February 13, 2009

410 years ago
1599

Born on this date
Alexander VII. Roman Catholic Pope, 1655-1667. Alexander VII, born Fabio Chigi, succeeded Innocent X. Pope Alexander initially opposed nepotism, but later gave positions to his relatives. Alexander VII died on May 22, 1667 at the age of 68, and was succeeded by Clement IX.

320 years ago
1689

Politics and government
The English Convention Parliament named William III and Mary II co-sovereigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

270 years ago
1739

War
The army of Iranian ruler Nadir Shah defeated the forces of the Mughal emperor of India, Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal.

160 years ago
1849

Born on this date
Randolph Churchill. U.K. politician. Lord Randolph, a member of the Conservative Party, sat in the British House of Commons from 1874 until his death. He was a cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister the Marquess of Salisbury, serving as Secretary of State for India from 1885-1886; Chancellor of the Exchequer from August-December 1886; and Leader of the House of Commons from 1886-1887. His life and career were shortened by a debilitating illness, popularly believed to be syphilis, an explanation that now seems unlikely. Lord Randolph was the father of future Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and died at the age of 45 on January 24, 1895, 70 years to the day before the death of his more famous son.

Diplomacy
The delegation headed by Metropolitan bishop Andrei Șaguna handed to Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria the General Petition of Romanian leaders in Transylvania, Banat and Bukovina, which demanded that the Romanian nation be recognized.

150 years ago
1859

Defense
A detachment of marines from Hong Kong arrived at Esquimalt naval base to help British Columbia Governor James Douglas maintain order during the Fraser gold rush, which saw an influx of 30,000 gold seekers, mostly from the U.S.A.

70 years ago
1939

Music
In Martinez, California, Mario Olmeda recorded six Italian folk songs for folk music collector Sidney Robertson Cowell.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Pat Novak For Hire, starring Jack Webb, on ABC
Tonight's episode: John Singer

This marked the revival of Pat Novak For Hire, a crime show set in San Francisco, on ABC, reaching the west coast of the United States. The program, with scripts written by Mr. Webb's friend Dick Breen, began as a local program in the fall of 1946, broadcast on ABC affiliate KGO in Oakland. In the spring of 1947, Mr. Breen left to do a similar show on MBS called Johnny Modero, Pier 23, and took Mr. Webb with him. Ben Morris then took over the role of Pat Novak for the remaining episodes in 1947. When ABC brought Messrs. Webb and Breen back in 1949, they installed Raymond Burr as Inspector Hellmann, and Tudor Owen as Pat Novak's hard-drinking confidant Jocko Madigan. Pat Novak For Hire is known (and loved) for its hilarious one-liners, a sampling of which may be found here. Go here for free downloads of available episodes.

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent concluded three days of talks in Washington on defense and economic problems.

Politics and government
The Portuguese presidential election resulted in an unopposed victory for General Antonio de Fragoso Carmona, a supporter of Prime Minister Antonio Salazar.

Labour
At midnight, 2,000 miners from Canadian Johns-Manville in Asbestos, Quebec called a spontaneous illegal strike. Shortly after, 3,000 other miners in Thetford Mines followed suit. The strike, which pitted miners affiliated with the Canadian Confederation of Catholic Workers (CCLC) against three mainly American-owned mining companies, closed mines for the next four months, and became a cause for the progressive elements of society (see also here).

The Congress of Industrial Organizations Transport Workers Union ended a four-day strike against the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad, an important commuter line, after failing to gain union recognition.

Sport
Maria Isakova of the U.S.S.R. retained her women's singles title at the world speed skating championships in Kongsberg, Norway.

Golf
Dave Douglas won the Texas Open in San Antonio.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Got Stung/One Night--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba appealed for a personal meeting with French President Charles de Gaulle to seek relaxation of growing French-Tunisian friction.

The Japanese cabinet approved plans to permit some of Japan's 600,000 Koreans to be repatriated voluntarily to North Korea.

Politics and government
Romulo Betancourt took office as Venezuela's first freely-elected President in 10 years.

Cuban Prime Minister Jose Miro and his cabinet resigned.

Admiral Sir Guy Grantham was appointed to succeed General Sir Robert Laycock as British Governor of Malta.

