Today in History

Today is Friday, Jan. 25, the 25th day of 2013. There are 340 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 25, 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln accepted Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's resignation as commander of the Army of the Potomac, and replaced him with Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker.

On this date:

In 1533, England's King Henry VIII secretly married his second wife, Anne Boleyn, who later gave birth to Elizabeth I.

In 1787, Shays's Rebellion suffered a setback when debt-ridden farmers led by Capt. Daniel Shays failed to capture an arsenal at Springfield, Mass.

In 1890, reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) of the New York World completed a round-the-world journey in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes. The United Mine Workers of America was founded in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1915, Alexander Graham Bell inaugurated U.S. transcontinental telephone service between New York and San Francisco.

In 1936, former Gov. Al Smith, D-N.Y., delivered a radio address in Washington, titled "Betrayal of the Democratic Party," in which he fiercely criticized the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1947, American gangster Al Capone died in Miami Beach, Fla., at age 48.

In 1949, the first Emmy Awards, honoring local Los Angeles TV programs and talent, were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy held the first presidential news conference to be carried live on radio and television.

In 1971, Charles Manson and three women followers were convicted in Los Angeles of murder and conspiracy in the 1969 slayings of seven people, including actress Sharon Tate. Idi Amin seized power in Uganda by ousting President Milton Obote in a military coup.

In 1981, the 52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444 days arrived in the United States.

In 1993, a gunman shot and killed two CIA employees outside agency headquarters in Virginia (Pakistani national Mir Aimal Kansi was later tried and convicted of the shootings, and executed). Sears announced that it would no longer publish its famous century-old catalog.

In 1998, Pope John Paul II ended his historic journey to Cuba.

Ten years ago: NASA launched a spacecraft into orbit to measure all of the radiation streaming toward Earth from the sun. Serena Williams survived an error-filled match to beat elder sister Venus 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 to win the Australian Open for her fourth straight major championship. Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton and Hank Stram were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush urged Congress to quickly pass an economic stimulus package void of extraneous spending, saying only quick action would kickstart the sputtering economy. Democrat Dennis Kucinich abandoned his presidential bid to focus on a tough race for re-election to Congress.

One year ago: U.S. military forces flew into Somalia in a nighttime helicopter raid, freeing an American and a Danish hostage and killing nine pirates. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona returned to Congress to officially tender her resignation a year after she was shot and severely wounded in her home district. First lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, along with celebrity chef Rachael Ray, announced new guidelines for more healthful school meals during a visit with elementary students in Alexandria, Va.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Gregg Palmer is 86. The former president of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, is 85. Actor Dean Jones is 82. Country singer Claude Gray is 81. Movie director Tobe Hooper is 70. Actress Leigh Taylor-Young is 68. Actress Jenifer Lewis is 56. Actress Dinah Manoff is 55. Country musician Mike Burch (River Road) is 47. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kina is 44. Actress China Kantner is 42. Actress Ana Ortiz is 42. Musician Matt Odmark (Jars of Clay) is 39. Actress Mia Kirshner is 38. Actress Christine Lakin is 34. Rhythm-and-blues singer Alicia Keys is 32. Actor Michael Trevino (TV: "The Vampire Diaries") is 28.

Thought for Today: "There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing." -- Robert Burns, Scottish poet (1759-1796).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.