November 15
Today in America's Present Past
1492 | Christopher Columbus notes in his journal the first recorded reference to tobacco in the Western record.
1620 | Myles Standish leads an exploration of the northern portion of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
1660 | Civil Rights: The first kosher butcher (Asser Levy) was licensed in New Amsterdam (now New York City).
1679 | Cleric John Wheelwright died.
1727 | Civil Rights: The New York General assembly permits Jews to omit phrase “upon the faith of a Christian” from abjuration oath.
1763 | Surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon begin surveying the line between Pennsylvania and Maryland.
1777 | Congress: The Articles of Confederation were drafted.
1792 | The first U.S. Catholic college was founded, Georgetown.
1794 | Founder John Witherspoon died.
1814 | General Pleasant Adam Hackleman was born.
1815 | Painter John Banvard was born.
1864 | Civil War: General Sherman departs Atlanta on his “march to the sea.”
1881 | The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded.
1881 | Journalist Franklin P. Adams was born.
1882 | SCOTUS: Justice Felix Frankfurter was born.
1887 | Artist Georgia O’Keefe was born.
1887 | Poet Marianne Moore was born.
1889 | Diplomat Ambrose Dudley Mann died.
1897 | Politician John Mercer Langston died.
1904 | King C. Gillette patents a safety razor as the Gillette razor blade.
1906 | General Curtis LeMay was born.
1909 | Entrepreneur Milton S. Hershey donates a 486-acre piece of farmland, to establish the Hershey Industrial School for “poor, healthy, orphans,” providing them room board, and education until age 18.
1919 | Entertainer and Judge Joseph Wapner was born.
1919 | Congress: The Senate voted to end a filibuster to establish the League of Nations.
1921 | Aviator and author Alexander Jefferson was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1925 | Politician Howard Baker was born.
1932 | Philosopher Alvin Plantinga was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
1939 | POTUS: Democrat President Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.
1952 | Pro Wrestler Randy Savage was born.
1954 | Actor Lionel Barrymore died.
1956 | Film: ”Love Me Tender” debuted.
1958 | Actor Tyrone Power died.
1969 | Civil Rights: Janis Joplin, accused of indecent language in Tampa, Florida and was arrested.
1969 | Entrepreneur Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s Hamburgers.
1978 | Anthropologist Margaret Mead died.
1986 | Music: Beastie Boys release “Licensed to Ill.”
1990 | POTUS: Republican President Bush signed the Clear Air Act.
1994 | Neurosurgeon James W. Watts died.
1996 | Convicted Soviet spy Alger Hiss died.
1998 | Activist Stokely Carmichael died.
2011 | Occupy Wall Street riots start in New York City.
2018 | Musician Roy Clark died.
2024 | Solider and cleric Robert Dixon Sr. died.