Associated Press
On Oct. 21, 1879, Thomas Edison invented a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J.
1797- The U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was launched in Boston Harbor.
1805- A British fleet commanded by Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French and Spanish fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar; Nelson was killed in the battle.
1917- American soldiers first saw action in World War I on the front lines in France.
1967- Tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters marched in Washington, D.C.
1971- President Richard M. Nixon nominated Lewis F. Powell and William H. Rehnquist to the U.S. Supreme Court.
1975- Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk hit a ball that struck the left field foul pole in Boston’s Fenway Park for a home run, giving the Red Sox a 7-6 victory in 12 innings over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 6 of the World Series.
1988- Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, were indicted in New York on charges of fraud and racketeering.
2002- A car packed with explosives blew up next to a bus in northern Israel during rush hour; 14 people were killed in addition to two suicide attackers.
2003- Invoking a hastily-passed law, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ordered a feeding tube reinserted into Terry Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman at the center of a bitter right-to-die battle.
Today’s Birthdays:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turns 66 years old today.
Joyce Randolph, Actress (“The Honeymooners”), 91
Whitey Ford, Baseball Hall of Famer, 87
Manfred Mann, Rock musician, 75
Steve Cropper, Rock musician (Booker T. & the MG’s), 74
Elvin Bishop, Singer, 73
Judy Sheindlin, TV personality (“Judge Judy”), 73
Catherine Hardwicke, Director (“Twilight”), 60
Carrie Fisher, Actress, author, 59
Ken Watanabe, Actor, 56
Melora Walters, Actress (“Big Love”), 55
Jeremy Miller, Actor (“Growing Pains”), 39
Michael McMillian, Actor (“True Blood”), 37
TV personality Kim Kardashian turns 35 years old today.