My birthday in history

What has Oct. 19 meant throughout history, besides delivering myself? Let's take a look ...

 

The 293rd day of 2008, there are 73 days left in the year. On this date:

On Oct. 19, 1781, British troops under General Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, as the American Revolution neared its end.

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York, drew up a declaration of rights and liberties.

In 1812, French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte began their retreat from Moscow.

In 1864, Confederate General Jubal A. Early attacked Union forces at Cedar Creek, Virginia; the Union troops were able to rally and defeat the Confederates.

In 1936, H.R. Ekins of the New York World-Telegram beat out Dorothy Kilgallen of the New York Journal and Leo Kieran of The New York Times in a round-the-world race on commercial flights that lasted 18 1/2 days.

In 1944, the play "I Remember Mama," by John van Druten, opened at the Music Box Theater on Broadway.

In 1951, President Truman signed an act formally ending the state of war with Germany.

In 1960, President Eisenhower imposed an embargo on exports to Cuba covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.

In 1967, the U.S. space probe Mariner 5 flew past Venus.

In 1977, the supersonic Concorde made its first landing in New York City.

In 1987, the stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6 percent in value.

In sports:

1940 -- Alabama snaps Tennessee's defensive scoreless streak of 71 quarters but still loses 27-12. Tennessee hadn't allowed a point since Oct. 29, 1938, when it beat LSU 14-6.

1980 -- Dan Fouts of San Diego passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns as the Chargers beat the New York Giants 44-7.

1994 -- Duke beats North Carolina 3-2 in women's soccer to end the Tar Heels' unbeaten streak of 101 games.

Today's Birthdays: Former ambassador to Russia Robert S. Strauss is 90. Author John le Carre (luh kah-RAY') is 77. Artist Peter Max is 71. Actor Michael Gambon is 68. Actor John Lithgow (LIHTH'-goh) is 63. Former National Organization for Women President Patricia Ireland is 63. Singer Jeannie C. Riley is 63. Talk show host Charlie Chase is 56. Rock singer-musician Karl Wallinger (World Party) is 51. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 48. TV host Ty Pennington ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") is 44. Rock singer-musician Todd Park Mohr (Big Head Todd and the Monsters) is 43. Actor Jon Favreau is 42. Amy Carter is 41. "South Park" co-creator Trey Parker is 39. Comedian Chris Kattan is 38. Rock singer Pras Michel (The Fugees) is 36. Actor Omar Gooding is 32. Country singer Cyndi Thomson is 32. Writer-director Jason Reitman is 31. Actor Benjamin Salisbury is 28.