January 26, 2009

310 years ago
1699

War
The signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz to conclude the Austro-Ottoman War marked the end of Ottoman control in much of Central Europe and the rise of the Habsburg Monarchy as the dominant power in the region. It was the first time the Ottoman Empire had permanently ceded territory to the Christian powers.

140 years ago
1869

Died on this date
Duncan Gordon Boyes, 22. U.K. sailor. Midshipman Boyes joined the Royal Navy as a teenager, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courage in carrying the Queen's Colour in the face of fire from Japanese forces in the bombardment of Shimonoseki on September 6, 1854, when he was 17. In February 1867, Midshipman Boyes and another sailor were dismissed from the service for disobeying orders and breaking into the Naval Yard in Bermuda after previously being refused admittance for not having passes. Mr. Boyes took to drink and suffered from depression; he moved to New Zealand to work with his brothers, but suffered a nervous breakdown and committed suicide by jumping out of the window of a house.

75 years ago
1934

Diplomacy
The German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact was signed.

70 years ago
1939

War
In the Spanish Civil War, troops loyal to nationalist General Francisco Franco and aided by Italy captured Barcelona as part of the Catalonia Offensive.

60 years ago
1949

Space
The Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory in California, the largest aperture optical telescope in the world for 28 years, saw first light, under the direction of Edwin Hubble.

War
The United States formally terminated its Army Advisory Group in China.

World events
Former German Chancellor Franz von Papen was freed by a German denazification court in Nuremberg, which reclassified him as a secondary Nazi offender.

Scandal
Former Newark, New Jersey Police Judge P. James Pellecchia was sentenced to 10-15 years' imprisonment by a court in Newark for embezzling $663,850 to cover gambling losses.

Economics and finance
The Dun & Bradstreet wholesale food price index dropped to $5.91, the lowest level since price controls ended in October 1946.

Labour
The American Federation of Labor International Brotherhood of Teamsters took over a 6,000-member Congress of Industrial Organizations United Distribution Workers local in St. Louis in an attempt to begin organization of department store workers.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Las Chicas De La Cruz Roja--Ana María Parra (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters (2nd week at #1)
2 My Happiness--Connie Francis
3 Donna--Ritchie Valens
4 16 Candles--The Crests
5 Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price
6 Gotta Travel On--Billy Grammer
7 A Lover's Question--Clyde McPhatter
8 Lonely Teardrops--Jackie Wilson
9 Goodbye Baby--Jack Scott
10 Whole Lotta Loving--Fats Domino

Singles entering the chart were Ambrose (Part Five) by Linda Laurie (#64); The Shag (Is Totally Cool) by Billy Graves (#72); First Anniversary by Cathy Carr (#82); I Got a Wife by the Mark IV (#84); I've Had It by the Bell Notes (#88); She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) by the Diamonds (#89); Alright, Okay, You Win by Peggy Lee (#94); Wicked Ruby by Danny Zella and his Zell Rocks (#95); Evening Rain by Earl Grant (#96); Plain Jane by Bobby Darin (#97); Raw-Hide by Link Wray and the Wraymen (#98); The Story of My Love by Conway Twitty (#99); and Tragedy by Thomas Wayne with the DeLons (#100). Alright, Okay, You Win was the other side of My Man, with had entered the chart on January 19 at #96 and was now off the chart.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Gotta Travel On--Billy Grammer (3rd week at #1)
2 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters
3 My Happiness--Connie Francis
4 The All American Boy--Bill Parsons
5 Manhattan Spiritual--Reg Owen and his Orchestra
6 Donna/La Bamba--Ritchie Valens
7 Goodbye Baby--Jack Scott
8 To Know Him is to Love Him--The Teddy Bears
9 I Got Stung/One Night--Elvis Presley
10 Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price

Singles entering the chart were The Lonely One by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (#40); She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) by the Diamonds (#44); First Anniversary by Cathy Carr (#46); It's Just a Matter of Time by Brook Benton (#50); Try Me by James Brown (#52); Nola, with versions by Billy Williams; and the Morgan Brothers (#56); Miss You by the Keymen (#59); and Oh Why/I Don't Need You Anymore by the Teddy Bears (#60).

