On this day, August 24

1814 During the War of 1812, British forces invaded Washington, D.C., setting fire to the Capitol (which was still under construction) and the White House, as well as other public buildings.

1918 Pittsburgh firefighters staged a strike for higher wages, leaving the city without fire protection for six hours. 1932 Amelia Earhart embarked on a 19hour flight from Los Angeles to Newark, N.J., making her the first woman to fly solo, nonstop, from coast to coast. 2006 The International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto was no longer a full-fledged planet, demoting it to the status of dwarf planet.

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

— Compiled by Alyssa Brown Today’s birthdays: Composer-musician Mason Williams, 82. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marshall Thompson (The Chi-Lites),

78. Rock musician Ken Hensley, 75. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee,

65. Actor-writer Stephen Fry, 63. Actor Steve Guttenberg, 62. Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., 60. Actor Jared Harris, 59. Talk show host Craig Kilborn,

58. CBS News correspondent Major Garrett, 58. Actor Marlee Matlin, 55. Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, 55. Broadcast journalist David Gregory, 50. Movie director Ava DuVernay, 48. Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle, 47. Actor James D’Arcy,

47. Singer Mika, 37. Actor Blake Berris, 36. Actor Rupert Grint (“Harry Potter” films), 32. Thought for today: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”