Today in History

Today is Friday, Oct. 25, the 298th day of 2013. There are 67 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 25, 1910, "America the Beautiful," with words by Katharine Lee Bates and music by Samuel A. Ward, was first published.

On this date:

In 1760, Britain's King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II.

In 1854, the "Charge of the Light Brigade" took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men, facing hopeless odds, charged the Russian army and suffered heavy losses.

In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown went on trial in Charles Town, Va., for his failed raid at Harpers Ferry. (Brown was convicted and hanged.)

In 1912, the song "My Melancholy Baby" by Ernie Burnett and George Norton was first published under the title "Melancholy." Country comedian Minnie Pearl was born Sarah Ophelia Colley in Centerville, Tenn.

In 1918, the Canadian steamship Princess Sophia foundered off the coast of Alaska; some 350 people perished.

In 1929, former Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall was convicted in Washington, D.C. of accepting a $100,000 bribe from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny. (Fall was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000; he ended up serving nine months.)

In 1945, Taiwan became independent of Japanese colonial rule.

In 1957, mob boss Albert Anastasia of "Murder Inc." notoriety was shot to death in a barber shop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York.

In 1960, the Bulova Watch Co. introduced its electronic "Accutron" model.

In 1962, U.S. ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson presented photographic evidence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba to the U.N. Security Council.

In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan.

In 1982, the situation comedy "Newhart," starring Bob Newhart as a Vermont innkeeper, premiered on CBS.

In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there.

Ten years ago: Thousands of anti-war protesters rallied in the nation's capital and delivered a scathing critique of President George W. Bush and his Iraq policy. The Florida Marlins won the World Series in Game 6 against the New York Yankees, 2-0. Trainer Richard Mandella won a record four races at the Breeders' Cup.

Five years ago: Arkansas television anchorwoman Anne Pressly, 26, died five days after she was found beaten in her home. Game 3 of the World Series began in Philadelphia at 10:06 p.m. Eastern time after being delayed by rain; the Phillies went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4, for a 2-1 Series lead in a matchup that finished at 1:47 a.m.

One year ago: Fundraising reports showed that contributions for the 2012 presidential race had topped $2 billion, with President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney bringing in a total of about $1.7 billion and the rest coming in to super PACs and other groups. President Barack Obama threw his support behind ballot measures in Maine, Maryland and Washington state that would legalize same-sex marriage.

Today's Birthdays: Former American League President and Baseball Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail is 96. Former American League president Dr. Bobby Brown is 89. Singer-actress Barbara Cook is 86. Actress Marion Ross is 85. Country singer Jeanne Black is 76. Basketball Hall of Famer Bobby Knight is 73. Author Anne Tyler is 72. Rock singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 69. Political strategist James Carville is 69. Singer Taffy Danoff (Starland Vocal Band) is 69. Rock musician Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest) is 66. Actor Brian Kerwin is 64. Actor Mark L. Taylor is 63. Movie director Julian Schnabel is 62. Rock musician Matthias Jabs is 57. Actress Nancy Cartwright ("The Simpsons") is 56. Country singer Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) is 55. Rock musician Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers; Chickenfoot) is 52. Actress Tracy Nelson is 50. Actor Michael Boatman is 49. Actor Kevin Michael Richardson is 49. Singer Speech is 45. Actor Adam Goldberg is 43. Actor-singer Adam Pascal is 43. Rock musician Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies) is 43. Actress Persia White is 43. Country singer Chely Wright is 43. Violinist Midori is 42. Actor Craig Robinson is 42. Actor Michael Weston is 40. Actor Zachary Knighton is 35. Actress Mariana Klaveno is 34. Actor Mehcad Brooks is 33. Actor Ben Gould is 33. Actor Josh Henderson is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Young Rome is 32. Pop singer Katy Perry is 29. Rock singer Austin Winkler (Hinder) is 29. Singer Ciara is 28. Actress Conchita Campbell ("The 4400") is 18.

Thought for Today: "Bureaucracy, the rule of no one, has become the modern form of despotism." -- Mary McCarthy, author and critic (born 1912, died this date in 1989).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.