This day in history

[June 22, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, June 22, the 173rd day of 2011. There are 192 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 22, 1911, Britain's King George V was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

On this date:

In 1611, English explorer Henry Hudson, his son and several other people were set adrift in present-day Hudson Bay by mutineers aboard the Discovery; their fate remains unknown.

In 1870, the United States Department of Justice was created.

In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.

In 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa as it invaded the Soviet Union.

In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights."

In 1945, the World War II battle for Okinawa ended with an Allied victory.

In 1969, singer-actress Judy Garland died in London at age 47.

In 1977, John N. Mitchell became the first former U.S. Attorney General to go to prison as he began serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up. (He was released 19 months later.)

In 1981, Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to killing rock star John Lennon. Abolhassan Bani-Sadr was deposed as president of Iran.

In 1993, former first lady Pat Nixon died in Park Ridge, N.J., at age 81.

Ten years ago: The British government announced that 18-year-old Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who were 10 years old when they kidnapped and killed toddler James Bulger, had been granted parole. Striking Comair pilots ratified a new contract, ending a three-month strike.

Five years ago: During a visit to Hungary to commemorate the 1956 revolt against communism, President George W. Bush said war-weary Iraqis could learn from the Hungarians' long and bloody struggle against tyranny. The Bush administration confirmed it had gained access to international banking records as part of a classified program to choke off financial support for terrorism. The Red Cross admitted Israel as a member and allowed it to use a star of David as its symbol.

One year ago: White House Budget Director Peter Orszag announced he was stepping down. South Carolina Republicans chose Nikki Haley, an Indian-American and tea party favorite, to run for governor (she went on to win a runoff and the general election). Dino Ciccarelli, Cammi Granato and Angela James were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as players; Jimmy Devellano and the late Daryl "Doc" Seaman were elected as builders. South Africa became the first host nation not to advance in 80 years of World Cup play.

Today's birthdays: Actor Ralph Waite is 83. Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson is 75. Movie director John Korty ("The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman") is 75. Actor Michael Lerner is 70. Broadcast journalist Brit Hume is 68. Singer Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon) is 67. Actor Andrew Rubin is 65. Actor David L. Lander is 64. Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan is 64. Singer-musician Todd Rundgren is 63. Actress Meryl Streep is 62. Actress Lindsay Wagner is 62. Singer Alan Osmond is 62. Actor Murphy Cross is 61. Actor Graham Greene is 59. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper is 58. Actor Chris Lemmon is 57. Rock musician Derek Forbes is 55. Actor Tim Russ is 55. Rock musician Garry Beers (INXS) is 54. Actor-producer-writer Bruce Campbell is 53. Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) is 52. Actress Tracy Pollan is 51. Rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville is 50. Author Dan Brown ("The Da Vinci Code") is 47. Rock singer-musician Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) is 47. Rock singer Steven Page is 41. Actor Michael Trucco is 41. Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub (RYS'-kub) is 40. TV personality Carson Daly is 38. Rock musician Chris Traynor is 38. Country musician Jimmy Wallace is 38. Actor Donald Faison (FAY'-zahn) is 37. Actress Alicia Goranson is 37. TV personality/actor Jai Rodriguez is 32. Actress Lindsay Ridgeway is 26.

Thought for today: "If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm." -- Elizabeth Bowen, Irish author (1899-1973)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.