International
1992: “Revenge Match of the 20th century” Bobby Fisher defeats Boris Spassky to win in unofficial match in Belgrade
1979: Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini declares US “The Great Satan”
1977: 43rd US President George W. Bush (31) weds Laura Welch (31) at The First United Methodist Church in Midland, Texas
1956: The Nat King Cole Show debuts on NBC, the first variety program to be hosted by an African-American
1956: Britain and France land airborne forces at Port Said in Egypt, escalating the Suez Crisis
1955: The rebuilt Vienna State Opera reopens with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fidelio after it was destroyed in World War II
1941: Writer and veterinary surgeon James Herriot (25) weds Joan Catherine Danbury
1940: American author and journalist “The Old Man and the Sea” Ernest Hemingway marries journalist Martha Gellhorn
1937: Adolf Hitler informs his military leaders in a secret meeting of his intentions of going to war
1935: Parker Brothers launches game of Monopoly
1889: Louisa Woosley first women to be ordained as a minister in any Presbyterian denomination (US Cumberland Presbyterian Church)
1605: Gunpowder Plot: Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes attempts to blow up King James I and the British Parliament. Plot discovered, Guy Fawkes caught, tortured and later executed along with seven others. Celebrated ever since as Guy Fawkes Day, where his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, accompanied by fireworks.
1492: Christopher Columbus 1st learns about growing and harvesting maize (corn) from Cuba’s indigenous population
(Source: On This Day)