TODAY IN HISTORY

1492

A contract was signed by Christopher Columbus and a representative of Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, giving Columbus a commission to seek a westward ocean passage to Asia.

1905

The U.S. Supreme

Court, in Lochner v. New York, struck down, 5-4, a New York State law limiting the number of hours that bakers could be made to work.

1969

A jury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

1970

Apollo 13 astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft while en route to the moon.

1973

Federal Express (later FedEx) began operations as 14 planes carrying 186 packages took off from Memphis International Airport, bound for 25 U.S. cities.

1993

A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King; two other officers were acquitted.

Birthdays

Actor David Bradley is 79. Actor Sean Bean is 62. Rock singer Maynard James Keenan is 57. Singer Liz Phair is 54. Director/producer Adam McKay is 53.