This day in history

[June 15, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, June 15, the 166th day of 2010. There are 199 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 15, 1215, England's King John put his seal to Magna Carta ("the Great Charter") at Runnymede.

On this date:

In 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army.

In 1836, Arkansas became the 25th state.

In 1844, Charles Goodyear received a patent for his process to vulcanize rubber.

In 1849, James Polk, the 11th president of the United States, died in Nashville, Tenn.

In 1864, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton signed an order establishing a military burial ground, which became Arlington National Cemetery.

In 1904, more than 1,000 people died when fire erupted aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York's East River.

In 1944, American forces began their successful invasion of Saipan (sy-PAN') during World War II. B-29 Superfortresses made their first raids on Japan.

In 1960, the Billy Wilder movie "The Apartment," starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, premiered in New York.

In 1978, King Hussein (hoo-SAYN') of Jordan married 26-year-old American Lisa Halaby, who became Queen Noor.

In 1994, Israel and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations.

Ten years ago: Al Gore named Commerce Secretary William Daley to take over his presidential campaign, replacing Tony Coelho (KWEHL'-oh), who'd abruptly resigned, citing health problems. Denis Savard, Joe Mullen and Walter L. Bush Jr. were selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Five years ago: The autopsy released on Terri Schiavo (SHY'-voh) backed the contention of her husband, Michael, that she was in a persistent vegetative state, finding she was severely and irreversibly brain-damaged and blind as well. Iraqi and U.S. forces freed Australian hostage Douglas Wood. Former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison, a week after he unexpectedly pleaded guilty to murdering teammate Patrick Dennehy.

One year ago: Gen. Stanley McChrystal took charge of nearly 90,000 U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama, pushing health care reform before the annual meeting of the American Medical Association in Chicago, bluntly told the doctors he was against their highest legislative priority -- limiting malpractice awards. The president returned to the White House, where he met with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Today's birthdays: Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) is 78. Actor Aron Kincaid is 70. Rock musician Lee Dorman (Iron Butterfly) is 68. Rock singer-actor Johnny Hallyday is 67. Singer Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply) is 61. Rock singer Steve Walsh (Kansas) is 59. Comedian-actor Jim Belushi is 56. Country singer Terri Gibbs is 56. Actress Julie Hagerty is 55. Rock musician Brad Gillis (Night Ranger) is 53. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Wade Boggs is 52. Actress Eileen Davidson is 51. Bluegrass musician Terry Smith is 50. Actress Helen Hunt is 47. Rock musician Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche) is 47. Actress Courteney Cox is 46. Country musician Tony Ardoin is 46. Country musician Michael Britt (Lonestar) is 44. Contemporary Christian musician Rob Mitchell is 44. Rock musician Jimmy McD is 42. Actor-rapper Ice Cube is 41. Actress Leah Remini is 40. Actor Jake Busey is 39. Bluegrass singer-musician Jamie Johnson is 38. Rock musician T-Bone Willy (Save Ferris) is 38. Actor Neil Patrick Harris is 37. Actor Greg Vaughan is 37. Actress Elizabeth Reaser is 35. Rock singer Dryden Mitchell (Alien Ant Farm) is 34. Rock musician Billy Martin (Good Charlotte) is 29. Actor Denzel Whitaker is 20.

Thought for today: "In trying to make something new, half the undertaking lies in discovering whether it can be done. Once it has been established that it can, duplication is inevitable." -- Helen Gahagan Douglas, U.S. representative (1900-1980)

[Associated Press]

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