On this day, March 13

1781 The seventh planet of the solar system, Uranus, was discovered by Sir William Herschel.

1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure prohibiting Union military officers from returning fugitive slaves to their owners.

1939 The city began construction of an $890,000 incinerator plant, its first, at the foot of 29th Street in Lawrenceville.

1969 The Apollo 9 astronauts splashed down, ending a mission that included the successful testing of the Lunar Module.

2000 Pittsburgh native Dan Marino retired from football after a career with Central Catholic High School, the University of Pittsburgh and the Miami Dolphins.

2007 The Penguins agree to remain in Pittsburgh with a 30-year lease and a $290 million arena built in the Lower Hill.

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: Jazz musician Roy Haynes, 96. Songwriter Mike Stoller, 88. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, 82. R&B/gospel singer Candi Staton, 81. Opera singer Julia Migenes, 72. Actor William H. Macy, 71. Comedian Robin Duke, 67. Actor Dana Delany, 65. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., 64. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2), 61. Jazz musician Terence Blanchard, 59. Actor Christopher Collet, 53. Rock musician Matt McDonough (Mudvayne), 52. Actor Annabeth Gish, 50. Actor Tracy Wells, 50. Rapper-actor Common, 49. Rapper Khujo (Goodie Mob, The Lumberjacks), 49. Singer Glenn Lewis, 46. Actor Danny Masterson, 45. Actor Noel Fisher, 37. Singers Natalie and Nicole Albino (Nina Sky), 37. Actor Emile Hirsch, 36. Olympic gold medal skier Mikaela Shiffrin, 26. Tennis star Coco Gauff, 17.

Thought for today: “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”

— John Stuart Mill, English philosopher

and economist (1806-1873)