August 20, 2008

1,240 years ago
768

Died on this date
Eadberht. King of Northumbria, 737 or 738-758. Eadberht acceded to the throne following the second abdication of his cousin Ceolwulf, who entered a monastery. Eadberht himself abdicated to enter a monastery at York, where his brother Ecgbert was Archbishop, and was succeeded as King by his son Oswulf, who was murdered within a year.

700 years ago
1308

Religion
Pope Clement V pardoned Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, absolving him of charges of heresy.

360 years ago
1648

War
French forces led by Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé defeated Spanish forces commanded by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in the Battle of Lens in France. It was the last major battle of the Thirty Years' War.

150 years ago
1858

Canadiana
The Colony of British Columbia was established; the Hudson's Bay Company was required to give up control of Vancouver Island to local authorities.

Science
Charles Darwin first published his theory of evolution through natural selection in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, alongside Alfred Russel Wallace's same theory.

125 years ago
1883

Politics and government
The first session of the Northwest Territories Legislative Council met in Regina.

90 years ago
1918

War
British forces opened an offensive on the Western front. Lieutenant Richard Feldt of the Imperial German Navy, commander of the submarine, U-156, captured the 239-ton, steel-hulled, steam-driven trawler Triumph off Canso, Nova Scotia and used it to sink seven schooners before scuttling the ship, making sure all the fishermen were safely in dories with food and water before sending their vessels to the bottom. Lt. Feldt had shelled the coast of New England and sunk several freighters weeks earlier. The U-boat failed to cut the strategic trans-Atlantic telegraph cable that came ashore at Canso, and on the return, U-156 hit a mine off Britain and sank with all hands.

80 years ago
1928

At the movies
Champagne, directed and co-written by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Betty Balfour, Jean Bradin, and Gordon Harker, opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.

Died on this date
George Harvey, 64. U.S. journalist and diplomat. Mr. Harvey owned and edited magazines such as North American Review; Harper's Weekly; and Metropolitan Magazine, and used his wealth and influence to support Democratic Party candidates, most notably Woodrow Wilson from 1906-1912. Mr. Harvey was a conservative, and turned against Mr. Wilson when the latter became more liberal in his policies. Mr. Harvey opposed Mr. Wilson's re-election in 1916, and was a major figure in the "smoke-filled room" at the Republican National Convention in 1920 that nominated Warren G. Harding as the party's presidential candidate. President Harding returned the favour by naming Mr. Harvey as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, where he served from 1921-1923.

Politics and government
John Duncan MacLean resigned as Premier of British Columbia, exactly one year after taking office. He had succeeded John Oliver as Premier upon the latter's death, but his Liberals had lost the recent provincial election to the Conservatives, and Mr. Oliver had lost his seat in the Legislative Assembly. Simon Fraser Tolmie, who had led the Conservatives to their electoral victory, took office as Premier on August 21.

New York Governor and Democratic Party U.S. presidential candidate Al Smith issued a catoegorical denial of William Allen White's charge that as an Assemblyman he (Mr. Smith) had, by his votes on the Raines Law and other bills, aided the gin mills and disorderly women.

Disasters
A tornado struck Austin, Minnesota and vicinity, killing eight people.

75 years ago
1933

Baseball
In Negro American League action, Turkey Stearnes hit his 41st home run of the season to lead the Chicago American Giants to a doubleheader sweep of the Nashville Elite Giants to extend their winning streak to 28 games.

70 years ago
1938

Baseball
Neil Robinson hit a 3-run inside-the-park home run to lead the West to a 5-4 win over the East in the Negro League All-Star Game before 30,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Lou Gehrig hit his 23rd and last career grand slam in the top of the 1st inning and added a 2-run double in the 4th to lead the New York Yankees to an 11-3 win over the Philadelphia Athletics before 9,000 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Mr. Gehrig's total remained the major league record until broken by Alex Rodriguez 75 years later.

Catchers Frank Pytlak and Hank Helf of the Cleveland Indians set altitude records by catching baseballs dropped from the top of the 706-foot-tall Cleveland Terminal Tower. The Indians went on to beat the Chicago White Sox 8-2 at League Park in Cleveland, with Mel Harder winning the pitching matchup over Monty Stratton. Jeff Heath scored 5 runs for the Indians.

The Boston Red Sox scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning to erase a 2-0 deficit, and went on to beat the Washington Nationals 10-7 before 6,200 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Joe Cronin drove in 5 runs for the Red Sox despite batting just 1 for 5. Al Baker, the second of three Boston pitchers, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 2 innings and batted 0 for 1 in his first major league game, at the age of 32.

