Today in History

Today in History

Today is Friday, Sept. 9, the 253rd day of 2016. There are 113 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 9, 1776, the second Continental Congress made the term "United States" official, replacing "United Colonies."

On this date:

In 1543, Mary Stuart was crowned Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle, nine months after she was born.

In 1850, California became the 31st state of the union.

In 1893, Frances Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland, gave birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House; it was the first (and, to date, only) time a president's child was born in the executive mansion.

In 1919, some 1,100 members of Boston's 1,500-man police force went on strike. (The strike was broken by Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge with replacement officers.)

In 1926, the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC) was incorporated by the Radio Corp. of America.

In 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1965, Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Final score: 1-0.

In 1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York, beginning a siege that ended up claiming 43 lives.

In 1976, Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong died in Beijing at age 82. JVC unveiled its new VHS videocassette recorder during a presentation in Tokyo.

In 1986, Frank Reed, director of a private school in Lebanon, was taken hostage; he was released 44 months later.

In 1997, Sinn Fein, the IRA's political ally, formally renounced violence as it took its place in talks on Northern Ireland's future. Actor Burgess Meredith died in Malibu, California, at age 89.

Ten years ago: After two frustrating weeks of delays, space shuttle Atlantis and its six astronauts blasted off on a 12-day mission to install a big new piece of the international space station. The Chinese movie "Still Life" won the top award at the Venice Film Festival. Third-seeded Maria Sharapova beat Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 to win the U.S. Open. The Detroit Shock won their second WNBA championship in four years, beating the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs 80-75 in Game 5.

Five years ago: New Yorkers and Washingtonians shrugged off talk of a new terror threat as intelligence officials scrambled to nail down information on a possible al-Qaida strike timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of 9/11. President Barack Obama, speaking in Richmond, Virginia, urged Americans to pressure their lawmakers to pass his $447 billion jobs plan.

One year ago: Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history, serving as sovereign for 23,226 days (about 63 years and 7 months), according to Buckingham Palace, surpassing Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother. New York became the first U.S. city to require salt warnings on chain-restaurant menus.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Sylvia Miles is 82. Actor Topol is 81. Rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Simmons is 74. Singer Inez Foxx is 74. Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 71. Rock singer-musician Doug Ingle is 70. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player Joe Theismann is 67. Rock musician John McFee (The Doobie Brothers) is 66. Actor Tom Wopat is 65. Actress Angela Cartwright is 64. Musician-producer Dave Stewart is 64. Actor Hugh Grant is 56. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is 53. Actor-comedian Charles Esten (formerly Chip) is 51. Actress Constance Marie is 51. Actor David Bennent is 50. Actor Adam Sandler is 50. Rock singer Paul Durham (Black Lab) is 48. Actress Julia Sawalha is 48. Model Rachel Hunter is 47. Actor Eric Stonestreet is 45. Actor Henry Thomas is 45. Actor Goran Visnjic is 44. Pop-jazz singer Michael Buble' is 41. Latin singer Maria Rita is 39. Actress Michelle Williams is 36. Actress Julie Gonzalo is 35. Neo-soul singer Paul Janeway (St. Paul & the Broken Bones) is 33. Actress Zoe Kazan is 33. Contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle is 25. Country singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes is 25.

Thought for Today: "There are two great days in a person's life -- the day we are born and the day we discover why." -- William Barclay, Scottish theologian (1907-1978).