Today In History [11th May, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

Today in History
May 11

1573   Henry of Anjou becomes the first elected king of Poland.
1689   French and English navies battle at Bantry Bay.
1690   In the first major engagement of King William's War, British troops from Massachusetts seize Port Royal in Acadia (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) from the French.
1745   French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army at Fontenoy.
1792   The Columbia River is discovered by Captain Robert Gray.
1812   British prime Minster Spencer Perceval is shot by a bankrupt banker in the lobby of the House of Commons.
1857   Indian mutineers seize Delhi.
1858   Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.
1860   Giuseppe Garibaldi lands at Marsala, Sicily.
1862   Confederates scuttle the CSS Virginia off Norfolk, Virginia.
1864   Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart is mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern.
1960   Israeli soldiers capture Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires.
1967   The siege of Khe Sanh ends, the base is still in American hands.

Born on May 11
1885   "King" Joseph Oliver, jazz cornetist and bandleader.
1888   Irving Berlin, composer, writer of over 1,500 songs.
1894   Mari Sandoz, writer and biographer (Crazy Horse).
1895   William Grant Still, American composer and conductor.
1904   Salvador Dali, surrealist painter.
1912   Phil Silvers, comedian and actor.
1918   Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist.
1930   Stanley Elkin, author (George Mills).
1933   Louis Farrakhan, American religious leader.