Today in History

Published 9:49 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2009. There are 71 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

In 1797, the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides,” was christened in Boston’s harbor.

ON THIS DATE

In 1879, Thomas Edison perfected a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J.

In 1917, members of the 1st Division of the U.S. Army training in Luneville, France, became the first Americans to see action on the front lines of World War I.

In 1967, the Israeli destroyer INS Eilat was sunk by Egyptian missile boats near Port Said; 47 Israeli crew members were lost.

In 1969, beat poet and author Jack Kerouac died in St. Petersburg, Fla., at age 47.

Associated Press