September 10
1813
Oliver H. Perry sent his famous message, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours,” after defeating the British in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.
1846
Elias Howe of Massachusetts received a patent for his sewing machine.
1939
Canada declared war on Germany, entering WWII.
1963
Twenty black students entered public schools in Birmingham, Mobile, and Tuskegee, Alabama, after President John F. Kennedy sent National Guardsman to end the standoff with Alabama Governor George Wallace.
1988
Steffi Graf achieved tennis’ first Grand Slam since Margaret Court in 1970 by winning the U.S. Open women’s final.
2002
Switzerland became the 190th member of the United Nations.
Birthdays
Sir John Soane
1753–1837, English architect.
William Torrey Harris
educator and philosopher (1835)
Elsa Schiaparelli
fashion designer (1890)
Arnold Palmer
golfer (1929)
Roger Maris
baseball player (1934)
Stephen Jay Gould
paleontologist and science writer (1941)
Amy Irving
actress (1953)
Colin Firth
actor (1960)
Randy Johnson
baseball player (1963)