Rudy York drove in 4 runs with a pair of home runs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-4 win over the St. Louis Browns before 8,200 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Beau Bell, Don Heffner, and George McQuinn homered for St. Louis.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored an unearned run in the top of the 9th inning that proved to be the difference as they edged the New York Giants 8-7 before 6,771 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Philadelphia left fielder Morrie Arnovich batted 3 for 3 with a home run, 2 bases on balls, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in, and leadoff hitter Gibby Brack was 4 for 6 with a double and 2 runs. Mel Ott doubled home George Myatt with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th to make the score 8-7, but Bob Seeds flied out to left field to end the game.

60 years ago
1948

Crime
Soviet military police entered the U.S. zone of Berlin in a raid on black market traders, which ended with the arrest of 2,500 suspects.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman issued regulations for the peacetime draft, exempting men with dependents and those engaged in essential duties. He also banned racial discrimination in administration of the draft.

Society
The International Congress on Mental Health Health, in London, formed a World Federation for Mental Health, with Dr. J.R. Reese of the United Kingdom as president, for the purpose of promoting world peace by curbing individual aggressiveness.

Labour
The American Federation of Labor International Typograhical Union ended a national convention in Milwaukee after supporting President Woodruff Randolph's refusal to file affidavits required by the Taft-Hartley Act.

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board regional office in San Francisco issued a complaint charging the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union with maintaining illegal hiring halls on the West Coast.

50 years ago
1958

Defense
The first shipment of U.S. military supplies to Iraq since the July 14 military coup arrived in Basra.

Politics and government
The French cabinet approved Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle's constitution.

Law
The U.S. Senate voted 49-41 to kill the omnibus Butler-Jenner bill curbing the Supreme Court.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill extending the reciprocal trade agreements program for four years.

Disasters
A bus plunged into a chasm in Colombia, killing 32 of 59 passengers.

Boxing
Virgil Akins (50-17-1), recognized by Massachusetts as the world welterweight champion, scored a technical knockout of Charley "Tombstone" Smith (30-8) in the 10th and final round of a non-title bout at Chicago Stadium. Mr. Akins trailed on all three scorecards entering the final round.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Heavenly Club--Les Sauterelles (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Channing Cox, 88. U.S. politician. Mr. Cox, a Republican, sat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1909-1918), and was Speaker (1915-1918). He was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (1919-1921), and succeeded Calvin Coolidge as Governor, serving from 1921-1925. Mr. Cox advanced progressive educational and labour legislation, and was chairman of the National Governors Association (1922-1924). He declined to run for re-election in 1924, and retired from politics.

War
Forces from the U.S.S.R. and other Warsaw Pact nations invaded Czechoslovakia (see also here) to crush the ''Prague Spring'' liberalization drive of Alexander Dubcek's regime. East German participation was limited to a few specialists due to memories of World War II. Only Albania and Romania refused to participate.

Disasters
An earthquake struck Dongala, Celebes, Indonesia, killing 200 people.

All 10 people aboard a bus died in a collision with a truck near Tarragona, Spain.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (2-2) 12 @ Edmonton (2-2-1) 4

Ted Gerela kicked 3 field goals and Jim Evenson rushed for 105 yards to lead the Lions over the Eskimos before 18,213 fans at Clarke Stadium. The Eskimos lost 3 of 5 fumbles on a muddy field. Defensive back Rich Robinson and centre Bob Howes both made their Canadian Football League debuts with the Lions.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Jesse Flores, 51. U.S. boxer. Mr. Flores was a lightweight and welterweight who compiled a record of 62-9-11 in a professional career from 1945-1954. He fought for the world lightweight championship on September 23, 1948, but was knocked out in 10 rounds by champion Ike Williams.

Terrorism
Two people died and nine were injured during an attack on a bus carrying staff of the Israeli airline El Al in central London. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Diplomacy
Chinese Premier Hua Guofeng completed a three-day visit to Romania.

Defense
The U.S. Defense Department publicly acknowledged that veterans who had received less-than-honorable discharges because of homosexuality could usually get them upgraded and receive veteran's benefits. The policy affected an estimated 20,000-30,000 veterans, and was discovered by lawyers with the National Military Discharge Review Project using the Freedom of Information Act.

Disasters
Tropical storm Carmen lashed South Korea, killing 20 people and causing an estimated $20 million in property losses.

Golf
Lee Elder won the Westchester Classic in Harrison, New York with a total score of 274. First prize money was $60,000.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Rondo Russo--Berdien Stenberg (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Give it Up--K.C. and the Sunshine Band

#1 single in the U.K.: Give it Up--K.C. and the Sunshine Band (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Every Breath You Take--The Police (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Every Breath You Take--The Police (6th week at #1)
2 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics
3 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
4 Maniac--Michael Sembello
5 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
6 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
7 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran
8 Puttin' on the Ritz--Taco
9 (Keep Feeling) Fascination--The Human League
10 Stand Back--Stevie Nicks

