This day in history

[May 21, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Friday, May 21, the 141st day of 2010. There are 224 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 21, 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 33 1/2 hours.

On this date:

In 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold along the Mississippi River.

In 1832, the first Democratic National Convention got under way, in Baltimore.

In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

In 1892, the opera "Pagliacci," by Ruggero Leoncavallo, was first performed, in Milan, Italy.

In 1910, a year-old Jewish settlement near the port city of Jaffa adopted the name Tel Aviv (Hebrew for "Hill of Spring").

In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a "thrill killing" committed by Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb, two students at the University of Chicago.

In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.

In 1956, the United States exploded the first airborne hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone (mahs-KOH'-nee) and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk; outrage over the verdict sparked rioting. (White was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison; he ended up serving five years and committed suicide in 1985.)

In 1980, Ensign Jean Marie Butler became the first woman to graduate from a U.S. service academy as she accepted her degree and commission from the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

Ten years ago: Nineteen people were killed when a charter plane crashed in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. "Dancer in the Dark" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival; the Grand Prize went to "Devils on the Doorstep." Death claimed actor Sir John Gielgud at age 96 and author Dame Barbara Cartland at age 98.

Five years ago: Afleet Alex regained his footing and his drive after being cut off by Scrappy T in a frightening collision and breezed home to win the Preakness Stakes; Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo finished third. The Belgian film "The Child" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Comedic actor Howard Morris died in Hollywood at age 85.

One year ago: President Barack Obama made his case for closing the Guantanamo prison camp, denouncing what he called "fear-mongering" by political opponents; Obama made his case moments before former Vice President Dick Cheney delivered his own address defending the Bush administration's creation of the facility. Former Pfc. Steven Dale Green, convicted of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her and her family, was spared the death penalty after jurors in Paducah, Ky. couldn't agree unanimously on a punishment. A 66-year-old woman with terminal cancer became the first person to die under Washington state's new assisted suicide law.

Today's birthdays: Rhythm-and-blues singer Ron Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 69. Rock musician Hilton Valentine (The Animals) is 67. Actor Richard Hatch ("Battlestar Galactica") is 65. Musician Bill Champlin is 63. Singer Leo Sayer is 62. Actress Carol Potter is 62. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) is 59. Actor Mr. T is 58. Music producer Stan Lynch is 55. Actor Judge Reinhold is 53. Actor-director Nick Cassavetes is 51. Actor Brent Briscoe is 49. Actress Lisa Edelstein is 42. Actress Fairuza Balk is 36. Rapper Havoc (Mobb Deep) is 36. Actress Ashlie Brillault is 23. Actor Scott Leavenworth is 20. Actress Sarah Ramos is 19.

Thought for today: "Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny." -- Carl Schurz, American politician (1829-1906)

[Associated Press]

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