This day in history

[November 10, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Nov. 10, the 314th day of 2009. There are 51 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Nov. 10, 1775, the U.S. Marines were organized under authority of the Continental Congress.

On this date:

In 1871, journalist-explorer Henry M. Stanley found Scottish missionary David Livingstone, who had not been heard from for years, near Lake Tanganyika in central Africa.

In 1917, 41 suffragists were arrested for picketing in front of the White House.

In 1919, the American Legion opened its first national convention, in Minneapolis.

In 1928, Japanese Emperor Hirohito was formally enthroned, almost two years after his ascension.

In 1938, Kate Smith first sang Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" on her CBS radio program. Turkish statesman Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died in Istanbul at age 57.

In 1954, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, depicting the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945, was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Arlington, Va.

In 1959, the nuclear submarine USS Triton was commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

In 1969, the children's educational program "Sesame Street" made its debut on National Educational Television (later PBS).

In 1975, the ore-hauling ship SS Edmund Fitzgerald and its crew of 29 mysteriously sank during a storm in Lake Superior with the loss of all on board.

In 1982, Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev died at age 75.

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton decided to delay and shorten a trip to Greece in reaction to growing security concerns and the prospect of violent anti-American demonstrations. Investigators said the flight data recorder from EgyptAir Flight 990 showed things were normal until the autopilot mysteriously disconnected and the Boeing 767 began what appeared to be a controlled descent toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Five years ago: Word reached the United States of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at age 75. (Because of the time difference, it was the early hours of Nov. 11 in Paris, where Arafat died.) President George W. Bush nominated White House counsel Alberto Gonzales to be attorney general, succeeding John Ashcroft. France, the United States and other nations began evacuating thousands of foreigners from Ivory Coast following attacks on civilians and peacekeeping troops.

One year ago: President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, welcomed Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House for a nearly two-hour visit; the president and president-elect conferred in the Oval Office, while the current and future first ladies talked in the White House residence. Miriam Makeba, the South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist, died at age 76 after performing at a concert in Castel Volturno, Italy.

Today's birthdays: Actor Russell Johnson is 85. Film composer Ennio Morricone is 81. Blues singer Bobby Rush is 75. Actor Albert Hall is 72. American Indian activist Russell Means is 70. Country singer Donna Fargo is 68. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., is 66. Lyricist Tim Rice is 65. Actress Alaina Reed Hall is 63. Rock singer-musician Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) is 62. Actress-dancer Ann Reinking is 60. Actor Jack Scalia is 59. Movie director Roland Emmerich is 54. Actor Matt Craven is 53. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 53. Actress Mackenzie Phillips is 50. Author Neil Gaiman is 49. Actress Vanessa Angel is 46. Actor-comedian Tommy Davidson is 46. Actor Michael Jai White is 45. Country singer Chris Cagle is 41. Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan is 41. Actress Ellen Pompeo ("Grey's Anatomy") is 40. Rapper-producer Warren G is 39. Comedian-actor Chris Lilley is 35. Rock singer-musician Jim Adkins (Jimmy Eat World) is 34. Actress Brittany Murphy is 32. Rapper Eve is 31. Rock musician Chris Jannou (Silverchair) is 30. Actor Bryan Neal is 29. Actress Heather Matarazzo is 27. Country singer Miranda Lambert is 26. Actor Josh Peck is 23.

Thought for today: "Men get opinions as boys learn to spell by reiteration chiefly." -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet (1806-1861)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.