March 31, 2009

510 years ago
1499

Born on this date
Pius IV. Roman Catholic Pope, 1560-1565. Pius IV, born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was distantly related to the Medicis of Florence. He became a cardinal in 1549, and succeeded Paul IV as Pope. He convened the final session of the Council of Trent in January 1562, and achieved a successful conclusion of the Council two years later. A plot against Pope Pius IV was discovered and crushed in 1565, but he died on December 9 of that year at the age of 66, and was succeeded as Pope by Pius V.

490 years ago
1519

Born on this date
Henri II. King of France, 1547-1559. Henry II, the second son of King François I, spent four years in captivity in Spain as a hostage in exchange for his father, and became the heir upon the death of his older brother François in 1536. Henri II acceded to the throne upon the death of his father, on Henri's 28th birthday. King Henri's reign was characterized by war against Italy and persecution of Protestants. On June 30, 1559, Henri II was participating in a jousting tournament, and suffered a freak injury when fragments from his opponent's splintered lance penetrated his eye; an infection set in that proved untreatable, and King Henri II died on July 10, 1559 at the age of 40.

200 years ago
1809

Born on this date
Nikolai Gogol. Ukrainian-born Russian author and playwright. Mr. Gogol was regarded as a satirist of political corruption in the Russian Empire. His works included the novel Taras Bulba (1835); the play Marriage (1842); and the short stories Diary of a Madman (1835) and The Overcoat (1842). Mr. Gogol suffered from depression in later years, and after a period of refusing all food, died on March 4, 1852, 27 days before his 43rd birthday.

Otto Lindblad. Swedish composer. Mr. Lindblad was best known for writing Kungssången, the Swedish royal anthem. He died after a long illness on January 26, 1864 at the age of 55.

190 years ago
1819

Born on this date
Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. Chancellor of Germany, 1894-1900. Prince Chlodwig was one of the most prominent liberal politicians of his time. He was Minister President of Bavaria from 1866-1870, influencing the union of Bavaria with the North German Confederation. Prince Chlodwig was Governor of Alsace-Lorraine from 1885-1894, and then succeeded Leo von Caprivi as Chancellor. As Chancellor, Prince Chlodwig seldom appeared in Parliament, granting great independence to his secretaries of state. He resigned on October 17, 1900, and died on July 6, 1901 at the age of 82.

120 years ago
1889

Franciana
The Eiffel Tower was officially opened in Paris, as French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel unfurled the French flag from atop the tower to mark its completion.

110 years ago
1899

War
Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, was captured by American forces.

100 years ago
1909

Europeana
Serbia accepted Austrian control over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

70 years ago
1939

At the movies
The Hound of the Baskervilles, directed by Sidney Lanfield, and starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson, opened in theatres. It was the first of 14 movies featuring the two actors in their respective roles.



60 years ago
1949

Theatre
The Traitor by Herman Wouk, a dramatic treatment of a college professor's decision to give atomic secrets to Soviet spies, opened at the 48th Street Theatre on Broadway in New York to favourable reviews. It was directed by Jed Harris, and starred Wesley Addy, Jean Hagen, Lee Tracy, and Richard Derr.

Died on this date
Willard Dow. U.S. chemical executive. Mr. Dow was president of the Dow Chemical Company.

Canadiana
Newfoundland and its dependency of Labrador joined Confederation as Canada's 10th province, called Newfoundland, as the British North America Act 1949 was proclaimed.



Defense
Speaking in Boston at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mid-Century Convocation, former U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill praised the United States for preventing Soviet conquest of Western Europe, and called for expansion of the North Atlantic security pact into a "world instrument capable of...giving security against aggression." In identical notes to the seven sponsoring nations of the North Atlantic pact, the U.S.S.R.charged them with forming an "openly aggressive" alliance in violation of the United Nations Charter.

Politics and government
The U.S.S.R. government announced the appointment of Pravda editor D.T. Shepilov to replace Mikhail Suslov as head of the Communist Party Central Committee's Propaganda and Agitation Section.

Labour
An agreement to merge the 110,000 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen with the 80,000-member Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers was signed in Cleveland by representatives of both unions.

The Canadian Seamen's Union struck against East Coast seagoing shippers after the latter signed contracts with the rival American Federation of Labor Seafarers' International Union.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 1 @ Detroit 3 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-2)

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Devil's Laughter, starring Alfred Ryder, Patrick Westwood, and Ben Wright



War
French Army headquarters in Algiers reported that 1,172 rebels had been killed, wounded, or captured in sharply increased fighting in Algeria during the past week.

