Today is the 100th day of 2014 and the 22nd day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in New York City.

In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" was published in New York City.

In 1938, Nazi Germany officially annexed Austria.

In 1972, famed comic actor and director Charlie Chaplin received an honorary Oscar.

In 2003, Congress approved the Amber Alert system, which alerts the public to child abductions.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: William Hazlitt (1778-1830), writer; William Booth (1829-1912), Salvation Army founder; Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911), publisher; Harry Morgan (1915-2011), actor; Max von Sydow (1929- ), actor; Omar Sharif (1932- ), actor; John Madden (1936- ), football coach/broadcaster; Steven Seagal (1952- ), actor; Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds (1959- ), singer-songwriter/producer; Michael Pitt (1981- ), actor; Mandy Moore (1984- ), actress/singer-songwriter; Haley Joel Osment (1988- ), actor.

TODAY'S FACT: According to 2014 estimates from the CIA, residents of the 0.77-square-mile principality of Monaco enjoy the longest life expectancy in the world, at an average of 89.6 years.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers announced the purchase of Jackie Robinson's contract from the Montreal Royals, a minor-league club.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are, and what they ought to be." -- William Hazlitt

TODAY'S NUMBER: 69.9 million -- dogs owned as pets in the United States in 2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (April 7) and full moon (April 15).

Today is the 99th day of 2014 and the 21st day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.

In 1940, Germany launched Operation Weseruebung, invading Norway and Denmark.

In 1959, NASA announced the selection of the first seven astronauts, whom the media dubbed the "Mercury Seven."

In 2003, Iraqis celebrating the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime destroyed a 20-foot statue of Hussein in Baghdad's Firdaus Square.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), poet; Curly Lambeau (1898-1965), football player/coach; Paul Robeson (1898-1976), athlete/actor/singer; Hugh Hefner (1926- ), publisher; Carl Perkins (1932-1998), singer-songwriter; Peter Gammons (1945- ), sportswriter; Dennis Quaid (1954- ), actor; Joe Scarborough (1963- ), TV personality; Jeffrey Zucker (1965- ), TV executive; Cynthia Nixon (1966- ), actress; Jay Baruchel (1982- ), actor; Leighton Meester (1986- ), actress; Kristen Stewart, (1990- ), actress.

TODAY'S FACT: The "Mercury Seven," selected on this day in 1959, were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald Slayton.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2005, light heavyweight mixed martial artist Forrest Griffin was awarded the first "Ultimate Fighter" title after winning a 29-28 decision over Stephan Bonnar on the UFC reality show's season finale.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "To handle a language skillfully is to practice a kind of evocative sorcery." -- Charles Baudelaire

TODAY'S NUMBER: $384 million -- estimated cost of the Mercury program (1959-1963), NASA's first human spaceflight project.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (April 7) and full moon (April 15).

Today is the 98th day of 2014 and the 20th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1904, Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements that formalized peace between the two countries.

In 1935, Congress approved the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, establishing the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

In 2005, more than 4 million mourners gathered in Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

In 2010, President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed the New START nuclear arms control treaty.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Harvey Cushing (1869-1939), surgeon; Mary Pickford (1892-1979), actress; Sonja Henie (1912-1969), ice skater; Betty Ford (1918-2011), former first lady; Shecky Greene (1926- ), comedian; Kofi Annan (1938- ), diplomat; Gary Carter (1954-2012), baseball player/sportscaster; Robin Wright (1966- ), actress; Patricia Arquette (1968- ), actress; Katee Sackhoff (1980- ), actress; Felix Hernandez (1986- ), baseball player.

TODAY'S FACT: Florida did not formally become part of the United States until Spain surrendered it in a treaty in 1819. It became a state in 1845.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1975, Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians made his debut as Major League Baseball's first African-American manager. Robinson also continued to play for the team, hitting a home run in his first at-bat of the day.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes ... you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." -- Mary Pickford

TODAY'S NUMBER: 755 -- career home runs for Hank Aaron, second only to Barry Bonds (762) all-time. Aaron hit his 715th career home run on this day in 1974, breaking the record previously held by Babe Ruth.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (April 7) and full moon (April 15).