This day in history

[July 09, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Friday, July 9, the 190th day of 2010. There are 175 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On July 9, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington's troops in New York.

On this date:

In 1540, England's King Henry VIII had his 6-month-old marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled.

In 1810, French Emperor Napoleon I annexed the Kingdom of Holland.

In 1816, Argentina declared independence from Spain.

In 1850, the 12th president of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after serving only 16 months of his term. (He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore.)

In 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous "cross of gold" speech at the Democratic national convention in Chicago.

In 1918, 101 people were killed in a train collision in Nashville, Tenn. The Distinguished Service Cross was established by an Act of Congress.

In 1947, the engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman asked Congress to formally end the state of war between the United States and Germany. (An official end to the state of war was declared in Oct. 1951.)

In 1974, former U.S. Chief Justice Earl Warren died in Washington, D.C. at age 83.

In 1982, a Pan Am Boeing 727 crashed in Kenner, La., killing all 145 people aboard and eight people on the ground.

Ten years ago: The 13th International AIDS Conference opened in Durban, South Africa. At least 12 people died in a soccer stampede set off when police fired tear gas at bottle-throwing fans during a World Cup qualifier between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe. (South Africa's 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe was ruled official.) Top-seeded Pete Sampras won his seventh Wimbledon title as he defeated Patrick Rafter, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2.

Five years ago: A purported Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan said the group had beheaded a missing American commando, but he offered no proof and the U.S. military said it was still searching for the Navy SEAL. (The body of the commando was found the next day; officials said it appeared he died as a result of fighting, and was never abducted.) Hurricane Dennis dealt a glancing blow to the Florida Keys. A panda cub, later named Tai Shan (ty shawn), was born at the National Zoo in Washington.

One year ago: The Group of Eight industrialized nations opened their summit in L'Aquila, Italy, to Group of Five developing countries Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, as well as Egypt. The Dutch government turned over dozens of antiquities stolen from Iraq to Baghdad's ambassador. Two suicide bombers killed at least 38 people in northern Iraq. A massive bomb blast in central Afghanistan killed 25 people, including primary school students. Michael Phelps broke the world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. national championships in Indianapolis, swimming the two-lap final in 50.22 seconds.

Today's birthdays: Actor-singer Ed Ames is 83. Actor James Hampton is 74. Actor Brian Dennehy is 72. Actor Richard Roundtree is 68. Author Dean Koontz is 65. Football Hall-of-Famer O.J. Simpson is 63. Actor Chris Cooper is 59. TV personality John Tesh is 58. Country singer David Ball is 57. Rhythm-and-blues singer Debbie Sledge (Sister Sledge) is 56. Actor Jimmy Smits is 55. Actress Lisa Banes is 55. Actor Tom Hanks is 54. Singer Marc Almond is 53. Actress Kelly McGillis is 53. Rock singer Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) is 51. Actress-rock singer Courtney Love is 46. Rock musician Frank Bello (Anthrax) is 45. Actor David O'Hara is 45. Rock musician Xavier Muriel (Buckcherry) is 42. Actor Scott Grimes is 39. Actor Enrique Murciano is 37. Rock musician Dan Estrin (Hoobastank) is 34. Actor-director Fred Savage is 34. Country musician Pat Allingham is 32. Actress Megan Parlen is 30. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kiely Williams (3lw) is 24. Actor Mitchel (cq) Musso is 19. Actress Georgie Henley is 15.

Thought for today: "Quotations (such as have point and lack triteness) from the great old authors are an act of filial reverence on the part of the quoter, and a blessing to a public grown superficial and external." -- Louise Imogen Guiney, American poet and essayist (1861-1920)

[Associated Press]

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