World events
The Dalai Lama, evading pursuing Communist Chinese troops, reached sanctuary in India after a 15-day, 300-mile trek through mountainous country south of Lhasa.

Diplomacy
The British, French, and West German foreign ministers met in Washington with acting U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter to discuss the report of a Western working group on German reunification.

The Mexican government ordered two U.S.S.R. embassy officials to leave Mexico for alleged involvement in the nationwide railroad strike.

Defense
U.S. military authorities in Germany charged that agreements establishing air access routes to Berlin contained no reference to a ceiling for flights on those routes.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Boston 2 @Toronto 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Montreal 1 @ Chicago 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Frank Mahovlich scored on a powerplay at 11:21 of the 1st overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Bruins at Maple Leaf Gardens.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blue Light Yokohama--Ayumi Ishida (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Las Flechas Del Amor (Little Arrows)--Karina (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Time of the Season--The Zombies
2 Traces--Classics IV
3 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
4 Galveston--Glen Campbell
5 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
6 Things I'd Like to Say--The New Colony Six
7 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
8 My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)--David Ruffin
9 Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon--Paul Revere and the Raiders
10 You've Made Me So Very Happy--Blood, Sweat & Tears

Singles entering the chart were Wishful Sinful by the Doors (#81); In the Bad, Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me) by the Foundations (#92); My Way by Frank Sinatra (#93); To Know You is to Love You by Bobby Vinton (#94); Tricia Tell Your Daddy by Andy Kim (#95); When You Dance by Jay and the Americans (#96); I Love My Baby by Archie Bell & the Drells (#97); With Pen in Hand by Vikki Carr (#98); You Came, You Saw, You Conquered! by the Ronettes (#99); and Rhythm of the Rain by Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#100).

Americana
The United States observed a national day of mourning for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the nation's 34th President, who had died three days earlier. A funeral service was held in Washington National Cathedral, where Rev. Edward Elson, Gen. Eisenhower's pastor and minister of National Presbyterian Church, offered a pastoral prayer. Episcopal Dean Francis Sayre, a close friend, opened the services, and Rt. Rev. William Creighton, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, closed them. President Richard Nixon, who had served as General Eisenhower's Vice President, commented, "It was the character of the man; not what he did, but what he was, that so captured the trust and faith and affection of his own people and of the people of the world."



Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson concluded his five-day visit to Nigeria. He had met with Nigeria's military leader, Major General Yakubu Gowon, but their talks resulted in no change in the strategy of Nigeria's war against its rebellious province of Biafra, or the United Kingdom's support for the Nigerian regime.

Britain and the Caribbean island of Anguilla signed a truce ending two weeks of turmoil, invasion, and protest.

The U.S.S.R. sharply criticized the leaders of Czechoslovakia for allowing liberal forces to spread "nationalist and anti-Soviet slander" in demonstrations that followed a Czechoslovak hockey victory three days earlier.

Disasters
34 bodies were recovered in the explosion of a coal mine near Musquiz, Mexico. 134 were still missing and presumed dead.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Le Freak--Chic

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tragedy--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Fire!--Pointer Sisters (4th week at #1)
2 Lay Your Love on Me--Racey
3 Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)--The Jacksons
4 Tragedy--Bee Gees
5 The Runner--The Three Degrees
6 Ruthless Queen--Kayak
7 The Wild Places--Duncan Browne
8 Chiquitita--ABBA
9 Mama Leone--Bino
10 In the Navy--Village People

Singles entering the chart were The Logical Song by Supertramp (#26); Opzij by De Wonderlijke Avonturen Van Herman Van Veen (#28); Equinoxe by Jean Michel Jarre (#29); The Story of Buddy Holly by Familee (#32); Sarah Smiles by Bram Tchaikovsky (#33); and Switch by Benelux & Nancy Dee (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Tragedy--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)
2 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
3 What a Fool Believes--The Doobie Brothers
4 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
5 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb
6 Sultans of Swing--Dire Straits
7 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
8 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
9 What You Won't Do for Love--Bobby Caldwell
10 Don't Cry Out Loud--Melissa Manchester

Singles entering the chart were Goodnight Tonight by Wings (#38); Rhumba Girl by Nicolette Larson (#84); Heart to Heart by Errol Sober (#85); I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance with You) by Narada Michael Walden (#86); I'll Come Running by Livingston Taylor (#87); You Says it All by Randy Brown (#88); Makin' It by David Naughton (#89); I Need You by the Euclid Beach Band (#90); I Never Said I Love You by Orsa Lia (#92); and Hot Number by Foxy (#93).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tragedy--Bee Gees (3rd week at #1)
2 What a Fool Believes--The Doobie Brothers
3 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
4 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
5 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb
6 Sultans of Swing--Dire Straits
7 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
8 Every Time I Think of You--The Babys
9 Music Box Dancer--Frank Mills
10 Lady--Little River Band

