1982A massacre in Lebanon months after Israel’s invasion to drive out the PLO. Lebanese Christian militiamen kill hundreds of Palestinian men women and children in two refugee camps in West Beirut. The militiamen are allied with Israel which is accused of doing nothing to prevent the slaughter. Outrage over the massacre cost future Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon his job as Defense Minister.

1498Tomás de Torquemada, The catholic monk, notorious for his role in the Spanish Inquisition, dies in Avila, Spain.

1810Mexico begins its revolt against Spanish colonial rule. A catholic priest father Miguel Hidalgo declares his country’s independence. His rebellion soon fails but Spain formally relinquishes its new world colony 11 years later.

1977Maria Callas, the American born prima donna famed for her Lyric soprano and fiery temperament dies in Paris. She was 53 years old.

1925Guitarist B.B. King, one of the greatest Blues Artists of all time is born in Mississippi.

Today in History, September 16th, Camille Bohannon, the Associate Press.