Today in History

Today is Monday, Sept. 13, the 256th day of 2021. There are 109 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 13, 1971, a four-day inmates' rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and 11 hostages.

On this date:

In 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election, and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, British naval forces began bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore but were driven back by American defenders in a battle that lasted until the following morning.

In 1959, Elvis Presley first met his future wife, 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, while stationed in West Germany with the U.S. Army. (They married in 1967, but divorced in 1973.)

In 1962, Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett rejected the U.S. Supreme Court's order for the University of Mississippi to admit James Meredith, a Black student, declaring in a televised address, "We will not drink from the cup of genocide."

In 1970, the first New York City Marathon was held; winner Gary Muhrcke finished the 26.2-mile run, which took place entirely inside Central Park, in 2:31:38.

In 1990, the combination police-courtroom drama "Law & Order" premiered on NBC.

In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy.

In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur died at a Las Vegas hospital six days after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting; he was 25.

In 1997, funeral services were held in Calcutta, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.

In 1998, former Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace died in Montgomery at age 79.

In 2001, two days after the 9/11 terror attacks, the first few jetliners returned to the nation's skies, but several major airports remained closed and others opened only briefly. President George W. Bush visited injured Pentagon workers and said he would carry the nation's prayers to New York.

In 2010, Rafael Nadal won his first U.S. Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Ten years ago: Teams of insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons struck at the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters and other buildings in the heart of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

Five years ago: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump rolled out a plan aimed at making child care more affordable, guaranteeing new mothers six weeks of paid maternity leave and suggesting new incentives for employees to provide their workers child care during a speech in Aston, Pennsylvania. Former Israeli President Shimon Peres, 93, suffered a major stroke (he died 15 days later).

One year ago: In open defiance of state regulations and his own administration's pandemic health guidelines, President Donald Trump hosted his first indoor rally since June, telling a packed, nearly mask-less crowd in Henderson, Nevada, that the nation was "making the last turn" in defeating the virus. Dominic Thiem became the first man in 71 years to win the U.S. Open after dropping the first two sets of the final; Thiem earned his first Grand Slam title with a 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) comeback victory against Alexander Zverev.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Barbara Bain is 90. Actor Eileen Fulton (TV: "As the World Turns") is 88. Actor Joe E. Tata is 85. Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 80. Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 77. Singer Peter Cetera is 77. Actor Christine Estabrook is 71. Actor Jean Smart is 70. Singer Randy Jones (The Village People) is 69. Record producer Don Was is 69. Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. is 67. Actor-comedian Geri Jewell is 65. Country singer Bobbie Cryner is 60. Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 60. Radio-TV personality Tavis Smiley is 57. Rock musician Zak Starkey is 56. Actor/comedian Jeff Ross is 56. Actor Louis Mandylor is 55. Olympic gold medal runner Michael Johnson is 54. Rock musician Steve Perkins is 54. Actor Roger Howarth is 53. Actor Dominic Fumusa is 52. Actor Louise Lombard is 51. Former tennis player Goran Ivanisevic is 50. Country singer Aaron Benward (Blue County) is 48. Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) is 46. Actor Scott Vickaryous is 46. Singer Fiona Apple is 44. Contemporary Christian musician Hector Cervantes (Casting Crowns) is 41. Actor Ben Savage is 41. Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 28. Actor Mitch Holleman is 26. Actor Lili Reinhart (TV: "Riverdale") is 25.