Today in History

Today is Monday, October 19, the 292nd day of 2015. There are 73 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On October 19, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York, adopted a declaration of rights and liberties which the British Parliament ignored.

On this date:

In 1781, British troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, as the American Revolution neared its end.

In 1789, John Jay was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States.

In 1814, the first documented public performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" took place at the Holliday Street Theater in Baltimore.

In 1864, Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early's soldiers attacked Union forces at Cedar Creek, Virginia; the Union troops were able to rally and defeat the Confederates.

In 1914, the U.S. Post Office began delivering mail with government-owned cars, as opposed to using contracted vehicles. The First Battle of Ypres began during World War I.

In 1935, the Council of the League of Nations imposed sanctions against Italy for invading Abyssinia.

In 1944, the U.S. Navy began accepting black women into WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). The play "I Remember Mama" by John Van Druten opened at the Music Box Theater on Broadway.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman signed an act formally ending the state of war with Germany.

In 1960, the United States began a limited embargo against Cuba covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.

In 1977, the supersonic Concorde made its first landing in New York City.

In 1987, the stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6 percent in value, to close at 1,738.74.

In 1990, Kevin Costner's Western epic "Dances with Wolves" had its world premiere in Washington, D.C.

Ten years ago: A defiant Saddam Hussein pleaded innocent to charges of premeditated murder and torture as his trial opened under heavy security in the former headquarters of his Baath Party in Baghdad. The Houston Astros clinched their first World Series berth with a 5-1 win over St. Louis in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.

Five years ago: The Pentagon directed the military to accept openly gay recruits for the first time in the nation's history. Hosam Smadi, a Jordanian man caught in an FBI sting trying to blow up a Dallas skyscraper, was sentenced to 24 years in prison after telling the court he was ashamed of his actions and renouncing al-Qaida. "Happy Days" patriarch Tom Bosley died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 83.

One year ago: Pope Francis beatified Pope Paul VI, concluding a remarkable meeting of bishops debating family issues that drew parallels to the tumultuous reforms of the Second Vatican Council which Paul oversaw and implemented. An Associated Press investigation found that dozens of Nazis war criminals and SS guards had collected millions in U.S. Social Security pension payments after being forced out of the United States. Peyton Manning broke Brett Favre's NFL record of 508 touchdown career passes as he threw four TD passes in Denver's 42-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Today's Birthdays: Author John le Carre is 84. Artist Peter Max is 78. Author and critic Renata Adler is 78. Actor Michael Gambon is 75. Actor John Lithgow is 70. Feminist activist Patricia Ireland is 70. Singer Jeannie C. Riley is 70. Rock singer-musician Patrick Simmons (The Doobie Brothers) is 67. Talk show host Charlie Chase is 63. Rock singer-musician Karl Wallinger (World Party) is 58. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is 57. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 55. Boxer Evander Holyfield is 53. Host Ty Pennington (TV: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") is 51. Rock singer-musician Todd Park Mohr (Big Head Todd and the Monsters) is 50. Actor Jon Favreau is 49. Amy Carter is 48. "South Park" co-creator Trey Parker is 46. Comedian Chris Kattan is 45. Rock singer Pras Michel (The Fugees) is 43. Actor Omar Gooding is 39. Country singer Cyndi Thomson is 39. Writer-director Jason Reitman is 38. Actor Benjamin Salisbury is 35. Actress Gillian Jacobs is 33. Rock singer Zac Barnett (American Authors) is 29.

Thought for Today: "Dream in a pragmatic way." -- Aldous Huxley, English author (1894-1963).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.