This day in history

[June 24, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Friday, June 24, the 175th day of 2011. There are 190 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 24, 1314, the forces of Scotland's King Robert I defeated the English in the Battle of Bannockburn.

On this date:

In 1509, Henry VIII was crowned king of England; his wife, Catherine of Aragon, was crowned queen consort.

In 1793, the first republican constitution in France was adopted.

In 1807, a grand jury in Richmond, Va., indicted former Vice President Aaron Burr on charges of treason and high misdemeanor (he was later acquitted).

In 1908, the 22nd and 24th presidents of the United States, Grover Cleveland, died in Princeton, N.J., at age 71.

In 1910, Italian automaker Alfa Romeo was founded in Milan.

In 1940, France signed an armistice with Italy during World War II.

In 1948, Communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the western allies to organize the Berlin Airlift. The Republican National Convention, meeting in Philadelphia, nominated New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey for president.

In 1968, "Resurrection City," a shantytown constructed as part of the Poor People's March on Washington, D.C., was closed down by authorities.

In 1975, 113 people were killed when an Eastern Airlines Boeing 727 crashed while attempting to land during a thunderstorm at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

In 1983, the space shuttle Challenger -- carrying America's first woman in space, Sally K. Ride -- coasted to a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Ten years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived in the United States for talks with President George W. Bush. Karrie Webb won the LPGA Championship by two strokes to become the youngest woman to complete the Grand Slam.

Five years ago: Patsy Ramsey, who was thrust into the spotlight by the unsolved slaying of her daughter JonBenet, died in Roswell, Ga., at age 49.

One year ago: President Barack Obama declared that he and visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had "succeeded in resetting" the relationship between the former Cold War adversaries. Belgian police carried out raids as part of an investigation into priestly sex abuse. Apple's iPhone 4 was released in five countries, selling a record 1.7 million units in three days despite criticism of its new antenna design. U.S. tennis player John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut of France 70-68 at Wimbledon in the longest-ever professional match: 11 hours, 5 minutes over three days.

Today's birthdays: Actor Al Molinaro is 92. Comedian Jack Carter is 88. Actress Michele Lee is 69. Actor-director Georg Stanford Brown is 68. Rock musician Jeff Beck is 67. Singer Arthur Brown is 67. Rock singer Colin Blunstone (The Zombies) is 66. Musician Mick Fleetwood is 64. Actor Peter Weller is 64. Rock musician John Illsley (Dire Straits) is 62. Actress Nancy Allen is 61. Reggae singer Derrick Simpson (Black Uhuru) is 61. Actor Joe Penny is 55. Reggae singer Astro (UB40) is 54. Singer-musician Andy McCluskey (Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark) is 52. Rock singer Curt Smith is 50. Actress Danielle Spencer is 46. Actress Sherry Stringfield is 44. Singer Glenn Medeiros is 41. Actress-producer Mindy Kaling is 32. Actress Minka Kelly (TV: "Friday Night Lights") is 31. Actress Kaitlin Cullum is 25. Singer Solange Knowles is 25.

Thought for today: "All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher." -- Ambrose Bierce, American author (born this date in 1842, disappeared in 1914)

[Associated Press]

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