Today in History

Today is Friday, April 10, the 100th day of 2015. There are 265 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On April 10, 1925, the novel "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age evocation of empty materialism, shattered illusion and thwarted romance, was first published by Scribner's of New York.

On this date:

In 1790, President George Washington signed the first United States Patent Act.

In 1815, the Mount Tambora volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa exploded in one of the largest eruptions in recorded history, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.

In 1864, Maximilian, archduke of Austria, was proclaimed emperor of Mexico.

In 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, a day after surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, said farewell to his men, praising them for their "unsurpassed courage and fortitude."

In 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

In 1932, German President Paul Von Hindenburg was re-elected in a runoff, with Adolf Hitler coming in second.

In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals.

In 1953, the 3-D horror movie "House of Wax," produced by Warner Bros. and starring Vincent Price, premiered in New York.

In 1963, the fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593) sank during deep-diving tests east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in a disaster that claimed 129 lives.

In 1974, Golda Meir told party leaders she was resigning as prime minister of Israel.

In 1985, singer Madonna launched "The Virgin Tour" with a concert at the Paramount Theater in Seattle.

In 1998, the Northern Ireland peace talks concluded as negotiators reached a landmark settlement to end 30 years of bitter rivalries and bloody attacks.

Ten years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived in Texas to meet with President George W. Bush. Tiger Woods won his fourth Masters with a spectacular finish of birdies and bogeys.

Five years ago: Polish President Lech Kaczynski (lehk kah-CHIN'-skee), 60, was killed in a plane crash in western Russia that also claimed the lives of his wife and top Polish political, military and church officials. "Designing Women" co-star Dixie Carter, 70, died in Houston.

One year ago: A bus carrying 44 students from Southern California for a free tour of Humboldt State University on the state's far north coast collided with a FedEx tractor-trailer near Orland; five students and three adult chaperones died, along with the drivers. A woman was taken into custody after throwing a shoe at Hillary Clinton as the former secretary of state began a Las Vegas convention keynote speech; the shoe missed. KISS, Nirvana and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band were ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. CBS named Stephen Colbert to succeed the retiring David Letterman as host of the "Late Show." Phyllis Frelich, a Tony Award-winning deaf actress who'd starred in the Broadway version of "Children of a Lesser God," died in Temple City, California; she was 70.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Max von Sydow is 86. Actress Liz Sheridan is 86. Actor Omar Sharif is 83. Sportscaster John Madden is 79. Reggae artist Bunny Wailer is 68. Actor Steven Seagal is 64. Folk-pop singer Terre Roche (The Roches) is 62. Actor Peter MacNicol is 61. Actress Olivia Brown is 58. Rock musician Steven Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs) is 58. Singer-producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is 57. Rock singer-musician Brian Setzer is 56. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 55. Rock singer Katrina Leskanich is 55. Actor Jeb Adams is 54. Olympic gold medal speedskater Cathy Turner is 53. Rock musician Tim "Herb" Alexander is 50. Actor-comedian Orlando Jones is 47. Rock musician Mike Mushok (Staind) is 46. Singer Kenny Lattimore is 45. Rapper Q-Tip (AKA Kamaal) is 45. Blues singer Shemekia Copeland is 36. Actress Laura Bell Bundy is 34. Actress Chyler Leigh is 33. Pop musician Andrew Dost (fun.) is 32. Actor Ryan Merriman is 32. Singer Mandy Moore is 31. Actor Barkhad Abdi is 30. Actress Shay Mitchell (TV: "Pretty Little Liars") is 28. Actor Haley Joel Osment is 27. Actor Alex Pettyfer is 25. Actress-singer AJ (AKA Amanda) Michalka is 24. Actress Ruby Jerins is 17.

Thought for Today: "Work is something you can count on, a trusted, lifelong friend who never deserts you." -- Margaret Bourke-White, American photojournalist (1904-1971).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.