests across Asia.

One year ago: President Barack Obama, in Turkey for a meeting of world leaders, conceded that the Paris terror attacks were a "terrible and sickening setback" in the fight against the Islamic State, but forcefully dismissed critics who were calling for the U.S. to change or expand its military campaign against the extremists. Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was a unanimous pick as NL Rookie of the Year, and Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was voted the AL honor. Actor David Canary, 77, died in Wilton, Connecticut.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Clu Gulager is 88. Journalist Elizabeth Drew is 81. Blues musician W.C. Clark is 77. Actress Joanna Pettet is 74. Actor Steve Railsback is 71. Actor David Leisure is 66. Actor Miguel Sandoval is 65. Actress Marg Helgenberger is 58. Rock musician Mani is 54. Country singer-musician Keith Burns (Trick Pony) is 53. Tennis player Zina Garrison is 53. Former MLB All-Star pitcher Dwight Gooden is 52. Jazz singer Diana Krall is 52. Actor Harry Lennix is 52. Rock musician Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver) is 50. Actress Lisa Bonet is 49. Actress Tammy Lauren is 48. Rhythm-and-blues singer Bryan Abrams (Color Me Badd) is 47. Actress Martha Plimpton is 46. Actor Michael Irby is 44. Actress Missi Pyle is 44. Olympic gold medal figure skater Oksana Baiul is 39. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is 39. Pop singer Trevor Penick is 37. NBA player Amare Stoudemire is 34. Actress Kimberly J. Brown is 32. Rock singer Siva Kaneswaran (The Wanted) is 28. Actor Casey Moss is 23. Actor Noah Gray-Cabey is 21.

Thought for Today: "I think the government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem and very often makes the problem worse." -- Milton Friedman (1912-2006).