Today is Friday, Aug. 13, the 225th day of 2010. There are 140 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On Aug. 13, 1910, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, died in London at age 90.

On this date

In 1521, Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City, from the Aztecs.

In 1624, King Louis XIII of France appointed Cardinal Richelieu his first minister.

In 1846, the American flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles.

In 1860, legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley was born in Darke County, Ohio.

In 1932, Adolf Hitler rejected the post of vice chancellor of Germany, saying he was prepared to hold out “for all or nothing.”

In 1960, the first two-way telephone conversation by satellite took place with the help of Echo 1.

In 1961, Berlin was divided as East Germany sealed off the border between the city’s eastern and western sectors and began building a wall.

Today’s Birthdays

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro is 84. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke is 61. Comedian-writer Tom Davis is 58. Golf Hall of Famer Betsy King is 55. Movie director Paul Greengrass is 55. Actor Danny Bonaduce is 51. TV host/weatherman Sam Champion (TV: “Good Morning America”) is 49. Actor John Slattery is 48. Pop-rock singer James Morrison is 26.

Thought for Today

“The great business of life is to be, to do, to do without, and to depart.”

— John, Viscount Morley of Blackburn,

English journalist (1838-1923)