Wednesday, November 11th
The 315th day of 2009.
There are 50 days left in the year.
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Today's Highlights in History
On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I came to an end with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany. (Go to article.)
On Nov. 11, 1885, George Patton, the famous World War II American military officer, was born. Following his death on Dec. 21, 1945, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. | Other Birthdays)
Editorial Cartoon of the Day
On November 11, 1882, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about noted sociologist Herbert Spencer. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)
On this date in:
1620 Forty-one Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed a compact calling for a "body politick."
1831 Former slave Nat Turner, who had led a violent insurrection, was executed in Jerusalem, Va.
1889 Washington became the 42nd state.
1921 President Warren G. Harding dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
1965 Rhodesia proclaimed its independence from Britain.
1972 The U.S. Army turned over its base at Long Binh to the South Vietnamese army, symbolizing the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.
1992 The Church of England voted to ordain women as priests.
1998 Israel's Cabinet narrowly ratified a land-for-peace agreement with the Palestinians.
2000 Republicans went to court, seeking an order to block manual recounts from continuing in Florida's presidential election.
2000 A cable car crammed with skiers and snowboarders caught fire while being pulled through an Alpine tunnel in Austria, killing 155 people.
2004 Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in Paris at age 75.
Current Birthdays
Mark Sanchez turns 23 years old today.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez turns 23 years old today.
84 Jonathan Winters
Comedian
82 Mose Allison
Jazz singer, musician
71 Narvel Felts
Country singer
69 Barbara Boxer
U.S. senator, D-Calif.
64 Vince Martell
Rock musician (Vanilla Fudge)
58 Fuzzy Zoeller
Golfer
57 Paul Cowsill
Pop singer, musician (The Cowsills)
56 Marshall Crenshaw
Rock singer
56 Andy Partridge
Rock musician (XTC)
54 Dave Alvin
Rock singer (The Blasters)
53 Ian Craig Marsh
Rock musician (Human League)
49 Stanley Tucci
Actor
47 Demi Moore
Actress
45 Calista Flockhart
Actress ("Ally McBeal")
45 Philip McKeon
Actor ("Alice")
45 Scott Mercado
Rock musician
42 Frank John Hughes
Actor
38 David DeLuise
Actor
37 Adam Beach
Actor
35 Leonardo DiCaprio
Actor
29 Willie Parker
Football player
28 Jonathan Pretus
Rock musician (Cowboy Mouth)
Historic Birthdays
George Patton
11/11/1885 - 12/21/1945
American army officer
(Go to obit.)
47 Paracelsus
11/11/1493 - 9/24/1541
German-Swiss physician
61 George Savile Halifax
11/11/1633 - 4/5/1695
British statesman
67 Johann Albert Fabricius
11/11/1668 - 4/30/1736
German bibliographer
71 Philip John Schuyler
11/11/1733 - 11/18/1804
American soldier and politician
71 Paul Signac
11/11/1863 - 8/15/1935
French painter
78 Victor Emmanuel III
11/11/1869 - 12/28/1947
Italian king (1900-47)
80 Maude Adams
11/11/1872 - 7/17/1953
American actress
62 Rabbit Maranville
11/11/1891 - 1/5/1954
American professional baseball player
65 Lucky Luciano
11/11/1896 - 1/26/1962
Italian-born American gangster
82 Rene Clair
11/11/1898 - 3/15/1981
French film director
84 Sam Spiegel
11/11/1901 - 12/31/1985
Austrian-born American film producer
92 Alger Hiss
11/11/1904 - 11/15/1996
American official accused of Communist affiliation (1948); convicted of perjury
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SOURCE: The Associated Press
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