Today in History [6th 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 6

1429		Henry VI is crowned King of England.
1812		The first winter snow falls on the French Army as Napoleon Bonaparte retreats form Moscow.
1860		Abraham Lincoln is elected 16th president of the United States.
1861		Jefferson Davis is elected to a six-year term as president of the Confederacy.
1863		A Union force surrounds and scatters defending Confederates at the Battle of Droop Mountain, in West Virginia.
1891		Comanche, the only 7th Cavalry horse to survive George Armstrong Custer’s "Last Stand" at the Little Bighorn, dies at Fort Riley, Kansas.
1911		Maine becomes a dry state.
1917		The Bolshevik "October Revolution" (October 25 on the old Russian calendar), led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, seizes power in Petrograd.
1923		As European inflation soars, one loaf of bread in Berlin is reported to be worth about 140 billion German marks.
1945		The first landing of a jet on a carrier takes place on USS Wake Island when an FR-1 Fireball touches down.
1973		Coleman Young becomes the first African-American mayor of Detroit, Michigan.
1985		Guerrillas of the leftist 19th of April Movement seize Colombia’s Palace of Justice in Bogata; during the two-day siege and the military assault to retake the building over 100 people are killed, including 11 of the 25 Supreme Court justices.
1986		A British International Helicopters Boeing 234LRR Chinook crashes 2.5 miles east of Sumburgh Airport; 45 people are killed, the deadliest civilian helicopter crash to date (2013).
1986		The Iran arms-for-hostages deal is revealed, damaging the Reagan administration.
1995		The Rova of Antananarivo, home of Madagascar’s sovereigns from the 16th to the 19th centuries, is destroyed by fire.
1999		Australia’s voters reject a referendum to make the country a republic with a president appointed by Parliament.
Born on November 6
1814		Adolphe Sax, instrument maker and inventor of the saxophone.
1851		Charles Henry Dow, American financial journalist who (with Edward D. Jones) inaugurated the Dow-Jones averages.
1854		John Philip Sousa, "The March Master," American bandmaster and composer. Among his 140 marches are "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Semper Fidelis."
1861		James Naismith, Canadian physical education instructor who, in 1891, invented the game of basketball.
1887		Walter Johnson, baseball pitcher, "The Big Train."
1892		Harold Ross, New Yorker editor.
1921		James Jones, American novelist (From Here to Eternity).
1931		Mike Nichols, film and stage director (The Graduate).
1941		Guy Clark, Texas country-folk singer, songwriter ("Desperados Waiting for a Train," "Texas 1947").
1946		Sally Field, actress; won Academy Award for Best Actress in 1979 (Norma Rae) and 1984 (Places in the Heart); won 3 Emmys for work in television.
1948		Glenn Frey, singer, songwriter, musician; a founding member of the band Eagles.
1955		Maria Shriver, journalist, author; First Lady of California while married to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
1976		Pat Tillman, professional football player who ended his career to enlist in the US Army in the aftermath of the 9 / 11 attacks; he was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, Apr. 22, 2004.
1988		Emma Stone, actress (Zombieland, Spiderman).