ALMANAC

Today is Monday, Sept. 26, the 270th day of 2016. There are 96 days left in the year. Today’s highlight in history: On Sept. 26, 1789, Thomas Jefferson was confirmed by the Senate to be the first United States secretary of state; John Jay, the first chief justice; Edmund Randolph, the first attorney general. On this date: In 1777, British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution.

In 1892, John Philip Sousa and his newly formed band performed publicly for the first time at the Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, New Jersey.

In 1914, the Federal Trade Commission was established.

In 1937, the radio drama “The Shadow,” starring Orson Welles, premiered on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

In 1945, Hungarian-born composer Bela Bartok, 64, died in New York City.

In 1957, the musical play “West Side Story” opened on Broadway.

In 1960, the first-ever debate between presidential nominees took place as Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon faced off before a national TV audience from Chicago.

In 1981, the twin-engine Boeing 767 made its official debut in Everett, Washington.

In 1986, William H. Rehnquist was sworn in as the 16th chief justice of the United States, while Antonin Scalia joined the Supreme Court as its 103rd member.

In 1991, four men and four women began a twoyear stay inside a sealed-off structure in Oracle, Arizona, called Biosphere 2. (They emerged from Biosphere on this date in 1993.)

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed a bill ensuring two-day hospital stays for new mothers.

Today’s birthdays: Actor Philip Bosco is 86. Actor Richard Herd is 84. Actress Mary Beth Hurt is 70. Singer Olivia Newton-John is 68. Actor James Keane is 64. Actress Linda Hamilton is 60. Actor Jim Caviezel is 48. Actress Tricia O’Kelley is 48. Actor Ben Shenkman is 48. Actress Melanie Paxon is 44. Tennis player Serena Williams is 35.