Today is Sunday, April 10, the 100th day of 2011. There are 265 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight:

On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

On this date:

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

In 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incorporated.

In 1925, the novel “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published.

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 1957, Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to all shipping traffic. (The canal had been closed due to wreckage resulting from the Suez Crisis.)

In 1963, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Thresher sank during deep-diving tests off Cape Cod, Mass., in a disaster that claimed 129 lives.

In 1972, the United States and the Soviet Union joined some 70 nations in signing an agreement banning biological warfare.

In 1974, Golda Meir announced her resignation as prime minister of Israel.

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

Today’s Birthdays

Actor Harry Morgan is 96. Actor Max von Sydow is 82. Actress Liz Sheridan is 82. Actor Omar Sharif is 79. Sportscaster John Madden is 75. Rhythm-and-blues singer Bobbie Smith (The Spinners) is 75. Reggae artist Bunny Wailer is 64. Actor Steven Seagal is 60. Folk-pop singer Terre Roche (The Roches) is 58. Actor Peter MacNicol is 57. Rock musician Steven Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs) is 54. Singer-producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is 53. Rock singer-musician Brian Setzer is 52. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 51. Rock singer Katrina Leskanich is 51. Actor Jeb Adams is 50. Olympic gold medal speedskater Cathy Turner is 49. Rock musician Tim “Herb” Alexander is 46. Actor-comedian Orlando Jones is 43. Rock musician Mike Mushok (Staind) is 42. Singer Kenny Lattimore is 41. Rapper Q-Tip (AKA Kamaal) is 41. Blues singer Shemekia Copeland is 32. Actress Laura Bell Bundy is 30. Actress Chyler Leigh is 29. Actor Ryan Merriman is 28. Singer Mandy Moore is 27. Actor Haley Joel Osment is 23. Actor Alex Pettyfer is 21. Actress-singer AJ (AKA Amanda) Michalka is 20.

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).

Associated Press