Today in History: November 11

November 11 – This Day in History (Chronological Order)

1620 – Mayflower Compact signed. Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower signed the compact at Cape Cod, establishing an early framework of self-government.

1744 – Abigail Adams born. First Lady of the United States, wife of John Adams.

1821 – Fyodor Dostoevsky born. Russian novelist (Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov).

1831 – Nat Turner hanged. Leader of a slave rebellion in Virginia was executed in Jerusalem, Virginia.

1864 – Destruction of Atlanta begins. Union forces under General William T. Sherman begin destroying railroads, factories, and buildings in Atlanta.

1885 – George S. Patton born. U.S. Army general (“Old Blood and Guts”), key Allied commander in World War II.

1889 – Washington becomes a state. President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed Washington the 42nd state.

1911 – Great Blue Norther (extreme cold front). Oklahoma City set both its record high (83°F) and record low (17°F) for November 11 on the same day—a 66°F drop, with a dust storm. Similar dramatic plunges hit Arkansas.

1914 – Daisy Bates born. Civil rights activist, journalist, and Arkansas NAACP president who mentored the Little Rock Nine; born in Huttig, Arkansas.

1918 – Armistice ends World War I. The armistice between the Allies and Germany took effect at 11 a.m. (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), ending fighting on the Western Front. Observed as Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in many Commonwealth countries. Poland also regained independence.

1919 – Lynching in Magnolia, Arkansas. Jordan Jameson was lynched in Magnolia after being seized from a posse.

1921 – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dedicated. The tomb was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery on the third anniversary of the armistice.

1922 – Kurt Vonnegut born. American author (Slaughterhouse-Five).

1926 – U.S. Route 66 established. The U.S. Numbered Highway System was approved, designating the Chicago-to-Los Angeles route as U.S. 66 (the “Mother Road”). The highway ran through Oklahoma.

Born on this day

1885 – George S. Patton. U.S. Army general known as “Old Blood and Guts,” key Allied commander in World War II.

1914 – Daisy Bates. Civil rights activist, journalist, and Arkansas NAACP president who mentored the Little Rock Nine; born in Huttig, Arkansas.

1922 – Kurt Vonnegut. American author of Slaughterhouse-Five and other novels.

1960 – Stanley Tucci. American actor.

1962 – Demi Moore. American actress.

1974 – Leonardo DiCaprio. American actor.

1821 – Fyodor Dostoevsky. Russian novelist, author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov.

1744 – Abigail Adams. First Lady of the United States and influential political figure.

1891 – Rabbit Maranville. Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop.

1945 – Daniel Ortega. Nicaraguan political leader and president.