Today in History

Today is Thursday, Oct. 27, the 300th day of 2011. There are 65 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 27, 1811, inventor Isaac Merritt Singer, founder of the sewing machine company that bears his name, was born in Pittstown, N.Y.

On this date:

In 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the United States Constitution, was published.

In 1858, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born in New York City.

In 1880, Theodore Roosevelt married his first wife, Alice Lee.

In 1886 (New Style date), the musical fantasy "A Night on Bald Mountain," written by Modest Mussorgsky and revised after his death by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, was performed in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 1922, the first annual celebration of Navy Day took place.

In 1938, Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: "nylon."

In 1947, "You Bet Your Life," starring Groucho Marx, premiered on ABC Radio. (It later became a television show on NBC.)

In 1971, the Democratic Republic of Congo was renamed the Republic of Zaire (but it went back to its previous name in 1997).

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.

In 1995, a sniper killed one soldier and wounded 18 others at Fort Bragg, N.C. (Paratrooper William J. Kreutzer was convicted in the shootings, and condemned to death; however, the sentence was later commuted to life in prison.)

Ten years ago: In Washington, the search for deadly anthrax widened to thousands of businesses and 30 mail distribution centers. The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, 9-1.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush said the United States did not torture prisoners, trying to calm a controversy created when Vice President Dick Cheney embraced the suggestion that a "dunk in water" might be useful to get terrorist suspects to talk. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 in Game 5 to wrap up their first World Series title in nearly a quarter-century and 10th overall.

One year ago: Dozens of Jewish extremists hoisting Israeli flags defiantly marched through the Arab-Israeli town of Umm el-Fahm, chanting "death to terrorists" and touching off clashes between rock-hurling residents and police. Former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner died at age 60. The San Francisco Giants won the first game of the World Series, defeating the Texas Rangers 11-7.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Nanette Fabray is 91. Baseball Hall-of-Famer and sportscaster Ralph Kiner is 89. Actress Ruby Dee is 87. Actor-comedian John Cleese is 72. Author Maxine Hong Kingston is 71. Country singer Lee Greenwood is 69. Producer-director Ivan Reitman is 65. Country singer-musician Jack Daniels is 62. Rock musician Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) is 62. Author Fran Lebowitz is 61. Rock musician K.K. Downing is 60. TV personality Jayne Kennedy is 60. Actor-director Roberto Benigni is 59. Actor Peter Firth is 58. Actor Robert Picardo is 58. World Golf Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan is 55. Singer Simon Le Bon is 53. Musician J.D. McFadden is 47. Rock musician Jason Finn (Presidents of the United States of America) is 44. Rock singer Scott Weiland is 44. Actor Sean Holland is 43. Actress Sheeri Rappaport is 34. Violinist Vanessa-Mae is 33. Actress-singer Kelly Osbourne is 27.

Thought for Today: "Happiness is a way station between too much and too little." -- Channing Pollock, American author and dramatist (1880-1946).

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.