Today in History

Today is Friday, Aug. 10, the 223rd day of 2012. There are 143 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 10, 1962, Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man made his debut in issue 15 of "Amazing Fantasy" (cover price: 12 cents).

On this date:

In 1680, Pueblo Indians launched a successful revolt against Spanish colonists in present-day New Mexico.

In 1792, during the French Revolution, mobs in Paris attacked the Tuileries (Palace, where King Louis XVI resided. (The king was later arrested, put on trial for treason, and executed.)

In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state.

In 1846, President James K. Polk signed a measure establishing the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1861, Confederate forces routed Union troops in the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri, the first major engagement of the Civil War west of the Mississippi River.

In 1874, Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, was born in West Branch, Iowa.

In 1921, Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with polio at his summer home on the Canadian island of Campobello.

In 1949, the National Military Establishment was renamed the Department of Defense.

In 1962, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum was dedicated in West Branch, Iowa, on the 88th birthday of the former president, who attended the ceremony along with former President Harry S. Truman.

In 1969, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson's cult, one day after actress Sharon Tate and four other people had been slain.

In 1975, television personality David Frost announced he had purchased the exclusive rights to interview former President Richard Nixon.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a measure providing $20,000 payments to Japanese-Americans who'd been interned by their government during World War II.

Ten years ago: Leaders of Roman Catholic religious orders, meeting in Philadelphia, approved details of their plan to keep sexually abusive clergy away from children but in the priesthood, creating review boards to monitor how their communities handle offenders. Sammy Sosa hit three three-run homers in Chicago's 15-1 rout of Colorado. Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants broke Willie McCovey's 1969 record for intentional walks in a season with his 46th of the year. (The Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3.)

Five years ago: Three men were killed in a southern Indiana coal mine when a nylon sling used to transport supplies up and down a shaft got caught, causing the bucket the men were riding in to tip and send them plummeting more than 500 feet to their deaths.

One year ago: Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, the top American commander in Afghanistan, said international forces had slain the Taliban insurgents responsible for shooting down a U.S. helicopter, killing 30 Americans and seven Afghan commandos. Country singer-musician Billy Grammer, 85, died in Benton, Ill.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Rhonda Fleming is 89. Actor-director Tom Laughlin ("Billy Jack") is 81. Singer Ronnie Spector is 69. Actor James Reynolds is 66. Rock singer-musician Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) is 65. Country musician Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) is 63. Singer Patti Austin is 62. Actor Daniel Hugh Kelly is 60. Folk singer-songwriter Sam Baker is 58. Actress Rosanna Arquette is 53. Actor Antonio Banderas is 52. Rock musician Jon Farriss (INXS) is 51. Singer Julia Fordham is 50. Journalist-blogger Andrew Sullivan is 49. Singer Neneh Cherry is 48. Singer Aaron Hall is 48. Boxer Riddick Bowe is 45. Rhythm-and-blues singer Lorraine Pearson (Five Star) is 45. Singer-producer Michael Bivins is 44. Actor-writer Justin Theroux is 41. Actress Angie Harmon is 40. Country singer Jennifer Hanson is 39. Actress JoAnna Garcia is 33. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nikki Bratcher (Divine) is 32. Actor Ryan Eggold is 28. Actor Lucas Till is 22.

Thought for Today: "About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends." -- President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.