Today in HistoryToday is Friday, May 11, the 131st day of 2007. There are 234 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE<$>

In 1502, Christopher Columbus left Cadiz, Spain, on his fourth and final trip to the Western Hemisphere.

In 1647, Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to become governor of New Netherland.

In 1973, charges against Daniel Ellsberg for his role in the Pentagon Papers case were dismissed by Judge William M. Byrne, who cited government misconduct.

In 1997, the Deep Blue IBM computer demolished an overwhelmed Garry Kasparov and won the six-game chess match between man and machine in New York.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“We carry our nemesis within us: yesterday’s self-admiration is the legitimate father of today’s feeling of guilt.” — Dag Hammarskjold, UN Secretary-General (1905-1961).