TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

2013

Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign, ending an eight-year pontificate.

1784

John Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism, chartered the first Methodist Church in the United States in Leesburg, Virginia.

1844

A 12-inch gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded as the ship was sailing on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others.

1849

The California gold rush began in earnest as regular steamship service started bringing gold-seekers to San Francisco.

1953

Scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced they had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

1972

President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai issued the Shanghai Communique, which called for normalizing relations between their countries, at the conclusion of Nixon’s historic visit to China.

1975

42 people were killed in London’s Underground when a train smashed into the end of a tunnel.

1983

The long-running TV series “M-A-S-H” ended after 11 seasons on CBS with a special 2{-hour finale that was watched by an estimated 121.6 million people.

1988

The 15th Olympic Winter Games held its closing ceremony in Calgary, Alberta.

1993

A gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

2005

In Santa Maria, California, the prosecution and defense gave opening statements in the sexual molestation trial of Michael Jackson, who was later acquitted.