Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 9, the 252nd day of 2014. There are 113 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight:

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 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 1932, the steamboat Observation exploded in New York’s East River, killing 72 people.

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 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.

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

In 1997, Sinn Fein (shin fayn), 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: Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that abuses by government-supported Arab militias in Sudan qualified as genocide against the black African population in the Darfur region. A powerful car bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing at least 9 people, including the bomber.

Five years ago: In a speech to a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama summoned lawmakers to enact sweeping health care legislation, declaring the “time for bickering is over.” (In an extraordinary breach of congressional decorum, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted “You lie!” when the president said illegal immigrants would not benefit from his proposals; Wilson ended up apologizing.) British commandos in Afghanistan freed New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell from Taliban captors, but one commando and a Times translator were killed. Fox announced that Ellen DeGeneres would be the fourth judge on “American Idol,” replacing Paula Abdul. (DeGeneres was on “Idol” for one season; she was succeeded by Jennifer Lopez.)

One year ago: Four days of vehicular gridlock began near the George Washington Bridge when two of three approach lanes from Fort Lee, New Jersey, were blocked off; the traffic jam was later blamed on loyalists to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie over the refusal of Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich to endorse Christie for re-election. (Christie has denied any prior knowledge of the lane closures.) Rafael Nadal won his 13th Grand Slam title and second at the U.S. Open by withstanding Novak Djokovic with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Sylvia Miles is 80. Actor Topol is 79. Rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Simmons is 72. Singer Inez Foxx is 72. Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 69. Rock singer-musician Doug Ingle is 68. Country singer Freddy Weller is 67. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player Joe Theismann is 65. Rock musician John McFee (The Doobie Brothers) is 64. Actor Tom Wopat is 63. Actress Angela Cartwright is 62. Musician-producer Dave Stewart is 62. Actor Hugh Grant is 54. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is 51. Actor-comedian Charles Esten (formerly Chip) is 49. Actress Constance Marie is 49. Actor David Bennent is 48. Actor Adam Sandler is 48. Rock singer Paul Durham (Black Lab) is 46. Actress Julia Sawalha (TV: “Absolutely Fabulous”) is 46. Model Rachel Hunter is 45. Actor Eric Stonestreet is 43. Actor Henry Thomas is 43. Actor Goran Visnjic (VEEZ’-nihch) is 42. Pop-jazz singer Michael Buble’ (boo-BLAY’) is 39. Country singer Joey Martin (Joey + Rory) is 39. Latin singer Maria Rita is 37. Actress Michelle Williams is 34. Actress Julie Gonzalo is 33. Country singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes is 23.

Thought for Today: “To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.” — Helen Rowland, American writer, journalist and humorist (1876-1950).