This day in history

[August 06, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, Aug. 6, the 218th day of 2011. There are 147 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Aug. 6, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov became the second man to orbit Earth as he flew aboard Vostok 2, call sign "Eagle" (hence Titov's repeated exclamation over the radio, "I am Eagle!").

On this date:

In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire went out of existence as Emperor Francis II abdicated.

In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia.

In 1890, convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed in the electric chair as he was put to death at Auburn State Prison in New York.

In 1911, actress-comedian Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, N.Y.

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 1/2 hours.

In 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.

In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80.

In 1986, William J. Schroeder (SHRAY'-dur) died after living 620 days with the Jarvik 7 artificial heart.

In 1991, the World Wide Web made its public debut as a means of accessing webpages over the Internet. TV newsman Harry Reasoner died in Norwalk, Conn., at age 68.

Ten years ago: Ending months of speculation, former President Bill Clinton said he would write his much sought-after memoirs for publisher Alfred A. Knopf. General Duong Van "Big" Minh, who was the president of South Vietnam for just a few days before the country fell to Communist invaders in 1975, died in Pasadena, Calif., at age 85. Brazilian author Jorge Amado died at age 88.

Five years ago: Oil giant BP announced an indefinite shutdown of the biggest oilfield in the U.S., at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, after finding a pipeline leak. Sherri Steinhauer shot an even-par 72 to win the Women's British Open for the third time, and the first since it became a major. Tiger Woods won his 50th PGA Tour title with a three-stroke victory over Jim Furyk in the Buick Open.

One year ago: In a stunning announcement, Hewlett-Packard Co. said it had ousted CEO Mark Hurd after an investigation of a sexual harassment complaint found that he had falsified expense reports and other documents to conceal a relationship with a contractor.

Today's birthdays: Jazz musician Charlie Haden is 74. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 73. Actress Louise Sorel is 71. Actor Michael Anderson Jr. is 68. Actor Ray Buktenica is 68. Actor Dorian Harewood is 61. Actress Catherine Hicks is 60. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 59. Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 58. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 55. Actress Faith Prince is 54. Rhythm-and-blues singer Randy DeBarge is 53. Actor Leland Orser is 51. Country singers Peggy and Patsy Lynn are 47. Basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson is 46. Actor Jeremy Ratchford is 46. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 43. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan (SHAH'-mah-lahn) is 41. Actress Merrin Dungey is 40. Singer Geri Halliwell is 39. Actor Jason O'Mara is 39. Singer-actor David Campbell is 38. Actress Vera Farmiga is 38. Actress Ever (cq) Carradine is 37. Actress Soleil (soh-LAY') Moon Frye is 35. Actress Melissa George is 35. Rock singer Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) is 30. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 27.

Thought for today: "The more things you do, the more you can do." -- Lucille Ball (1911-1989)

[Associated Press]

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