This day in history

[July 05, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, July 5, the 186th day of 2011. There are 179 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On July 5, 1811, Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.

On this date:

In 1865, William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London.

In 1911, French President Georges Pompidou was born in Montboudif.

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act.

In 1946, the bikini, created by Louis Reard (ray-AHRD'), was worn by Micheline Bernardini during a poolside fashion show in Paris.

In 1947, Larry Doby made his debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first black player in the American League.

In 1948, Britain's National Health Service Act went into effect, providing government-financed medical and dental care.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon certified the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title as he defeated Jimmy Connors.

In 1984, the Supreme Court weakened the 70-year-old "exclusionary rule," deciding that evidence seized in good faith with defective court warrants could be used against defendants in criminal trials.

In 1991, a worldwide financial scandal erupted as regulators in eight countries shut down the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. Actress Mildred Dunnock died in Oak Bluffs, Mass., at age 90.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush named veteran prosecutor Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) to take over the FBI.

Five years ago: North Korea test-fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including at least one believed capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Enron founder Kenneth Lay, who was facing decades in prison for one of the most sprawling business frauds in U.S. history, died in Aspen, Colo., at age 64.

One year ago: Israel eased its blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza to allow virtually all consumer goods; the move was welcomed by the White House, but Gaza business leaders and rights activists said the measures were far short of what Gaza needed. Opera singer Cesare Siepi, 87, died in Atlanta. David Fanshawe, a widely traveled British musical explorer best known as the composer of "African Sanctus," died in Wiltshire, England, at age 68.

Today's birthdays: Actress Katherine Helmond is 82. Actress Shirley Knight is 75. Singer-musician Robbie Robertson is 68. Julie Nixon Eisenhower is 63. Rock star Huey Lewis is 61. Baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage is 60. Country musician Charles Ventre is 59. Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn is 52. Actor Dorien Wilson is 49. Actress Edie Falco is 48. Actress Kathryn Erbe (er-BEE') is 46. Actor Michael Stuhlbarg (STOOL'-bahrg) is 43. Country musician Brent Flynn (Flynnville Train) is 42. Rapper RZA (RIH'-zuh) is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Joe is 38. Rock musician Bengt Lagerberg (The Cardigans) is 38. Actor Dale Godboldo is 36. Rapper Bizarre is 35. Rock singer Jason Wade (Lifehouse) is 31. Actor Ryan Hansen is 30. Country musician Dave Haywood (Lady Antebellum) is 29. Rock musician Nick O'Malley (Arctic Monkeys) is 26. Actor Jason Dolley is 20.

Thought for today: "Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something." -- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

[Associated Press]

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