August 2, 2008

220 years ago
1788

Died on this date
Thomas Gainsborough, 61. English painter. Mr. Gainsborough was known for his portraits and landscapes. His most famous painting was probably The Blue Boy (1770).

210 years ago
1798

War
The Battle of the Nile concluded in a British victory over French forces.

150 years ago
1858

Canadiana
The British Parliament passed an Act to provide for the Government of British Columbia, creating the separate Crown Colony of British Columbia ruled by Governor James Douglas. The resolution was published and proclaimed on November 3, 1858, with New Westminster named as the capital. The colony included the mainland (named New Caledonia by Simon Fraser) and the Queen Charlotte Islands; the Hudson's Bay Company monopoly in New Caledonia was cancelled. Mr. Douglas was simultaneously Governor of Vancouver Island, granted to the HBC in 1849 for colonization; the two jurisdictions united in 1866, and in 1868 the capital was moved to Victoria.

Politics and government
George Brown and Antoine Dorion were sworn into office as Premier and Deputy Premier of Canada, respectively, five days after John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier resigned as a result of their defeat on Mr. Brown's motion that Ottawa should not be the capital of Canada. The coalition of Mr. Brown's True Grits and Mr. Dorion's Parti Rouge became known as the "Short Ministry," as it lasted two days, the shortest Canadian Ministry on record.

The Government of India Act 1858 replaced Company rule in India with that of the British Raj.

90 years ago
1918

Protest
Almost 20,000 rioters led by World War I army veterans started destroying over 20 Greek restaurants in Toronto after news that Greek waiters had expelled a crippled veteran from the White City Café the night before; the events were triggered by prejudice against new immigrants and the belief that Greeks were pro-German. Toronto Mayor Thomas Church invoked the Riot Act to call in the militia and military police; the rioting continued for three days, with over 150 hurt or hospitalized and 25 arrested, with 16 police officers injured, 10 seriously. The damage to Greek property amounted to over $1.25 million in today's currency.

Vancouver rioters staged a general strike to protest the July 27 killing by police of draft dodger Ginger Goodwin.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Ludwig Lee. U.S. criminal. Mr. Lee, a janitor from Brooklyn, New York who had murdered and cut up Mrs. Selma Bennett and Miss Sarah Brownell, was executed at Sing Sing Prison in New York.

Discovered dead on this date
Barbara Mauger,19. U.S. woman. The bodies of Miss Mauger and her baby, who had vanished from Los Angeles in the fall of 1927, were found torn by wild beasts in Stone Canyon, near Hollywood, California.

Diplomacy
Italy and Abyssinia signed a treaty of arbitration and friendship.

60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS

Diplomacy
U.S., U.K., and French representatives met in Moscow with U.S.S.R. Premier Josef Stalin and Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov to discuss settlement of the Berlin situation. Mr. Stalin offered to lift the blockade in exchange for uniform use of Soviet-zone currency in Berlin.

U.S.S.R. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinski presented the Danube River Conference in Belgrade with the Soviet plan for control of traffic on the river, calling for the creation of a navigation commission representing Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, with Austria eventually to join.

Politics and government
Willem Huender took office as Governor of Dutch Guiana after a new constitution that reduced the Governor's powers in favour of an all-native legislature and cabinet.

The Communist Party USA opened its first national convention since 1945 in New York as party chairman William Z. Foster promised Communist support for the Progressive Party in the November 1948 elections.

Former Communist editor Louis Budenz testified before U.S. Senate Expenditures subcommittee, warning that "possibly thousands" of Communist had infiltrated the federal civil service, and urging Congress to outlaw the Communist Party.

Academia
An Oklahoma state court in Norman rejected an appeal by three Negro students for admission to the University of Oklahoma law school because the state maintained a separate Negro law school. Texas Attorney General Price Daniel ruled that the Texas State University for Negroes must reject white student Jack Coffman's application for admission because the state constitution required segregation of educational facilities.

