This day in history

[October 27, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Oct. 27, the 300th day of 2010. There are 65 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 27, 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the United States Constitution, was published in New York.

On this date:

In 1795, the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo (also known as "Pinckney's Treaty"), which provided for free navigation of the Mississippi River.

In 1858, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born in New York City.

In 1880, Theodore Roosevelt married his first wife, Alice Lee.

In 1904, the first rapid transit subway, the IRT, was inaugurated in New York City.

In 1922, the first annual celebration of Navy Day took place.

In 1938, Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: "nylon."

In 1947, "You Bet Your Life," starring Groucho Marx, premiered on ABC Radio. (It later became a television show on NBC.)

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin (men-AH'-kem BAY'-gihn) were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.

In 1990, death claimed bandleader Xavier Cugat at age 90, author Elliott Roosevelt at age 80 and French movie director Jacques Demy ("The Umbrellas of Cherbourg") at age 59.

In 1995, a sniper killed one soldier and wounded 18 others at Fort Bragg, N.C. (Paratrooper William J. Kreutzer was convicted in the shootings, and condemned to death; however, the sentence was later commuted to life in prison.)

Ten years ago: Canadian authorities arrested two men they said masterminded the 1985 bombing of an Air India jumbo jet near Ireland that claimed the lives of all 329 people aboard. (However, the men were acquitted at trial in March 2005.)

Five years ago: White House counsel Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination to the Supreme Court after three weeks of brutal criticism from fellow conservatives. As many Floridians continued to struggle to find food, water and fuel in the wake of Hurricane Wilma, President George W. Bush visited the state to inspect the damage. Tropical Storm Beta formed in the Caribbean Sea.

One year ago: Eight American troops were killed in two separate bomb attacks in southern Afghanistan. Michael Jackson's last work, the documentary "Michael Jackson: This Is It," opened.

Today's birthdays: Actress Nanette Fabray is 90. Baseball Hall-of-Famer and sportscaster Ralph Kiner is 88. Actress Ruby Dee is 86. Former Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher is 85. Actor-comedian John Cleese is 71. Author Maxine Hong Kingston is 70. Country singer Lee Greenwood is 68. Producer-director Ivan Reitman is 64. Country singer-musician Jack Daniels is 61. Rock musician Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) is 61. Author Fran Lebowitz is 60. Rock musician K.K. Downing (Judas Priest) is 59. TV personality Jayne Kennedy is 59. Actor-director Roberto Benigni is 58. Actor Peter Firth is 57. Actor Robert Picardo is 57. World Golf Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan is 54. Singer Simon Le Bon is 52. Musician J.D. McFadden is 46. Rock musician Jason Finn (Presidents of the United States of America) is 43. Rock singer Scott Weiland is 43. Actor Sean Holland is 42. Actress Sheeri Rappaport is 33. Violinist Vanessa-Mae is 32. Actress-singer Kelly Osbourne is 26.

Thought for today: "He who seeks rest finds boredom. He who seeks work finds rest." -- Dylan Thomas, Welsh author and poet (born this date in 1914, died 1953.)

[Associated Press]

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