On this day, Sept. 3

1861 During the Civil War, Confederate forces invaded the border state of Kentucky, which had declared its neutrality in the conflict.

1939 Thousands of people of all faiths, attending the Allegheny County fair, joined in a peace demonstration as Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany.

1943 Allied forces invaded Italy during World War II, the same day Italian officials signed a secret armistice with the Allies.

1976 Two of the three Cleveland gunmen convicted of murdering United Mine Workers leader Jock Yablonski, his wife and daughter were sentenced to life imprisonment.

1999 Former Penguins center and captain Mario Lemieux headed a financial group to formally acquire the team.

2017 Walter Becker, co-founder of the 1970s rock group Steely Dan, died at the age of 67. 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: Actor Pauline Collins, 82. Rock singer-musician Al Jardine, 80. Actor Valerie Perrine, 79. Rock musician Donald Brewer (Grand Funk Railroad), 74. Rock guitarist Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols), 67. Actor Steve Schirripa, 65. Actor Holt McCallany, 58. Rock singer -musician Todd Lewis, 57. Actor Costas Mandylor, 57. Actor Charlie Sheen, 57. Singer Jennifer Paige, 49. Dance-rock musician Redfoo, 47. Actor Ashley Jones, 46. Actor Nichole Hiltz, 44. Actor Joel Johnstone, 44. Actor Nick Wechsler, 44. Rock musician Tomo Milicevic (30 Seconds to Mars), 43. Bluegrass musician Darren Nicholson (Balsam Range), 39. Actor Christine Woods, 39. Actor Garrett Hedlund, 38. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White, 36. Hip-hop singer August Alsina, 30.

Thought for today: “Nothing is so useless as a general maxim.”

— Thomas Macaulay, English historian

(1800-1859)