September 13

Today in History
• 122 - Building begins on Hadrian's Wall, Northern England
• 1224 - Francis of Assisi is afflicted with stigmata after a vision praying on Mount Verna
• 1631 - Admiral Tholen conquers 30+ Spanish frigates
• 1789 - 1st loan to US government (from NYC banks)
• 1847 - American-Mexican war: US General Winfield Scott captures Mexico City
• 1849 - 1st US prize fight fatality (Tom McCoy)
• 1861 - 1st naval battle of Civil War, Union frigate sinks privateer off Pensacola, Fla
• 1881 - America Lewis Howard Latimer invents and patents electric lamp with a carbon filament


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Defy Superstition Day
• European Heritage Days
• International Chocolate Day
• National Bald is Beautiful Day
• National Peanut Day
• Programmers Day
• Supernatural Day
• Uncle Sam Day

Birthdays
• 1087 - John II Komnenos, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1118-43)
• 1694 - Yeongjo of Joseon, 21st king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty
• 1755 - Oliver Evans, American inventor who pioneered high-pressure steam engine
• 1766 - Samuel Wilson, American meat packer and possible namesake of Uncle Sam
• 1775 - Laura Secord, Canadian heroine of the war of 1812
• 1817 - John M. Palmer, American politician (U.S. Senator from Illinois)
• 1831 - Andrew Noble, Scottish physicist who was a founder of the science of ballistics
• 1857 - Milton S. Hershey, American chocolate tycoon (The Hershey Chocolate Company)