On this day, January 21

1861 Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and four other Southerners whose states had seceded from the Union resigned from the U.S. Senate.

1908 New York City’s Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance prohibiting women from smoking in public establishments. (The measure was vetoed by Mayor George B. McClellan Jr., but not before one woman, Katie Mulcahey, was jailed overnight for refusing to pay a fine.)

1946 All mills in the district were silent; steel production hit a 50-year low; Philip Murray, in a nationwide broadcast from Pittsburgh, accused American business of an “evil conspiracy” to destroy labor unions.

1977 On his first full day in office, President Jimmy Carter pardoned almost all Vietnam War draft evaders.

1992 Bill Cowher, who grew up in Crafton, was named the new head coach of the Steelers.

2009 Due to demands of the state Insurance Department, health insurers Highmark Inc. of Pittsburgh and Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia dismissed their proposed merger.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus, 80. Opera singer-conductor Placido Domingo, 79. Singer Mac Davis, 78. Actress Jill Eikenberry, 73. Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean, 70. Actor-director Robby Benson,

64. Actress Geena Davis, 64. Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, 57. Actress Charlotte Ross, 52. Actor John Ducey, 51. Actress Karina Lombard, 51. Actor Ken Leung, 50. Rock musician Mark Trojanowski (Sister Hazel), 50. Rock DJ Chris Kilmore (Incubus), 47. Actor Vincent Laresca, 46. Singer Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), 44. Actor Jerry Trainor, 43. Country singer Phil Stacey,

42. R&B singer Nokio (Dru Hill), 41. Actress Izabella Miko, 39.

Thought for today: “I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.”

— George Burns, American comedian (1896-1996)