On this day, March 3
1791 Congress passed a measure taxing distilled spirits; it was the first internal revenue act in U.S. history.
1845 Florida became the 27th state.
1849 The U.S. Department of the Interior was established.
1863 President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure creating the National Academy of Sciences.
1931 “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States as President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution.
1943 In London’s East End, 173 people died in a crush of bodies at the Bethnal Green tube station, which was being used as a wartime air raid shelter.
1945 The Allies fully secured the Philippine capital of Manila from Japanese forces during World War II.
1960 Lucille Ball filed for divorce from her husband, Desi Arnaz, a day after they had finished filming the last episode of “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show.”
1966 Death claimed actors William Frawley at age 79 and Alice Pearce at age 48.
1969 Apollo 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a mission to test the lunar module.
1974 A Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff from Orly Airport in Paris, killing all 346 people on board.
1991 Motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video.
2017 The Nintendo Switch, a hybrid game machine that works as both a console at home and a portable tablet on the go, made its debut.
Today’s birthdays: Singer-musician Mike Pender (The Searchers), 82. Movie producer-director George Miller, 78. Actor Hattie Winston, 78. Singer Jennifer Warnes, 76. Actor-director Tim Kazurinsky, 73. Singer-musician Robyn Hitchcock, 70. Actor Robert Gossett, 69. Rock musician John Lilley, 69. Actor Miranda Richardson, 65. Radio personality Ira Glass, 64. Actor Mary Page Keller, 62. Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 61. Former NFL player and College Football Hall of Famer Herschel Walker, 61. Actor Laura Harring, 59. Contemporary Christian musician Duncan Phillips (Newsboys), 59. Rapper-actor Tone Loc, 57. Actor Julie Bowen, 53. Country singer Brett Warren (The Warren Brothers), 52. Actor David Faustino, 49. Gospel singer Jason Crabb, 46. Singer Ronan Keating (Boyzone), 46. Rapper Lil’ Flip, 42. Actor Jessica Biel, 41. Rock musician Blower (AKA Joe Garvey) (Hinder), 39. Musician Brett Hite (Frenship), 37. Pop singer Camila Cabello, 26. Actor Thomas Barbusca (TV: “The Mick”), 20. Actor Reylynn Caster, 20.