This day in history

[August 26, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Aug. 26, the 238th day of 2011. 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, with only limited success.

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

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

In 1936, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, calling for most British troops to leave Egypt, was signed in Montreux, Switzerland (it was abrogated by Egypt in 1951).

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 1971, New Jersey Gov. William T. Cahill announced that the New York Giants football team had agreed to leave Yankee Stadium for a new sports complex to be built in East Rutherford.

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.)

In 1986, in the so-called "preppie murder case," 18-year-old Jennifer Levin was found strangled in New York's Central Park; Robert Chambers later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served 15 years in prison.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush admitted he was worried about the economy's "paltry" growth and, without making specific promises, assured steel company executives and workers at a picnic celebrating the 100th anniversary of USX Corp. that protecting domestic steel was a national security priority. The Tokyo Kitasuna beat Apopka, Fla., 2-1, to win the Little League championship in South Williamsport, Pa.

Five years ago: Iran's hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (mahk-MOOD' ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd), inaugurated a heavy-water production plant, a facility the West feared would be used to develop a nuclear bomb. Chad's President Idriss Deby ordered California-based Chevron Corp. and Malaysian company Petronas to leave the country, saying neither had paid taxes. (The dispute over taxes was later resolved, with the two companies agreeing to pay $289 million.)

One year ago: The government of Chile released the first video of the 33 miners trapped deep in a copper mine; the men appeared slim but healthy as they sang the national anthem and yelled "long live Chile, and long live the miners!"

Today's birthdays: Former Washington Post Executive Editor Benjamin C. Bradlee is 90. Actress Francine York is 75. Singer Vic Dana is 69. Rhythm-and-blues singer Valerie Simpson is 65. Pop singer Bob Cowsill is 62. Actor Brett Cullen is 55. NBA coach Stan Van Gundy is 52. Jazz musician Branford Marsalis is 51. Country musician Jimmy Olander (Diamond Rio) is 50. Actor Chris Burke is 46. Actress-singer Shirley Manson (Garbage) is 45. Rock musician Dan Vickrey (Counting Crowes) is 45. TV writer-actress Riley Weston is 45. Rock musician Adrian Young (No Doubt) is 42. Actress Melissa McCarthy is 41. Latin pop singer Thalia is 40. Rock singer-musician Tyler Connolly (Theory of a Deadman) is 36. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 31. Actor Chris Pine is 31. Rhythm-and-blues singer Cassie Ventura is 25. Actress Keke Palmer is 18.

Thought for today: "While we read history we make history." -- George William Curtis, American author-editor (1824-1892)

[Associated Press]

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