TODAY IN HISTORY

1608

John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia.

1813

An American naval force commanded by Oliver H. Perry defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

1919

New York City welcomed home Gen. John J. Pershing and 25,000 soldiers who’d served in the U.S. First Division during World War I.

1935

Sen. Huey P. Long died in Baton Rouge two days after being shot in the Louisiana state Capitol, allegedly by Dr. Carl Weiss.

1963

20Black students entered Alabama public schools following a standoff between federal authorities and Gov. George C. Wallace.

1998

President Clinton met with members of his Cabinet to apologize, ask forgiveness and promise to improve as a person in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Birthdays

Actor Philip Baker Hall is

90. Singer Danny Hutton (Three Dog Night) is

79. Political commentator Bill O’Reilly is 72. Actor Colin Firth is 61. Baseball Hall of Famer Randy Johnson is 58. Actor Ryan Phillippe is

47. MLB All-Star firstbaseman Joey Votto is

38. MLB All-Star firstbaseman Paul Goldschmidt is 34. Actor Gabriel Bateman is 17.