Today in History

Today is Saturday, July 21, the 203rd day of 2012. There are 163 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On July 21, 1925, the so-called "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, Tenn., with John T. Scopes convicted of violating state law for teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. (The conviction was later overturned on a technicality.)

On this date:

In 1773, Pope Clement XIV issued an order suppressing the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. (The Society was restored by Pope Pius VII in 1814.)

In 1796, Scottish poet Robert Burns died in Dumfries at age 37.

In 1861, during the Civil War, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Va., resulting in a Confederate victory.

In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order establishing the Veterans Administration (later the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

In 1944, American forces landed on Guam during World War II.

In 1949, the U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty.

In 1952, the Democratic National Convention, which would nominate Adlai Stevenson for president, opened in Chicago.

In 1959, the NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was christened by first lady Mamie Eisenhower at Camden, N.J.

In 1961, Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth, flying aboard the Liberty Bell 7.

In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin blasted off from the moon aboard the ascent stage of the lunar module for docking with the command module.

In 1972, the Irish Republican Army carried out 22 bombings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, killing nine people and injuring 130 in what became known as "Bloody Friday."

In 1980, draft registration began in the United States for 19- and 20-year-old men.

Ten years ago: Telecommunications giant WorldCom Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection about a month after disclosing it had inflated profits by nearly $4 billion through deceptive accounting. Ernie Els won the British Open in the first sudden-death finish in the 142-year history of the tournament.

Five years ago: Doctors removed five small growths from President George W. Bush's colon after he temporarily transferred the powers of his office to Vice President Dick Cheney under the rarely invoked 25th Amendment. Ruediger Diedrich, one of two Germans kidnapped in southern Afghanistan on July 18, was found dead. David Beckham made his debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000. (Beckham got into the exhibition game in the 78th minute of Chelsea's 1-0 victory.) "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final volume of the wizard series by J.K. Rowling, went on sale.

One year ago: The 30-year-old space shuttle program ended as Atlantis landed at Cape Canaveral, Fla., after the 135th shuttle flight. Eurozone leaders agreed to a sweeping deal that would grant Greece a massive new bailout and radically reshape the currency union's rescue fund. The NFL canceled its Hall of Fame game between St. Louis and Chicago despite owners voting in favor of a tentative deal to end a lockout.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Kay Starr is 90. Movie director Norman Jewison is 86. Former Attorney General Janet Reno is 74. Actress Patricia Elliott is 70. Actor David Downing is 69. Actor Edward Herrmann is 69. Actor Leigh Lawson is 67. Actor Wendell Burton is 65. Actor Art Hindle is 64. Singer Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) is 64. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau is 64. Comedian-actor Robin Williams is 61. Actor Jamey Sheridan is 61. Rock singer-musician Eric Bazilian (The Hooters) is 59. Comedian Jon Lovitz is 55. Actor Lance Guest is 52. Actor Matt Mulhern is 52. Comedian Greg Behrendt is 49. Rock musician Koen Lieckens (K's Choice) is 46. Rock singer Emerson Hart is 43. Country singer Paul Brandt is 40. Actress Ali Landry is 39. Actor Justin Bartha is 34. Actor Josh Hartnett is 34. Contemporary Christian singer Brandon Heath is 34. Actress Sprague Grayden is 34. Reggae singer Damian Marley is 34. Country singer Brad Mates (Emerson Drive) is 34. MLB All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia is 32. Singer Blake Lewis ("American Idol") is 31. Rock musician Johan Carlsson (Carolina Liar) is 28. Actress Vanessa Lengies is 27. Actor Jamie Waylett ("Harry Potter" films) is 23.

Thought for Today: "Suspense is worse than disappointment." -- Robert Burns (1759-1796).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.