Singles entering the chart were Goodnight Tonight by Wings (#41); Rhumba Girl by Nicolette Larson (#84); Give Me an Inch by Ian Matthews (#85); Who Do You Love? by George Thorogood and the Destroyers (#86); Diamonds by Chris Rea (#87); I'll Come Running by Livingston Taylor (#89); and I Need You by the Euclid Beach Band (#99).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Tragedy--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)
2 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
3 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
4 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
5 I Just Fall in Love Again--Anne Murray
6 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
7 Rasputin--Boney M.
8 (Boogie Woogie) Dancin' Shoes--Claudja Barry
9 Don't Cry Out Loud--Melissa Manchester
10 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb

Singles entering the chart were Here Comes the Night by Streetheart (#84); In the Navy by Village People (#90); Goodnight Tonight by Wings (#95); Renegade by Styx (#96); Stay the Night by the Faragher Brothers (#97); Here Comes the Night by the Beach Boys (#98); Dancer by Gino Soccio (#99); and Our Love is Insane by Desmond Child and Rouge (#100).

Diplomacy
Foreign ministers of 18 Arab nations plus the Palestine Liberation Organization announced the severing of relations with Egypt and the imposition of a total economic boycott against Egypt as a result of Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.

Politics and government
Initial returns of a nationwide referendum showed overwhelming support by Iranian voters for the Islamic republic favoured by Ayatollah Khomeini.

Environment
Federal inspectors at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania said that the damaged reactor was cooling down, but that a "crisis" and the possibility of a non-nuclear pressure explosion still existed. Leading Congressional figures demanded tighter federal controls over the nuclear industry.

Curling
Air Canada Silver Broom
Final @ Berne, Switzerland
Norway (Kristian Sørum) 5 Switzerland (Peter Attinger, Jr.) 4

Hockey
NHL
Pittsburgh 3 @ Montreal 5
Minnesota 2 @ Toronto 6

Guy Lafleur scored his 50th goal of the season to help the Canadiens defeat the Penguins at the Montreal Forum.

The Maple Leafs clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs with their win over the North Stars at Maple Leaf Gardens.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Ci Sarà--Albano Carrisi; Romina Power (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Love Is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Hello--Lionel Richie

#1 single in the U.K.: Hello--Lionel Richie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Footloose--Kenny Loggins

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Footloose--Kenny Loggins
2 Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell
3 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
4 Jump--Van Halen
5 I Want a New Drug--Huey Lewis and the News
6 Here Comes the Rain Again--Eurythmics
7 99 Luftballons--Nena
8 Automatic--Pointer Sisters
9 Eat It--"Weird Al" Yankovic
10 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions (#84); I'm Stepping Out by John Lennon (#86); Give Me Tonight by Shannon (#89); and Love Has Finally Come at Last by Bobby Womack and Patti LaBelle (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
2 Jump--Van Halen
3 99 Red Balloons--Nena
4 Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell
5 Thriller--Michael Jackson
6 Footloose--Kenny Loggins
7 I Want a New Drug--Huey Lewis and the News
8 Here Comes the Rain Again--Eurythmics
9 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins
10 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club

Singles entering the chart were Automatic by the Pointer Sisters (#44); Black Stations/White Stations by M + M (#45); and Rockit by Herbie Hancock (#50).

Died on this date
Joe L. Evins, 73. U.S. politician. Mr. Evins, a Democrat, represented Tennessee's 4th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1953-1977.

Canadiana
One-legged runner Steve Fonyo dipped his artificial leg in St. John's Harbour to start a run across Canada to raise money for cancer research, and to honour the memory of his friend Terry Fox, whose cross-Canada run in 1980 was cut short when his cancer returned and took his life.

Defense
General Gustavo Alvarez Martinez, a key ally of the United States in Central America, resigned as commander of the Honduran armed forces, a move apparently related to corruption and his threat to the regime of President Roberto Suazo Cordova.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff

10 years ago
1999

War
Three American soldiers, members of a peacekeeping force in Macedonia that was in the process of withdrawing, were captured by Serb forces near the Yugoslav-Macedonian border.

Crime
Four New York City police officers were charged with murder for killing Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, in a hail of bullets. They were acquitted in 2000.

Business
The Ford Motor Company completed the purchase of Volvo Cars, a unit of Sweden's Volvo A.B., for $6.45 billion. The Volvo Cars division specialized in medium-priced luxury cars and station wagons.