Society
U.S. President Harry Truman appointed a three-man Displaced Persons Commission to supervise the admission of 205,000 European refugees to the United States.

Olympics
Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands, a 30-year-old mother of two, became an international women's pioneer by winning the women's 100- metre dash at the Summer Olympics in London in 11.9 seconds. It was the first of her four gold medals in the games: 100 metres; 80-metre hurdles; 200-metre dash; and 4 x 100-metre relay.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Purple People Eater--Sheb Wooley

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sail Along Silvery Moon--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Hello, le soleil brille--Annie Cordy (21st week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): All I Have to Do is Dream/Claudette--The Everly Brothers (6th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Patricia--Perez Prado and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
2 Poor Little Fool--Ricky Nelson
3 Splish Splash--Bobby Darin
4 Hard Headed Woman--Elvis Presley
5 Yakety-Yak--The Coasters
6 When--The Kalin Twins
7 Rebel Rouser--Duane Eddy and the Rebels
8 Fever--Peggy Lee
9 Left Right Out of Your Heart (Hi Lee Hi Lo Hi Lup Up Up)--Patti Page
10 One Summer Night--The Danleers

Singles entering the chart were Are You Really Mine by Jimmie Rodgers (#49); Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis (#53); Susie Darlin' by Robin Luke (#56); Lean Jean by Bill Haley and his Comets (#61); Beats There a Heart So True by Perry Como (#70); and Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes by Bobby Freeman (#75).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Splish Splash--Bobby Darin
2 Rebel Rouser--Duane Eddy and the Rebels
3 Poor Little Fool--Ricky Nelson
4 Yakety-Yak--The Coasters
5 When--The Kalin Twins
6 Left Right Out of Your Heart (Hi Lee Hi Lo Hi Lup Up Up)--Patti Page
7 If Dreams Come True--Pat Boone
8 Ginger Bread--Frankie Avalon
9 Patricia--Perez Prado and his Orchestra
10 Willie and the Hand Jive--Johnny Otis Show

The only single entering the chart was Just a Dream by Jimmy Clanton (#15).

Died on this date
Theophylactos Papathanasopoulos, 67. Greek-born Australian clergyman. Metropolitan Bishop Theophylactos led Greek Orthodox Churches in Australia and New Zealand from 1947 until his death, two days after being injured in a car accident. He was succeeded by Metropolitan Ezekiel.

Mrs. Santos Garcia, 50; Fortino Aguilar, 38; Christina Aguilar, 32. Mexican accident victims. Mr. Aguilar was a fruit picker working in California; he, his wife Christina, his mother-in-law Mrs. Garcia, and five of their six children drowned when the station wagon Mr. Aguilar was driving had faulty brakes and went off the end of a ferry at Princeton, California and flipped upside down. One child and one other person in the car survived.

Space
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council announced the formation of a 16-member Space Science Board to survey progress and problems raised by U.S. space research.

Diplomacy
The United States recognized the new Iraqi Republic, following Iraqi assurances that the new regime would be bound by the United Nations Charter and "its other international obligations."

Ottawana
Princess Margaret cut the ribbon to open Ottawa City Hall on Green Island at the mouth of the Rideau River.

Religion
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed October 1 as the National Day of Prayer.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Hello, I Love You--The Doors
2 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
3 Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)--The Moody Blues
4 Never Going Back--The Lovin' Spoonful
5 Light My Fire--Jose Feliciano
6 Born to Be Wild--Steppenwolf
7 Autumn of My Life--Bobby Goldsboro
8 D.W. Washburn--The Monkees
9 Don't Take it So Hard--Paul Revere and the Raiders
10 People Got to Be Free--The Rascals

Singles entering the chart were Mr. Bojangles by Jerry Jeff Walker (#25); Dreams of the Everyday Housewife, with versions by Wayne Newton, and Glen Campbell (#26); Down at Lulu's by Ohio Express (#27); Magic Bus by the Who (#28); The Snake by Al Wilson (#29); and Two-Bit Manchild by Neil Diamond (#30).

