Today in History

Today is Tuesday, July 29, the 210th day of 2014. There are 155 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On July 29, 1914, transcontinental telephone service in the U.S. became operational with the first test conversation between New York and San Francisco. Massachusetts' Cape Cod Canal, offering a shortcut across the base of the peninsula, was officially opened to shipping traffic.

On this date:

In 1030, the patron saint of Norway, King Olaf II, was killed in battle.

In 1588, the English attacked the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines, resulting in an English victory.

In 1890, artist Vincent van Gogh, 37, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

In 1900, Italian King Humbert I was assassinated by an anarchist; he was succeeded by his son, Victor Emmanuel III.

In 1921, Adolf Hitler became the leader ("fuehrer") of the National Socialist German Workers Party.

In 1948, Britain's King George VI opened the Olympic Games in London.

In 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established. Jack Paar made his debut as host of NBC's "Tonight Show."

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA.

In 1967, an accidental rocket launch aboard the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 servicemen.

In 1974, singer Cass Elliot died in a London hotel room at age 32.

In 1981, Britain's Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. (However, the couple divorced in 1996.)

In 1994, abortion opponent Paul Hill shot and killed Dr. John Bayard Britton and Britton's bodyguard, James H. Barrett, outside the Ladies Center clinic in Pensacola, Florida. (Hill was executed in September 2003.)

Ten years ago: Sen. John Kerry accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Boston with a military salute and the declaration: "I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty."

Five years ago: Microsoft and Yahoo announced a 10-year Internet search partnership under which Bing would replace Yahoo Search, as the companies agreed to take on the overwhelming dominance of Google in the online advertising market. Federal authorities arrested more than 30 suspects, including doctors, in a major Medicare fraud bust in New York.

One year ago: The U.S. launched a fresh bid to pull Israel and the Palestinians into substantial negotiations with a dinner meeting in Washington hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry. The FBI said authorities had rescued 105 young people and arrested 150 alleged pimps and others in a three-day sweep in 76 cities.

Today's Birthdays: Comedian "Professor" Irwin Corey is 100. Actor Robert Horton is 90. Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker is 82. Actor Robert Fuller is 81. Former Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole is 78. Actor David Warner is 73. Rock musician Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon) is 68. Marilyn Tucker Quayle, wife of former Vice President Dan Quayle, is 65. Actor Mike Starr is 64. Documentary maker Ken Burns is 61. Style guru Tim Gunn (TV: "Project Runway") is 61. Rock singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush) is 61. Rock singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 61. Olympic gold medal gymnast Nellie Kim is 57. Actor Kevin Chapman is 52. Actress Alexandra Paul is 51. Country singer Martina McBride is 48. Rock musician Chris Gorman is 47. Actor Rodney Allen Rippy is 46. Actor Tim Omundson is 45. Actor Ato Essandoh is 42. Actor Wil Wheaton is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) is 41. Country singer-songwriter James Otto is 41. Actor Stephen Dorff is 41. Actor Josh Radnor is 40. Hip-hop DJ/music producer Danger Mouse is 37. Actress Rachel Miner is 34. Actress Allison Mack is 32. Actor Matt Prokop is 24.

Thought for Today: "A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs." -- German proverb.

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.