Today in History, Dec. 10, 2012

Today is Monday, Dec. 10, the 345th day of 2012. There are 21 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight:

On Dec. 10, 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, with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, in attendance.

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 1861, the Confederacy admitted Kentucky as it recognized a pro-Southern shadow state government that was acting without the authority of the pro-Union government in Frankfort.

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 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. received his Nobel Peace Prize.

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 1987, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev concluded three days of summit talks in Washington.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush selected William H. Donaldson, an investment banker with ties to Wall Street and the Bush family, as chairman of the besieged Securities and Exchange Commission. Former President Jimmy Carter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomacy in the Middle East in the ’70s.

Five years ago: Suspended NFL star Michael Vick was sentenced by a federal judge in Richmond, Va., to 23 months in prison for bankrolling a dogfighting operation and killing dogs that underperformed. Madison Square Garden and New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas reached an $11.5 million settlement of a sexual harassment case brought by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders. Cristina Fernandez was sworn in as Argentina’s first elected female president. Former Vice President Al Gore accepted the Nobel Peace Prize with a call for humanity to rise up against a looming climate crisis and stop waging war on the environment.

One year ago: Tens of thousands of Russians staged anti-government protests, charging electoral fraud and demanding an end to Vladimir Putin’s rule. Robert Griffin III beat out preseason favorite Andrew Luck for the Heisman Trophy.

Today’s birthdays: Former Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter is 82. Actor Tommy Kirk is 71. Actress Fionnula Flanagan is 71. Pop singer Chad Stuart (Chad and Jeremy) is 71. Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 66. Pop-funk musician Walter “Clyde” Orange (The Commodores) is 66. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ralph Tavares is 64. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jessica Cleaves (Friends of Distinction) is 64. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 61. Actress Susan Dey is 60. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is 56. Jazz musician Paul Hardcastle is 55. Actor-director Kenneth Branagh is 52. Actress Nia Peeples is 51. TV chef Bobby Flay is 48. Rock singer-musician J Mascis is 47. Country singer Kevin Sharp is 42. Rock musician Scot Alexander (Dishwalla) is 41. Actress-comedian Arden Myrin is 39. Rock musician Meg White (The White Stripes) is 38. Rapper Kuniva (D12) is 37. Violinist Sarah Chang is 32. Rock musician Noah Harmon (Airborne Toxic Event) is 31. Actress Raven-Symone is 27.

Thought for today: “To have news value is to have a tin can tied to one’s tail.” — T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935).