February 28, 2009

890 years ago
1119

Born on this date
Xizong. Emperor of China, 1135-1150. Xizong, born Hela, was the third Emperor of the Jin dynasty in northern China. He succeeded his younger brother Taizong on the throne, and launched several military campaigns against the Southern Song dynasty in southern China, while reforming political institutions along the lines of the Han Chinese culture, which he admired. Emperor Xizong was 30 when he was assassinated by his chancellor, Digunai, and other court officials in a coup d'état on January 9, 1150.

400 years ago
1609

Died on this date
Paul Sartorius, 39. German musician and composer. Mr. Sartorius, born Paul Schneider, studied in Italy before obtaining the position of court organist for Archduke Maximilian III of Austria in 1594. Mr. Sartorius' compositions showed strong Italian influence. He died on February 28, 1609 at the age of 39.

220 years ago
1789

Theatre
New Brunswick's first dramatic performances were staged in Saint John, as The Busy Body and Who's The Dupe were presented in the Long Room of the Mallard House on King Street.

160 years ago
1849

Transportation
Regular steamship service from the east to the west coast of the United States began with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months and 22 days after leaving New York Harbor.

120 years ago
1889

Technology
Gilbert W. Ganong, of Ganong Bros. Ltd. confectioners in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, patented a process for imprinting the bottom of individual chocolates with a wordmark. Each hand-dipped chocolate bore the initials “GB.”

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Stephen Spender. U.K. poet. Sir Stephen's poetry concentrated on themes of social injustice and class struggle. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1936, but eventually became disillusioned with Communism. Sir Stephen died on July 16, 1995 at the age of 86.

70 years ago
1939

Literature
The erroneous word "dord" was discovered in Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, prompting an investigation, and the eventual removal of the "ghost word" in 1947.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: The East End Strangler

Literature
Books published in New York included To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy (Holt); an English translation of An Outline of Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud (Norton); and A Tree of Night and Other Stories by Truman Capote (Random House).

War
Israeli troops occupied the fortress of Faluja in the Negev desert, following the withdrawal of the Egyptian garrison.

Diplomacy
The Indonesian Republic refused to attend a Dutch-sponsored conference on Indonesia in The Hague, charging the Netherlands with bypassing United Nations Security Council recommendations.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate opened debate on a proposal sponsored by the administration of President Harry Truman to limit the filibuster. Senate Democrats filibustered against the measure.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. reduced prices of clothing, food, and other consumer goods by 10%-30%.

The U.S. Agriculture Department reported February farm prices at their lowest levels since September 1946.

The New York County Medical Society, the largest member group of the American Medical Association, refused to support the AMA's fight against U.S. President Truman's compulsory medical insurance proposal.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)--Domenico Modugno (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Tom Dooley--Nilsen Brothers (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price (3rd week at #1)
2 Donna--Ritchie Valens
3 Charlie Brown--The Coasters
4 Petite Fleur (Little Flower)--Chris Barber's Jazz Band
5 The Children's Marching Song (Nick Nack Paddy Whack)--Cyril Stapleton and his Orchestra
--Mitch Miller and his Orchestra
6 16 Candles--The Crests
7 Peter Gunn--Ray Anthony and his Orchestra
8 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters
9 The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)--Andy Williams
10 I Cried a Tear--LaVern Baker

Singles entering the chart were Never Be Anyone Else But You by Ricky Nelson (#79); Pink Shoe Laces by Dodie Stevens (#81); No Other Arms, No Other Lips, with versions by the Chordettes; and the Four Aces (#86); A House of Love by Scott Garrett (#88); The Morning Side of the Mountain by Tommy Edwards (#89); I Can't Sit Down by Marie and Rex (#93); The Millionaire by Perez Prado and his Orchestra (#94); Are You Lonesome Tonight by Jaye P. Morgan (#95); Where were You (On Our Wedding Day)? by Lloyd Price (#96); and Up Jumped a Rabbit by Frankie Lymon (#97). The Morning Side of the Mountain, a new recording of a song that had bee a hit for Mr. Edwards in 1951, was the other side of Please Mr. Sun, charting at #40.

Died on this date
Maxwell Anderson, 70. U.S. journalist and playwright. Mr. Anderson worked with various newspapers before embarking on a successful career as a playwright, with his first success being What Price Glory? (1924). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Both Your Houses (1933). Mr. Anderson's other plays included Winterset (1935); High Tor (1937); Key Largo (1939); Anne of the Thousand Days (1948); and The Bad Seed (1954). He died two days after suffering a stroke.