Six days after its formation, France's extremist Nationalist Party was dissolved, and five of its leaders were indicted on charges of endangering state security.

Contrary to tradition that questions be submitted in writing to the House of Assembly several days in advance, Liberal Party leader Louis J. Robichaud issued a direct verbal question to the government, changing the nature of political debate within New Brunswick.

40 years ago
1969

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Joy Riders



War
The fourth plenary session of the Vietnam War peace talks met in Paris for more than six hours. Old charges were reiterated, and no progress was made.

Diplomacy
U.K. Prime Minister Harold Wilson and West German Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger concluded a two-day meeting in Bonn with a joint statement pledging British-West German solidarity for the goal of European unity and security. The two men stressed the importance of the U.K. becoming a member of the European Economic Community.

Terrorism
FLQ terrorists exploded a bomb on the floor of the Montréal Stock Exchange, injuring 27.

Academia
Massachusetts state troopers arrested 33 students who were conducting a sit-in in the administration building at the University of Massachusetts.

Labour
Demands of major unions in Italy for higher pensions were met when government and union negotiators reached an agreement that would cost Italy almost $13 billion over the next 10 years.

Disasters
Rescue teams reported that all 19 aboard a Philippine Air Force C-47 were killed when it crashed on Mindanao.

Boxing
Ralph McCoy (10-2) won a 12-round unanimous decision over Charlie Austin (33-30-5) at Oakland Auditorium to win the vacant California state middleweight title.

30 years ago
1979

On television tonight
The Paper Chase, on CBS
Tonight's episode: A Matter of Anger



Religion
A conference of Roman Catholic bishops in Puebla, Mexico ended with calls for increased social activism on behalf of Latin America's poor, and a plea for the peaceful resolution of inter-American disputes.

Disasters
An intense windstorm struck western Washington, sinking a half-mile-long section of the Hood Canal Bridge.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Love Is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Thriller--Michael Jackson

On television tonight
Celebrity: Part II

Died on this date
Andre Stander, 37 (?). South African criminal. Mr. Stander was a police captain in South Africa who turned to crime in the 1970s and began robbing banks as leader of the "Stander Gang." He and fellow criminal Lee McCall escaped from custody in August 1983, and Mr. Stander made his way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to arrange for the sale of the gang's newly-purchased yacht. He was shot by police there while attempting to flee his apartment complex.

Politics and government
At a meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Soviet Premier Nikolai Tikhonov nominated Konstantin Chernenko to succeed Yuri Andropov as General Secretary of the Communist Party. Mr. Tikhonov said that Mr. Chernenko had been the unanimous choice of the Politburo. Mr. Chernenko had been a close ally of Leonid Brezhnev for many years, serving as chief of staff for the Supreme Soviet and head of administration and security for the Central Committee. He was believed to be Mr. Brezhnev's choice as a successor, but had been passed over in favour of Mr. Andropov, who had died on February 9. At 72, Mr. Chernenko was the oldest man to assume leadership of the U.S.S.R. In accepting the nomination, he seemed conciliatory toward the West, but warned that no one would be permitted to upset the "military equilibrium that had been achieved."

War
Iran announced that two days earlier it had launched a major offensive into southeastern Iraq. Iraq denied any invasion.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan began two days of talks in Washington with King Hussein of Jordan and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Olympics
Canada defeated Norway 8-1 in men's hockey at the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Teardrops--Womack & Womack

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Kiss--The Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones

Died on this date
Wayne Hays, 77. U.S. politician. Mr. Hays, a Democrat, represented Ohio's 18th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1949-1976. He served as chairman of the House Committee on Administration, but his career ended when it was revealed that Elizabeth Ray, who had been Mr. Hays' secretary and had also been put on staff with the House Committee on Administration, had merely been his mistress, and possessed no secretarial skills.

Protest
Police in India killed three people who were protesting Salman Rushdie's recently-published novel The Satanic Verses, which was accused of being disrespectful toward the prophet Muhammad.

10 years ago
1999

War
U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that United States troops would participate in a NATO mission in the Serbian province of Kosovo.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 6 @ Toronto 2

The Blackhawks defeated the Maple Leafs on the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast in the last National Hockey League game played at Maple Leaf Gardens. It was a fitting result, since the Blackhawks had won 2-1 in the first game at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931.