Singles entering the chart were Someone Belonging to Someone by the Bee Gees (#74); How Can I Refuse by Heart (#77); Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair) by Sheena Easton (#79); Rainbow's End by Sergio Mendes (#82); High Time by Styx (#83); Don't Forget to Dance by the Kinks (#84); Don't You Know How Much I Love You by Ronnie Milsap (#85); The Night by the Animals (#87); It Must Be Love by Madness (#89); and Ship to Shore by Chris DeBurgh (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler (2nd week at #1)
2 Every Breath You Take--The Police
3 Our House--Madness
4 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
5 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran
6 China Girl--David Bowie
7 Come Dancing--The Kinks
8 Never Gonna Let You Go--Sergio Mendes
9 Hot Girls in Love--Loverboy
10 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer

Singles entering the chart were Tell Her No by Juice Newton (#43); Never Said I Loved You by the Payolas with Carole Pope (#45); King of Pain by the Police (#48); and Big Log by Robert Plant (#50).

Football
CFL
The Saskatchewan Roughriders, who had lost five straight games after winning their season opener, fired head coach Joe Faragalli and replaced him with assistant coach Reuben Berry. Mr. Faragalli was in his third season as the Roughriders' head coach, and compiled a record of 16-21-1.

Edmonton (4-2) 28 @ Montreal (1-5) 15
Winnipeg (5-2) 6 @ British Columbia (5-1) 44

Warren Moon threw touchdown passes to Brian Kelly and Tom Scott and rushed for another TD himself as the Eskimos defeated the Concordes before 20,126 fans at Olympic Stadium. The only Montreal touchdown was scored in the 4th quarter on a pass from Kevin Starkey to Brian De Roo.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Tell Me--Nick Kamen (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Push It--Salt-N-Pepa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Tribute (Right On)--The Pasadenas (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nuit de folie--Début de Soirée (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Only Way is Up--Yazz and the Plastic Population

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): The Only Way is Up--Yazz and the Plastic Population (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Roll With It--Steve Winwood (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Roll With It--Steve Winwood (3rd week at #1)
2 Hands to Heaven--Breathe
3 1-2-3--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
4 I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That--Elton John
5 Monkey--George Michael
6 I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love--Chicago
7 Sign Your Name--Terence Trent D'Arby
8 Sweet Child o' Mine--Guns 'N' Roses
9 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
10 Fast Car--Tracy Chapman

Singles entering the chart were True Love by Glenn Frey (#66); Don't You Know What the Night Can Do? by Steve Winwood (#70); Indestructible by the Four Tops (#84); The Rumour by Olivia Newton-John (#86); Another Lover by Giant Steps (#88); Wild, Wild West by Escape Club (#89); and She's on the Left by Jeffrey Osborne (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That--Elton John (2nd week at #1)
2 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
3 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
4 Fast Car--Tracy Chapman
5 Sign Your Name--Terence Trent D'Arby
6 Simply Irresistible--Robert Palmer
7 Hold On to the Nights--Richard Marx
8 Diamond Sun--Glass Tiger
9 In Your Soul--Corey Hart
10 Perfect World--Huey Lewis and the News

Singles entering the chart were Heart by Pet Shop Boys (#79); Cool Running by Boz Scaggs (#82); I Hate Myself for Loving You by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (#84); Love the One You're With by Gino Soccio (#87); Wasting My Time by Jimmy Page (#90); I Call Your Name by Johnny Clegg and Savuka (#91); Gypsy Road by Cinderella (#95); and Bullets by After All (#97).

War
The cease-fire in the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq took effect, and members of the peacekeeping force took positions along the border between the countries.

Diplomacy
Peru became a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.

Terrorism
8 British Army soldiers were killed and 28 wounded when their bus was hit by a Provisional Irish Republican Army roadside bomb in Northern Ireland.

Scandal
A federal jury in New York City convicted brothers Bunky, Herbert, and Lamar Hunt of conspiracy to corner the world silver market in 1979-1980. The jury found them guilty of committing fraud and violating commodity and antitrust laws. The Hunts and other defendants were ordered to pay more than $130 million in damages to Minpeco S.A., a government-owned commodities company in Peru. The company said it had lost $151 million while the Hunts were manipulating the market.

Disasters
Fires in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming destroyed more than 150,000 acres (610 square kilometes) in the single-worst day of the conflagration.

Football
CFL
Calgary (2-4) 21 @ Saskatchewan (4-2) 24



10 years ago
1998

War
The United States launched cruise missile attacks against alleged al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical weapons plant in Sudan in retaliation for the August 7 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Politics and government
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Québec could not secede from Canada unilaterally without first negotiating the terms of secession with the federal government and the other provinces. The ruling obligated the federal government and the other provinces to negotiate if a clear majority of Québeckers voted Yes on a clearly-worded question regarding secession.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (6-2) 6 @ Toronto (4-4) 42



Calgary (6-2) 55 @ British Columbia (3-5) 9