Today in History

In New York City, the 9/11 Memorial Museum opens to the public.

Joseph Estrada, former president of the Philippines, is convicted of plunder.

UN lifts sanctions against Libya in exchange for that country accepting responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 and paying recompense to victims’ families.

Space Shuttle Endeavor takes off on NASA’s 50th shuttle mission; its crew includes the first African-American woman in space, the first married couple, and the first Japanese citizen to fly in a US spacecraft.

East and West Germany, along with the UK, US and USSR—the Allied nations that had occupied post-WWII Germany—sign the final settlement for reunification of Germany.

Jennifer Hudson, singer, actress; numerous awards include a Grammy (Jennifer Hudson, 2008), and Oscar, Golden Globe and British Academy awards (Dreamgirls, 2006).

Military coup in Turkey.

Steve Biko, a South African activist opposing apartheid, dies while in police custody.

President Richard Nixon orders a resumption in bombing North Vietnam.

Richard “Ricky” Rudd, known as the “Iron Man” of NASCAR racing; he holds the record for the most consecutive NASCAR starts.

Charles “Chic” Burlingame III, pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, that was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, by terrorists.

French troops land in Indochina.

American troops fight their way into Germany.

Michael Ondaatje, Canadian novelist and poet (The English Patient).

The Lascaux Caves in France, with their prehistoric wall paintings, are discovered.

In response to the invasion of Poland, the French Army advances into Germany. On this day they reach their furthest penetration-five miles.

George Jones, country singer.

Adolf Hitler joins German Worker’s Party.

British troops retake Havincourt, Moeuvres, and Trescault along the Western Front.

Jesse Owens, track and field athlete who won four medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

Alexander D. Langmuir, epidemiologist, created and led the U.S. Epidemic Intelligence Service.

Alfred A. Knopf, American publisher.

Maurice Chevalier, singer, dancer and actor.

Henry L. Mencken, journalist and iconoclast known as the “Sage of Baltimore.”

Mexican authorities crush the revolt which broke out on August 25.

Charles Dudley Warner, essayist and novelist who, with Mark Twain, wrote The Guilded Age.

Richard March Hoe, who built the first successful rotary printing press.

Despite his failed efforts to suppress the American Revolution, Lord Cornwallis is appointed governor general of India.

The Treaty of St. Petersburg puts an end to the Russo-Persian War.

A combined Austrian and Polish army defeats the Turks at Kahlenberg and lifts the siege on Vienna, Austria.

Governor Berkley of Virginia is denied his attempts to repeal the Navigation Acts.

Henry Hudson sails into what is now New York Harbor aboard his sloop Half Moon.

Simon de Montfort defeats Raymond of Toulouse and Peter II of Aragon at Muret, France.

Athenian and Plataean Hoplites commanded by General Miltiades drive back a Persian invasion force under General Datis at Marathon.