On this day, Sept. 14
1758 Maj. James Grant, with John Forbes’ army, received permission to attack Fort Duquesne. He led his force of 800 into disaster; one- third of his men were killed.
1814 Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem “Defence of Fort McHenry” ( later “The Star- Spangled Banner”) after witnessing the American flag flying over the Maryland fort following a night of British naval bombardment during the War of 1812.
1966 A plan to merge the Mellon Institute and Carnegie Institute of Technology was announced by Paul Mellon and Aiken Fisher, the respective board chairmen of the two institutions.
1982 Common Pleas Judge Silvestri Silvestri refused to order the McKeesport Area School District to resume the busing of 1,900 high school students.
2001 Americans packed churches and clogged public squares on a day of remembrance for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. President George W. Bush prayed with his Cabinet and attended services at Washington National Cathedral, then flew to New York, where he waded into the ruins of the World Trade Center and addressed rescue workers.
2015 Rowan County, Ky., clerk Kim Davis returned to work for the first time since she was jailed for defying a federal court and announced that she would no longer block her deputies from issuing marriage licenses to same- sex couples. Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” ( digital. library. pitt. edu/ chronology).
— Compiled by Alyssa Brown
Today’s birthdays: Actor Walter Koenig,
84. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, 80. Singer- actor Joey Heatherton,
76. Actor Sam Neill, 73. Singer Jon “Bowzer” Bauman ( Sha Na Na), 73. Actor Robert Wisdom, 67. Rock musician Steve Berlin ( Los Lobos), 65. Country singersongwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, 64. Actor Mary Crosby, 61. Singer Morten Harket ( a- ha), 61. Country singer John Berry, 61. Actor Melissa Leo, 60. Actor Faith Ford,
56. Actor Jamie Kaler, 56. Actor Michelle Stafford, 55. Rock musician Mike Cooley ( Drive- By Truckers), 54. Actor Dan Cortese,
53. Contemporary Christian singer Mark Hall, 51. Actor- writer- director- producer Tyler Perry, 51. Actor Ben Garant, 50. Rock musician Craig Montoya ( Tri Polar), 50. Actor Kimberly Williams- Paisley, 49. Actor Andrew Lincoln, 47. Rapper Nas, 47. Actor Austin Basis, 44. Country singer Danielle Peck, 42. Pop singer Ayo, 40. Chef/ TV personality Katie Lee, 39. Actor Sebastian Sozzi, 38. Actor Adam Lamberg, 36. Singer Alex Clare, 35. Actor Chad Duell ( TV: “General Hospital”), 33. Actor Jessica Brown Findlay, 33. Actor- singer Logan Henderson, 31. Actor Emma Kenney, 21.
Thought for today: “It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realise just how much you love them.”
— Dame Agatha Christie ( 1890- 1976)