Today in History

Today is Friday, Sept. 13, the 256th day of 2013. There are 109 days left in the year. The Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, begins at sunset.

Today's Highlight in History:

On September 13, 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election, and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

On this date:

In 1759, during the final French and Indian War, the British defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham overlooking Quebec City.

In 1803, Commodore John Barry, considered by many the father of the American Navy, died in Philadelphia.

In 1912, a state funeral was held in Japan for Emperor Meiji.

In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate; she became the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

In 1959, Elvis Presley first met his future wife, 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, while stationed in West Germany with the U.S. Army. (They married in 1967, but divorced in 1973.)

In 1962, Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett rejected the U.S. Supreme Court's order for the University of Mississippi to admit James Meredith, a black student, declaring in a televised address, "We will not drink from the cup of genocide."

In 1970, the first New York City Marathon was held; winner Gary Muhrcke finished the 26.2-mile run, which took place entirely inside Central Park, in 2:31:38.

In 1971, a four-day inmates' rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and 11 employees.

In 1989, Fay Vincent was elected commissioner of Major League Baseball, succeeding the late A. Bartlett Giamatti.

In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy. "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" premiered on NBC.

In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur died at a Las Vegas hospital six days after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting; he was 25.

In 1998, former Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace died in Montgomery at age 79.

Ten years ago: Angry mourners swarmed Fallujah, Iraq, a day after eight Iraqi police were killed in a friendly fire incident involving U.S. troops; the U.S. military apologized for the deaths. The California Democratic Party voted to endorse Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante while continuing to support Gov. Gray Davis in the October 7 recall election. Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon died at age 73. In Las Vegas, Sugar Shane Mosley beat Oscar De La Hoya, winning a close but unanimous decision to take the WBC and WBA 154-pound titles.

Five years ago: Rescue crews ventured out to pluck people from their homes in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who had stubbornly stayed behind overnight to face Hurricane Ike. After wild conjecture over who would play Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live," writer-performer Tina Fey returned to her old show for an opening sketch featuring her and Fey's former "Weekend Update" co-host Amy Poehler as Sen. Hillary Clinton.

One year ago: Chanting "death to America," hundreds of protesters angered by an anti-Islam film stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Yemen's capital and burned the American flag. New York City's Board of Health passed a ban on the sale of big sodas and other sugary drinks, limiting the size sold at restaurants, concession stands and other eateries to 16 ounces.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Barbara Bain is 82. Actress Eileen Fulton ("As the World Turns") is 80. TV producer Fred Silverman is 76. Former White House spokesman Larry Speakes is 74. Actor Richard Kiel is 74. Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 72. Actress Jacqueline Bisset is 69. Singer Peter Cetera is 69. Actress Christine Estabrook is 63. Actress Jean Smart is 62. Singer Randy Jones (The Village People) is 61. Record producer Don Was is 61. Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. is 59. Actress-comedian Geri Jewell is 57. Country singer Bobbie Cryner is 52. Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 52. Radio-TV personality Tavis Smiley is 49. Rock musician Zak Starkey is 48. Actor Louis Mandylor is 47. Olympic gold medal runner Michael Johnson is 46. Rock musician Steve Perkins is 46. Actor Roger Howarth is 45. Actor Dominic Fumusa is 44. Actress Louise Lombard is 43. Tennis player Goran Ivanisevic is 42. Country singer Aaron Benward (Blue County) is 40. Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) is 38. Actor Scott Vickaryous is 38. Singer Fiona Apple is 36. Contemporary Christian musician Hector Cervantes (Casting Crowns) is 33. MLB pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is 33. Actor Ben Savage is 33. Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 20. Actor Mitch Holleman ("Reba") is 18.

Thought for Today: "Better to be without logic than without feeling." -- Charlotte Bronte, English author (1816-1855).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.