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Today in History: October 19

202 BC Battle of Zama: Hannibal Barca and the Carthaginian army are defeated by Roman legions under Scipio Africanus, ending 2nd Punic War

0439
The Vandals, led by King Gaiseric, take Carthage in North Africa.

1216
King John of England dies at Newark and is succeeded by his nine-year-old son Henry.

1739
England declares war on Spain over borderlines in Florida. The War is known as the War of Jenkins' Ear because the Spanish coast guards cut off the ear of British seaman Robert Jenkins.

1781
Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrenders to George Washington and Count de Rochambeau at Yorktown, Va. Cornwallis surrenders 7,157 troops, including sick and wounded, and 840 sailors, along with 244 artillery pieces. Losses in this battle had been light on both sides. The Revolutionary War is effectively ended.

1917
The first doughnut is fried by Salvation Army volunteer women for American troops in France during World War I.

1954
Egypt and Britain conclude a pact on the Suez Canal, ending 72 years of British military occupation. Britain agrees to withdraw its 80,000-man force within 20 months, and Egypt agrees to maintain freedom of canal navigation.

1960
Canada and the United States agree to undertake a joint Columbia River project to provide hydroelectric power and flood control.

1973
President Richard Nixon rejects an Appeals Court demand to turn over the Watergate tapes.

1987
In retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, the U. S. navy disables three of Iran's offshore oil platforms.

1988
British government bans TV and radio interviews with members of Irish political group Sinn Fein and 11 paramilitary groups.

2003
Mother Teresa is beatified by Pope John Paul II for her work among "the poorest of the poor" in India.

2005
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's trail for crimes against humanity begins in Baghdad.

2015 US scientists from University of California find evidence life on earth may have begun 4.1 billion years ago, 300 million earlier than previously thought

Today in History: Born on October 19
1817
Tom Taylor, British playwright whose play Our American Cousin was being performed at Ford's Theater when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

1932
Robert Reed, actor; best known for his role as Mike Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch, he received Emmy nominations for his appearances in Medical Center, Rich Man, Poor Man, and Roots.

1945
John Lithgow, actor (The World According to Garp; Terms of Endearment; 3rd Rock from the Sun TV sitcom).

1945
Jeannie C. Riley, country and gospel singer, whose 1968 hit "Harper Valley PTA" (penned by Tom T. Hall) reached No. 1 on both the Pop and Country charts of Billboard magazine.

1948
Patrick Simmons, guitarist and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers band.

1962
Evander Holyfield, professional boxer; held Undisputed World Champion title in both cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions; known as "The Real Deal." In a 1997 bout, challenger Mike Tyson bit off part of one of Holyfield's ears.

JOTD
Who designed the human body?
Three engineering students were gathered together discussing the possible designers of the human body.

One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints!"

Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections."

The last one said, "No, actually it had to have been a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through the recreational area?"