This day in history

[February 12, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Feb. 12, the 43rd day of 2009. There are 322 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Feb. 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in present-day LaRue County, Ky. Naturalist Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England.

On this date:

In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, who'd claimed the throne of England for nine days, and her husband, Guildford Dudley, were beheaded after being condemned for high treason.

In 1818, Chile officially proclaimed its independence, more than seven years after initially renouncing Spanish rule.

In 1870, women in the Utah Territory gained the right to vote. (However, that right was taken away in 1887 before being restored in 1895).

In 1908, the first round-the-world automobile race began in New York. (It ended in Paris the following July with the drivers of the American car, a Thomas Flyer, declared the winners over teams from Germany and Italy.)

In 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in New York.

In 1912, Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, abdicated, marking the end of the Qing Dynasty.

In 1914, ground was broken for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (The cornerstone was laid on this date one year later.)

In 1940, the radio play "The Adventures of Superman" debuted with Bud Collyer as the Man of Steel.

In 1959, the redesigned Lincoln penny, with an image of the Lincoln Memorial replacing two ears of wheat on the reverse side, went into circulation.

In 1973, Operation Homecoming began as the first release of American prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict took place.

Ten years ago: The Senate voted to acquit President Bill Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice; Clinton told Americans he was "profoundly sorry" for what he'd said and done in the Monica Lewinsky affair that triggered it all. Swarms of anxious travelers were left stranded when American Airlines again scrubbed more than 1,000 flights after its pilots defied a court order and continued their mass sickout.

Five years ago: Defying a California law, San Francisco officials began performing weddings for same-sex couples. Four men were charged in a 42-count indictment alleging they'd run a steroid-distribution ring that provided performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of athletes in the NFL, the major leagues and track and field. (All four later pleaded guilty to steroids-related charges, and two of them, personal trainer Greg Anderson and Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founder Victor Conte, served several months in prison.)

One year ago: Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain won their respective parties' primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. General Motors reported losing $38.7 billion in 2007, the largest annual loss in automotive history, and offered buyouts to 74,000 hourly workers. Imad Mughniyeh, one of world's most wanted terrorists, was killed in a car bombing in Damascus, Syria. Character actor David Groh died in Los Angeles at age 68. Uno became the first beagle named Westminster's best in show.

Today's birthdays: Movie director Franco Zeffirelli is 86. Actor Louis Zorich is 85. Baseball Hall of Fame sportscaster Joe Garagiola is 83. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is 79. Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell is 75. Actor Joe Don Baker is 73. Author Judy Blume is 71. Rock musician Ray Manzarek (The Doors) is 70. Country singer Moe Bandy is 65. Actress Maud Adams is 64. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 63. Actor Michael Ironside is 59. Rock musician Steve Hackett is 59. Rock singer Michael McDonald is 57. Actress Joanna Kerns is 56. Actor-former talk show host Arsenio Hall is 54. Actor John Michael Higgins is 46. Actress Christine Elise is 44. Actor Josh Brolin is 41. Singer Chynna Phillips is 41. Rock musician Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies) is 39. Rhythm-and-blues musician Keri Lewis is 38. Actor Jesse Spencer ("House, M.D.") is 30. Actress Sarah Lancaster is 29. Actress Christina Ricci is 29.

Thought for today: "Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention. Still less can he afford to take all the consequences, including the vitiating of his temper and loss of self-control." -- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

[Associated Press]

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