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Today in History - Jan. 10

Celebrity birthdays, highlights in history, plus more facts about this day
/ Source: The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 10, the 10th day of 2007. There are 355 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
On Jan. 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense.”

On this date:
In 1861, Florida seceded from the Union.

In 1870, John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil.

In 1920, the League of Nations was established as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect.

In 1946, the first manmade contact with the moon was made as radar signals were bounced off the lunar surface.

In 1946, the first General Assembly of the United Nations convened in London.

In 1947, the musical fantasy “Finian’s Rainbow,” with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, opened on Broadway.

In 1957, Harold Macmillan became prime minister of Britain, following the resignation of Anthony Eden.

In 1967, Massachusetts Republican Edward W. Brooke, the first black elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote, took his seat.

In 1967, National Educational Television (forerunner of the Public Broadcasting Service) operated as a true network for the first time as it carried President Johnson’s State of the Union address.

In 1984, the United States and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations for the first time in more than a century.

Ten years ago: Dallas police ended their investigation of Dallas Cowboys stars Erik Williams and Michael Irvin, saying a woman’s claim that Williams had raped her while Irvin held a gun to her head was false.

Five years ago: Marines began flying hundreds of al-Qaida prisoners in Afghanistan to a U.S. base on Cuba. The White House revealed that Enron Corp. had sought the administration’s help shortly before collapsing with the life savings of many workers. Todd Eldredge won his sixth U.S. Figure Skating Championship title.

One year ago: Iran resumed nuclear research two years after halting the work to avoid possible U.N. economic sanctions. Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs unveiled an iMac computer based on Intel chips. Bruce Sutter became the fourth relief pitcher elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Today’s Birthdays: Jazz musician Max Roach is 83. Opera singer Sherrill Milnes is 72. Blues artist Eddy Clearwater is 72. Rock singer-musician Ronnie Hawkins is 72. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Willie McCovey is 69. Singer Scott McKenzie is 68. Movie director Walter Hill is 65. Singer Frank Sinatra Jr. is 63. Singer Rod Stewart is 62. Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 59. Actor William Sanderson is 59. Boxer George Foreman is 58. Singer Pat Benatar is 54. Rock musician Michael Schenker is 52. Singer Shawn Colvin is 51. Rock singer-musician Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets) is 48. Actor Evan Handler is 46. Rock singer Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies) is 43. Actress Trini Alvarado is 40. Rock musician Matt Roberts (3 Doors Down) is 29. Rapper Chris Smith (Kris Kross) is 28.

Thought for Today: “They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.” — Emily Dickinson, American poet (1830-1886).