By The Associated Press

Today in History

Today is Friday, Feb. 12, the 43rd day of 2021. There are 322 days left in the year.

Todayís Highlight in History:

On Feb. 12, 1973, Operation Homecoming began as the first release of American prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict took place.

On this date:

In 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Hardin (now 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 (poo yee), the last emperor of China, abdicated, marking the end of the Qing Dynasty.

In 1914, groundbreaking took place for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (A year later on this date, the cornerstone was laid.)

In 1924, George Gershwinís ìRhapsody in Blueî premiered in New York.

In 1959, the redesigned Lincoln penny — with an image of the Lincoln Memorial replacing two ears of wheat on the reverse side — went into circulation.

In 1999, the Senate voted to acquit President Bill Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice.

In 2000, Hall of Fame football coach Tom Landry, whoíd led the Dallas Cowboys to five Super Bowls, died in Irving, Texas, at age 75.

In 2003, the U.N. nuclear agency declared North Korea in violation of international treaties, sending the dispute to the Security Council.

In 2013, At the Grammy Awards, Adele took home all five awards she was nominated for, including album (ì25?), as well as record and song of the year (ìHelloî).

In 2019, Mexicoís most notorious drug lord, Joaquin ìEl Chapoî Guzman, was convicted in New York of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation; a jury whose membersí identities were kept secret as a security measure had deliberated for six days. (Guzman is serving a life sentence at the federal supermax prison facility in Florence, Colorado.)

Ten years ago: Thousands of Algerians defied government warnings and dodged barricades in their capital, demanding democratic reforms; demonstrations continued in Yemen as well. Death claimed actors Betty Garrett, 91, and Kenneth Mars, 75.