This day in history

[March 08, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Shrove Tuesday, March 8, the 67th day of 2011. There are 298 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On March 8, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclad CSS Virginia rammed and sank the USS Cumberland and heavily damaged the USS Congress, both frigates, off Newport News, Va.

On this date:

In 1782, the Gnadenhutten (jih-NAY'-duhn-huh-tuhn) massacre took place as more than 90 Indians were slain by militiamen in Ohio in retaliation for raids carried out by other Indians.

In 1854, U.S. Commodore Matthew C. Perry made his second landing in Japan; within a month, he concluded a treaty with the Japanese.

In 1874, the 13th president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, died in Buffalo, N.Y., at age 74.

In 1917, Russia's "February Revolution" (so called because of the Old Style calendar used by Russians at the time) began with rioting and strikes in Petrograd. The U.S. Senate voted to limit filibusters by adopting the cloture rule.

In 1930, the 27th president of the United States, William Howard Taft, died in Washington at age 72.

In 1944, two days after an initial strike, U.S. heavy bombers resumed raiding Berlin during World War II.

In 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon won the New Hampshire presidential primary.

In 1965, the United States landed its first combat troops in South Vietnam as 3,500 Marines were brought in to defend the U.S. air base at Da Nang.

In 1971, Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali by decision in what was billed as "The Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden in New York. Silent film comedian Harold Lloyd died in Beverly Hills, Calif., at age 77.

In 1988, 17 soldiers were killed when two Army helicopters from Fort Campbell, Ky., collided in mid-flight.

Ten years ago: The Republican-controlled House voted for an across-the-board tax cut of nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, handing President George W. Bush a major victory only 48 days into his term. Scott Waddle, the embattled commander of the Navy submarine that collided with a Japanese fishing vessel off Hawaii, offered a tearful apology to the families of some of the victims. Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet, died in London at age 102.

Five years ago: Iran threatened the United States with "harm and pain" if the U.S. tried to use the U.N. Security Council to punish Tehran for its suspect nuclear program. Six months after Hurricane Katrina, President George W. Bush got a close-up look at the remaining mountains of debris, abandoned homes and boarded-up businesses in New Orleans. The Hornets played their first game at The New Orleans Arena since Katrina; they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-107. NFL owners agreed to the players' union proposal, extending the collective bargaining agreement for six years.

One year ago: President Barack Obama made a spirited, shirt-sleeved appeal for passage of health care legislation during a visit to Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. A magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Turkey, killing at least 41 people.

Today's birthdays: Actress Sue Ane (correct) Langdon is 75. Baseball player-turned-author Jim Bouton is 72. Actor-director Micky Dolenz is 66. Singer-musician Randy Meisner is 65. Pop singer Peggy March is 63. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Jim Rice is 58. Singer Gary Numan is 53. NBC News anchor Lester Holt is 52. Actor Aidan Quinn is 52. Country musician Jimmy Dormire is 51. Actress Camryn Manheim is 50. Actor Leon (no last name) is 48. Rock singer Shawn Mullins (The Thorns) is 43. Actress Andrea Parker is 41. Actor Boris Kodjoe is 38. Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. is 35. Actor James Van Der Beek is 34. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kameelah Williams (702) is 33. Rock singer Tom Chaplin (Keane) is 32. Rock musician Andy Ross (OK Go) is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kristinia (kris-teh-NEE'-ah) DeBarge is 21.

Thought for today: "If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought -- not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate." -- Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (born this date in 1841, died 1935)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.