This day in history

[July 21, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, July 21, the 202nd day of 2010. There are 163 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history: On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order establishing the Veterans Administration (later the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

On this date:

In 1861, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Va., resulting in a Confederate victory.

In 1925, the so-called "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, Tenn., with John T. Scopes convicted of violating state law for teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. (The conviction was later overturned on a technicality.)

In 1944, American forces landed on Guam during World War II.

In 1949, the U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty.

In 1959, the NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was christened by first lady Mamie Eisenhower at Camden, N.J.

In 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike (see-ree-MAH'-voh bahn-dah-rah-NY'-kah) became the world's first female prime minister as she was sworn in to head the government of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

In 1961, Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth, flying aboard the Liberty Bell 7.

In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin blasted off from the moon aboard the ascent stage of the lunar module for docking with the command module.

In 1980, draft registration began in the United States for 19- and 20-year-old men.

In 1994, Britain's Labor Party elected Tony Blair its new leader, succeeding the late John Smith.

Ten years ago: Special Counsel John C. Danforth concluded "with 100 percent certainty" that the federal government was innocent of wrongdoing in the siege that killed 80 members of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, in 1993. Group of Eight leaders met for an economic summit on the Japanese island of Okinawa, where President Bill Clinton also sought to soothe long-simmering tensions over the huge American military presence.

Five years ago: The House voted to extend the USA Patriot Act. Two weeks after the deadly London terror bombings, small explosions struck the Underground and a bus, but no deaths resulted. Two Algerian diplomats and their driver were abducted in Baghdad; al-Qaida later announced it had killed the diplomats. Sudanese security officers roughed up members of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's entourage; Rice demanded and got an apology.

One year ago: The Senate voted to terminate further production of the Air Force's topline F-22 fighter jets. Prosecutors in Cambridge, Mass. dropped a disorderly conduct charge against prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., who was arrested by a white officer at his home near Harvard University after a report of a break-in. John "Marmaduke" Dawson, a longtime Grateful Dead collaborator and co-founder of New Riders of the Purple Sage, died in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico at 64. Taco Bell mascot Gidget the Chihuahua died in Santa Clarita, Calif. at 15.

Today's birthdays: Singer Kay Starr is 88. Movie director Norman Jewison is 84. Former Attorney General Janet Reno is 72. Actress Patricia Elliott is 68. Actor David Downing is 67. Actor Edward Herrmann is 67. Actor Leigh Lawson is 65. Actor Wendell Burton is 63. Actor Art Hindle is 62. Singer Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) is 62. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau is 62. Comedian-actor Robin Williams is 59. Actor Jamey Sheridan is 59. Rock singer-musician Eric Bazilian (The Hooters) is 57. Comedian Jon Lovitz is 53. Actor Lance Guest is 50. Actor Matt Mulhern is 50. Comedian Greg Behrendt is 47. Rock musician Koen Lieckens (K's Choice) is 44. Rock singer Emerson Hart is 41. Country singer Paul Brandt is 38. Actress Ali Landry is 37. Actor Justin Bartha is 32. Actor Josh Hartnett is 32. Contemporary Christian singer Brandon Heath is 32. Reggae singer Damian Marley is 32. Country singer Brad Mates (Emerson Drive) is 32. MLB pitcher CC Sabathia is 30. Actress Sprague Grayden is 30. Singer Blake Lewis ("American Idol") is 29. Rock musician Johan Carlsson (Carolina Liar) is 26. Actress Vanessa Lengies is 25. Actor Jamie Waylett ("Harry Potter" films) is 21.

Thought for today: "There is no bigotry like that of 'free thought' run to seed." -- Horace Greeley, American journalist (1811-1872)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.