Today is the 252nd day of 2012 and the 81st day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1664, New Amsterdam became New York as the Dutch surrendered Manhattan and surrounding land to the British.

In 1900, Galveston, Texas, was struck by a massive hurricane.

In 1966, the "Star Trek" TV series premiered on NBC.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned former president Richard Nixon for any crimes he might have committed before resigning.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Claude Pepper (1900-1989), U.S. senator; Sid Caesar (1922- ), comedian/actor; Peter Sellers (1925-1980) comedian/actor; Patsy Cline (1932-1963), singer; Aimee Mann (1960- ), musician; David Arquette (1971- ), actor; Pink (1979- ), singer.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1998, Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' 1961 season home-run record by hitting his 62nd of the year.

TODAY'S FACT: More than 8,000 people are estimated to have died in the 1900 Galveston hurricane, making it the deadliest natural disaster in American history to date.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits." -- Richard Nixon

TODAY'S NUMBER: 8,244,910 -- population of New York City, formerly New Amsterdam, in 2011.

TODAY'S MOON: Last quarter moon (Sept. 8).

Today is the 251st day of 2012 and the 80th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portugal.

In 1927, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth transmitted the first image by electronic means, an innovation that would eventually enable broadcast television.

In 1979, cable sports network ESPN was launched. The first show it aired was "SportsCenter."

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), British monarch; Grandma (Anna Mary) Moses (1860-1961), artist; Elia Kazan (1909-2003), director; Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000), artist; Buddy Holly (1936-1959), musician; Gloria Gaynor (1949- ), singer; Chrissie Hynde (1951- ), singer/songwriter; Julie Kavner (1950- ), actress; Evan Rachel Wood (1987- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was dedicated in Canton, Ohio.

TODAY'S FACT: Philo T. Farnsworth was the first to produce a televised image in 1927, but Vladimir Zworykin, who was developing the same technology for Westinghouse, was the first to obtain the patent.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I have already joined myself in marriage to a husband, namely the kingdom of England." -- Queen Elizabeth I

TODAY'S NUMBER: 205.7 million -- population of Brazil in 2012. The 2012 population of Portugal was 10.8 million.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Aug. 31) and last quarter (Sept. 8).

Today is the 250th day of 2012 and the 79th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1522, Ferdinand Magellan's ship, Victoria, completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, though Magellan himself died en route.

In 1901, President William McKinley was shot and wounded by Leon Czolgosz. He died eight days later.

In 1997, funeral services were held for Diana, Princess of Wales.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jane Addams (1860-1935), social worker; Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969), businessman/ambassador; Roger Waters (1943- ), rock musician; Jane Curtin (1947- ), actress/comedian; Jeff Foxworthy (1958- ), comedian/TV personality; Rosie Perez (1964- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 2,131st game, breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games record.

TODAY'S FACT: More than 2.5 billion people worldwide were estimated to have watched at least part of Princess Diana's funeral services on television in 1997.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I do not believe that women are better than men. We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislature, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance." -- Jane Addams

TODAY'S NUMBER: 2,632 -- consecutive games Cal Ripken Jr. ultimately played before taking a game day off on Sept. 20, 1998.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Aug. 31) and last quarter (Sept. 8).