On this day, March 13

1781 The seventh planet of the solar system, Uranus, was discovered by Sir William Herschel.

1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure prohibiting Union military officers from returning fugitive slaves to their owners.

1939 The city began construction of an $890,000 incinerator plant, its first, at the foot of 29th Street in Lawrenceville.

1954 The Battle of Dien Bien Phu began during the First Indochina War as Viet Minh forces attacked French troops, who were defeated nearly two months later.

1993 A blizzard left 4 feet of snow on the streets. 2004 Ebenezer Baptist Church, a presence in the Hill District community for 131 years, was destroyed by fire. Two firefighters died fighting the blaze.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Jazz musician Roy Haynes, 97. Songwriter Mike Stoller, 89. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, 83. R&B/ gospel singer Candi Staton, 82. Opera singer Julia Migenes, 73. Actor William H. Macy, 72. Comedian Robin Duke, 68. Actor Dana Delany, 66. Sen. John Hoeven, RN.D., 65. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2), 62. Jazz musician Terence Blanchard, 60. Actor Christopher Collet, 54. Rock musician Matt McDonough (Mudvayne), 53. Actor Annabeth Gish, 51. Actor Tracy Wells, 51. Rapper-actor Common, 50. Rapper Khujo (Goodie Mob, The Lumberjacks), 50. Singer Glenn Lewis, 47. Singers Natalie and Nicole Albino (Nina Sky), 38. Actor Emile Hirsch, 37. U.S. Olympic gold medal skier Mikaela Shiffrin, 27. Tennis star Coco Gauff, 18.

Thought for today: “Dare to err and to dream. Deep meaning often lies in childish plays.”

— Friedrich von Schiller, German author

(1759-1805)