TODAY’S HISTORY

1789: The United States observed a day of Thanksgiving declared by George Washington in celebration of the new Constitution.

1922: Egyptologist Howard Carter became the first person to enter Tutankhamen’s tomb in 3,000 years.

1992: It was announced that the Queen of England would begin paying income taxes, the first time a British monarch would do so since the 1930s.

2000: Nearly three weeks after Election Day, Florida’s presidential election results were certified in favor of George W. Bush.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS:

Mary Edwards Walker (18321919), physician/activist; Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000), cartoonist; Robert Goulet (1933-2007), singer/actor; Rich Little (1938-), actor/comedian; Tina Turner (1939-), singer/actress; Dale Jarrett (1956-), race car driver; Scott Adsit (1965-), actor; Peter Facinelli (1973-), actor; DJ Khaled (1975-), rapper/producer; Rita Ora (1990-), singersongwriter.

TODAY’S FACT: To preserve the length of the holiday shopping season, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation in December 1941 that decreed Thanksgiving would always fall on the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving had been celebrated on the last Thursday of November, which in some years was the fifth, since 1863.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1917, the National Hockey League was founded in Montreal.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “I think I’ve discovered the secret of life — you just hang around until you get used to it.” — Charles M. Schulz

TODAY’S NUMBER: 537 — number of votes by which George W. Bush secured victory in Florida in 2000.

TODAY’S MOON: Between full moon (Nov. 19) and last quarter moon (Nov. 27).