Today in History

Today in History

Today is Sunday, March 26, the 85th day of 2017. There are 280 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 26, 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup as they defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of the finals by a score of 9-1.

On this date:

In 1812, an earthquake devastated Caracas, Venezuela, causing an estimated 26,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna.

In 1874, poet Robert Frost was born in San Francisco.

In 1892, poet Walt Whitman died in Camden, New Jersey.

In 1937, a 6-foot-tall statue of the cartoon character Popeye was unveiled during the Second Annual Spinach Festival in Crystal City, Texas.

In 1945, during World War II, Iwo Jima was fully secured by U.S. forces following a final, desperate attack by Japanese soldiers. Former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, 82, died in Ty Newydd, Llanystumdwy, Wales.

In 1958, the U.S. Army launched America's third successful satellite, Explorer 3.

In 1967, Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical, "Populorum Progressio," on "the progressive development of peoples," in which he expressed concern for those trying to escape hunger, poverty, endemic disease and ignorance.

In 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1992, a judge in Indianapolis sentenced former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to six years in prison for raping a Miss Black America contestant. (Tyson ended up serving three years.)

In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate techno-religious cult who'd committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Ten years ago: The military concluded that high-ranking Army officers had made critical errors in reporting the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan, but that there was no criminal wrongdoing in the shooting of the former NFL star by fellow soldiers. (Tillman's family rejected the findings.) Australian detainee David Hicks pleaded guilty before a military tribunal at Guantanamo to helping terrorists fight the United States in Afghanistan. (Hicks, who had already spent more than five years at Guantanamo Bay, was sentenced to seven years in prison; all but nine months of his term were suspended. Hicks was returned to Australia to serve out his term, and was freed in Dec. 2007; the U.S. Court of Military Commission Review struck down his conviction in 2015.)

Five years ago: As demonstrations swirled outside, Supreme Court justices began hearing arguments on challenges to President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul. Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba in the footsteps of his immediate predecessor, Pope John Paul II, expressing great affection for Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits and heartfelt hopes for reconciliation.

One year ago: Bernie Sanders scored wins over Hillary Clinton in the Washington state, Alaska and Hawaii Democratic caucuses. Belgian prosecutors announced they had three men in custody in connection with the March 22 suicide attacks on the Brussels airport and subway that claimed 32 victims. The six astronauts at the International Space Station got an early Easter treat with the arrival of a supply ship full of fresh food and experiments. Author Jim Harrison ("Legends of the Fall") died in Patagonia, Arizona, at age 78.

Today's Birthdays: Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is 87. Actor Alan Arkin is 83. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is 82. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is 77. Actor James Caan is 77. Author Erica Jong is 75. Journalist Bob Woodward is 74. Singer Diana Ross is 73. Actor Johnny Crawford is 71. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 69. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 68. Actor Ernest Thomas is 68. Comedian Martin Short is 67. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 67. Movie composer Alan Silvestri is 67. Rock musician Monte Yoho is 65. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is 64. Radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa is 63. Country singer Dean Dillon is 62. Country singer Charly McClain is 61. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 60. Actress Ellia English is 58. Actress Jennifer Grey is 57. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is 57. Actor Billy Warlock is 56. Actor Eric Allan Kramer is 55. Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton is 55. Actor Michael Imperioli is 51. Rock musician James Iha (EE'-hah) is 49. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 49. Actress Leslie Mann is 45. Actor T.R. Knight is 44. Rapper Juvenile is 42. Actress Amy Smart is 41. Actress Bianca Kajlich (KY'-lihk) is 40. Actress Keira Knightley is 32. Rapper J-Kwon is 31. Actress Carly Chaikin is 27.

Thought for Today: "Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece." -- Nadia Boulanger (boo-lahn-ZHAY'), French music teacher (1887-1979).

(Above Advance for Use Sunday, March 26)

Copyright 2017, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.