This day in history

[May 10, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, May 10, the 130th day of 2011. There are 235 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 10, 1941, Adolf Hitler's deputy, Rudolf Hess, parachuted into Scotland on what he claimed was a peace mission. (Hess ended up serving a life sentence at Spandau prison until 1987, when he apparently committed suicide.)

On this date:

In 1611, Sir Thomas Dale arrived in the Virginia Colony, where, as deputy governor, he instituted harsh disciplinary measures to restore order.

In 1774, Louis XVI acceded to the throne of France.

In 1775, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, along with Col. Benedict Arnold, captured the British-held fortress at Ticonderoga, N.Y.

In 1865, Union forces captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Irwinville, Ga.

In 1869, a golden spike was driven in Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

In 1924, J. Edgar Hoover was given the job of FBI director.

In 1933, the Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany.

In 1940, during World War II, German forces began invading the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. The same day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned, and Winston Churchill formed a new government.

In 1960, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Triton completed its submerged navigation of the globe.

In 1978, Britain's Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon announced they were divorcing after 18 years of marriage.

Ten years ago: The Justice Department handed over thousands of documents it said should have been provided to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's attorneys; because of the blunder, McVeigh's execution, set for May 16, 2001, was postponed for a month. Boeing chose Chicago as the site for its new headquarters, replacing Seattle. The World Wrestling Federation announced it would fold the upstart XFL football league.

Five years ago: Daniel Biechele (BEEK'-lee), a former rock-band manager whose pyrotechnics caused a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people, was sentenced to four years in prison. (Biechele was paroled in March 2008.) Former New York Times executive editor A.M. Rosenthal died at age 84. British movie director Val Guest died in Palm Desert, Calif., at age 94.

One year ago: President Barack Obama introduced Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, billing her as a unifying force for a fractured court. Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby, accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, pleaded guilty in Tracy, Calif., to murder. (Huckaby was later sentenced to life in prison, but never revealed a motive.) The European Union put up a staggering $1 trillion to contain its spreading government debt crisis and keep it from tearing the euro currency apart and derailing the global economic recovery.

Today's birthdays: Author Bel Kaufman ("Up the Down Staircase") is 100. Sportscaster Pat Summerall is 81. Author Barbara Taylor Bradford is 78. Rhythm-and-blues singer Henry Fambrough (The Spinners) is 73. TV-radio personality Gary Owens is 72. Actor David Clennon is 68. Writer-producer-director Jim Abrahams is 67. Singer Donovan is 65. Singer Dave Mason is 65. Actor Bruce Penhall is 54. Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., is 53. Actress Victoria Rowell is 52. Rock singer Bono (BAH'-noh) (U2) is 51. Rock musician Danny Carey (Tool) is 50. Actor Darryl M. Bell is 48. Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is 48. Model Linda Evangelista is 46. Rapper Young MC is 44. Actor Erik Palladino is 43. Rock singer Richard Patrick (Filter) is 43. Actor-singer Todd Lowe is 39. Country musician David Wallace (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 39. Actress Andrea Anders is 36. Race car driver Helio Castroneves is 36. Rock musician Jesse Vest is 34. Actor Kenan Thompson is 33. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jason Dalyrimple (Soul For Real) is 31. Rock musician Joey Zehr (The Click Five) is 28. Singer Ashley Poole (Dream) is 26. Actress Odette Yustman is 26. Actress Lauren Potter (TV: "Glee") is 21.

Thought for today: "What this country needs is a good 5-cent cigar." -- Thomas R. Marshall, U.S. vice president (1854-1925). (To which American humorist Franklin P. Adams replied, "What this country really needs is a good 5-cent nickel.")

[Associated Press]

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