On this date:
In 1787, the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia began to debate a draft of the U.S. Constitution.
In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire went out of existence as Emperor Francis II abdicated.
Two hundred years ago, in 1809, one of the leading literary figures of the Victorian era, poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England.
In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia.
One hundred fifty years ago, in 1859, the Australian passenger ship SS Admella, en route from Port Adelaide to Melbourne, struck a reef off South Australia and broke apart; of the 113 people on board, only 24 survived.
In 1890, Hall of fame pitcher Cy Young made his major league debut with the Cleveland Spiders of the National League. Convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed in the electric chair as he was put to death at Auburn State Prison in New York.
In 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia, and Serbia declared war against Germany at the outbreak of World War I.
In 1926, Gertrude Ederle of New York became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 and a half hours. 
In 1940, Italy invaded British Somaliland, starting the Battle of North Africa in World War II.
In 1962, Jamaica became an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth.
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. Below: Five humans currently rotting below ground.
In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80.
In 1986, William J. Schroeder died after living 620 days with the Jarvik 7 artificial heart.
In 1995, some 100,000 people attended a memorial service in Hiroshima, Japan, to mark the 50th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing that helped end World War II.
In 1996, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin announced the discovery of evidence of a primitive life form on Mars.
In 1997, British Prime Minister Tony Blair shook hands with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in the first meeting in 76 years between a British leader and the IRA's allies.
In 1998, a House committee voted to cite Attorney General Janet Reno for contempt of Congress for her refusal to turn over reports recommending that she seek an independent counsel to investigate campaign fund-raising, & former White House intern Monica Lewinsky spent eight and a half hours [Whew! — Ed.] testifying before a grand jury about her relationship with President Bill Clinton.
Ten years ago: In Canton, Texas, a 36-year-old woman facing lifelong heart problems that she blamed on the diet drug combination fen-phen was awarded $23.3 million in the first such lawsuit to reach a jury. (The case was settled for less than a tenth of that amount during an appeal.) Tony Gwynn became the 22nd major leaguer to reach 3,000 hits as his team, the San Diego Padres, beat the Montreal Expos 12-10.
Five years ago: A court found two former top East German officials guilty of failing to stop the killing of people trying to escape across the Berlin Wall and sentenced them to probation.
In 2007, the Crandall Canyon Mine in central Utah collapsed, trapping six coal miners. (All six miners died, along with three rescuers.) [Has the capitalist asshole responsible done any time yet? Of course not. This is America, not socialist Russia! — Ed.]
One year ago: The government declared that Army scientist Bruce Ivins was solely responsible for the anthrax attacks that killed five and rattled the nation in 2001. (Ivins had committed suicide on July 29.) A U.S. military jury convicted Osama bin Laden's former driver, Salim Hamdan, of supporting terrorism in the first war crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay. President George W. Bush, on his Asia tour, met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak; Bush then traveled to Thailand, where he met with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Today's Birthdays: Former tennis player Pauline Betz is 90. Actress-singer Abbey Lincoln is 79. Jazz musician Charlie Haden is 72. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 71. Actor Michael Anderson Jr. is 66. Actor Dorian Harewood is 59. Actress Catherine Hicks is 58. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 57. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 53. Actress Faith Prince is 52. R&B singer Randy DeBarge is 51. Country singers Peggy and Patsy Lynn are 45. Basketball Hall-of-Fame electee David Robinson is 44. Actor Jeremy Ratchford is 44. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 41. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 39. Actress Merrin Dungey is 38. Singer Geri Halliwell is 37. Actor Jason O'Mara is 37. Actress Vera Farmiga is 36. Actress Ever Carradine is 35. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 33. Rock singer Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) is 28. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 25.
Today In Entertainment History -- In 1926, Warner Brothers premiered its "Vitaphone" sound-on-disc movie system in New York.
In 1965, the album "Help!" by the Beatles was released.
In 1973, Stevie Wonder was seriously injured when the car he was riding in collided with a lumber truck in North Carolina. He spent four days in a coma.
In 1982, the movie "Pink Floyd -- The Wall" had its US premiere in New York.
Twenty-five years ago, in 1984, the album "Purple Rain" by the [sic] Prince was released.
In 1987, the Beastie Boys sued the city of Jacksonville for including the phrase "mature audience" on their concert tickets and ads.
In 1988, "Yo! MTV Raps" made its debut, hosted by Fab 5 Freddy.
Twenty years ago, in 1989, the musical "Oh! Calcutta!" closed on Broadway. Bassist Adam Clayton of U2 was arrested at his home in Dublin for pot possession. [And the pans? — Ed.]
In 1992, the first Oscar to be sold was put on the auction block in New York. Harold Russell had won the award in 1947 for "The Best Years of Our Lives" and sold it against the Academy's wishes. It brought in $60,500.
In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley made their first public appearance as newlyweds, in Budapest.
Five years ago, funk legend Rick James died in Los Angeles at age 56.
Thought for Today: "No man ever got very high by pulling other people down. The intelligent merchant does not knock his competitors. The sensible worker does not work those who work with him. Don't knock your friends. Don't knock your enemies. Don't knock yourself." — Alfred, Lord Tennyson, British poet (1809-1892). [Knock this, bitch! — Ed.]
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