This day in history

[August 06, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Aug. 6, the 218th day of 2009. There are 147 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Aug. 6, 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths in the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare.

On this date:

In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire went out of existence as Emperor Francis II abdicated.

In 1809, one of the leading literary figures of the Victorian era, poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England.

In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia.

In 1859, the Australian passenger ship SS Admella, en route from Port Adelaide to Melbourne, struck a reef off South Australia and broke apart; of the 113 people on board, only 24 survived.

In 1890, convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed in the electric chair as he was put to death at Auburn State Prison in New York.

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle of New York became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 1/2 hours.

In 1962, Jamaica became an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.

In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80.

In 1986, William J. Schroeder died after living 620 days with the Jarvik 7 artificial heart.

Ten years ago: In Canton, Texas, a 36-year-old woman facing lifelong heart problems that she blamed on the diet drug combination fen-phen was awarded $23.3 million in the first such lawsuit to reach a jury. (The case was settled for less than a tenth of that amount during an appeal.) Tony Gwynn became the 22nd major leaguer to reach 3,000 hits as his team, the San Diego Padres, beat the Montreal Expos 12-10.

Five years ago: A court found two former top East German officials guilty of failing to stop the killing of people trying to escape across the Berlin Wall and sentenced them to probation. Funk legend Rick James died in Los Angeles at age 56.

One year ago: The government declared that Army scientist Bruce Ivins was solely responsible for the anthrax attacks that killed five and rattled the nation in 2001. (Ivins had committed suicide on July 29.) A U.S. military jury convicted Osama bin Laden's former driver, Salim Hamdan, of supporting terrorism in the first war crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay. President George W. Bush, on his Asia tour, met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak; Bush then traveled to Thailand, where he met with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Today's birthdays: Former tennis player Pauline Betz is 90. Actress-singer Abbey Lincoln is 79. Jazz musician Charlie Haden is 72. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 71. Actor Michael Anderson Jr. is 66. Actor Dorian Harewood is 59. Actress Catherine Hicks is 58. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 57. Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 56. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 53. Actress Faith Prince is 52. R&B singer Randy DeBarge is 51. Actor Leland Orser is 49. Country singers Peggy and Patsy Lynn are 45. Basketball Hall-of-Fame electee David Robinson is 44. Actor Jeremy Ratchford is 44. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 41. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 39. Actress Merrin Dungey is 38. Singer Geri Halliwell is 37. Actor Jason O'Mara is 37. Singer-actor David Campbell is 36. Actress Vera Farmiga is 36. Actress Ever Carradine is 35. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 33. Rock singer Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) is 28. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 25.

Thought for today: "No man ever got very high by pulling other people down. The intelligent merchant does not knock his competitors. The sensible worker does not work those who work with him. Don't knock your friends. Don't knock your enemies. Don't knock yourself." -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson, British poet (1809-1892)

[Associated Press]

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