Today in History

Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, one of the most complex bankruptcy cases in US history.

UK devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive, the administrative branch of the North Ireland legislature.

NASA launches Space Shuttle Endeavor on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Dentist Barney Clark receives the first permanent artificial heart, developed by Dr. Robert K. Jarvik.

Brittany Spears, singer, songwriter, actress; her … Baby One More Time (1999) became the best-selling album to date (2013) by a teenage solo artist.

A death squad in El Salvador murders four US nuns and churchwomen.

The U.S. Senate votes to give 48,000 acres of New Mexico back to the Taos Indians.

Brazil sends Juan Peron back to Spain, foiling his efforts to return to his native land.

Ann Patchett, author; her novel Bel Canto received the Orange Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award (2002).

Stone Phillips, Emmy-winning journalist; co-anchor of Dateline NBC.

T. Corgaghessan Boyle, novelist and short story writer (Water Music).

The United States and Great Britain merge their German occupation zones.

Ibrahim Rugova, first President of Kosovo (1992–2000) and was re-elected by parliament (2002–2006).

The Allies repel a strong Axis attack in Tunisia, North Africa.

Harry Reid, politician; the Nevada Democrat served as Senate Majority Leader (2007– ).

Bolivia accepts Paraguay’s terms for a truce in the Chaco War.

The new Ford Model A is introduced to the American public.

Alexander Haig, American army general and Secretary of State for President Ronald Reagan.

The first successful helium dirigible, C-7, makes a test flight in Portsmouth, Va.

Armenia proclaims independence from Turkey.

Austrian troops occupy Belgrade, Serbia.

Henry Armstrong, the only boxer to hold three titles simultaneously.

J.P. Morgan acquires majority holdings in Equitable Life Co. This is the largest concentration of bank power to date.

Spain and France agree to enforce Moroccan measures adopted in 1906.

Peter Carl Goldmark, engineer, developed the first commercial color television and the long-playing phonograph record.

Georgi Zhukov, Soviet general who captured Berlin during World War II.

Nikos Kazantzakis, Greek writer and lawyer (Zorba the Greek).

Ruth Draper, actress and writer.

People wait in mile-long lines to hear Charles Dickens give his first reading in New York City.

Major General Grenville M. Dodge is named to replace General William Rosecrans as Commander of the Department of Missouri.

Charles Ringling, one of the seven Ringling brothers of circus fame.

Georges Seurat, French painter, founder and leader of the Pointilism style.

Dr. Joseph Bell, British physician believed to be the prototype of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective Sherlock Holmes.

President James Monroe proclaims the principles known as the Monroe Doctrine, "that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by European powers."

Napoleon Bonaparte celebrates the first anniversary of his coronation with a victory at Austerlitz over a Russian and Austrian army.

Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of France in Notre Dame Cathedral.