World Almanac

Today is the 354th day of 2021 and the 90th day of autumn.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1803, the territory covered by the Louisiana Purchase was formally transferred to the United States from France.

In 1860, South Carolina seceded from the United States. In 1941, with his army under pressure on the Russian front, Adolf Hitler ordered “no retreat.”

In 1946, the Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life” was released in New York City.

In 1989, the United States invaded Panama to overthrow dictator Manuel Noriega in Operation Just Cause.

In 2019, the U.S. Space Force was established as the first new branch of the U.S. Armed Forces since 1947.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Harvey S. Firestone (1868-1938), business magnate; Branch Rickey (1881-1965), baseball executive; Irene Dunne (1898-1990), actress; Uri Geller (1946- ), illusionist; Dick Wolf (1946- ), TV producer; Alan Parsons (1948- ), musician; Billy Bragg (1957- ), singer- songwriter; Rich Gannon (1965- ), football player/sports- caster; David Wright (1982- ), baseball player; Jonah Hill (1983- ), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: Adolf Hitler was released from Lands- berg Prison in the German state of Bavaria on this day in 1924 after 264 days of incarceration for treason.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1946, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson won the welterweight crown by a unanimous decision over Tommy Bell.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “I can walk through the front door of any factory and out the back and tell you if it’s making money or not. I can just tell by the way it’s being run and by the spirit of the workers.” — Harvey S. Firestone

TODAY’S NUMBER: 2.2 million — acres of land owned by media billionaire John Malone, making him the largest private landowner in the United States.

TODAY’S MOON: Between full moon (Dec. 18) and last quarter moon (Dec. 26).