Today in history

Today is the 140th day of 2022 and the 62nd day of spring.

Today’s history: In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which provided western settlers free land for farms.

■ In 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received the U.S. patent for blue jeans.

■ In 1902, Cuba declared independence from the United States.

■ In 1969, the Battle of Hamburger Hill ended in South Vietnam.

■ In 2006, Nouri al-Maliki took office as prime minister of Iraq.

Today’s fact: In 1916, the Saturday Evening Post published its first issue featuring a Norman Rockwell painting (“Boy with Baby Carriage”) on the cover.

Today’s sports: In 1989, Sunday Silence beat Easy Goer by a nose in the 114th Preakness Stakes, the horse race’s closest margin.

Today’s quote: “A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.” -- John Stuart Mill

Today’s number: 270 million -- acres of U.S. land given away through the Homestead Act.

Today’s moon: Between full moon (May 15) and last quarter moon (May 22).

Birthdays

Honore de Balzac (1799-1850), author; John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), philosopher; William Fargo (1818-1881), Wells Fargo co-founder; Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997), actor; Joe Cocker (1944-2014), singer-songwriter; Cher (1946- ), singer-songwriter/actress; Ted Allen (1965- ), TV personality; Timothy Olyphant (1968- ), actor; Tony Stewart (1971- ), race car driver; Busta Rhymes (1972- ), rapper; Matt Czuchry (1977- ), actor; Rachel Platten (1981- ), singer-songwriter.