Today in History

Today is Monday, Aug. 6, the 219th day of 2012. There are 147 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On August 6, 1962, Jamaica, formerly ruled by Britain, became an independent dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations.

On this date:

In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia.

In 1862, the Confederate ironclad CSS Arkansas was scuttled by its crew on the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge, La., to prevent capture by the Union.

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 141/2 hours.

In 1930, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater went missing after leaving a Manhattan restaurant; his disappearance remains a mystery to this day.

In 1932, the first Venice Film Festival opened with a screening of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" starring Fredric March.

In 1942, Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands became the first reigning queen to address a joint session of Congress, telling lawmakers that despite Nazi occupation, her people's motto remained, "No surrender."

In 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths.

In 1956, the DuMont television network went off the air after a decade of operations.

In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov became the second man to orbit Earth as he flew aboard Vostok 2.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.

In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80.

In 1997, Korean Air Flight 801 crashed into a hillside a short distance from Guam International Airport, killing 228 of the 254 aboard the Boeing 747.

Ten years ago: Maria de Jesus and Maria Teresa Quiej-Alvarez, one-year-old Guatemalan twins born joined at the head, were separated at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. President George W. Bush signed legislation restoring to U.S. presidents broad authority in negotiating trade pacts.

Five years ago: The Crandall Canyon Mine in central Utah collapsed, trapping six coal miners. (All six miners died, along with three would-be rescuers.) President George W. Bush wrapped up two days of talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Camp David. Baron Elie Robert de Rothschild, who helped France's Rothschild winemaking and banking dynasty recover from the ravages of World War II, died near Scharnitz, Austria, at age 90.

One year ago: Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy commando unit that had slain Osama bin Laden; seven Afghan commandos also died. Violence erupted in the north London district of Tottenham amid anger over the fatal police shooting of a 29-year-old father of four; rioting and looting spread to other parts of the city and other English cities over the next several days, leaving five dead. Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Shannon Sharpe, Richard Dent, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter and Ed Sabol were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Today's Birthdays: Jazz musician Charlie Haden is 75. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 74. Actress Louise Sorel is 72. Actor Michael Anderson Jr. is 69. Actor Ray Buktenica is 69. Actor Dorian Harewood is 62. Actress Catherine Hicks is 61. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 60. Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 59. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 56. Actress Faith Prince is 55. Rhythm-and-blues singer Randy DeBarge is 54. Actor Leland Orser is 52. Country singers Patsy and Peggy Lynn are 48. Basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson is 47. Actor Jeremy Ratchford is 47. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 44. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan (SHAH'-mah-lahn) is 42. Actress Merrin Dungey is 41. Singer Geri Halliwell is 40. Actor Jason O'Mara is 40. Singer-actor David Campbell is 39. Actress Vera Farmiga is 39. Actress Ever (cq) Carradine is 38. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 36. Actress Melissa George is 36. Rock singer Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) is 31. Actress Romola Garai is 30. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 28.

Thought for Today: "The one predominant duty is to find one's work and do it." -- Charlotte Perkins Gilman, American economist and feminist (1860-1935).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.