Today in History

Today is Sunday, September 13, the 256th day of 2015. There are 109 days left in the year. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins at sunset.

Today's Highlight in History:

On September 13, 1515, during the Italian Wars, the two-day Battle of Marignano began as forces led by Francis I of France clashed with troops from the Old Swiss Confederacy. (The French succeeded in forcing the Swiss to abandon nearby Milan.)

On this date:

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

In 1814, during the War of 1812, British naval forces began bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore but were driven back by American defenders in a battle that lasted until the following morning.

In 1911, the song "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," a romantic rag by Nat D. Ayer and Seymour Brown, was first published by Jerome H. Remick & Co.

In 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera, the captain general of Catalonia, seized power in Spain.

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 1965, the novel "Miss MacIntosh, My Darling," by Marguerite Young, was first published by Scribner's.

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 1990, the combination police-courtroom drama "Law & Order" premiered on NBC.

In 1995, "The Drew Carey Show" premiered on ABC-TV.

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

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush took responsibility for the federal government's mistakes in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and suggested the calamity raised broader questions about the government's ability to handle both natural disasters and terror attacks. President Bush sought China's help to stop nuclear weapons programs in North Korea and Iran and won a pledge from President Hu Jintao to step up pressure on Pyongyang.

Five years ago: Cuba announced it would cast off at least half a million state workers and reduce restrictions on private enterprise to help them find jobs. Japan freed 14 crew members of a Chinese fishing ship nearly a week after their vessel collided with two Japanese patrol boats near disputed southern islets. On the premiere of the 25th and final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Winfrey announced the audience would receive trips to Australia. Rafael Nadal won his first U.S. Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

One year ago: Islamic State extremists released a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines, who had been abducted in Syria the previous year; British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the slaying as "an act of pure evil." Former baseball player Frank Torre, who'd played seven seasons in the majors with the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, died in Palm Beach, Florida, at age 82.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Barbara Bain is 84. Actress Eileen Fulton (TV: "As the World Turns") is 82. TV producer Fred Silverman is 78. Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 74. Actress Jacqueline Bisset is 71. Singer Peter Cetera is 71. Actress Christine Estabrook is 65. Actress Jean Smart is 64. Singer Randy Jones (The Village People) is 63. Record producer Don Was is 63. Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. is 61. Actress-comedian Geri Jewell is 59. Country singer Bobbie Cryner is 54. Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 54. Radio-TV personality Tavis Smiley is 51. Rock musician Zak Starkey is 50. Actor Louis Mandylor is 49. Olympic gold medal runner Michael Johnson is 48. Rock musician Steve Perkins is 48. Actor Roger Howarth is 47. Actor Dominic Fumusa is 46. Actress Louise Lombard is 45. Tennis player Goran Ivanisevic is 44. Country singer Aaron Benward (Blue County) is 42. Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) is 40. Actor Scott Vickaryous is 40. Singer Fiona Apple is 38. Contemporary Christian musician Hector Cervantes (Casting Crowns) is 35. Former MLB pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is 35. Actor Ben Savage is 35. Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 22. Actor Mitch Holleman is 20.

Thought for Today: "'Be yourself' is about the worst advice you can give to some people." -- J.B. Priestley, British novelist (born this date in 1894, died 1984).

(Above Advance for Use Sunday, September 13)

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