Today is the 74th day of 2016 and the 84th day of winter.
Advertisement
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1794, inventor Eli Whitney received a patent for the cotton gin.
In 1900, the Gold Standard Act was signed into law by President William McKinley.
In 1950, the Federal Bureau of Investigation instituted the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list.
In 1990, General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as the first (and last) president of the Soviet Union.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767), composer; Arthur O'Shaughnessy (1844-1881), poet; Albert Einstein (1879-1955), physicist/Nobel Prize winner; Hank Ketcham (1920-2001), cartoonist; Diane Arbus (1923-1971), photographer; Michael Caine (1933- ), actor; Quincy Jones (1933- ), record producer; Wolfgang Petersen (1941- ), filmmaker; Billy Crystal (1948- ), actor/comedian; Kirby Puckett (1960-2006), baseball player; Grace Park (1974- ), actress; Jamie Bell (1986- ), actor; Stephen Curry (1988- ), basketball player.
TODAY'S FACT: Albert Einstein was offered the Israeli presidency after the death of the country's first president in 1952, but Einstein declined, saying he was not suited for the position.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1967, the AFL and NFL held their first common draft of college football players. The Baltimore Colts selected defensive tackle Bubba Smith of Michigan State with the first pick.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "When I examine myself and my methods of thought I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge." -- Albert Einstein
TODAY'S NUMBER: 79 -- record number of Grammy nominations for producer Quincy Jones.
TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (March 8) and first quarter moon (March 15).