Today in History

Today is Sunday, Feb. 4, the 35th day of 2018. There are 330 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 4, 1783, Britain's King George III proclaimed a formal cessation of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War.

On this date:

In A.D. 211, Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus died at age 65.

In 1789, electors chose George Washington to be the first president of the United States.

In 1861, delegates from six southern states that had recently seceded from the Union met in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America.

In 1938, the Thornton Wilder play "Our Town" opened on Broadway. Walt Disney's animated feature "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" opened in general U.S. release.

In 1941, the United Service Organizations (USO) came into existence.

In 1948, the island nation of Ceylon -- now Sri Lanka -- became an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth.

In 1962, a rare conjunction of the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn occurred.

In 1974, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, 19, was kidnapped in Berkeley, California, by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army.

In 1983, pop singer-musician Karen Carpenter died in Downey, California, at age 32.

In 1987, pianist Liberace died at his Palm Springs, California, home at age 67.

In 1997, a civil jury in Santa Monica, California, found O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

In 2004, the Massachusetts high court declared that gay couples were entitled to nothing less than marriage, and that Vermont-style civil unions would not suffice. The social networking website Facebook had its beginnings as Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched "Thefacebook."

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush proposed a record $3.1 trillion budget that included huge deficits. Thomas S. Monson was introduced as the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, succeeding the late Gordon B. Hinckley. Harry Richard Landis, the next-to-last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I, died near Tampa, Florida, at age 108. (The last surviving U.S. World War I vet, Frank Buckles, died in February 2011.)

Five years ago: President Barack Obama signed a bill temporarily raising the government's $16.4 trillion borrowing limit, averting a default. British scientists announced they had rescued the skeletal remains of King Richard III, who lived during the 15th century, from the anonymity of a drab municipal parking lot. For the fifth straight week there was a new No. 1 in The Associated Press' men's college basketball poll: Indiana. Reg Presley, 71, lead singer for the Troggs on "Wild Thing," died in Andover, England.

One year ago: The Justice Department appealed a judge's order temporarily blocking President Donald Trump's refugee and immigration ban, saying it was the "sovereign prerogative" of a president to admit or exclude aliens in order to protect national security. Running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Terrell Davis and quarterback Kurt Warner were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was voted The Associated Press 2016 NFL's Most Valuable Player and top offensive player. "La La Land" director Damien Chazelle waltzed off with the top honor at the Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills.

Today's Birthdays: Actor William Phipps is 96. Actor Jerry Adler is 89. Former Argentinian President Isabel Peron is 87. Actor Gary Conway is 82. Actor John Schuck is 78. Rock musician John Steel (The Animals) is 77. Singer Florence LaRue (The Fifth Dimension) is 76. Former Vice President Dan Quayle is 71. Rock singer Alice Cooper is 70. Actor Michael Beck is 69. Actress Lisa Eichhorn is 66. Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor is 59. Actress Pamelyn Ferdin is 59. Rock singer Tim Booth is 58. Rock musician Henry Bogdan is 57. Country singer Clint Black is 56. Rock musician Noodles (The Offspring) is 55. Country musician Dave Buchanan (Yankee Grey) is 52. Actress Gabrielle Anwar is 48. Actor Rob Corddry is 47. Singer David Garza is 47. Actor Michael Goorjian is 47. TV personality Nicolle Wallace is 46. Olympic gold medal boxer Oscar De La Hoya is 45. Rock musician Rick Burch (Jimmy Eat World) is 43. Singer Natalie Imbruglia is 43. Rapper Cam'ron is 42. Rock singer Gavin DeGraw is 41. Actor Charlie Barnett is 30. Olympic gold medal gymnast-turned-singer Carly Patterson is 30. Actress Kyla Kenedy (TV: "Speechless") is 15.

Thought for Today: "Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." -- James Michener, American author (1907-1997).