Slideshow: Today In History, May 5
Today is Tuesday, May 5.
Today's Highlights in History:
1915: Alice Faye
In 1915, musical film star Alice Faye was born Alice Leppert in New York.
1925: John T. Scopes
In 1925, schoolteacher John T. Scopes was charged in Tennessee with violating a state law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution. (Scopes was found guilty, but his conviction was later set aside.)
1934: The Three Stooges
In 1934, the first Three Stooges short for Columbia Pictures, "Woman Haters," was released.
1945: Japanese Balloon Bomb
On May 5, 1945, in the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Elsie Mitchell, the 26-year-old pregnant wife of a minister, and five children: Dick Patzke, 14; Jay Gifford, 13; Edward Engen, 13; Joan Patzke, 13; and Sherman Shoemaker, 11.
1955: West Germany
In 1955, West Germany became a fully sovereign state.
1961: Alan B. Shepard Jr.
In 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became America's first space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard Mercury capsule Freedom 7.
1973: Secretariat
In 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the first of its Triple Crown victories.
1981: Bobby Sands
In 1981, Irish Republican Army hunger-striker Bobby Sands died at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in his 66th day without food.
1985: Ronald Reagan
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan kept a controversial promise to West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl by leading a wreath-laying ceremony at the military cemetery in Bitburg.
1994: Michael Fay
In 1994, Singapore caned American teenager Michael Fay for vandalism, a day after the sentence was reduced from six lashes to four in response to an appeal by President Bill Clinton, who considered the punishment too harsh.
2005: Tony Blair
Ten years ago: Tony Blair won a historic third term as Britain's prime minister, but his Labor Party suffered a sharply reduced parliamentary majority.
2010: Ground Zero Mosque
Five years ago: Preliminary plans for a mosque and cultural center near ground zero in New York were unveiled, setting off a national debate over whether the project was disrespectful to 9/11 victims and whether opposition to it exposed anti-Muslim biases.
2014: Michael Carter-Williams
One year ago: Philadelphia guard Michael Carter-Williams won the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award.
Birthday: Adele
Soul singer Adele is 27.
Birthday: Brian Williams
NBC newsman Brian Williams is 56.
Birthday: Chris Brown
Rhythm-and-blues singer Chris Brown is 26.
Birthday: Clark Duke
Actor Clark Duke is 30.
Birthday: Craig David
Singer Craig David is 34.
Birthday: Henry Cavill
Actor Henry Cavill is 32.
Birthday: John J. Sweeney
Former AFL-CIO president John J. Sweeney is 81.
Birthday: John Rhys-Davies
Actor John Rhys-Davies is 71.
Birthday: Kyan Douglas
TV personality Kyan Douglas is 45.
Birthday: Michael Palin
Comedian-actor Michael Palin is 72.
Birthday: Raheem DeVaughn
Rhythm and blues singer Raheem DeVaughn is 40.
Birthday: Richard E. Grant
Actor Richard E. Grant is 58.
Birthday: Vincent Kartheiser
Actor Vincent Kartheiser is 36.
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