On This Day: March 13

Updated March 12, 2012, 2:28 pm

On March 13, 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the United States Senate.

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On March 13, 1855, Percival Lowell, the American astronomer who helped discover Pluto and believed that there was life on Mars, was born. Following his death on Nov. 12, 1916, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1639 New College was renamed Harvard College for clergyman John Harvard.

1781 The planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel.

1852 “Uncle Sam” made his debut as a cartoon character in the New York Lantern.

1868 The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate.

1884 Standard Time was adopted throughout the United States.

1901 Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, died in Indianaoplis at age 67.

1938 Defense attorney Clarence S. Darrow died at age 80.

1964 Kitty Genovese, 28, was stabbed to death near her Queens, New York, home. The case came to be a symbol of urban apathy, though initial reports that 38 neighbors ignored Genovese’s calls for help have been disputed.

1969 Apollo 9 returned to Earth after a mission to test the lunar module.

1996 A gunman opened fire on a class of kindergarteners at an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

Actor William H. Macy turns 62 years old today.

AP Photo/Jeff Christensen

Actress Dana Delany (“Body of Proof,” “China Beach”) turns 56 years old today.

AP Photo/Katy Winn

1933 Mike Stoller, Songwriter, turns 79

1939 Neil Sedaka, Singer, songwriter, turns 73

1957 John Hoeven, U.S. senator, R-N.D., turns 55

1960 Adam Clayton, Rock musician (U2), turns 52

1962 Terrence Blanchard, Jazz trumpeter, turns 50

1971 Annabeth Gish, Actress, turns 41

1972 Common, Rapper, actor, turns 40

1976 Danny Masterson, Actor (“That 70s Show”), turns 36

1985 Emile Hirsch, Actor, turns 27

Historic Birthdays

Percival Lowell 3/13/1855 – 11/12/1916 American astronomer; helped discover Pluto.Go to obituary »

59 Montdory 3/13/1594 – 11/10/1653
French actor

73 Charles Bonnet 3/13/1720 – 5/20/1793
Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer

81 Charles Grey 3/13/1764 – 7/17/1845
English Whig party leader and prime minister (1830-34)

60 Karl Schinkel 3/13/1781 – 10/9/1841
German architect and painter

68 William Glackens 3/13/1870 – 5/22/1938
American artist

63 Albert Stevens 3/13/1886 – 3/26/1949
American army officer, balloonist and aerial photographer

86 Janet Flanner 3/13/1892 – 11/7/1978
American writer and Paris correspondent for The New Yorker

71 George Seferis 3/13/1900 – 9/20/1971
Greek Nobel Prize-winning poet, essayist and diplomat

74 William J. Casey 3/13/1913 – 5/6/1987
American director of the C.I.A. (1981-87)

1639	New College was renamed Harvard College for clergyman John Harvard.
1781	The planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel.
1852	“Uncle Sam” made his debut as a cartoon character in the New York Lantern.
1868	The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate.
1884	Standard Time was adopted throughout the United States.
1901	Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, died in Indianaoplis at age 67.
1938	Defense attorney Clarence S. Darrow died at age 80.
1964	Kitty Genovese, 28, was stabbed to death near her Queens, New York, home. The case came to be a symbol of urban apathy, though initial reports that 38 neighbors ignored Genovese’s calls for help have been disputed.
1969	Apollo 9 returned to Earth after a mission to test the lunar module.
1996	A gunman opened fire on a class of kindergarteners at an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself.

1933	Mike Stoller, Songwriter, turns 79
1939	Neil Sedaka, Singer, songwriter, turns 73
1957	John Hoeven, U.S. senator, R-N.D., turns 55
1960	Adam Clayton, Rock musician (U2), turns 52
1962	Terrence Blanchard, Jazz trumpeter, turns 50
1971	Annabeth Gish, Actress, turns 41
1972	Common, Rapper, actor, turns 40
1976	Danny Masterson, Actor (“That 70s Show”), turns 36
1985	Emile Hirsch, Actor, turns 27

59	Montdory 3/13/1594 – 11/10/1653 French actor
73	Charles Bonnet 3/13/1720 – 5/20/1793 Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer
81	Charles Grey 3/13/1764 – 7/17/1845 English Whig party leader and prime minister (1830-34)
60	Karl Schinkel 3/13/1781 – 10/9/1841 German architect and painter
68	William Glackens 3/13/1870 – 5/22/1938 American artist
63	Albert Stevens 3/13/1886 – 3/26/1949 American army officer, balloonist and aerial photographer
86	Janet Flanner 3/13/1892 – 11/7/1978 American writer and Paris correspondent for The New Yorker
71	George Seferis 3/13/1900 – 9/20/1971 Greek Nobel Prize-winning poet, essayist and diplomat
74	William J. Casey 3/13/1913 – 5/6/1987 American director of the C.I.A. (1981-87)