Today in History - December 5th

1360 - On this day in history, the French Franc was created.
1492 - Christopher Columbus discovered Hispaniola (now Haiti).
1766 - Today in history, James Christie, founder of the famous auctioneers, held his first sale in London.
776 - In Williamsburg, VA, at the College of William and Mary the first scholastic fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, was organized.
1782 - On this day in history, the first native US president, Martin Van Buren, was born in Kinderhook, NY.
1797 - Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris to command forces for the invasion of England.
1812 - Today in history, Napoleon Bonaparte left his army as they were retreating from Russia.

1848 - President Polk triggered the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming the fact that gold had been discovered in California.
1901 - On this day in history, movie producer Walt Disney was born in Chicago. He created his first Mickey Mouse cartoon at the age of 27.
1932 - German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa making it possible for him to travel to the United States.
1933 - Today in history, Prohibition came to an end when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
1935 - In Montebello, CA, the first commercial hydrophonics operation was established.
1955 - Today in history, The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO.
1955 - Historic bus boycott began in Montgomery Alabama with the actions of Rosa Parks.
1979 - On this day in history, Sonia Johnson was formally excommunicated by the Mormon Church due to her outspoken support for the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.
1998 - James P. Hoffa became the head of the Teamsters union, 23 years after his father was the head. His father disappeared and was presumed dead.

SCIENCE, INVENTIONS, PATENTS - Today in History, December 5th

1876 - Today in history, the Stillson wrench was patented by D.C. Stillson. The device was the first practical pipe wrench.
1893 - The first electric car was built in Toronto, which could go 15 miles between charges.
1951 - On this day in history, the first push-button-controlled garage opened in Washington, DC.

1830 - Hector Berlioz' "Symphonique Fantastique" premiered in Paris.
1968 - Today in history, Graham Nash quit the Hollies. He announced the formation of Crosby, Stills and Nash three days later.
1973 - Paul McCartney released album "Band on the Run" album

2008 - On this day in history, OJ Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery