TODAY IN HISTORY

1782: The United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.

1803: Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which had sold it to the United States.

1874: British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.

1981: The United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.

1982: The motion picture “Gandhi,” starring Ben Kingsley as the Indian nationalist leader, had its world premiere in New Delhi.

1993:

President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers.

2000:

Al Gore’s lawyers battled for his political survival in the Florida and

U.S. supreme courts; meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee moved to award the presidency to George W. Bush in case the courts did not by appointing their own slate of electors.

2004: “Jeopardy!” fans saw Ken Jennings’ 74-game winning streak end as he lost to real estate agent Nancy Zerg.