Today in history

In 1760 George III ascended the British throne after the death of his grandfather, King George II.

In 1812 the U.S. frigate United States captured the British vessel Macedonian during the War of 1812.

In 1854 the Charge of the Light Brigade took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men, facing hopeless odds, charged the Russian army in the Battle of Balaclava.

In 1918 the Canadian steamship Princess Sophia foundered off Alaska nearly 400 people died.

In 1951 peace talks aimed at ending the Korean War resumed in Panmunjom.

In 1962 Adlai E. Stevenson II, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., presented photographic evidence of Soviet missile bases in Cuba to the Security Council.

In 1971 the United Nations seated mainland China and expelled Taiwan.

In 1983 a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan.

In 1986 the Boston Red Sox lost Game 6 of the World Series to the New York Mets when a routine ground ball

rolled through the legs of Boston first baseman Bill Buckner, allowing the winning run to score in the 10th inning.

In 1994 Susan Smith of Union, S.C., claimed that an African-American carjacker had driven off with her two sons. (Smith later confessed to drowning the children and was convicted of murder.)

In 1999 pro golfer Payne Stewart, 42, and five others were killed when their Learjet flew uncontrolled for four hours before crashing in South Dakota.

In 2003 the Florida Marlins won the World Series in Game 6 against the New York Yankees, 2-0.