TODAY IN HISTORY

the second day of 2018. There are 363 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1893, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first set of commemorative stamps to honor the upcoming World’s Columbian Expedition in Chicago, as well as the quadricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ voyage.

In 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1792, the first classes began at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In 1967, Republican Ronald Reagan took the oath of office as the new governor of California in Sacramento shortly after midnight.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 miles an hour to conserve gas in the face of an OPEC oil embargo. (The 55 mph limit was phased out in 1987; federal speed limits were abolished in 1995.)

In 1983, the original Broadway production of the musical “Annie” closed after a run of 2,377 performances.

In 1991, Sharon Pratt was sworn in as mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first black woman to head a city of Washington’s size and prominence.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is 76. TV host Jack Hanna is 71. Actress Wendy Phillips is 66. Actress Gabrielle Carteris is 57. Actress Tia Carrere is 51. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 50. Model Christy Turlington is 49. Actor Taye Diggs and rock musician Scott Underwood are 47. Ballroom dancer Karina Smirnoff (TV: “Dancing with the Stars”) is 40. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kelton Kessee (IMX) is 37. Actress Kate Bosworth is 35. Actor Peter Gadiot is 33. Jazz singer-musician Trombone Shorty is 32. Singer-songwriter Mandy Harvey (TV: “America’s Got Talent”) is 30. Rhythm-and-blues singer-rapper Bryson Tiller is 25.