This Day in History

In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, which provided for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.

In 1836, an army of Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas independence.

In 1910, author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, died in Redding, Conn.

In 1918, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the German ace known as the "Red Baron," was killed in action during World War I.

In 1940, the quiz show that asked the "64-dollar question," "Take It or Leave It," premiered on CBS Radio.

In 1955, 50 years ago, the Jerome Lawrence-Robert Lee play "Inherit the Wind," loosely based on the Scopes trial of 1925, opened at the National Theatre in New York.

In 1960, Brazil inaugurated its new capital, Brasilia, transferring the seat of national government from Rio de Janeiro.

In 1972, Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke explored the surface of the moon.

In 1975, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned after 10 years in office.

In 1980, at the Boston Marathon, Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line; however, she was later exposed as a fraud.

Ten years ago: The FBI arrested former soldier Timothy McVeigh at an Oklahoma jail where he'd spent two days on minor traffic and weapons charges; he was charged in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing two days earlier.

Five years ago: The lower house of the Russian parliament overwhelmingly approved the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

One year ago: Five suicide attackers detonated car bombs against police buildings in Basra, Iraq, killing at least 74 people. Mordechai Vanunu walked out of prison, 18 years after exposing Israel's nuclear secrets. (He has since been indicted on charges of violating the terms of his release.) Karl Hass, a former Nazi officer convicted of the wartime massacre of 335 Italian civilians, died in a rest home near Rome, where he had been serving a life sentence under house arrest; he was 92. Washington Post columnist Mary McGrory died at age 85.

Today's Birthdays

Ice skater Werner Groebli ("Mr. Frick") is 90. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is 79. Actress-comedian-writer Elaine May is 73. Actor Charles Grodin is 70. Singer-musician Iggy Pop is 58. Singer-songwriter Paul Davis is 57. Actress Patti LuPone is 56. Actor Tony Danza is 54. Actress Andie MacDowell is 47. Rock singer Robert Smith (The Cure) is 46. Rock musician Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 46. Actor John Cameron Mitchell is 42. Rapper Michael Franti (Spearhead) is 37. Comedian Nicole Sullivan is 35.