Today is Saturday, Sept. 13, the 257th day of 2008. There are 109 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Sept. 13, 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election, and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

On this date:

• In 1759, during the final French and Indian War, the British defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham overlooking Quebec City.

• In 1803, Commodore John Barry, considered by many the father of the American Navy, died in Philadelphia.

• In 1851, American medical pioneer Walter Reed was born in Gloucester County, Va.

• In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

• In 1971, a four-day inmates’ rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed 43 lives.

• In 1997, funeral services were held in Calcutta, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.

Ten years ago: Former Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace died at age 79. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs hit his 61st and 62nd home runs of the season to pass Roger Maris and pull into a tie with Mark McGwire.

Five years ago: Angry mourners swarmed Fallujah, Iraq, a day after eight Iraqi police were killed in a friendly fire incident involving U.S. troops; the U.S. military apologized for the deaths.

One year ago: President Bush, addressing the nation, rejected calls to end the war in Iraq, but said he wanted gradual U.S. troop withdrawals from the country.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Barbara Bain is 77. TV producer Fred Silverman is 71. Former White House spokesman Larry Speakes is 69. Actor Richard Kiel is 69. Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 67. Actress Jacqueline Bisset is 64. Singer Randy Jones (The Village People) is 56. Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 47. Radio-TV personality Tavis Smiley is 44. Rock musician Zak Starkey is 43. Actor Louis Mandylor is 42. Olympic gold medal runner Michael Johnson is 41. Rock musician Steve Perkins is 41. Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flats) is 33. Actor Scott Vickaryous is 33. Singer Fiona Apple is 31. Contemporary Christian musician Hector Cervantes (Casting Crowns) is 28. Actor Ben Savage is 28. Actor Mitch Holleman (“Reba”) is 13.

Thought for Today: “We do not attach ourselves lastingly to anything that has not cost us care, labor or longing.” — Honore de Balzac, French dramatist (1799-1850).