This day in history

[November 14, 2008]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Nov. 14, the 319th day of 2008. There are 47 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Nov. 14, 1851, Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale" was first published in the United States.

On this date:

In 1881, Charles J. Guiteau went on trial for assassinating President Garfield. (Guiteau was convicted and hanged the following year.)

In 1889, inspired by Jules Verne, New York World reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) set out to travel around the world in less than 80 days. (She made the trip in 72 days.)

In 1908, Joseph R. McCarthy, the Republican senator from Wisconsin whose anti-communism campaign generated much controversy, was born in Grand Chute.

In 1922, the British Broadcasting Corporation began its domestic radio service.

In 1940, during World War II, German planes destroyed most of the English town of Coventry.

In 1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon.

In 1970, a chartered Southern Airways DC9 crashed while trying to land in Huntington, W.Va., killing all 75 on board, including the Marshall University football team and its coaching staff.

In 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time, ending the day at 1,003.16.

In 1973, Britain's Princess Anne married Capt. Mark Phillips in Westminster Abbey. (They divorced in 1992, and Anne remarried.)

In 1997, a jury in Fairfax, Va., decided that Pakistani national Aimal Khan Kasi should get the death penalty for gunning down two CIA employees outside agency headquarters. (Kasi was executed on this date in 2002.)

Ten years ago: Iraq said it would resume cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors as it appeared to back down in the face of a threatened U.S. attack.

Five years ago: John Kerry became the second Democratic hopeful to opt out of public financing for his presidential run, following the example of rival Howard Dean. A third person died following an outbreak of hepatitis A at a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant at the Beaver Valley Mall outside Pittsburgh.

One year ago: Michael Mukasey took a ceremonial oath as the new U.S. Attorney General. A justice of the peace ordered O.J. Simpson to stand trial on kidnapping and armed robbery charges stemming from a confrontation with memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas casino hotel room. (Simpson and a co-defendant were convicted last month.) The prime ministers of North and South Korea launched their first talks in 15 years.

Today's birthdays: Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is 86. Actress Kathleen Hughes is 80. Jazz musician Ellis Marsalis is 74. Writer P.J. O'Rourke is 61. Zydeco singer-musician Buckwheat Zydeco is 61. Britain's Prince Charles is 60. Actor Robert Ginty is 60. Rock singer-musician James Young (Styx) is 59. Singer Stephen Bishop is 57. Blues musician Anson Funderburgh is 54. Pianist Yanni is 54. Actress Laura San Giacomo is 47. Actor D.B. Sweeney is 47. Rapper Reverend Run (Run-DMC) is 44. Actor Patrick Warburton is 44. Rock musician Nic Dalton is 44. Country singer Rockie Lynne is 44. Pop singer Jeanette Jurado (Expose) is 43. Rock musician Brian Yale is 40. Rock singer Butch Walker is 39. Actor Josh Duhamel is 36. Rock musician Travis Barker is 33. Contemporary Christian musician Robby Shaffer is 33. Rapper Shyheim is 31. Rock musician Tobin Esperance (Papa Roach) is 29. Actress Olga Kurylenko is 29.

Thought for today: "It makes no difference if I burn my bridges behind me -- I never retreat." -- Fiorello LaGuardia, New York City mayor (1882-1947)

[Associated Press]

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