Today In History

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 26, the 299th day of 2022. There are 66 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY

On October 26, 2020, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a deeply divided Senate, with Republicans overpowering Democrats to install President Donald Trump’s nominee days before the election and secure a likely conservative court majority for years to come.

ON THIS DATE

› 1774: The First Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.

› 1825: The Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

› 1861: The legendary Pony Express officially ceased operations, giving way to the transcontinental telegraph. (The last run of the Pony Express was completed the following month.)

› 1921: The Chicago Theatre, billed as “the Wonder Theatre of the World,” first opened.

› 1944: The World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf ended in a major Allied victory over Japanese forces, whose naval capabilities were badly crippled. ›

1979: South Korean President Park Chunghee was shot to death by the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Kim Jae-kyu.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Actor Jaclyn Smith is

77. TV host Pat Sajak is

76. Hillary Rodham Clinton is 75. Musician Bootsy Collins is 71. Actor James Pickens Jr. is 70. Rock musician David Was is

70. Rock musician Keith Strickland (The B-52s) is

69. Actor Lauren Tewes is

69. Actor D.W. Moffett is

68. Actor-singer Rita Wilson is 66. Actor Patrick Breen is 62. Actor Dylan McDermott is 61. Actor Cary Elwes is 60. Singer Natalie Merchant is 59. Actor Steve Valentine is

56. Country singer Keith Urban is 55. Actor Tom Cavanagh is 54. Actor Rosemarie DeWitt is 51. Actor Anthony Rapp is 51. TV news correspondent Paula Faris is 47. Actor Lennon Parham is 47. Actor Florence Kasumba is 46. Actor Hal Ozsan is 46. Actor Jon Heder is 45. Singer Mark Barry (BBMak) is 44. Actor Jonathan Chase is 43. Actor Folake Olowofoyeku is 39. Olympic silver medal figure skater Sasha Cohen is

38. Rapper Schoolboy Q is 36. Actor Beulah Koale (TV: “Hawaii Five-0”) is

31.