Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

September 13

1993
PLO-Israeli peace treaty: PLO chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin sign the historic treaty at the White House.

1979
Benson debuts on ABC.

1977
First U.S. made diesel automobile: General Motors introduces the Oldsmobile 88 and 98 models.

1971
Attica Prison Riot: Forty-two people (including nine hostages) are killed when 1,000 police are sent in to end the four-day-old riot.

1970
First New York City Marathon: Won by Gary Muhrcke.

1922
Hottest recorded day: El Azizia, Libya hits 136º F (58º C).

1861
First Civil War naval engagement: A Union frigate burns a Confederate privateer in a Pensacola, Florida shipyard.

1788
New York City is established as the capitol of the U.S. by Congress.

1501
Michelangelo: The Italian Renaissance artist begins work on his marble sculpture of David. It was completed in 1504.

1948
Nell Carter, American Emmy-winning actress, Nell Harper of Gimme a Break.

1944
Jacqueline Bisset, English actress. Film: Casino Royale (1967, Miss Goodthighs).

1939
Richard Kiel, American 7-foot 2-inch tall actor. Film: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977, Jaws - Bond's steel-mouthed foe), and Moonraker (1979).

1938
Miss Manners (Judith Martin), author, journalist.

1937
Fred Silverman, ABC program manager.

1931     d. 1991
Joseph "Mr. Google Eyes" August, pioneer rhythm and blues musician.

1931
Barbara Bain, American actress. TV: Mission: Impossible (Cinnamon Carter).

1925
Mel Torme, American singer, Judge Stone's favorite. He co-wrote Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (1946).

1924     d. 1985
Scott Brady (Gerald Tierney), American actor. TV: Laverne & Shirley (Shirley Feeney's dad).

1924
Norman Alden, American actor. TV: Rango (Ranger Rango's boss).

1916     d. 1990
Roald Dahl, British author, coined the word "Gremlin" and wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (made into the 1971 movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).

1903     d. 1996
Claudette Colbert (Claudette Lily Chauchoin), Oscar-winning French-American actress. Film: It Happened One Night (Oscar).

1903     d. 1974
Alberta Christine Williams King, mother of civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. She was shot to death while playing the organ during a church service by a 21-year-old black man who proclaimed "all Christians are my enemies."

1860     d. 1948
John Joseph Pershing, American general, commander in chief of the American forces during World War I (1917-19) and U.S. Army chief of staff (1921-24).

1857     d. 1945
Milton Snavely Hershey, American candy-maker, invented the Hershey bar (1894).

1851     d. 1902
Walter Reed, American Army surgeon. He proved that Aëdes aegypti mosquitoes carry the yellow-fever virus (1900).

1813     d. 1865
William Augustus Barstow, American politician, governor of Wisconsin (1854-56). After the discovery of election irregularities, he became the first U.S. governor removed from office by a state supreme court (1856).

1813     d. 1864
John Sedgwick, American general, killed in the Civil War battle of Spotsylvania. His last words were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." (Source: The Civil War Day by Day)

1766     d. 1854
Samuel Wilson, American meatpacker, the original "Uncle Sam." During the War of 1812 he stamped his merchandise with "U.S." - the initials of his nickname - causing it to be confused with government approved packages.

1761     d. 1818
Caspar Wistar, American physician, for whom the wisteria is named.

1832     b. 1767
Father Gabriel Richard, first Catholic priest to serve in Congress (1823-25).

1803     b. 1745
John Barry, American naval commander, fought in the American Revolution, became the first American commodore (1794).

1598     b. 1527
Philip II, King of Spain, Naples, and Sicily (1556-98), and King of Portugal (1580-98). His armada was destroyed after attacking England (1588), giving rule of the seas to England.

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