TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.

Today’s highlight in history

On Feb. 28, 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign, ending an eight-year pontificate.

On this date

In 1784, John Wesley chartered the first Methodist Church in the United States in Leesburg, Va.

In 1844, a 12-inch gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded as the ship was sailing on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others.

In 1849, the California gold rush began in earnest as regular steamship service started bringing gold-seekers to San Francisco.

In 1953, James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced they had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai issued the Shanghai Communique, which called for normalizing relations between their countries.

In 1983, “M-A-S-H” ended after 11 seasons on CBS with a special 2 1⁄2 hour finale that was watched by an estimated 121.6 million people.

In 1993, a gunbattle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

Today’s birthdays

Architect Frank Gehry is 92. Actor Gavin Macleod is 90. Singer Sam the Sham is 84. Actor Tommy Tune is 82. Hall of Fame auto racer Mario Andretti is 81. Actor Frank Bonner is 79. Actor Kelly Bishop is 77. Actor Stephanie Beacham is 74. Actor Mercedes Ruehl is 73. Actor Bernadette Peters is 73. Comedian Gilbert Gottfried is 66. Basketball star Adrian Dantley is 66. Singer Cindy Wilson is

64. Actor Rae Dawn Chong is

60. Actor Ali Larter is 45. Singer Jason Aldean is 44.