Space
The U.S. Air Force launched the satellite Discoverer 1 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California as part of the Corona reconnaissance satellite program. It was the first satellite launched toward the South Pole in an attempt to achieve polar orbit, but was unsuccessful, and probably landed somewhere near the South Pole.

Politics and government
Following visits to the Middle East, Far East, and U.S.S.R., East German Premier Otto Grotewohl began an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons.

The Voltaic Republic adopted a draft constitution that would bar Volta membership in the new Mali Federation of French West Africa.

Law
Cuban President Manuel Urrutio approved a law authorizing the confiscation of property of collaborators with the regime of ousted President Fulgencio Batista, including all cabinet ministers since 1952.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom and United Arab Republic formally signed an agreement in Cairo ending financial and trade disagreements arising from the 1956 Anglo-French invasion of the Suez Canal area.

Figure Skating
Canadians Barbara Wagner and Bob Paul won the Ice Pairs competition at the world championships in Colorado Springs. It was their third championship in a row, and they repeated the feat in 1960.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da--The Marmalade

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 To Susan on the West Coast Waiting/Atlantis--Donovan (2nd week at #1/1st week at #1)
2 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 But You Know I Love You--The First Edition
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Games People Play--Joe South
6 Hang 'em High--Booker T. & the M.G.'s
7 Mendocino--Sir Douglas Quintet
8 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
9 I'm Livin' in Shame--Diana Ross and the Supremes
10 Time of the Season--The Zombies

Singles entering the chart were Atlantis; Nothing But a Heartache by the Flirtations (#27); Someday Soon by Judy Collins (#28); and You Gave Me a Mountain by Frankie Laine (#30).

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (4th week at #1)
2 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
3 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
5 Touch Me--The Doors
6 You Showed Me--The Turtles
7 Games People Play--Joe South
8 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
9 But You Know I Love You--The First Edition
10 Hooked on a Feeling--B.J. Thomas

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon met Italian leaders in Rome, then flew to Paris, where he was welcomed by French President Charles de Gaulle, who called Mr. Nixon's visit an "honour" and a "joy." The two leaders had long talks at the Elysee Palace.

Crime
Sirhan Sirhan told the court that he wanted to change his plea to guilty of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy the previous June, and wanted to be executed. The judge denied the request, and warned Mr. Sirhan that if he was not quiet he would be "put in chains."

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Heart of Glass--Blondie (3rd week at #1)

War
Saudi Arabia put her armed forces on full alert in response to continued fighting between Yemen and South Yemen. Saudi Arabia called for an Arab League meeting to resolve the dispute.

Defense
The United States abandoned an electronic listening post on the U.S.S.R.-Iran border after it was shut down by Iranian employees in a dispute over severance pay.

Politics and government
Jane Byrne defeated incumbent Michael Bilandic in Chicago's Democratic Party primary for mayor, a major upset against the old-time Richard Daley political machine.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 4 Vancouver 4

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): My Oh My--Slade (6th week at #1)

War
Iran denied Iraq's claim of the previous day that it had launched air attacks on oil tankers at Kharg Island, Iran's principal oil export terminal. Iran denied that the terminal or any tankers had been hit.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau went for a walk in an Ottawa blizzard and decided to resign. He made the announcement the next day.

United States Senator Gary Hart (Colorado) won the New Hampshire primary for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election. A New York Times/CBS poll made public that day showed former Vice President Walter Mondale as the national choice for the nomination by a wide margin, but Sen. Hart captured 37% of the vote in New Hampshire to 28% for Mr. Mondale and 12% for U.S. Senator John Glenn (Ohio). In the Republican primary, President Ronald Reagan drew 86% of the vote.

Economics and finance
United States governors, at their convention, voted 28-10 in favour of higher taxes and reduced defense outlays as a means of reducing U.S. budget deficits.

20 years ago
1989

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Loosiers

Politics and government
Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez declared martial law, amid nationwide riots over government-imposed increases in transportation fares and gasoline prices.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Clarence Henry, 72. U.S. boxer. Mr. Henry was a heavyweight who compiled a record of 34-6-1 in a professional career from 1948-1954, defeating top contenders such as Bob Baker, and losing to world light heavyweight champions Archie Moore and Harold Johnson. Mr. Henry retired after being arrested in New York on June 4, 1954 for attempting to bribe middleweight Bobby Jones to throw his June 11 bout against Joey Giardello. Mr. Henry was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998. He died 27 days before his 73rd birthday.

War
Ethiopia claimed that its army had defeated Eritrean forces in the Badme region.