July 2, 2008

710 years ago
1298

Died on this date
Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg, 43 (?). King of the Romans (Germany), 1292-1298. Count Adolf was chosen to succeed Rudolf I on the throne rather than Rudolf's eldest son Albrecht. Albrecht personally killed Adolf in the Battle of Göllheim and succeeded him as King of the Romans.

War
The forces of Albrecht I of Habsburg defeated those of Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg in the Battle of Göllheim in Germany.

310 years ago
1698

Technology
Thomas Savery patented the first steam engine.

120 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Grover Hartley. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hartley was a catcher with the New York Giants (1911-1913, 1924-1926); St. Louis Terriers (1914-1915); St. Louis Browns (1916-1917, 1934); Boston Red Sox (1927); and Cleveland Indians (1929-1930), batting .268 with 3 home runs and 144 runs batted in in 569 games. He played all or part of 14 seasons in the minor leagues, batting .308 in 889 games. Mr. Hartley led the Federal League with 8 pinch hits in 1914. In his lone major league game of 1930, he batted .750 (3 for 4 with an RBI) and fielded .750 (2 putouts, an assist, and an error). Mr. Hartley was a coach with the Indians (1928-1930); Pittsburgh Pirates (1931-1933); Browns (1934-1936); and Giants (1946). He died on October 19, 1964 at the age of 76.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
T.N. Alford; William Butler, Jr. U.S. military officers. Naval Commander Alford and Lieutenant Butler were killed in a seaplane crash at Newport, Rhode Island.

Abominations
King George V signed the bill allowing British women aged 21 and over to vote.

Law
Sweden nominated Charles Evans Hughes of New York to succeed Dr. John Bassett Moore, who had resigned, on the World Court of International Justice. Mr. Hughes, visiting Berlin, flew over the city with his wife and daughter and was received by German President Paul von Hindenburg.

Viscount Byng of Vimy succeeded Sir William Harwood as Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, and in charge of Scotland Yard.

Economics and finance
Interest rates on call money were raised at New York City to 10%, the highest rate since November 10, 1920.

70 years ago
1938

Tennis
In an all-American women's singles final, Helen Wills Moody won a record eighth Wimbledon singles title by defeating her California rival Helen Jacobs 6-4, 6-0.

60 years ago
1948

War
Chinese Communist forces in Haiyang released four U.S. Marine fliers who had been held since April 5.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman approved a Senate resolution urging U.S. support for regional anti-Communist military pacts, and authorized the State Department to begin negotiations on a defense agreement with western European states.

Politics and government
Two days of voting in the Finnish parliamentary election resulted in no party having a majority in the 200-seat parliament. The Agrarian Party led with 56 seats, followed by the Social Democratic Party, led by Karl-August Fagerholm, with 54. Mr. Fagerholm eventually formed a minority government without including the Agrarians, who nonetheless quietly supported Mr. Fagerholm's government to counter the Communists and other far-left parties.

The United Nations Trusteeship Council completed five days of hearings on complaints against British administrative practices in the trust territory of Tanganyika, including use of compulsory labour on government projects.

Economics and finance
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snyder announced a budget surplus of $8.4 billion for fiscal 1948, the largest in American history.

Labour
The Italian Labour Confederation called a 12-hour strike of three million industrial workers demanding a general wage increase. Government spokesmen and conservative parties charged that the strike was politically motivated, a Communist attempt to prevent Marshall Plan aid from becoming effective.

Mine-owning steel firms in the United States rejected the national contract negotiated by the United Mine Workers of America and other mine operators, accusing the union of attempting to introduce a union shop without an election.

Tennis
Bab Falkenburg of the United States defeated John Bromwich of Australia in the finals of the men's singles competition at Wimbledon.

Golf
Henry Cotton shot a 1-over-par 72 in the final round to win the British Open at Muirfield in Gullane, Scotland with an even par total of 284, 5 strokes ahead of Fred Daly. First prize money was £150 ($600).

50 years ago
1958

At the movies
King Creole, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, and Walter Matthau, opened in theatres.

World events
Nine U.S. soldiers captured when their helicopter landed in East Germany told a news conference in Dresden that they were being held as "political hostages" to force U.S. recognition of the East German government.

Diplomacy
United Arab Republic President Gamal Nasser and Foreign Minister Mahmoud Fazi arrived in Yugoslavia for a state visit and talks with Yugoslavian President Marshal Josip Broz Tito.

Defense
16 member states of the United Nations Command for Korea, in a note to the People's Republic of China, rejected any further withdrawal of UN troops before agreement on the establishment of a united Korea through free elections.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation permitting the United States to share previously restricted atomic weapons information with her allies.

Politics and government
The All-Algeria Committee of Public Safety requested a "solemn proclamation of the total integration of Algeria and the Sahara as a province in France.

Union Nationale candidate Benoît Gaboury won a Quebec provincial by-election in the riding of Matane to replace Onésime Gagnon, who had resigned to become the province's Lieutenant Governor in February. The Liberal Party refused to participate in the by-election.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): A Man Without Love (Quando M'innamoro)--Engelbert Humperdinck (3rd week at #1)

World events
The U.S.S.R. freed a Vietnam-bound U.S. airliner carrying 214 servicemen and a 17-man crew, three days after two Soviet fighter planes had forced it to land on Iturp, one of the Soviet Kuril Islands north of Japan. The release came after the U.S. acknowledged that the Seaboard World Airlines DC-8 Super 63, chartered by the Military Airlift command, had inadvertently intruded on Soviet airspace due to a navigational error while en route to a Japanese refuelling stop before flying on to Camranh Bay. Japanese radar indicated that the plane had been over international waters when it was forced down, and the pilot, Captain Joseph Tosoline, said on July 3 that he had not "strayed off course," as the U.S. State Department had conceded on June 30, but had signed a statement admitting the violation only to secure the release of the plane and those on it.

