On this day, March 16 …

2005: A judge in Redwood City, Calif., sentences Scott Peterson to death for the slaying of his pregnant wife, Laci. (Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder for his wife's death and second-degree murder for his unborn child in November 2004.)

Also on this day:

1521: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew reach the Philippines, where Magellan would be killed during a battle with natives the following month.

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew reach the Philippines, where Magellan would be killed during a battle with natives the following month. 1802: President Thomas Jefferson signs a measure authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

President Thomas Jefferson signs a measure authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. 1926: Rocket science pioneer Robert H. Goddard successfully tests the first liquid-fueled rocket at his Aunt Effie’s farm in Auburn, Mass.

Rocket science pioneer Robert H. Goddard successfully tests the first liquid-fueled rocket at his Aunt Effie’s farm in Auburn, Mass. 1945: During World War II, American forces declare they have secured Iwo Jima, although pockets of Japanese resistance remain.

During World War II, American forces declare they have secured Iwo Jima, although pockets of Japanese resistance remain. 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson sends Congress the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of his War on Poverty. (The measure would be passed by Congress and signed by Johnson that following August.)

President Lyndon B. Johnson sends Congress the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of his War on Poverty. (The measure would be passed by Congress and signed by Johnson that following August.) 1968: The My Lai massacre takes place during the Vietnam War as U.S. Army soldiers hunting for Viet Cong fighters and sympathizers kill unarmed villagers in two hamlets of Son My village; estimates of the death toll vary from 347 to 504.

The My Lai massacre takes place during the Vietnam War as U.S. Army soldiers hunting for Viet Cong fighters and sympathizers kill unarmed villagers in two hamlets of Son My village; estimates of the death toll vary from 347 to 504. 1968: Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y., announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y., announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. 1984: William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, is kidnapped by Hezbollah militants. (He would be tortured by his captors and killed in 1985.)

William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, is kidnapped by Hezbollah militants. (He would be tortured by his captors and killed in 1985.) 1985: Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, is abducted in Beirut.

Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, is abducted in Beirut. 1991: A plane carrying seven members of country singer Reba McEntire’s band and her tour manager crashes into Otay Mountain in southern California, killing all on board.

A plane carrying seven members of country singer Reba McEntire’s band and her tour manager crashes into Otay Mountain in southern California, killing all on board. 1991: U.S. skaters Kristi Yamaguchi, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan sweep the World Figure Skating Championships in Munich, Germany.