Disasters
An earthquake hit Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines, killing more than 270 people and injuring 261.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-1) 4 @ Toronto (1-0) 32

Wally Gabler played most of the game at quarterback for the Argonauts in their rout of the Eskimos before Tom Wilkinson completed 4 of 5 passes in leading them to a touchdown late in the game. It was Mr. Wilkinson's only action at quarterback in the entire season. Gordon Judges played for the Argonauts that night, the first game of a 14-year CFL career.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (8th week at #1)

At the movies
Eyes of Laura Mars, directed by Irvin Kirshner and starring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones, opened in theatres.

Interiors, written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Diane Keaton, Mary Beth Hurt, and Kristin Griffith, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Carlos Chávez, 79. Mexican composer and conductor. Mr. Chávez wrote six symphonies and numerous works for piano, as well as works in various styles during different periods of his life. He founded the Symphony Orchestra of Mexico in 1928.

Politics and government
U.S. Representative Philip Crane (Illinois) announced his candidacy for the 1980 Republican Party U.S. presidential nomination. He was known for his support of conservative causes and his opposition to the Panama Canal treaties.

Scandal
Leon Jaworski withdrew as a special counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee investigating the South Korean influence-buying scandal. Mr. Jaworski explained that the committee could accomplish "nothing else" without the testimony of former South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kim Dong-Jo.

Environment
The New York State Health Commissioner declared a health emergency in the Love Canal area of Niagara Falls because chemical wastes dumped into canal landfill between 1947-1952 had leaked into back yards and basements, endangering the health of residents.

Football
CFL
Montreal (2-2) 11 @ Toronto (3-1) 16
Saskatchewan (0-3) 13 @ Winnipeg (1-2) 23

Dieter Brock completed touchdown passes of 69 yards to Richard Crump in the 1st quarter and 90 yards to Mike Holmes in the 2nd quarter to help the Blue Bombers defeat the Roughriders before 26,619 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Ron Lancaster passed to Frank Russell for the Saskatchewan TD in the 3rd quarter.

25 years ago
1983

Died on this date
James Jamerson, 47. U.S. musician. Mr. Jamerson played bass guitar on most of the hit records produced by the Motown Corporation in the 1960s ane early 1970s. He died from the effects of heavy drinking.

Economics and finance
The United States Census Bureau reported that about 34.4 million Americans were living in poverty, a jump of more than 2 million in a year and an increase of 10 million since 1978. The total equalled 15% of the population, the highest rate since 1965, when it was 17.3%.

20 years ago
1988

Died on this date
Raymond Carver, 50. U.S. writer. Mr. Carver was known for his short stories. He died of lung cancer.

Music
The soundtrack album from the movie Cocktail was released on Elektra Records. The album which included songs such as Kokomo by the Beach Boys, was much better than the movie.

Diplomacy
Talks between Angola and Namibia began in Geneva. The U.S.A., represented by Assistant Secretary of State Chester Crocker, acted as mediator. Interested parties included South Africa and Cuba, both of which had troops in Angola.

Labour
U.S. President Ronald Reagan said that he would neither sign nor veto a bill requiring companies to notify workers in advance of layoffs or factory closings, but would allow it to become law without his signature. He was reportedly under pressure from Vice President and presumptive Republican party presidential nominee George Bush and other Republicans not to veto the bill, which was strongly supported by American workers.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had risen 1.4% in June.

Football
CFL
Toronto (3-1) 41 @ Ottawa (0-4) 7

The Rough Riders' loss to the Argonauts at Lansdowne Park was their first game under new head coach Bob Weber, who had replaced the fired Fred Glick.

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Shari Lewis, 65. U.S. television hostess and puppeteer. Mrs. Lewis, born Phyllis Hurwitz, was known for creating characters such as Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy, and Charlie Horse. She hosted various television programs from 1953 until her death, and won 12 Emmy Awards. Mrs. Lewis died after a long battle with cancer.