TODAY IN HISTORYToday is Monday, February 12, the 43rd day of 2007. There are 322 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE<$>

In 1554 — Lady Jane Grey, who’d claimed the throne of England for nine days, and her husband, Guildford Dudley, were beheaded after being condemned for high treason.

In 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in present-day Larue County, Kentucky.

In 1818, Chile officially proclaimed its independence, more than seven years after initially renouncing Spanish rule.

In 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded.

In 1912, Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, abdicated, marking the end of the Qing Dynasty.

In 1915, the cornerstone for the Lincoln Memorial was laid in Washington D.C.

In 1940, the radio play The Adventures of Superman debuted with Bud Collyer as the Man of Steel.

In 1973, Operation Homecoming began as the first release of American prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict took place.

In 1997, the Clinton administration gave permission to ten US news organisations to open bureaus in Cuba.

In 1999, the US Senate acquitted President Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” — Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865).