Today in History

Today is Monday, Feb. 10, the 41st day of 2014. There are 324 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 10, 1968, U.S. figure skater Peggy Fleming won America's only gold medal of the Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France.

On this date:

In 1763, Britain, Spain and France signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War in North America).

In 1840, Britain's Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

In 1841, Upper Canada and Lower Canada were proclaimed united under an Act of Union passed by the British Parliament.

In 1933, the first singing telegram was introduced by the Postal Telegram Co. in New York.

In 1942, the former French liner Normandie capsized in New York Harbor a day after it caught fire while being refitted for the U.S. Navy. RCA Victor presented Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with a "gold record" for their recording of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," which had sold more than 1 million copies.

In 1949, Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman" opened at Broadway's Morosco Theater with Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman.

In 1959, a major tornado tore through the St. Louis, Mo., area, killing 21 people and causing heavy damage.

In 1962, the Soviet Union exchanged captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers for Rudolf Abel, a Soviet spy held by the United States. Republican George W. Romney announced his ultimately successful candidacy for governor of Michigan.

In 1967, the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with presidential disability and succession, was ratified as Minnesota and Nevada adopted it.

In 1981, eight people were killed when a fire set by a busboy broke out at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino.

In 1989, Ron Brown was elected the first black chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

In 1998, Dr. David Satcher was confirmed by the Senate to be surgeon general.

Ten years ago: The White House, trying to end doubts about President George W. Bush's Vietnam-era military service, released documents it said proved he had met his requirements in the Texas Air National Guard. Democrat John Kerry won the Virginia and Tennessee primaries. A truck bombing in Iskandariyah, Iraq, killed 53 people. An Iranian plane crashed in the United Arab Emirates, killing 46 people.

Five years ago: The Senate approved President Barack Obama's giant economic stimulus measure. U.S. and Russian communication satellites collided in the first-ever crash of its kind in orbit, shooting out a pair of massive debris clouds. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima Party narrowly won the most seats in Israel's 120-member parliament. (However, it was Benjamin Netanyahu who ended up forming the new Israeli government.)

One year ago: Joe Paterno's family released its response to Penn State's report on the Jerry Sandusky scandal, attacking Louis Freeh's conclusion that the coach hid sex abuse allegations against his longtime assistant. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford took charge of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. A stampede killed 37 people during a Hindu festival in northern India. At the Grammy Awards, Fun. won song of the year for "We Are Young"; Gotye's massive and oddball pop hit "Somebody I Used to Know" picked up record of the year.

Today's Birthdays: Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe ("Raiders of the Lost Ark") is 101. Opera singer Leontyne Price is 87. Actor Robert Wagner is 84. Rock musician Don Wilson (The Ventures) is 81. Singer Roberta Flack is 77. Singer Jimmy Merchant (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers) is 74. Rock musician Bob Spalding (The Ventures) is 67. Olympic gold-medal swimmer Mark Spitz is 64. Walt Disney Co. chairman and chief executive Robert Iger is 63. Rock musician and composer Cory Lerios (Pablo Cruise) is 63. World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman is 59. Actress Kathleen Beller is 58. Country singer Lionel Cartwright is 54. Movie director Alexander Payne (Film: "Nebraska") is 53. ABC News correspondent George Stephanopoulos is 53. Retired MLB All-Star Lenny Dykstra is 51. Political commentator Glenn Beck is 50. Actress Laura Dern is 47. Country singer Dude Mowrey is 42. Actor Jason Olive is 42. Actress Elizabeth Banks is 40. Pop singer Rosanna Taverez (Eden's Crush) is 37. Actress Julia Pace Mitchell is 36. Country musician Jeremy Baxter (Carolina Rain) is 34. Actor Max Brown is 33. Actor Barry Sloane (TV: "Revenge") is 33. Rock singer Eric Dill is 32. Rock musician Ben Romans (The Click Five) is 32. Actress Emma Roberts is 23. Actress Makenzie Vega is 20. Actress Chloe Grace Moretz is 17.

Thought for Today: "Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay." -- Simone de Beauvoir, French writer (1908-1986).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.