Today is Monday, November 7, the 311th day of 2011. There are 54 days left in the year.

1631 ― Pierre Gassendi observes transit of Mercury predicted by Kepler

1805 ― Lewis & Clark first sight Pacific Ocean

1865 ― London Gazette, oldest surviving journal, is founded

1917 ― British capture Gaza Palestine from the Turks

1917 ― October Revolution in Russia, Lenin seizes power

1918 ― United Press erroneously reports WW I armistice had been signed

1944 ― FDR wins fourth term in office, defeating Thomas E. Dewey (R)

1962 ― Richard Nixon quits politics; You won't have Nixon to kick around

1982 ― Liz Taylor's seventh divorce (John Warner)

1991 ― Magic Johnson announces he has HIV virus and retires from Lakers