Today in History — August 31

updated 12:43 a.m. ET Aug. 31, 2007

Today is Friday, Aug. 31, the 243rd day of 2007. There are 122 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
On Aug. 31, 1886, an earthquake rocked Charleston, S.C., killing 60 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

On this date:
In 1881, the first U.S. tennis championships (for men) were played, in Newport, R.I.

In 1888, Mary Ann Nichols was found murdered in London’s East End in what is generally regarded as the first slaying committed by “Jack the Ripper.”

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act prohibiting the export of U.S. arms to belligerents.

In 1941, the radio program “The Great Gildersleeve” debuted on NBC.

In 1954, Hurricane Carol hit the northeastern Atlantic states. Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts bore the brunt of the storm, which resulted in nearly 70 deaths.

In 1957, the Federation of Malaya became independent of British colonial rule.

In 1962, the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago became independent of British colonial rule.

In 1980, Poland’s Solidarity labor movement was born with an agreement signed in Gdansk that ended a 17-day-old strike.

In 1986, 82 people were killed when an Aeromexico jetliner and a small private plane collided over Cerritos, Calif.

In 1986, the Soviet passenger ship Admiral Nakhimov collided with a merchant vessel in the Black Sea, causing both vessels to sink; up to 448 people reportedly died.

Ten years ago: Prince Charles brought Princess Diana home for the last time, escorting the body of his former wife to a Britain that was shocked, grief-stricken and angered by her death in a Paris traffic accident.

Five years ago: Vibraphone virtuoso Lionel Hampton died in New York City at age 94. The Los Angeles Sparks beat the New York Liberty 69-66 to defend their WNBA championship.

One year ago: Iran defied a U.N. deadline to stop enriching uranium. President George Bush, speaking in Salt Lake City, predicted victory in the war on terror, likening the struggle against Islamic fundamentalism with the fight against Nazis and communists.

Today’s Birthdays: Broadcast journalist Daniel Schorr is 91. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson is 72. Actor Warren Berlinger is 70. Rock musician Jerry Allison (Buddy Holly and the Crickets) is 68. Actor Jack Thompson is 67. Violinist Itzhak Perlman is 62. Singer Van Morrison is 62. Rock musician Rudolf Schenker (The Scorpions) is 59. Actor Richard Gere is 58. Rock singer Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) is 50. Rock musician Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s) is 50. Singer Tony DeFranco (The DeFranco Family) is 48. Rhythm-and-blues musician Larry Waddell (Mint Condition) is 44. Actor Jaime P. Gomez is 42. Rock musician Jeff Russo (Tonic) is 38. Singer-composer Deborah Gibson is 37. Rock musician Greg Richling (Wallflowers) is 37. Actor Zack Ward is 37. Actor Chris Tucker is 35. Rhythm-and-blues singer Tamara (Trina & Tamara) is 30.

Thought for Today: “Real stories, in distinction from those we invent, have no author. Although history owes its existence to men, it is not ’made’ by them.” — Hannah Arendt, German-born author, philosopher and historian (1906-1975).

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