THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009

Today is Thursday, December 17, the 351st day of 2009. There are 14 days left in the year.

1538 _ Pope Paul III excommunicated England's King Henry VIII

1718 _ England declares war on Spain

1777 _ France recognizes independence of English colonies in America

1914 _ Great Britain declares Egypt a protectorate

1920 _ Japan receives League of Nations mandate over Pacific islands

1923 _ Greek king George II overthrown by army/republic

1944 _ U.S. Army announces end of excluding Japanese-Americans from West Coast; Japanese-Americans are released from detention camps

1963 _ Choi Doo-sun forms government in South Korea

1986 _ Davina Thompson makes medical history by having the first heart, lung and liver transplant (Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England)

1991 _ Cleveland Cavaliers beat Miami Heat 148-80, by record 68 points