 Today's highlight in history:
On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton,
England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage, stopping first in
Cherbourg, France, and then Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, the next day
to pick up additional passengers before heading out into the open
sea.
On this date:
In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first
United States Patent Act.
In 1862, Congress passed a joint resolution offering financial aid
to any state which agreed to gradually abolish slavery.
In 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals was incorporated.
In 1925, the novel "The Great Gatsby," by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was
first published.
In 1932, German president Paul Von Hindenburg was re-elected in a
runoff, with Adolf Hitler coming in second.
In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey purchased the
contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals.
In 1957, Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to all shipping traffic. (The
canal had been closed due to wreckage resulting from the Suez
Crisis.)
In 1962, United States Steel Chairman Roger Blough informed
President John F. Kennedy of his company's decision to raise steel
prices an average of $6 a ton. (Under administration pressure,
Blough changed his mind.) Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles' original
bass player, died in Hamburg, West Germany, at age 21. Movie
director Michael Curtiz ("Casablanca") died in Hollywood at age 75.
In 1963, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Thresher sank during
deep-diving tests off Cape Cod, Mass., in a disaster that claimed
129 lives.
In 1972, the United States and the Soviet Union joined some 70
nations in signing an agreement banning biological warfare. A severe
earthquake struck southern Iran, killing more than 5,000 people. At
the Academy Awards, "The French Connection" won Best Picture;
Charles Chaplin received an honorary Oscar.
In 1992, comedian Sam Kinison was killed in a car crash outside
Needles, Calif., at age 38.
In 2010, Polish President Lech Kaczynski, 60, was killed in a plane
crash in western Russia that also claimed the lives of his wife and
top Polish political, military and church officials.
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 Ten years ago: Eight Israelis were killed by a suicide bomber
aboard a bus in Haifa (HY'-fuh). Five years ago: A woman wearing an explosives
vest strapped underneath her black robe blew herself up in the midst
of 200 Iraqi police recruits in Muqdadiyah, killing 16. Two Russian
cosmonauts and U.S. billionaire Charles Simonyi arrived at the
international space station. DNA tests showed that former boyfriend
Larry Birkhead was the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby.
One year ago: In the first remarks since his ouster, former
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak denied allegations that he had used
his position to amass wealth and property. Bob Dylan performed a
concert in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam. Charl
Schwartzel won the Masters by two strokes over Adam Scott and Jason
Day after a wild final round at Augusta National; the 26-year-old
South African closed with four straight birdies, making a 20-footer
at the final hole to wrap up a 6-under 66.
Today's birthdays: Actor Max von Sydow is 83. Actress Liz
Sheridan is 83. Actor Omar Sharif is 80. Sportscaster John Madden is
76. Rhythm-and-blues singer Bobbie Smith (The Spinners) is 76.
Reggae artist Bunny Wailer is 65. Actor Steven Seagal is 61.
Folk-pop singer Terre Roche (The Roches) is 59. Actor Peter MacNicol
is 58. Rock musician Steven Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs) is 55.
Singer-producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is 54. Rock
singer-musician Brian Setzer is 53. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 52.
Rock singer Katrina Leskanich is 52. Actor Jeb Adams is 51. Olympic
gold medal speedskater Cathy Turner is 50. Rock musician Tim "Herb"
Alexander is 47. Actor-comedian Orlando Jones is 44. Rock musician
Mike Mushok (Staind) is 43. Singer Kenny Lattimore is 42. Rapper
Q-Tip (AKA Kamaal) is 42. Blues singer Shemekia Copeland is 33.
Actress Laura Bell Bundy is 31. Actress Chyler Leigh is 30. Actor
Ryan Merriman is 29. Singer Mandy Moore is 28. Actor Haley Joel
Osment is 24. Actor Alex Pettyfer is 22. Actress-singer AJ (AKA
Amanda) Michalka (mish-AL'-kah) is 21.
Thought for today: "Take from me the hope that I can change
the future, and you will send me mad." -- Israel Zangwill,
English dramatist (1864-1926)
[Associated Press]
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