Politics and government
John Nicholson was installed as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Society
Canada's new Divorce Act went into effect, authorizing the granting of divorce solely on the grounds of marriage breakdown.

Boxing
Lionel Rose (30-2) retained his world bantamweight title with a 15-round majority decision over Takao Sakurai (22-1) at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (4th week at #1)

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: L'Italiano--Toto Cutugno (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Stars on 45 Proudly Presents The Star Sisters--The Star Sisters (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Baby Jane--Rod Stewart

#1 single in the U.K.: Baby Jane--Rod Stewart

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara (6th week at #1)
2 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
3 Time (Clock of the Heart)--Culture Club
4 Every Breath You Take--The Police
5 Let's Dance--David Bowie
6 Beat It--Michael Jackson
7 Always Something There to Remind Me--Naked Eyes
8 She's a Beauty--The Tubes
9 Too Shy--Kajagoogoo
10 Family Man--Daryl Hall & John Oates

Singles entering the chart were It's a Mistake by Men at Work (#52); I'll Tumble 4 Ya by Culture Club (#76); Dead Giveaway by Shalamar (#80); Ewok Celebration by Meco (#83); How am I Supposed to Live Without You by Laura Branigan (#85); All Time High by Rita Coolidge (#86); Blame it on Love by Smokey Robinson and Barbara Mitchell (#87); and Hold Me 'Til the Mornin' Comes by Paul Anka (#89).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Every Breath You Take--The Police
2 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
3 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
4 Puttin' on the Ritz--Taco
5 Let's Dance--David Bowie
6 White Wedding--Billy Idol
7 Time (Clock of the Heart)--Culture Club
8 Beat It--Michael Jackson
9 I'm Still Standing--Elton John
10 Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)--A Flock of Seagulls

Singles entering the chart were Stop in the Name of Love by the Hollies (#43); Take Me to Heart by Quarterflash (#44); War Games by Crosby, Stills & Nash (#46); Saved by Zero by the Fixx (#48); and The Border by America (#49).

20 years ago
1988

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

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Theme From S'Express--S'Express (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): J'ai faim de toi--Sandy

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Boys in Green--Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Owe You Nothing--Bros (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Dirty Diana--Michael Jackson

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dirty Diana--Michael Jackson
2 Foolish Beat--Debbie Gibson
3 The Flame--Cheap Trick
4 Make it Real--The Jets
5 The Valley Road--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
6 Pour Some Sugar on Me--Def Leppard
7 Mercedes Boy--Pebbles
8 Together Forever--Rick Astley
9 Nite and Day--Al B. Sure!
10 Alphabet St.--Prince

Singles entering the chart were Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer (#51); Love Will Save the Day by Whitney Houston (#55); When it's Love by Van Halen (#77); All Fired Up by Pat Benatar (#83); If it Isn't Love by New Edition (#85); and Forever Yours by Tony Terry (#89).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Together Forever--Rick Astley (2nd week at #1)
2 The Valley Road--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
3 One More Try--George Michael
4 Foolish Beat--Debbie Gibson
5 Beds are Burning--Midnight Oil
6 Everything Your Heart Desires--Daryl Hall John Oates
7 Pink Cadillac--Natalie Cole
8 Dirty Diana--Michael Jackson
9 Circle in the Sand--Belinda Carlisle
10 New Sensation--INXS

Singles entering the chart were I Still Believe by Brenda K. Starr (#70); Feelings of Forever by Tiffany (#75); Lookin' Out for Number One by Honeymoon Suite (#78); Do You Love Me by the Contours (#80); I Know You're Out There by the Moody Blues (#88); 1-2-3 by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (#92); and Parents Just Don't Understand by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (#96). Do You Love Me was a re-release of the song that had been a hit single in the fall of 1962.

Died on this date
Vibert Douglas, 93. Canadian astrophysicist and astronomer. Dr. Douglas, a native of Montreal, worked in both England and Canada, and was awarded a doctorate in astrophysics from McGill University in 1926, becoming the first woman in North America to earn the degree. She taught at McGill until moving to Queen's University in 1939, serving as Dean of Women until 1958 and Professor of Astronomy from 1946-1964. Dr. Douglas died in Kingston, Ontario.

Tennis
19-year-old Steffi Graf of West Germany ended Martina Navratilova's six-year reign as women's singles champion at Wimbledon, winning the finals 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

10 years ago
1998

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-0) 20 @ British Columbia (0-1) 12

C.J. Williams rushed 20 times for 70 yards and a touchdown at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver in his first Canadian Football League game, and Sean Fleming added a convert and 4 field goals to help the Eskimos win their 21st consecutive regular season opener, and their first game under head coach Kay Stephenson. Linebacker Tommy Gerhart, playing his first game in an Edmonton uniform, suffered a career-ending broken neck. B.C. running back Jamal Willis carried twice for zero yards in his only CFL game.