This day in history

[February 19, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2010. There are 315 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Feb. 19, 1945, during World War II, some 30,000 U.S. Marines began landing on Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.

On this date:

In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland.

In 1803, Congress voted to accept Ohio's borders and constitution.

In 1846, the Texas state government was formally installed in Austin, with J. Pinckney Henderson taking the oath of office as governor.

In 1881, Kansas prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the military to relocate and intern U.S. residents, including native-born Americans, of Japanese ancestry. Japanese warplanes raided the Australian city of Darwin; at least 243 people were killed.

In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence.

In 1983, 13 people were found shot to death at a gambling club in Seattle's Chinatown in what became known as the "Wah Mee Massacre." (Two Chinese immigrants were convicted of the killings and sentenced to life in prison.)

In 1997, Deng Xiaoping, the last of China's major Communist revolutionaries, died at age 92.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton posthumously pardoned Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point, whose military career had been tarnished by a racially motivated discharge.

In 2008, an ailing Fidel Castro resigned the Cuban presidency after nearly a half-century in power; his brother Raul was later named to succeed him.

Ten years ago: George W. Bush defeated John McCain in the South Carolina Republican primary.

Five years ago: Eight suicide bombers struck in quick succession in Iraq in a wave of attacks that killed dozens. Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton visited a Thai fishing village that had been devastated by the December 2005 tsunami. The USS Jimmy Carter, the last of the Seawolf class of attack subs, was commissioned at Groton (GRAH'-tun), Conn.

One year ago: President Barack Obama made a quick visit to Canada, his first trip outside the U.S. since taking office; he reassured Prime Minister Stephen Harper that the U.S. was not cultivating a protectionist streak despite its economic difficulties. A jury in Moscow voted unanimously to acquit three men in the killing of investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya.

Today's birthdays: Singer Smokey Robinson is 70. Singer Bobby Rogers (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is 70. Actress Carlin Glynn is 70. Sony Chairman, CEO and President Howard Stringer is 68. Singer Lou Christie is 67. Actor Michael Nader is 65. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell) is 62. Author Amy Tan is 58. Actor Jeff Daniels is 55. Rock singer-musician Dave Wakeling is 54. Talk show host Lorianne Crook is 53. Actor Ray Winstone is 53. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is 51. Britain's Prince Andrew is 50. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Hana Mandlikova is 48. Singer Seal is 47. Country musician Ralph McCauley (Wild Horses) is 46. Rock musician Jon Fishman (Phish) is 45. Actress Justine Bateman is 44. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 43. Rock musician Daniel Adair is 35. Pop singer-actress Haylie Duff is 25.

Thought for today: "There is, I think, nothing in the world more futile than the attempt to find out how a task should be done when one has not yet decided what the task is." -- Alexander Meiklejohn (MIHK'-ul-jahn), American educator (1872-1964)

[Associated Press]

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