Today is the 185th day of 2012 and the 14th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1775, George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army.

In 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg ended in a major victory for the Union states as Confederate troops retreated.

In 1998, Bill Clinton completed the first presidential visit to China since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: George M. Cohan (1878-1942), songwriter/entertainer; Franz Kafka (1883-1924), writer; Tom Stoppard (1937- ), playwright; Tom Cruise (1962- ), actor; Olivia Munn (1980- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2001, NBA owners approved the move of the 6-year-old Grizzlies franchise from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Memphis, Tenn.

TODAY'S FACT: George M. Cohan, author of the songs "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There," among many others, often claimed to have been "born on the Fourth of July."

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't despair, not even over the fact that you don't despair." -- Franz Kafka

TODAY'S NUMBER: 50,000 -- estimated number of Gettysburg veterans who reunited at the site to mark the battle's 50th anniversary in 1913. The youngest veteran claimed to be only 61.

TODAY'S MOON: Full moon (July 3).

Today is the 184th day of 2012 and the 13th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1881, President James Garfield was shot and fatally wounded by a disturbed office-seeker, Charles Guiteau.

In 1947, an object that the Air Force called a weather balloon crashed near Roswell, N.M., giving rise to theories that it might be an alien spacecraft.

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a civil rights bill barring discrimination in voting, jobs and public accommodations.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), novelist; Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), Supreme Court justice; Dave Thomas (1932-2002), Wendy's fast-food chain founder; Richard Petty (1937- ), NASCAR driver; Larry David (1947- ), writer/actor; Jose Canseco (1964- ), baseball player; Johnny Weir (1984- ), figure skater; Lindsay Lohan (1986- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1941, Joe DiMaggio passed "Wee" Willie Keeler's 44-game record hitting streak from 1897.

TODAY'S FACT: When President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, 57 percent of African-American housing had been judged to be unacceptable by the contemporary standard.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps." -- Thurgood Marshall

TODAY'S NUMBER: 24 -- years Thurgood Marshall served as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (June 26) and full moon (July 3).

Today is the 183rd day of 2012 and the 12th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began.

In 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of the British Commonwealth.

In 1966, the Medicare federal insurance program began functioning.

In 1997, the United Kingdom transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong back to China.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: George Sand (1804-1876), novelist; Walter White (1893-1955), NAACP leader; Olivia de Havilland (1916- ), actress; Sydney Pollack (1934-2008), filmmaker; Debbie Harry (1945- ), singer; Dan Aykroyd (1952- ), actor; Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997); Carl Lewis (1961- ), Olympic athlete; Pamela Anderson (1967- ), actress; Liv Tyler (1977- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1903, the first Tour de France bicycle race began in Paris. Of the 60 cyclists who began the nearly 2,500-kilometer race, only 21 finished, including champion Maurice Garin.

TODAY'S FACT: More than 47.5 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare in 2010.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The beauty that addresses itself to the eyes is only the spell of the moment; the eye of the body is not always that of the soul." -- George Sand

TODAY'S NUMBER: 156 -- years Hong Kong was formally controlled by Great Britain.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (June 26) and full moon (July 3)