Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 October 11

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The naval Battle of Valcour Island took place on October 11, 1776, on Lake Champlain. The battle is generally regarded as one of the first naval battles of the American Revolutionary War, and one of the first fought by the United States Navy. The Continental Army had retreated from Quebec to Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Crown Point in June 1776 after British forces were massively reinforced. They spent the summer of 1776 fortifying those forts, and building additional ships to augment the small American fleet already on the lake. British General Guy Carleton had a 9,000-man army at Fort Saint-Jean, but needed to build a fleet to carry it on the lake. By early October, the British fleet, which significantly outgunned the American fleet, was ready for launch. On October 11, Benedict Arnold drew the British fleet to the strait between Valcour Island and the western shore, a position he had carefully chosen to limit British advantages. In the battle that followed, many of the American ships were damaged or destroyed. That night, Arnold snuck the American fleet past the British one, beginning a retreat toward Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Unfavorable weather hampered the American retreat, and more of the fleet was either captured or grounded and burned before it could reach Crown Point. Upon reaching Crown Point Arnold had the fort's buildings burned and retreated to Ticonderoga. (more...) Recently featured: Fridtjof Nansen – Waddesdon Road railway station – Triton Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that award-winning director Garin Nugroho (pictured) liked to bathe in volcanic runoff as a child? ... that following their win in the 1980 Garden State Bowl, the Houston Cougars did not win another bowl game until their victory in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl? ... that the sans-serif typeface Neutraface is the subject of a YouTube parody video of Lady Gaga's song "Poker Face"? ... that Faroese folk hero Nólsoyar Páll had to illegally sell 2,600 knitted sweaters to try to open direct trade with his country? ... that the newspaper vending machine was invented by George Thiemeyer Hemmeter in 1947? ... that Bert V. Royal, who wrote the high school comedy film Easy A, did not attend high school? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Thomas J. Sargent and Christopher A. Sims share the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their contributions to macroeconomics. France and Belgium agree to break up and partially nationalize Dexia, Belgium's largest bank. Sebastian Vettel (pictured) wins his second Formula One World Drivers' Championship, becoming the youngest person to do so. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakel Karman share the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to advance women's rights. Tomas Tranströmer becomes the 108th winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
October 11: National Coming Out Day 1531 – Huldrych Zwingli, a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland, was killed in battle in the Second War of Kappel. 1634 – A storm tide on the coast of North Frisia caused a massive flood that killed at least 8,000 people and split the island of Strand into three smaller islands. 1852 – The University of Sydney (pictured), Australia's oldest university, was inaugurated in Sydney two years after the New South Wales Legislative Council established it with the passage of the University of Sydney Act. 1941 – Armed insurgents from the People's Liberation Army of Macedonia attacked Axis occupied zones in the city of Prilep, beginning the National Liberation War of Macedonia. 1942 – World War II: At the Battle of Cape Esperance on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, American ships intercepted and defeated a Japanese fleet on their way to reinforce troops on the island. More anniversaries: October 10 – October 11 – October 12 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now October 11, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

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The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, his reign officially began 11 October 1735, lasting for 60 years. Named Hongli, he chose the era name Qianlong, meaning "heavenly prosperity". Although his early years saw the continuation of an era of prosperity and great military success in China, his final years saw troubles at home and abroad converge on the Qing Empire. Qianlong abdicated the throne at the age of 85, to his son, the Jiaqing Emperor, fulfilling his promise not to reign longer than his grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor.

Artist: Giuseppe Castiglione

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