Today In History [22nd November, 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

November 22
1220		After promising to go to the aid of the Fifth Crusade within nine months, Frederick II is crowned emperor by Pope Honorius III.
1542		New laws are passed in Spain giving Indians in America protection against enslavement.
1757		The Austrian army defeats the Prussians at Breslau in the Seven Years War.
1847		In New York, the Astor Place Opera House, the city’s first operatic theater, is opened.
1902		A fire causes considerable damage to the unfinished Williamsburg bridge in New York.
1915		The Anglo-Indian army, led by British General Sir Charles Townshend, attacks a larger Turkish force under General Nur-ud-Din at Ctesiphon, Iraq, but is repulsed.
1919		A Labor conference committee in the United States urges an eight-hour workday and a 48-hour week.
1928		British King George is confined to bed with a congested lung; the queen is to take over duties.
1935		Pan Am inaugurates the first transpacific airmail service from San Francisco to Manila.
1936		1,200 soldiers are killed in a battle between the Japanese and Mongolians in China.
1942		Soviet troops complete the encirclement of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad.
1948		Ho Chi Minh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam requests admittance to the UN.
1963		Lee Harvey Oswald assassinates President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president.
1964		Almost 40,000 people pay tribute to John F. Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery on the first anniversary of his death.
1973		Great Britain announces a plan for moderate Protestants and Catholics to share power in Northern Ireland.
1980		Eighteen Communist Party secretaries in 49 provinces are ousted from Poland.
1982		President Ronald Reagan calls for defense-pact deployment of the MX missile.
1986		Justice Department finds memo in Lt. Col. Oliver North’s office on the transfer of $12 million to Contras of Nicaragua from Iranian arms sale.
1988		First prototype of B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bomber unveiled for public viewing.
1989		Lebanese President Rene Moawad killed when a bomb explodes near his motorcade in West Beirut.
1990		Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher confirms the end of her premiership by withdrawing from the leadership election of the Conservative Party.
1995		The first feature-length film created entirely with computer generated imagery – Toy Story – premiers.
2004		The Orange Revolution, protesting a primary election believed to have been rigged, begins in the Ukraine. On Dec 26 Ukraine’s Supreme Court orders a revote..
2005		Angela Merkel becomes the first woman ever to be Chancellor of Germany; the former research scientist had previously been the first secretary-general of the Christian Democratic Union.
2008		Hamas and Israel begin a cease-fire following eight days of violence and 150 deaths.
Born on November 22
1819		George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), English novelist (Silas Marner, Middlemarch).
1890		Charles de Gaulle, French general in exile during World War II and president of France from 1958 to 1969.
1899		Hoagy Carmichael, American composer, pianist and singer.
1913		Benjamin Britten, English composer, pianist and conductor.
1924		Geraldine Page, actress well known for roles in Tennessee Williams’ plays.
1925		Gunther Schuller, composer and French Horn player.
1943		Billie Jean King, U.S. tennis player and women’s rights pioneer.
1949		David Pietrusza, historian, author (1920, 1960, 1948).
1950		Steven Van Zandt, singer, songwriter, musician, producer (E Street Band, Steel Mill, Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes) and actor (The Sopranos).
1958		Jamie Lee Curtis, actress (Halloween, Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda), author (Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day).
1961		Mariel Hemingway, actress (Lipstick, Manhattan).
1984		Scarlett Johansson, actress, model (North, Lost in Translation).