Today is Saturday, May 1, the 121st day of 2010. There are 244 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On May 1, 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane over Sverdlovsk and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Powers, who was later convicted of espionage but returned to the United States in 1962 in exchange for a captured Soviet spy.

On this date

In 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was created as a treaty merging England and Scotland took effect.

In 1786, Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro” premiered in Vienna.

In 1884, construction began on the first skyscraper, a ten-story structure in Chicago built by the Home Insurance Co. of New York.

In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition opened to the public in Chicago.

In 1898, Commodore George Dewey gave the command, “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley,” as an American naval force destroyed a Spanish squadron in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

In 1931, New York’s 102-story Empire State Building was dedicated.

In 1963, James W. Whittaker became the first American to conquer Mount Everest as he and a Sherpa guide reached the summit.

In 1978, Ernest Morial was inaugurated as the first black mayor of New Orleans.In 1982, the 1982 World’s Fair opened in Knoxville, Tenn.

Ten years ago

About 3.5 million Time Warner cable subscribers temporarily lost access to seven Disney-owned ABC stations in a quarrel over transmission rights. Joerg Haider, leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, stepped down after 14 years as party leader. The motion picture “Gladiator,” starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, premiered in Los Angeles. Actor Steve Reeves died in Escondido, Calif. at age 74.

Five years ago

A car bombing at a Kurdish official’s funeral in Tal Afar, Iraq, killed some two dozen people and wounded more than 50. Chinese computer maker Lenovo completed its purchase of IBM’s personal computer division.

One year ago

Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced his retirement effective at the end of the court’s term in late June. (President Barack Obama ended up choosing federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace him.) Singer-actor-impressionist Danny Gans, one of Las Vegas’ most popular entertainers, died at age 52.

Today’s Birthdays

Former astronaut Scott Carpenter is 85. Country singer Sonny James is 81. Singer Judy Collins is 71. Actor Stephen Macht is 68. Singer Rita Coolidge is 65. Pop singer Nick Fortuna (The Buckinghams) is 64. Actor-director Douglas Barr is 61. Actor Dann Florek is 59. Singer-songwriter Ray Parker Jr. is 56. Hall of Fame jockey Steve Cauthen is 50. Actress Maia Morgenstern is 48. Country singer Wayne Hancock is 45. Actor Charlie Schlatter is 44. Country singer Tim McGraw is 43. Rock musician Johnny Colt is 42. Rock musician D’Arcy (Smashing Pumpkins) is 42. Movie director Wes Anderson is 41. Actress Julie Benz is 38. Country singer Cory Morrow is 38. Gospel/rhythm-and-blues singer Tina Campbell (Mary Mary) is 36. Actor Darius McCrary is 34.

Thought for Today

“By indignities men come to dignities.”

— Francis Bacon,

English philosopher (1561-1626)