Today is the 125th day of 2014 and the 47th day of spring.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1809, Mary Kies became the first woman to receive a U.S. patent, for a weaving technique.
In 1862, the Mexican army halted the invading French army in the Battle of Puebla. This day would later be celebrated as the "Cinco de Mayo" holiday.
In 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into outer space.
In 1994, 18-year-old American Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore as punishment for theft and vandalism.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), philosopher; Karl Marx (1818-1883), philosopher; Nellie Bly (1864-1922), journalist; Tyrone Power (1914-1958), actor; Michael Palin (1943- ), actor/comedian; John Rhys-Davies (1944- ), actor; Brian Williams (1959- ), TV journalist; Craig David (1981- ), singer-songwriter; Henry Cavill (1983- ), actor; Adele (1988- ), singer-songwriter; Chris Brown (1989- ), singer-songwriter.
TODAY'S FACT: Tchaikovsky was the guest conductor at the grand opening of New York's Carnegie Hall (then called the Music Hall) on this day in 1891.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby with a time of 1:59:40, a record that still stands.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "The tyrant dies and his rule is over; the martyr dies and his rule begins." -- Soren Kierkegaard
TODAY'S NUMBER: 23 -- perfect games (as of April 2014) thrown by major league pitchers since Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox first accomplished the feat on this day in 1904. A perfect game is one in which no opposing player reaches base.
TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (April 28) and first quarter moon (May 6).