November 11

Today in History
• 1620 - 41 pilgrims land in Massachusetts, sign Mayflower Compact
• 1647 - Massachusetts passes 1st U.S. compulsory school attendance law
• 1671 - Dutch States-General forbids importation of French wine
• 1839 - The Virginia Military Institute is founded in Lexington, Virginia
• 1851 - Alvan Clark patents telescope
• 1865 - Mary Edward Walker, the first US Army female surgeon, awarded Medal of Honor
• 1889 - Washington admitted as 42nd state of USA
• 1890 - D McCree patents portable fire escape


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Angola Independence Day
• Armistice Day (Martinique)
• Fasching
• French Guiana Armistice Day
• National Indiana Day
• Remembrance Day Australia
• Saint Martin’s Day
• Veterans Day

Birthdays
• 1050 - Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1084–1105)
• 1154 - Sancho I, King of Portugal (1185-1212)
• 1155 - Alfonso VIII the Noble, King of Castile and Toledo (1158-1214)
• 1748 - Carlos IV (English: Charles], King of Spain (1788-1808)
• 1771 - Ephraim McDowell, American physician and surgeon (pioneered abdominal surgery)
• 1869 - Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy (1900-46)
• 1882 - Gustav VI Adolf, King of Sweden (1950-73)
• 1885 - George S. Patton, American WWII general