Today in History

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 10, the 344th day of 2014. There are 21 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Dec. 10, 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. received his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, saying he accepted it "with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind."

On this date:

In 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant, or face excommunication.

In 1787, Thomas H. Gallaudet, a pioneer of educating the deaf, was born in Philadelphia.

In 1817, Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state of the Union.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for helping mediate an end to the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1931, Jane Addams became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; the co-recipient was Nicholas Murray Butler.

In 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted its Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

In 1950, Ralph J. Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the first black American to receive the award.

In 1962, "Lawrence of Arabia," David Lean's epic film starring Peter O'Toole as British military officer T.E. Lawrence, had its royal gala premiere in London.

In 1967, singer Otis Redding, 26, and six others were killed when their plane crashed into Wisconsin's Lake Monona.

In 1972, baseball's American League adopted the designated hitter rule on an experimental basis for three years.

In 1984, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1994, Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin received the Nobel Peace Prize, pledging to pursue their mission of healing the anguished Middle East.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush picked Samuel Bodman to be the new energy secretary. Bernard Kerik withdrew his name from consideration to be President Bush's homeland security secretary. Sprinter Michelle Collins was suspended for eight years for a doping violation linked to the BALCO scandal. (Collins was reinstated in May 2008.)

Five years ago: President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize with a humble acknowledgment of his scant accomplishments and a robust defense of the U.S. at war. James Cameron's 3-D film epic "Avatar" had its world premiere in London.

One year ago: South Africa held a memorial service for Nelson Mandela, during which U.S. President Barack Obama energized tens of thousands of spectators and nearly 100 visiting heads of state with a plea for the world to emulate "the last great liberator of the 20th century." (The ceremony was marred by the presence of a sign-language interpreter who deaf advocates said was an imposter waving his arms around meaninglessly.) General Motors named product chief Mary Barra its new CEO, making her the first woman to run a U.S. car company.

Today's Birthdays: Soap opera creator Agnes Nixon is 87. Former Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter is 84. Actor Tommy Kirk is 73. Actress Fionnula Flanagan is 73. Pop singer Chad Stuart (Chad and Jeremy) is 73. Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 68. Pop-funk musician Walter "Clyde" Orange (The Commodores) is 68. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ralph Tavares is 66. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jessica Cleaves (Friends of Distinction) is 66. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 63. Actress Susan Dey is 62. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is 58. Jazz musician Paul Hardcastle is 57. Actor-director Kenneth Branagh is 54. Actress Nia Peeples is 53. TV chef Bobby Flay is 50. Rock singer-musician J Mascis is 49. Rock musician Scot (cq) Alexander (Dishwalla) is 43. Actress-comedian Arden Myrin is 41. Rock musician Meg White (The White Stripes) is 40. Rapper Kuniva (D12) is 39. Actor Gavin Houston is 37. Violinist Sarah Chang is 34. Rock musician Noah Harmon (Airborne Toxic Event) is 33. Actor Patrick John Flueger is 31. Actress Raven-Symone is 29.

Thought for Today: "Beauty is not caused. It is." -- Emily Dickinson, American poet (born this date in 1830, died in 1886).