Today is the 121st day of 2014 and the 43rd day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1840, the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, was issued in Great Britain.

In 1898, the U.S. Navy, led by Commodore George Dewey, defeated the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first battle of the Spanish-American War.

In 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established.

In 2011, President Barack Obama announced that U.S. forces had killed Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in a nighttime raid in Pakistan.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Martha "Calamity Jane" Burke (1852-1903), frontierswoman; Jack Paar (1918-2004), comedian/TV host; Joseph Heller (1923-1999), author/playwright; Scott Carpenter (1925-2013), astronaut; John Woo (1946- ), filmmaker; Tim McGraw (1967- ), singer-songwriter; Wes Anderson (1969- ), filmmaker; Wes Welker (1981- ), football player; Emilia Clarke (1987- ), actress.

TODAY'S FACT: Japan formally annexed Korea in 1910 and held possession of the former "Hermit Kingdom" until after World War II.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1991, Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics stole his 939th base, setting a new major-league record. Later that evening, Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan threw his seventh career no-hitter, breaking his own record.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "He was going to live forever, or die in the attempt." -- Joseph Heller, "Catch-22"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 1,454 -- height (in feet) of the Empire State Building in New York City, dedicated on this day in 1931.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (April 28) and first quarter moon (May 6).

Today is the 120th day of 2014 and the 42nd day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States.

In 1803, representatives of the United States and France concluded negotiations for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory.

In 1812, Louisiana was admitted as the 18th U.S. state.

In 1945, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide as Soviet troops approached his bunker in Berlin, Germany.

In 1975, Saigon, capitol of South Vietnam, fell to communist forces, effectively ending the Vietnam War.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Eve Arden (1908-1990), actress; Johnny Horton (1925-1960), musician; Cloris Leachman (1926- ), actress; Willie Nelson (1933- ), singer-songwriter; Isiah Thomas (1961- ), basketball player; Johnny Galecki (1975- ), actor; Kirsten Dunst (1982- ), actress.

TODAY'S FACT: After George Washington died in 1799, his wife, Martha, burned all of the letters the two had exchanged to ensure they would remain private.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1993, an obsessed fan of tennis star Steffi Graf stabbed her 19-year-old rival, Monica Seles, at a tournament match in Hamburg, Germany.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Ninety-nine percent of the world's lovers are not with their first choice. That's what makes the jukebox play." -- Willie Nelson, "The Tao of Willie"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 827,192 -- square miles that the United States took possession of in the Louisiana Purchase, at a cost of less than 3 cents per acre.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (April 28) and first quarter moon (May 6).

Today is the 119th day of 2014 and the 41st day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1429, 17-year-old Joan of Arc led French forces in relieving the besieged city of Orleans, France.

In 1862, Union forces officially took possession of New Orleans.

In 1945, the Dachau concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. troops.

In 1992, riots broke out in Los Angeles after four police officers were acquitted of using excessive force during the arrest of motorist Rodney King.

In 2011, Great Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in London.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951), publisher/politician; Thomas Beecham (1879-1961), orchestra conductor; Duke Ellington (1899-1974), jazz musician; Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001), race car driver; Jerry Seinfeld (1954- ), comedian; Daniel Day-Lewis (1957- ), actor; Michelle Pfeiffer (1958- ), actress; Andre Agassi (1970- ), tennis player; Uma Thurman (1970- ), actress.

TODAY'S FACT: Besides running his own catering business, Duke Ellington's father worked as a butler at a number of homes in Washington, D.C., including the White House.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1986, Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox became the first pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game, a feat he repeated in 1996.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "You must keep your mind on the objective, not on the obstacle." -- William Randolph Hearst

TODAY'S NUMBER: 19 -- age of Joan of Arc at the time of her death.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (April 28) and first quarter moon (May 6).