Published: July 09, 2009 07:57 am      

Today in History

Today is Friday, July 10, the 191st day of 2009. There are 174 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

Five hundred years ago, on July 10, 1509, French theologian John Calvin, a key figure of the Protestant Reformation, was born Jean Cauvin in Noyon, Picardy, France.

On this date:

In 1890, Wyoming became the 44th state.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson personally delivered the Treaty of Versailles to the Senate, and urged its ratification. (However, the Senate rejected it.)

In 1929, American paper currency was reduced in size as the government began issuing bills that were approximately 25 percent smaller.

In 1940, during World War II, the Battle of Britain began as Nazi forces began attacking southern England by air. (The Royal Air Force was ultimately victorious.)

In 1951, armistice talks aimed at ending the Korean War began at Kaesong.

In 1962, the Telstar 1 communications satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

In 1989, Mel Blanc, the “man of a thousand voices,” including such cartoon characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, died in Los Angeles at age 81.

Today’s Birthdays: Eunice Kennedy Shriver is 88. Actor William Smithers is 82. Broadway composer Jerry Herman is 78. Director Ivan Passer is 76. Rock musician Dave Smalley is 60. Country-folk singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler is 58. Rock singer Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys) is 55. Banjo player Bela Fleck is 51. Country singer-songwriter Ken Mellons is 44. Country singer Gary LeVox (Rascal Flatts) is 39. Actor Thomas Ian Nicholas is 29. Singer-actress Jessica Simpson is 29.

Thought for Today: “A concept is stronger than a fact.” — Charlotte Perkins Gilman, American economist and feminist (1860-1935).