On this day in 1958, Pan American Airways made the first commercial flight of the Boeing 707 from New York to Paris. In 1940, the P-51 Mustang made its maiden flight. In 1936, the first electric generator at Hoover Dam went into full operation. In 1861, The Pony Express officially ceased operations. And in 1825, the Erie Canal opened passage from Albany, New York to Lake Erie. Happy Birthday Seth MacFarlane (1973), Ted Demme (d. 2002) and Natalie Merchant (1963), Cary Elwes (1962), Dylan McDermott (1961), Rita Wilson (1956), Bootsy Collins (1951), Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947), Pat Sajak (1946), Jaclyn Smith (1945), Bob Hoskins (1942) and C. W. Post (1854-1914). "What we call 'Progress' is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance." - Havelock Ellis