Politics and government
Italian Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani resigned after Democratic Socialist defections from his coalition cabinet eroded his majority in the Chamber of Deputies.

40 years ago
1969

Protest
Police wielding truncheons and firing tear gas from pressure canisters broke up a march by hundreds of demonstrators in central Prague, the day after 500,000 people had taken to the streets on the occasion of the funeral of Jan Palach, the 20-year-old university student who had committed self-immolation in protest against the demoralization of his country following the recent Soviet occupation. The Czechoslovakian government reported that nine more students had committed or attempted suicide since the death of Mr. Palach.

Disasters
Nine people were killed and two missing in a hotel fire in Dunnville, Ontario.

Boxing
Jerry Quarry (30-2-4) scored a technical knockout of Aaron Eastling (17-4-2) at 2:41 of the 5th round of a heavyweight bout at Memorial Auditorium in Canton, Ohio. Mr. Eastling was knocked down 6 times.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Y.M.C.A.--Village People (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Y.M.C.A.--Village People (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Nelson Rockefeller, 70. Vice President of the United States of America, 1974-1977. Mr. Rockefeller, the second son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was a Republican, and Governor of New York from 1959-1973. In 1970 he signed the most liberal abortion law in the United States; he also gave his name to a report supporting population control. Mr. Rockefeller's desire to be President was obvious, but despite all his wealth, he was never quite able to achieve his greatest ambition. He accepted the Vice Presidency from Gerald Ford on condition that he not challenge Mr. Ford for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976. Mr. Rockefeller died under rather embarrassing circumstances. Megan Marshack, his 31-year-old staff assistant, arrived at his brownstone town house at 13 West 54th Street, ostensibly to help him work on his latest book about his art collection. She arrived in a long black evening gown, which seems rather strange if she was there to do work. The authorized account is that Mr. Rockefeller collapsed on the floor with a heart attack at 11:15 P.M. However, family spokesman Hugh Morrow originally stated that death occurred at 10:15 P.M. in the Rockefeller Center office. To add to the confusion, Ponchitta Pierce, a journalist and friend of Miss Marshack, revealed on February 10 that Miss Marshack had phoned her on January 26 between 10:50 and 11:00 P.M. and told her that "Governor Rockefeller had suffered a heart attack." For a detailed account of Mr. Rockefeller's last day, see John Eastman's article on page 609 of The People's Almanac #3 (1981) by David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace.

Politics and government
The Communist Party withdrew its support of Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti's Christian Democratic government. The Communists had demanded full participation in the cabinet as the price of their continued support of the government.

Religion
Pope John Paul II continued his Latin American visit with eucharistic celebrations in Santo Domingo and Mexico City.

Labour
Leaders of the Retail Clerks International Union and the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen agreed to a merger which would create the biggest single union in the American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organizations. With a total membership of 1.2 million, the new union would be called the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 2 @ Atlanta 4

Goalie Pierre Hamel, called up by the Maple Leafs from the Moncton Hawks of the American Hockey League two days earlier, dressed as the backup to Mike Palmateer in their loss to the Flames at the Omni, while regular backup Paul Harrison was out with an injury. Mr. Hamel had played 4 games with the Maple Leafs early in the 1974-75 season, and had been in the minors ever since.

25 years ago
1984

Politics and government
The government of Canada announced a land claims settlement with Yukon first nations, who were to receive $620 million and title to 20,000 square kilometres.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Back to the Stone Age--Stone (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State James Baker ordered the closing of the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan.

Religion
As part of Christian Awareness Week at the University of Alberta, Campus Crusade for Christ speaker Michael Horner delivered a talk about sex.

10 years ago
1999

Religion
Pope John Paul II departed Mexico City and arrived in St. Louis and spoke at Kiel Center, delivering an address to young people.