TODAY IN HISTORY - JUNE 11TH

1805 – A fire consumes large portions of Detroit in the Michigan Territory.

1825 – The first cornerstone is laid for Fort Hamilton in New York City.

1837 – The Broad Street Riot occurs in Boston, fueled by ethnic tensions between Yankees and Irish.

1894 – Kiichiro Toyoda, Japanese businessman, founded Toyota (d. 1952) is born.

1910 – Jacques Cousteau, French biologist, author, and inventor, co-developed the aqua-lung (d. 1997) is born.

1913 – Vince Lombardi, American football player, coach, and manager (d. 1970) is born.

1919 – Sir Barton wins the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the U.S. Triple Crown.

1920 – During the U.S. Republican National Convention in Chicago, U.S. Republican Party leaders gathered in a room at the Blackstone Hotel to come to a consensus on their candidate for the U.S. presidential election, leading the Associated Press to first coin the political phrase "smoke-filled room".

1935 – Inventor Edwin Armstrong gives the first public demonstration of FM broadcasting in the United States at Alpine, New Jersey.

1955 – Eighty-three spectators are killed and at least 100 are injured after an Austin-Healey and a Mercedes-Benz collide at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the deadliest ever accident in motorsports.

1956 – Joe Montana, American football player and sportscaster is born.

1962 – Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin allegedly become the only prisoners to escape from the prison on Alcatraz Island.

1963 – American Civil Rights Movement: Governor of Alabama George Wallace defiantly stands at the door of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama in an attempt to block two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from attending that school. Later in the day, accompanied by federalized National Guard troops, they are able to register.

1963 – John F. Kennedy addresses Americans from the Oval Office proposing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that would revolutionize American society. Proposing equal access to public facilities, end segregation in education and guarantee federal protection for voting rights.

1965 – Manuel Uribe, Mexican computer repairman, world's heaviest man (d. 2014) is born.

1970 – After being appointed on May 15, Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington officially receive their ranks as U.S. Army Generals, becoming the first females to do so.

1979 – John Wayne, American actor, director, and producer (b. 1907) dies.

1982 – Marco Arment, American businessman, co-created Tumblr is born.

1993 – The film Jurassic Park is released in the United States, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time until the release of Titanic in 1997.

1998 – Compaq Computer pays US$9 billion for Digital Equipment Corporation in the largest high-tech acquisition.

2001 – Timothy McVeigh is executed for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.

2002 – Antonio Meucci is acknowledged as the first inventor of the telephone by the United States Congress.