Today in History

Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, slams into the Philippines, with sustained winds of 195 mpg (315 kph) and gusts up to 235 mph (380 kph); over 5,000 are killed (date is Nov 7 in US).

More than 10,000 US troops and a few Iraqi army units besiege an insurgent stronghold at Fallujah.

Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Dispute begins over US presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore; Supreme Court ruling on Dec. 12 results in a 271-266 electoral victory for Bush.

A dozen people are killed and over 60 wounded when the IRA detonates a bomb during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, honoring those who had died in wars involving British forces.

Wilson B. Goode is elected as the first black mayor of the city of Philadelphia.

Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos discovers what is believed to be the tomb of Philip II of Macedon at Vergina in northern Greece.

Tom Anderson, entrepreneur; co-founder of Myspace website.

Republican Edward Brooke of Massachusetts becomes the first African American elected to the Senate in 85 years.

Vietnam War, Operation Hump: US 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team ambushed by over 1,200 Viet Cong in Bien Hoa Province. Nearby, in the Gang Toi Hills, a company of the Royal Australian Regiment also engaged Viet Cong forces.

John F. Kennedy is elected 35th president, defeating Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the closest election, by popular vote, since 1880.

Rickie Lee Jones, singer, songwriter, musician; listed on VH1 list of greatest women of rock music.

Mary Hart, actress, journalist; hosted Entertainment Tonight TV program 1982–2011.

Bonnie Raitt, blues singer, songwriter, musician. Rolling Stone magazine included her on its lists of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

The United States and Great Britain invade Axis-occupied North Africa.

Crystla Bird Fauset of Pennsylvania, becomes the first African-American woman to be elected to a state legislature.

Ben Bova, noted author of works of science fact and fiction, a six-time winner of the Hugo Award for science fiction and fantasy writing.

Morley Safer, journalist; 60 Minutes correspondent (1970– ).

Bobby Bowden, US college football coach; holds NCAA record for most career wins and bowl wins by any Division I FBS coach.

Patti Page, singer (“Tennessee Waltz,” “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?”).

Adolf Hitler attempts a coup in Munich, the “Beer Hall Putsch,” and proclaims himself chancellor and Ludendorff dictator. .

Christiaan Barnard, South African surgeon, performed the first human heart transplant operation.

Peter Ulrich Weiss, German novelist and dramatist (Marat/Sade, The Investigation).

The Democrats prevail in congressional elections for the first time since 1894.

Katherine Hepburn, American actress who won four Oscars. Her movies included Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story and The African Queen.

President Theodore Roosevelt is elected president of the United States. He had been vice president until the shooting death of President William McKinley.

Margaret Mitchell, American writer who found success in her first and only novel, Gone With the Wind.

Montana becomes the 41st state of the Union.

Doc Holliday, who fought on the side of the Earp brothers during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 6 years earlier, dies of tuberculosis in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Hermann Rorshach, Swiss psychiatrist, inventor of the inkblot test.

Leon Trosky, Russian Communist leader.

Marshall Walter Taylor, “Major Taylor,” the world’s fastest bicycle racer for a 12-year period.

President Abraham Lincoln is re-elected in the first wartime election in the United States.

Charles Wilkes seizes Confederate commissioners John Slidell and James M. Mason from the British ship Trent.

Bram Stoker, author (Dracula).

The Louvre opens in Paris. But wasn’t it already a Palace and it merely opens to the people?

Fredrick William of Brandenburg issues the Edict of Potsdam, offering Huguenots refuge.

Edmond Halley, mathematician and astronomer who predicted the return of the comet that bears his name.

The King of Bohemia is defeated at the Battle of Prague.

The 17 provinces of the Netherlands form a federation to maintain peace.

Louis IX succeeds Louis VIII as king of France.

Theodosius of Rome passes legislation prohibiting all pagan worship in the empire.