Tuesday, April 06th
The 096th day of 2010.
There are 269 days left in the year.
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Today's Highlights in History
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On April 6, 1909, explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson became the first men to reach the North Pole. The claim, disputed by skeptics, was upheld in 1989 by the Navigation Foundation. (Go to article.)
On April 6, 1870, Clarence E. McClung, an American zoologist who made important discoveries in the field of genetics, was born. Following his death on Jan. 17, 1946, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. | Other Birthdays)
Editorial Cartoon of the Day
On April 6, 1872, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about a Congressional investigation into arms sales. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)
On this date in:
1830 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith in Fayette, N.Y.
1896 The first modern Olympic Games opened in Athens, Greece.
1917 Congress approved a declaration of war against Germany as the United States entered World War I.
1971 Composer Igor Stravinsky died at age 88.
1983 Interior Secretary James Watt banned the Beach Boys from the 4th of July celebration on the Washington Mall, saying rock 'n' roll bands attract the "wrong element."
1992 Science fiction author Isaac Asimov died at age 72.
1998 The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 9,000 points for the first time.
1998 Pakistan successfully tested a medium-range missile capable of striking neighboring India.
1998 Country singer Tammy Wynette died at age 55.
2001 Algerian national Ahmed Ressam, accused of bringing explosives into the United States days before the millennium celebrations, was convicted on terror charges.
2004 Jordan's military court convicted eight Muslim militants and sentenced them to death for the 2002 killing of U.S. aid official Laurence Foley in a terror conspiracy linked to al-Qaida.
2004 The University of Connecticut became the first school to win the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball titles in the same season as the women's team beat Tennessee 70-61 for their third consecutive championship.
2005 Prince Rainier III of Monaco died at age 81.
2009 Michael Jordan was elected to the basketball Hall of Fame.
Current Birthdays
Merle Haggard turns 73 years old today.
AP Photo/Dave Martin Country musician Merle Haggard turns 73 years old today.
81 Andre Previn
Pianist, conductor
73 Billy Dee Williams
Actor
68 Barry Levinson
Director ("Rain Man," "The Natural")
63 John Ratzenberger
Actor ("Cheers")
58 Marilu Henner
Actress ("Taxi," "Evening Shade")
57 Janet Lynn
Figure skater
41 Paul Rudd
Actor
38 Jason Hervey
Actor ("The Wonder Years")
35 Zach Braff
Actor, writer ("Scrubs")
34 Candace Cameron Bure
Actress ("Full House")
Historic Birthdays
Clarence E. McClung
4/6/1870 - 1/17/1946
American zoologist
(Go to obit.)
37 Raphael
4/6/1483 - 4/6/1520
Italian painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance
70 Jean-Baptiste Rousseau
4/6/1671 - 3/17/1741
French dramatist and poet
63 James Mill
4/6/1773 - 6/23/1836
Scottish philosopher, historian and economist
76 Joseph Medill
4/6/1823 - 3/16/1899
Canadian-born American editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune
85 Rene Lalique
4/6/1860 - 5/5/1945
French jeweler and important figure in the Art Nouveau movement
87 Louis Raemaekers
4/6/1869 - 7/26/1956
Dutch cartoonist famous for his anti-German cartoons in W. W. II
66 Walter Huston
4/6/1884 - 4/7/1950
Canadian-born American character actor in films and stage
49 Anthony Fokker
4/6/1890 - 12/23/1939
Dutch airman and pioneer aircraft manufacturer
89 Lowell Thomas
4/6/1892 - 8/29/1981
American radio commentator, explorer, lecturer and journalist
89 Donald Douglas
4/6/1892 - 2/1/1981
American aircraft designer; founded Douglas Aircraft Company
87 Harold Edgerton
4/6/1903 - 1/4/1990
American electrical engineer and photographer
69 Gerry Mulligan
4/6/1927 - 1/20/1996
American baritone saxophonist, arranger and composer
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