This day in history

[September 18, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2010. There are 104 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 18, 1810, Chile made its initial declaration of independence from Spain with the forming of a national junta.

On this date:

In 1759, the French formally surrendered Quebec to the British.

In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.

In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners.

In 1927, the Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System (later CBS) made its on-air debut with a basic network of 16 radio stations.

In 1940, Harper and Brothers published "You Can't Go Home Again" by Thomas Wolfe, two years after the author's death.

In 1947, the National Security Act, which created a National Military Establishment, went into effect.

In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (dahg HAWM'-ahr-shoold) was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia.

In 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27.

In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

In 1990, the city of Atlanta was named the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics. The organized crime drama "GoodFellas," directed by Martin Scorsese, had its U.S. premiere in New York.

Ten years ago: The first working day of a transit strike that had begun over the weekend forced nearly half a million Southern California commuters to scrounge for rides or get behind the wheel themselves. Workers began rebuilding a railway line between the capitals of North and South Korea.

Five years ago: Tropical Storm Rita formed southeast of the Florida Keys. Millions of Afghans defied a Taliban boycott call and militant attacks to vote for a new parliament. German conservative challenger Angela Merkel's bloc won the most votes in elections, but fell short of a clear mandate to govern. "Everybody Loves Raymond" won the Emmy for best comedy in its final season; first-year hit "Lost" was named best drama.

One year ago: Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in defiance of Iran's Islamic leadership, clashing with police and confronting state-run anti-Israel rallies. Writer-editor Irving Kristol, known as the godfather of neoconservatism, died at 89. The final episode of "Guiding Light" aired on CBS, ending a 72-year run on radio and television.

Today's birthdays: Singer Jimmie Rodgers is 77. Actor Robert Blake is 77. Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) is 77. Actor Fred Willard is 71. Singer Frankie Avalon is 70. Rock musician Kerry Livgren is 61. Actress Anna Deavere Smith is 60. Basketball coach Rick Pitino is 58. College Football Hall of Famer and retired NFL player Billy Sims is 55. Movie director Mark Romanek is 51. Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg is 51. Actor James Gandolfini is 49. Alt-country-rock musician Mark Olson is 49. Singer Joanne Catherall (Human League) is 48. Actress Holly Robinson Peete is 46. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ricky Bell (Bell Biv Devoe and New Edition) is 43. Actress Aisha Tyler is 40. Cycling champion Lance Armstrong is 39. Opera singer Anna Netrebko is 39. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith is 39. Actor James Marsden is 37. Actress Emily Rutherfurd is 36. Actor Travis Schuldt (TV: "Scrubs") is 36. Rapper Xzibit is 36. Comedian-actor Jason Sudeikis (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 35. Actress Sophina Brown is 34. TV personality Sara Haines is 33. Actress Alison Lohman is 31. Actors Taylor and Brandon Porter are 17. Actor C.J. Sanders ("Ray") is 14.

Thought for today: "I have to see a thing a thousand times before I see it once." -- From "You Can't Go Home Again," by Thomas Wolfe, American author (1900-1938)

[Associated Press]

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