WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010

Today is Wednesday, March 24, the 83rd day of 2010. There are 282 days left in the year.

1721 _ Johann Sebastian Bach opens his Brandenburgse Concerts

1801 _ Aleksandr P. Romanov becomes emperor of Russia

1882 _ German scientist Robert Koch discovers bacillus cause of TB

1898 _ First automobile sold

1924 _ Greece becomes a republic

1930 _ Planet Pluto named

1934 _ U.S. declares the Philippines to become independent in 1945

1949 _ Walter & John Huston become first father-and-son team to win Oscars (actor and director of ``Treasure of Sierra Madre")

1952 _ Great demonstrations against apartheid in South Africa

1955 _ Tennessee Williams' ``Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" opens on Broadway for 694 performances