Today in History

Today in History

Today is Monday, Sept. 28, the 272nd day of 2020. There are 94 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 28, 1928, Scottish medical researcher Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first effective antibiotic.

On this date:

In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England to claim the English throne.

In 1781, American forces in the Revolutionary War, backed by a French fleet, began their successful siege of Yorktown, Va.

In 1787, the Congress of the Confederation voted to send the just-completed Constitution of the United States to state legislatures for their approval.

In 1850, flogging was abolished as a form of punishment in the U.S. Navy.

In 1892, the first nighttime football game took place in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, as teams from Mansfield State Normal and Wyoming Seminary played under electric lights to a scoreless tie.

In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for allegedly throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. (All were acquitted at trial, but all eight were banned from the game for life.)

In 1962, a federal appeals court found Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett in civil contempt for blocking the admission of James Meredith, a Black student, to the University of Mississippi. (Federal marshals escorted Meredith onto the campus two days later.)

In 1964, comedian Harpo Marx, 75, died in Los Angeles.

In 1976, Muhammad Ali kept his world heavyweight boxing championship with a close 15-round decision over Ken Norton at New York's Yankee Stadium.

In 1989, deposed Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos died in exile in Hawaii at age 72.

In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat signed an accord at the White House ending Israel's military occupation of West Bank cities and laying the foundation for a Palestinian state.

In 2000, capping a 12-year battle, the government approved use of the abortion pill RU-486.

Ten years ago: The youngest son of North Korean President Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, was selected for his first leadership post in the ruling Workers Party, putting him well on the path to succeed his father. Movie director Arthur Penn ("Bonnie and Clyde") died in New York a day after turning 88.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting at the United Nations, agreed to discuss a political transition in Syria but remained at odds about what that would mean for Syria leader Bashar Assad's future. Former prison worker Joyce Mitchell, who'd helped two murderers escape from a maximum-security lockup, said she regretted her "horrible mistake" as she was sentenced in Plattsburgh, New York, to up to seven years behind bars. Trevor Noah debuted as host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central. Frankie Ford, 76, a rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues singer whose 1959 hit "Sea Cruise" brought him international fame at age 19, died in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

One year ago: A massive pro-democracy rally in downtown Hong Kong ended early and violently, with police firing tear gas and a water cannon after protesters threw bricks and Molotov cocktails at government buildings. Voters in Afghanistan went to the polls to elect a president for the fourth time since a U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban regime in 2001; the vote was marred by violence, Taliban threats and widespread allegations of mismanagement. (After a series of delays, the country's independent election commission announced in February that Ashraf Ghani had won a second term as president.)

Today's Birthdays: Actor Brigitte Bardot is 86. Actor Joel Higgins is 77. Singer Helen Shapiro is 74. Actor Vernee Watson is 71. Movie writer-director-actor John Sayles is 70. Rock musician George Lynch is 66. Zydeco singer-musician C.J. Chenier is 63. Actor Steve Hytner is 61. Actor-comedian Janeane Garofalo is 56. Country singer Matt King is 54. Actor Mira Sorvino is 53. TV personality/singer Moon Zappa is 53. Actor-model Carre Otis is 52. Actor Naomi Watts is 52. Country singer Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) is 51. Singer/songwriter A.J. Croce is 49. Country singer Mandy Barnett is 45. Rapper Young Jeezy is 43. World Golf Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak is 43. Actor Peter Cambor is 42. Writer-producer-director-actor Bam Margera is 41. Actor Melissa Claire Egan is 39. Actor Jerrika Hinton is 39. Neo-soul musician Luke Mossman (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats ) is 39. Pop-rock singer St. Vincent is 38. Comedian/actor Phoebe Robinson is 36. Rock musician Daniel Platzman (Imagine Dragons) is 34. Actor Hilary Duff is 33. Actor Keir Gilchrist is 28.