November 20th, 2008

Today in History

1999:
The People's Republic of China launches its first Shenzhou spacecraft.

1983:
An estimated 100 million people watch the controversial made-for-television movie The Day After, depicting the start of a nuclear war.

1943:
United States Marines land on Tarawa and Makin atolls in the Gilbert Islands and take heavy fire from Japanese shore guns.

1902:
Henri Desgrange and fellow journalist Géo Lefèvre dream up the idea of the Tour de France over lunch at the Café de Madrid in Paris.

1700:
King Charles XII of Sweden defeats the army of Tsar Peter the Great at Narva.