MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

Today is Monday, March 19, the 79th day of 2012. There are 287 days left in the year.

721 B.C. ― First recorded lunar eclipse; location, Babylon

1571 ― Spanish troops occupy Manila

1644 ― 200 members of Peking imperial family/court commit suicide

1682 ― Nationally Council accept independence of French church

1915 ― Pluto photographed for first time (although unknown at the time)

1931 ― Nevada legalizes gambling

1945 ― 800 killed as Kamikaze attacked USS Franklin off Japan

1945 ― Adolf Hitler issues Nero Decree: destruction of German facilities

1995 ― Michael Jordan rejoins Chicago Bulls after 17 months, beats Pacers

1996 ― Winnie Mandela divorces Nelson after 38 years of marriage