This day in history

[December 10, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Dec. 10, the 344th day of 2010. There are 21 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Dec. 10, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for helping mediate an end to the Russo-Japanese War.

On this date:

In 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant, or face excommunication.

In 1817, Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state.

In 1884, Mark Twain's novel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was first published, in Canada as well as England (however, the book was not released in the United States until Feb. 1885).

In 1910, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the population of the United States stood at 91,972,266. The opera "La fanciulla del West" (The Girl of the Golden West), by Giacomo Puccini, had its world premiere at New York's Metropolitan Opera.

In 1931, Jane Addams became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (the co-recipient was Nicholas Murray Butler).

In 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted its Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

In 1950, Ralph J. Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the first black American to receive the award.

In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. received his Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1967, singer Otis Redding, 26, and six others were killed when their plane crashed into Wisconsin's Lake Monona.

In 1984, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ten years ago: In Washington, lawyers for Al Gore and George W. Bush filed briefs outlining their cases to be argued the next day before the U.S. Supreme Court. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak submitted his resignation, starting the countdown toward a special election.

Five years ago: A Nigerian jetliner crashed while landing in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, killing all but two of the 110 people on board. A U.N. conference on global warming ended in Montreal with an agreement by more than 150 nations (not including the United States) to open talks on mandatory post-2012 reductions in greenhouse gases. Chief U.N. nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei (ehl-BEHR'-uh-day) accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. Former Sen. Eugene McCarthy died in Washington at age 89. Actor-comedian Richard Pryor died in Encino, Calif. at age 65. Southern California running back Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy.

One year ago: President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize with a humble acknowledgment of his scant accomplishments and a robust defense of the U.S. at war. James Cameron's 3-D film epic "Avatar" had its world premiere in London.

Today's birthdays: Former Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter (YEYE'-tur) is 80. Actor Tommy Kirk is 69. Actress Fionnula Flanagan is 69. Pop singer Chad Stuart (Chad and Jeremy) is 69. Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 64. Pop-funk musician Walter "Clyde" Orange (The Commodores) is 64. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ralph Tavares is 62. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jessica Cleaves (Friends of Distinction) is 62. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 59. Actress Susan Dey is 58. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is 54. Actor Michael Clarke Duncan is 53. Jazz musician Paul Hardcastle is 53. Actor-director Kenneth Branagh (BRAH'-nah) is 50. Actress Nia Peeples is 49. TV chef Bobby Flay is 46. Rock singer-musician J Mascis is 45. Country singer Kevin Sharp is 40. Rock musician Scot (cq) Alexander (Dishwalla) is 39. Actress-comedian Arden Myrin is 37. Rock musician Meg White (The White Stripes) is 36. Violinist Sarah Chang is 30. Actress Raven-Symone is 25.

Thought for today: "Beauty is not caused. It is." -- Emily Dickinson, American poet (born this date in 1830, died in 1886)

[Associated Press]

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