Today in History

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 24, the 24th day of 2018. There are 341 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of '49.

On this date:

In A.D. 41, Roman Emperor Caligula, 28, was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard after a reign of nearly four years; he was succeeded by his uncle Claudius.

In 1742, Charles VII was elected Holy Roman Emperor during the War of the Austrian Succession.

In 1908, the Boy Scouts movement began in England under the aegis of Robert Baden-Powell.

In 1939, at least 28,000 people were killed by an earthquake that devastated the city of Chillan in Chile.

In 1942, the Roberts Commission placed much of the blame for America's lack of preparedness for Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on Rear Adm. Husband E. Kimmel and Lt. Gen. Walter C. Short, the Navy and Army commanders.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill concluded a wartime conference in Casablanca, Morocco.

In 1965, British statesman Winston Churchill died in London at age 90.

In 1975, the extremist group FALN bombed Fraunces Tavern in New York City, killing four people.

In 1978, a nuclear-powered Soviet satellite, Cosmos 954, plunged through Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated, scattering radioactive debris over parts of northern Canada.

In 1989, confessed serial killer Theodore Bundy was executed in Florida's electric chair.

In 1993, retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 84.

In 2003, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge was sworn as the first secretary of the new Department of Homeland Security.

Ten years ago: Congressional leaders announced a deal with the White House on an economic stimulus package that would give most tax filers refunds of $600 to $1,200. French bank Societe Generale announced it had uncovered a 4.9 billion euro ($7.14 billion) fraud by a single futures trader. Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned after his center-left coalition lost a Senate confidence vote.

Five years ago: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the lifting of a ban on women serving in combat. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee opened a hearing into President Barack Obama's nomination of Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state. President Obama appointed Mary Jo White, a former prosecutor, to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. New Orleans Hornets owner Tom Benson announced he was changing his team's nickname to the Pelicans for the start of next season.

One year ago: President Donald Trump moved swiftly to advance the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, signing executive actions to aggressively overhaul America's energy policy and deal a sharp blow to Barack Obama's legacy on climate change. The 89th annual Academy Awards nominations were announced; the retro musical "La La Land" received a record-tying 14 nods; eight went to eventual best picture winner "Moonlight."

Today's Birthdays: Actor Jerry Maren (Film: "The Wizard of Oz") is 99. Cajun musician Doug Kershaw is 82. Singer-songwriter Ray Stevens is 79. Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond is 77. Singer Aaron Neville is 77. Actor Michael Ontkean is 72. Actor Daniel Auteuil is 68. Country singer-songwriter Becky Hobbs is 68. Comedian Yakov Smirnoff is 67. South Korean President Moon Jae-in is 65. Actor William Allen Young is 64. Bandleader-musician Jools Holland is 60. Actress Nastassja Kinski is 57. Rhythm-and-blues singer Theo Peoples is 57. Country musician Keech Rainwater (Lonestar) is 55. Obama White House budget director Shaun Donovan is 52. Comedian Phil LaMarr is 51. Olympic gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton is 50. Rhythm-and-blues singer Sleepy Brown (Society of Soul) is 48. Actor Matthew Lillard is 48. Actress Merrilee McCommas is 47. Blues/rock singer Beth Hart is 46. Actor Ed Helms is 44. Actor Mark Hildreth is 40. Actress Tatyana Ali is 39. Rock musician Mitchell Marlow (Filter) is 39. Actress Carrie Coon is 37. Actor Daveed Diggs is 36. Actor Justin Baldoni is 34. Actress Mischa Barton is 32.

Thought for Today: "God gives us relatives; thank God, we can choose our friends." -- Addison Mizner, American architect (1872-1933).