Today’s highlight in history

On Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tenn., at age 42.

On this date

In 1777, American forces won the Battle of Bennington in what was considered a turning point of the Revolutionary War.

In 1812, Detroit fell to British and Indian forces in the War of 1812.

In 1948, baseball legend Babe Ruth died in New York at age 53.

In 1954, Sports Illustrated was first published by Time Inc.

In 1967, Louis Armstrong recorded “What a Wonderful World” by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss for ABC Records.

In 1977, a judge in New York ruled that Renée Richards, a male-to-female transgender person, had the right to compete in the U.S. Open without having to pass a sex chromosome test. (In the opening round of the Open, Richards lost to Virginia Wade in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4).

In 1987, people worldwide began a two-day celebration of the “harmonic convergence,” which heralded what believers called the start of a new, purer age of humankind.

Ten years ago: José Padilla, a U.S. citizen held for 3 1⁄2 years as an enemy combatant, was convicted in Miami of helping Islamic extremists and plotting overseas attacks. (Padilla was later sentenced to 17 years and four months in prison on the unrelated terror support charges, but that sentence was later increased to 21 years.) Five years ago: Ecuador decided to identify WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a refugee and give him asylum in its London embassy. One year ago: Political commentator and TV host John McLaughlin, 89, died in Washington, D.C.