This day in history

[May 14, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, May 14, the 134th day of 2011. There are 231 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 14, 1811, Paraguay achieved independence from Spain with the bloodless overthrow of the country's royal governor.

On this date:

In 1643, Louis XIV became King of France at age four upon the death of his father, Louis XIII.

In 1796, English physician Edward Jenner inoculated 8-year-old James Phipps against smallpox by using cowpox matter.

In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory as well as the Pacific Northwest left camp near present-day Hartford, Ill.

In 1860, the first Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States arrived in Washington.

In 1900, the Olympic games opened in Paris, held as part of the 1900 World's Fair.

In 1940, the Netherlands surrendered to invading German forces during World War II.

In 1948, according to the current-era calendar, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv.

In 1961, Freedom Riders were attacked by violent mobs in Anniston and Birmingham, Ala.

In 1973, the United States launched Skylab 1, its first manned space station.

In 1998, singer-actor Frank Sinatra died at a Los Angeles hospital at age 82. The hit sitcom "Seinfeld" aired its final episode after nine years on NBC.

Ten years ago: The Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana for medical purposes. Promising to be a "determined adversary" toward gun violence, President George W. Bush announced plans to mobilize federal and local prosecutors who would focus exclusively on gun-related crimes.

Five years ago: Mexico's President Vicente (vih-SEN'-tay) Fox telephoned President George W. Bush to express concern about what he called the possibility of a "militarized" U.S.-Mexican border, a day before Bush's planned Oval Office speech on immigration. Rene Preval (reh-NAY' preh-VAHL') was sworn in as Haiti's president for the second time in a decade. Former U.S. poet laureate Stanley Kunitz died in New York at age 100. Aras Baskauskas (AH'-rahs bush-KOW'-kis), a 24-year-old yoga instructor from Santa Monica, Calif., won "Survivor: Panama, Exile Island," the 12th edition of the CBS reality show.

One year ago: President Barack Obama heatedly condemned what he called a "ridiculous spectacle" of oil executives shifting blame for the BP oil spill in congressional hearings and denounced a "cozy relationship" between their companies and the federal government. Space shuttle Atlantis thundered away on its final voyage to orbit. NBC canceled the long-running crime/courtroom drama "Law & Order" after 20 seasons on the air.

Today's birthdays: Opera singer Patrice Munsel is 86. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is 69. Rock singer-musician Jack Bruce (Cream) is 68. Movie producer George Lucas is 67. Actress Meg Foster is 63. Movie director Robert Zemeckis is 60. Rock singer David Byrne is 59. Actor Tim Roth is 50. Rock singer Ian Astbury (The Cult) is 49. Rock musician C.C. (aka Cecil) DeVille is 49. Actor Danny Huston is 49. Rock musician Mike Inez (Alice In Chains) is 45. Fabrice Morvan (ex-Milli Vanilli) is 45. Rhythm-and-blues singer Raphael Saadiq is 45. Actress Cate Blanchett is 42. Singer Danny Wood (New Kids on the Block) is 42. Movie writer-director Sofia Coppola (KOH'-pah-lah) is 40. Singer Natalie Appleton (All Saints) is 38. Singer Shanice is 38. Rock musician Henry Garza (Los Lonely Boys) is 33. Rock musician Mike Retondo (Plain White T's) is 30. Actress Amber Tamblyn is 28. Actress Miranda Cosgrove is 18.

Thought for today: "A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist." -- Louis Nizer, American lawyer (1902-1994)

[Associated Press]

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