ALMANAC

Today is Wednesday, March 29, the 88th day of 2017. There are 277 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight in history:

On March 29, 1867, Britain’s Parliament passed, and Queen Victoria signed, the British North America Act creating the Dominion of Canada, which came into being the following July. On this date: In 1638, Swedish colonists settled in present-day Delaware.

In 1792, Sweden’s King Gustav III died, nearly two weeks after he had been shot and mortally wounded by an assassin during a masquerade party.

In 1912, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, his doomed expedition stranded in an Antarctic blizzard after failing to be the first to reach the South Pole, wrote the last words of his journal: “For Gods sake look after our people.”

In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began.

In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. (They were executed in June 1953.)

In 1962, Jack Paar hosted NBC’s “Tonight” show for the final time. (Johnny Carson debuted as host the following October.)

In 1971, Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre. (Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest.)

In 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.

In 1984, under cover of darkness, the Baltimore Colts football team left its home city of three decades and moved to Indianapolis.

Today’s birthdays: Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major is 74. Comedian Eric Idle is 74. Composer Vangelis is 74. Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier is 72. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Earl Campbell is 62. International Gymnastics Hall of Famer Kurt Thomas is 61. Model Elle Macpherson is 54. International Tennis Hall of Famer Jennifer Capriati is 41.