Today is the 190th day of 2014 and the 19th day of summer.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1850, President Zachary Taylor died in office of a stomach-related illness at the age of 65.
In 1868, the 14th Amendment was ratified, guaranteeing full citizenship and equal protection to African-Americans.
In 1943, Allied forces launched an amphibious invasion of Sicily.
In 1981, the Nintendo video game "Donkey Kong" was released.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823), author; Matthew Lewis (1775-1818), author; Elias Howe (1819-1867), sewing machine inventor; Donald Rumsfeld (1932- ), former defense secretary; Brian Dennehy (1938- ), actor; Richard Roundtree (1942- ), actor; Dean Koontz (1945- ), author; Chris Cooper (1951- ), actor; John Tesh (1952- ), composer/musician; Lindsey Graham (1955- ), politician; Tom Hanks (1956- ), actor; Courtney Love (1964- ), singer-songwriter; Jack White (1975- ), musician/singer-songwriter.
TODAY'S FACT: In an effort to inspire efforts and encourage enlistment, General George Washington had the newly adopted Declaration of Independence read aloud to his troops in the Continental Army in New York City on this day in 1776.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1877, the inaugural Wimbledon tennis championship took place in London.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "There is something in the ardour and ingenuousness of youth, which is particularly pleasing to the contemplation of an old man, if his feelings have not been entirely corroded by the world." -- Ann Radcliffe, "The Mysteries of Udolpho"
TODAY'S NUMBER: 1,720 -- height (in feet) of the wave that hit Lituya Bay in the Gulf of Alaska on this day in 1958. The "megatsunami," the largest in recorded history, was caused by an 8.3-magnitude earthquake on the Fairweather Fault along the Alaskan coast.
TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (July 5) and full moon (July 12).