This day in history

[October 19, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Oct. 19, the 292nd day of 2011. There are 73 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 19, 1936, H.R. Ekins of the New York World-Telegram beat out Dorothy Kilgallen of the New York Journal and Leo Kieran of The New York Times in a round-the-world race on commercial flights that lasted 18 and 1/2 days.

On this date:

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York, drew up a declaration of rights and liberties.

In 1781, British troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Va., as the American Revolution neared its end.

In 1812, French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte began their retreat from Moscow.

In 1864, Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early attacked Union forces at Cedar Creek, Va.; the Union troops were able to rally and defeat the Confederates.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman signed an act formally ending the state of war with Germany.

In 1960, the United States began a limited embargo against Cuba covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.

In 1967, the U.S. space probe Mariner 5 flew past Venus.

In 1977, the supersonic Concorde made its first landing in New York City.

In 1987, the stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6 percent in value.

In 1994, 22 people were killed as a terrorist bomb shattered a bus in the heart of Tel Aviv's shopping district. Entertainer Martha Raye died in Los Angeles at age 78.

Ten years ago: U.S. special forces began operations on the ground in Afghanistan, opening a significant new phase of the assault against the Taliban and al-Qaida. Some 374 people died when their ferry sank off Indonesia while en route to Australia; most of the victims were believed to be asylum-seekers from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Five years ago: Gunmen ambushed a car carrying Afghan civilians working for a U.S. military base in Afghanistan, killing eight of them execution-style. The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 12,000 for the first time, ending at 12,011.73. The St. Louis Cardinals won the NL pennant, beating the New York Mets 3-1 in Game 7 of their championship series. Actress Phyllis Kirk died in Los Angeles at age 79.

One year ago: The Pentagon directed the military to accept openly gay recruits for the first time in the nation's history. Hosam Smadi, a Jordanian man caught in an FBI sting trying to blow up a Dallas skyscraper, was sentenced to 24 years in prison after telling the court he was ashamed of his actions and renouncing al-Qaida. "Happy Days" patriarch Tom Bosley died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 83.

Today's birthdays: Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Robert S. Strauss is 93. Author John le Carre (luh kah-RAY') is 80. Artist Peter Max is 74. Author and critic Renata Adler is 73. Actor Michael Gambon is 71. Actor John Lithgow (LIHTH'-goh) is 66. Feminist activist Patricia Ireland is 66. Singer Jeannie C. Riley is 66. Rock singer-musician Patrick Simmons (The Doobie Brothers) is 63. Talk show host Charlie Chase is 59. Rock singer-musician Karl Wallinger (World Party) is 54. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is 53. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 51. Boxer Evander Holyfield is 49. TV host Ty Pennington ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") is 47. Rock singer-musician Todd Park Mohr (Big Head Todd and the Monsters) is 46. Actor Jon Favreau is 45. Amy Carter is 44. "South Park" co-creator Trey Parker is 42. Comedian Chris Kattan is 41. Rock singer Pras Michel (The Fugees) is 39. Actor Omar Gooding is 35. Country singer Cyndi Thomson is 35. Writer-director Jason Reitman is 34. Actor Benjamin Salisbury is 31. Actress Gillian Jacobs is 29.

Thought for today: "Dream in a pragmatic way." -- Aldous Huxley, English author (1894-1963)

[Associated Press]

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