TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 24.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of ’49.
ON THIS DATE
In A.D. 41, Roman Emperor Caligula, 28, was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard after a reign of nearly four years; he was succeeded by his uncle Claudius.
In 1742, Charles VII was elected Holy Roman Emperor during the War of the Austrian Succession.
In 1908, the Boy Scouts movement began in England under the aegis of Robert Baden-Powell.
In 1939, at least 28,000 people were killed by an earthquake that devastated the city of Chillan in Chile.
In 1942, the Roberts Commission placed much of the blame for America’s lack of preparedness for Imperial Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on Rear Adm. Husband E. Kimmel and Lt. Gen. Walter C. Short, the Navy and Army commanders.
In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill concluded a wartime conference in Casablanca, Morocco.
In 1965, British statesman Winston Churchill died in London at age 90.
In 1975, the extremist group FALN bombed Fraunces Tavern in New York City, killing four people.
In 1978, a nuclear-powered Soviet satellite, Cosmos 954, plunged through Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrated, scattering radioactive debris over parts of northern Canada.
In 1989, confessed serial killer Theodore Bundy was executed in Florida’s electric chair.
In 1993, retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 84.
In 2003, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge was sworn as the first secretary of the new Department of Homeland Security.
Ten years ago:
Congressional leaders announced a deal with the White House on an economic stimulus package that would give most tax filers refunds of $600 to $1,200. French bank Societe Generale announced it had uncovered a 4.9 billion euro ($7.14 billion) fraud by a single futures trader. Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned after his centerleft coalition lost a Senate confidence vote.
Five years ago: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the lifting of a ban on women serving in combat. One year ago: President Donald Trump moved swiftly to advance the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, signing executive actions to aggressively overhaul America’s energy policy and deal a sharp blow to Barack Obama’s legacy on climate change. The 89th annual Academy Awards nominations were announced; the retro musical “La La Land” received a record-tying 14 nods; eight went to eventual best picture winner “Moonlight.”
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
“God gives us relatives; thank God, we can choose our friends.” — Addison Mizner, American architect (18721933).
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS