This day in history

[April 29, 2013]  (AP)  Today is Monday, April 29, the 119th day of 2013. There are 246 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On April 29, 1913, Swedish-born engineer Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, N.J., received a U.S. patent for a "separable fastener" -- later known as the zipper.

On this date:

In 1429, Joan of Arc entered the besieged city of Orleans to lead a French victory over the English.

In 1861, the Maryland House of Delegates voted 53-13 against seceding from the Union. In Montgomery, Ala., President Jefferson Davis asked the Confederate Congress for the authority to wage war.

In 1863, newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst was born in San Francisco.

In 1916, the Easter Rising in Dublin collapsed as Irish nationalists surrendered to British authorities.

In 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Dachau (DAH'-khow) concentration camp. Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun and designated Adm. Karl Doenitz (DUHR'-nihtz) president.

In 1946, 28 former Japanese officials went on trial in Tokyo as war criminals; seven ended up being sentenced to death.

In 1968, the counterculture musical "Hair" opened on Broadway following limited engagements off-Broadway.

In 1974, President Richard M. Nixon announced he was releasing edited transcripts of some secretly made White House tape recordings related to Watergate.

In 1983, Harold Washington was sworn in as the first black mayor of Chicago.

In 1992, rioting resulting in 55 deaths erupted in Los Angeles after a jury in Simi Valley, Calif., acquitted four Los Angeles police officers of almost all state charges in the videotaped beating of Rodney King.

In 1993, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II announced that for the first time, Buckingham Palace would be opened to tourists to help raise money for repairs at fire-damaged Windsor Castle.

In 2011, Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in an opulent ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey.

Ten years ago: The Palestinian parliament approved Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS') as prime minister, clearing the final obstacle to the launch of a U.S.-backed "road map" to peace. Pakistani authorities captured Waleed bin Attash, accused of playing a leading role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Five years ago: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama angrily denounced his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, for what he termed "divisive and destructive" remarks on race. Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD, died in Burg im Leimental, Switzerland, at age 102.

One year ago: Despite past differences, President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton began a summer fundraising blitz with an event in McLean, Va. An out-of-control SUV plunged more than 50 feet off the side of a New York City highway overpass and landed on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo, killing all seven people aboard, including three children.

Today's birthdays: Poet Rod McKuen is 80. Actor Keith Baxter is 80. Bluesman Otis Rush is 79. Conductor Zubin Mehta is 77. Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff is 75. Pop singer Bob Miranda (The Happenings) is 71. Country singer Duane Allen (The Oak Ridge Boys) is 70. Singer Tommy James is 66. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is 63. Movie director Phillip Noyce is 63. Country musician Wayne Secrest (Confederate Railroad) is 63. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is 59. Actor Leslie Jordan is 58. Actress Kate Mulgrew is 58. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is 56. Actress Michelle Pfeiffer is 55. Actress Eve Plumb is 55. Rock musician Phil King is 53. Country singer Stephanie Bentley is 50. Actor Vincent Ventresca is 47. Singer Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 45. Actor Paul Adelstein is 44. Actress Uma Thurman is 43. Tennis player Andre Agassi is 43. Rapper Master P is 43. Actor Darby Stanchfield is 42. Country singer James Bonamy is 41. Gospel/rhythm-and-blues singer Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) is 41. Rock musician Mike Hogan (The Cranberries) is 40. Actor Tyler Labine is 35. Actress-model Taylor Cole is 29. Actor Zane Carney is 28.

Thought for today: "Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right." -- Sir Laurens van der Post, South African author (1906-1996)

[Associated Press]

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