Today is Saturday, July 7, the 189th day of 2012. There are 177 days left in the year.

1668 _ Isaac Newton receives M/A from Trinity College, Cambridge

1865 _ Four Lincoln assassination conspirators, including Mary Surratt, hanged

1891 _ Travelers cheque patented

1937 _ Japanese and Chinese troops clash, which will become WW II

1968 _ Rock group ``The Yardbirds" disband

1969 _ Canada's House of Commons approves equality of French and English languages

1981 _ Solar Challenger powered only by solar energy crosses English Channel

1983 _ Eleven-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, leaves for USSR

1987 _ Lt. Colonel Oliver North began public testimony at Iran-Contra hearing

1988 _ Soviet Union launches Phobos 1 to probe Martian moon (unsuccessful)