Today is Saturday, Feb. 20, the 51st day of 2010. There are 314 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

On Feb. 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth as he flew aboard the spacecraft Friendship 7.

ON THIS DATE

In 1790, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II died.

In 1792, President George Washington signed an act creating the U.S. Post Office.

In 1809, the Supreme Court ruled that no state legislature could annul the judgments or determine the jurisdictions of federal courts.

In 1839, Congress prohibited dueling in the District of Columbia.

In 1934, a blizzard inundated the northeastern United States.

In 1938, Anthony Eden resigned as British foreign secretary following Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s decision to negotiate with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

In 1944, during World War II, U.S. bombers began raiding German aircraft manufacturing centers in a series of attacks that became known as “Big Week.”

In 2009, The Dow Jones industrial average ended the week at 7,365.67, the lowest level in more than six years.

Associated Press