This day in history

[August 26, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Aug. 26, the 238th day of 2010. There are 127 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote, was certified in effect by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.

On this date:

In 55 B.C., Roman forces under Julius Caesar invaded Britain, but achieved limited success.

In 1883, the island volcano Krakatoa began cataclysmic eruptions, leading to a massive explosion the following day.

In 1910, humanitarian and Nobel Peace laureate Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AHN'-yehs GOHN'-juh BOY'-ah-jyoo) in present-day Skopje (SKOHP'-yah), Macedonia.

In 1910, Thomas Edison demonstrated for reporters an improved version of his Kinetophone, a device for showing a movie with synchronized sound.

In 1958, Alaskans went to the polls to overwhelmingly vote in favor of statehood.

In 1961, the original Hockey Hall of Fame was opened in Toronto.

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated for a term of office in his own right at the Democratic national convention in Atlantic City, N.J.

In 1968, the Democratic national convention opened in Chicago.

In 1972, the summer Olympics games opened in Munich, West Germany.

In 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani (al-BEE'-noh loo-CHYAH'-nee) of Venice was elected pope following the death of Paul VI. The new pontiff took the name Pope John Paul I. (However, he died just over a month later.)

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton visited Nigeria, where he appealed to the leaders of the oil-rich nation to set aside political acrimony so that their citizens could lift themselves from poverty and isolation. The Houston Comets won their fourth straight WNBA championship by defeating the New York Liberty in overtime, 79-73. Maracaibo, Venezuela, won the Little League World Series title, defeating Bellaire, Texas, 3-2.

Five years ago: Utility crews in South Florida scrambled to restore power to more than 1 million customers blacked out by Hurricane Katrina, which continued to churn in the Gulf of Mexico. A fire raced through a crowded, rundown Paris apartment building housing African immigrants, killing 17 people, mainly children.

One year ago: Authorities in California solved the 18-year-old disappearance of Jaycee Lee Dugard, who appeared at a parole office with her children and the Antioch couple accused of kidnapping her when she was 11. A giant wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles; the blaze went on to destroy more than five dozen homes, kill two firefighters and force thousands of people from their homes. Death claimed crime story author Dominick Dunne, 83, in New York City; Ellie Greenwich, 68, who'd co-written songs like "Chapel of Love," "Be My Baby" and "Leader of the Pack," in New York City; Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, 59, one of Iraq's most influential politicians, in Tehran.

Today's birthdays: Former Washington Post Executive Editor Benjamin C. Bradlee is 89. Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro is 75. Actress Francine York is 74. Singer Vic Dana is 68. Rhythm-and-blues singer Valerie Simpson is 64. Pop singer Bob Cowsill is 61. Actor Brett Cullen is 54. NBA coach Stan Van Gundy is 51. Jazz musician Branford Marsalis is 50. Country musician Jimmy Olander (Diamond Rio) is 49. Actor Chris Burke is 45. Actress-singer Shirley Manson (Garbage) is 44. Rock musician Dan Vickrey (Counting Crowes) is 44. TV writer-actress Riley Weston is 44. Rock musician Adrian Young (No Doubt) is 41. Actress Melissa McCarthy is 40. Latin pop singer Thalia is 39. Rock singer-musician Tyler Connolly (Theory of a Deadman) is 35. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 30. Actor Chris Pine is 30. Rhythm-and-blues singer Cassie Ventura is 24. Actress Keke Palmer is 17

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Thought for today: "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." -- Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

[Associated Press]

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