Today is Sunday, Aug. 16, the 228th day of 2009. There are 137 days left in the year.

On this date

* In 1777, American forces won the Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington.

* In 1812, Detroit fell to British and Indian forces in the War of 1812.

* In 1858, a telegraphed message from Britain's Queen Victoria to President James Buchanan was transmitted over the recently laid trans-Atlantic cable.

* In 1948, baseball legend Babe Ruth died in New York at age 53.

* In 1954, Sports Illustrated was first published by Time Inc.

* In 1956, Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

* In 1959, Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. died on Fishers Island, N.Y. at age 76.

* In 1960, Britain ceded control of the crown colony of Cyprus.

* In 1977, Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tenn., at age 42.

* In 1987, 156 people were killed when Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed while trying to take off from Detroit.

* In 2000, delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles nominated Al Gore for president.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Fess Parker is 85. Actress Ann Blyth is 81. Actor Robert Culp is 79. Sportscaster Frank Gifford is 79. Singer Eydie Gorme is 78. Actress Julie Newmar is 76. Actor John Standing is 75. College Football Hall of Famer and NFL player Bill Glass is 74. Actor Gary Clarke is 73. Actress Anita Gillette is 73. Actress Carole Shelley is 70. Country singer Billy Joe Shaver is 70. Movie director Bruce Beresford is 69. R&B singer Robert "Squirrel" Lester (The Chi-Lites) is 67. Actor Bob Balaban is 64. Ballerina Suzanne Farrell is 64. Actress Lesley Ann Warren is 63. Rock singer-musician Joey Spampinato (NRBQ) is 59. Actor Reginald VelJohnson is 57. TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford is 56. R&B singer J.T. Taylor is 56. Movie director James Cameron is 55. Actor Jeff Perry is 54. Rock musician Tim Farriss (INXS) is 52. Singer Madonna is 51. Actress Angela Bassett is 51. Actress Laura Innes is 50. Actor Timothy Hutton is 49. Actor Steve Carell is 46. Former tennis player Jimmy Arias is 45. Actor-singer Donovan Leitch is 42. Actor Andy Milder (TV: "Weeds") is 41. Country singer Emily Robison (The Dixie Chicks) is 37. Actor George Stults is 34. Singer Vanessa Carlton is 29. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams is 29. Tennessee Titans wide receiver David Givens is 29. Actor Cam Gigandet is 27. Actress Agnes Bruckner is 24. Actor Shawn Pyfrom is 23. Country singer Ashton Shepherd is 23. Actress Rumer Willis is 21.