Today in history

Today is the 131st day of 2022 and the 53rd day of spring.

Today’s history: In 1837, after months of economic downturn, several New York banks refused to convert paper currency to gold or silver, setting off the Panic of 1837.

■ In 1858, Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.

■ In 1894, the Pullman Strike began, involving more than 3,000 Chicago railroad car plant workers.

■ In 1987, the first heart-lung transplant was performed in Baltimore.

■ In 1997, the IBM chess-playing computer Deep Blue defeated world champion Garry Kasparov with two wins, one loss and three draws in a six-game match.

■ In 1998, the first euro coins were minted in France.

Today’s fact: The 2-euro coin is the highest-valued euro coin, and it is the only one with writing on its edge. Each country has its own design for the edge writing on its 2-euro coin.

Today’s sports: In 1996, a blizzard on Mount Everest led to the deaths of eight people during summit attempts. The event was depicted in the 2015 film “Everest.”

Today’s quote: “Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them. On the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly. After that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them.” -- Salvador Dali

Today’s number: 150,000 -- members of the American Railway Union who became involved in the Pullman Strike of 1894 as it spread across the United States.

Today moon: Between first quarter moon (May 8) and full moon (May 15).

Birthdays:

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Irving Berlin (1888-1989), composer; Margaret Rutherford (1892-1972), actress; Martha Graham (1894-1991), dancer/choreographer; Salvador Dali (19041989), painter; Mike Lupica (1952- ), sportswriter; John Clayton (1954-2022), sportswriter; Natasha Richardson (1963-2009), actress; Tim Blake Nelson (1964- ), actor; Cory Monteith (1982-2013), actor; Cam Newton (1989- ), football player.