1608

John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia.

1960

Hurricane Donna, a dangerous Category 4 storm blamed for 364 deaths, struck the Florida Keys.

1963

Twenty Black students entered Alabama public schools following a standoff between federal authorities and Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace.

1991

The Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. The proceedings would become a watershed moment in the discussion of sexual harassment when Anita Hill, a law professor who had previously worked under Thomas, came forward with allegations against him.

2005

Teams of forensic workers and cadaver dogs fanned out across New Orleans to collect the corpses left behind by Hurricane Katrina.

Birthdays

Scientist-author Jared Diamond is 87. Singer José Feliciano is 79. Former Canadian first lady Margaret Trudeau is 76. Political commentator Bill O’Reilly is 75. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 74.Actor Colin Firth is 64. Cartoonist Alison Bechdel is 64. Baseball Hall of Famer Randy Johnson is 61. Film director Guy Ritchie is 56. Ballerina Misty Copeland is 42. Former MLB All-Star Joey Votto is 41.