MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009

Today is Monday, April 13, the 103rd day of 2009. There are 262 days left in the year.

1204 _ Crusaders occupy Constantinople

1598 _ Edict of Nantes grants political rights to French Huguenots

1668 _ John Dryden (36) becomes first English poet laureate

1742 _ George Frederic Hendel's ``Messiah" performed for first time (Dublin)

1869 _ Steam power brake patented (George Westinghouse)

1924 _ Greek plebiscite for a republic

1933 _ First flight over Mt. Everest (Lord Clydesdale)

1960 _ France becomes the fourth nuclear nation exploding an A-Bomb in Sahara

1961 _ U.N. General Assembly condemns South Africa for apartheid

1987 _ Portugal signs agreement to return Macau to China (in 1999)