TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is April 13, 2021.

Today’s highlight in history

On April 13, 1970, Apollo 13, four-fifths of the way to the moon, was crippled when a tank containing liquid oxygen burst. (The astronauts managed to return safely.)

On this date

In 1613, Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, was captured by English Capt. Samuel Argall in the Virginia Colony. (During a yearlong captivity, Pocahontas converted to Christianity and ultimately opted to stay with the English.)

In 1743, the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, was born in Shadwell in the Virginia Colony.

In 1861, Fort Sumter in South Carolina fell to Confederate forces.

In 1943,

President Franklin D.

Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., on the 200th anniversary of the third American president’s birth.

In 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first Black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award for his performance in “Lilies of the Field.”

In 1997, Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament and the first player of partly African heritage to win a major golf title.

Today’s birthdays

Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., is 88. Actor Paul Sorvino is 82. Composer Bill Conti is 79. Actor Tony Dow is 76. Singer Al Green is 75. Actor Ron Perlman is 71. Actor William Sadler is 71. Singer Peabo Bryson is 70. Musician Max Weinberg is 70. Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov is 58. Actor Caroline Rhea is 57. Actor Ricky Schroder is 51. Actor Bokeem Woodbine is 48. Singer Lou Bega is 46. Actor Allison Williams is 33.