July 6, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Ancamaria!

820 years ago
1189

Died on this date
Henry II, 56. King of England, 1154-1189. Henry II, the grandson of Henry I, succeeded to the throne upon the death of King Stephen. Henry II's reign included the regaining of territory that had belonged to England during his grandfather's reign; revision of England's legal system; and the murder of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket. Henry II died from the effects of a bleeding ulcer. He was succeeded as king by Richard I (Lionheart).

230 years ago
1779

War
French naval forces commanded by Comte D'Estaing defeated British forces commanded by Admiral John Byron in the Battle of Grenada in the West Indies.

220 years ago
1789

Born on this date
María Isabella. Queen consort of the Two Sicilies, 1825-1830. María Isabella was the daughter of King Carlos IV of Spain and his wife Maria Luisa of Parma, although it was rumoured that her father was actually Prime Minister Manuel Godoy, Queen Maria Luisa's lover. María Isabella married Francesco, Duke of Calabria in 1801, and became Queen consort upon her husband's accession to the throne as King Francis I. King Francis died in 1830, and was succeeded by his and María Isabella's son Ferdinand II. María Isabella led an active romantic life after the death of King Francis, and married a younger man in 1839. She died on September 13, 1848 at the age of 59.

200 years ago
1809

Died on this date
Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle, 34. French military officer. Comte de Lasalle, nicknamed "The Hussar General," was known for his daring exploits in Italy, Egypt, Prussia, Spain, and Austria. He was killed in the Battle of Wagram.

War
French forces commanded by Emperor Napoleon I won a decisive but costly victory over Austrian forces in the two-day Battle of Wagram, north of Vienna.

180 years ago
1829

Born on this date
Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein. Danish royal family member. Frederick VIII was the German pretender to the throne of Schleswig-Holstein from 1863-1866, although the Kingdom of Prussia held real administrative power. He died on January 14, 1880 at the age of 50.

150 years ago
1859

Born on this date
Verner von Heidenstam. Swedish poet and author. Mr. Heidenstam was awarded the 1916 Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of his significance as the leading representative of a new era in our literature." He was known for his works that celebrated Swedish history and scenery. Mr. Heidenstam died on May 20, 1940 at the age of 80.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Eric Reece. Australian politician. Mr. Reece, a member of the Labour Party, sat in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1946-1975. He was a cabinet member in various portfolios fro 1946 until he succeeded Sir Robert Cosgrove as Premier of Tasmania in 1958, and served as Premier from 1958-1969 and 1972-1975. Mr. Reece died on October 23, 1999 at the age of 90.

90 years ago
1919

Aviation
The British dirigible R34 landed in Mineola, New York, four days after departing Scotland, completing the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an airship.

80 years ago
1929

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies split a doubleheader before 10,000 fans at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The Phillies won the opener 10-6, to extend the Cardinals’ losing streak to 11 games. The Cardinals came back in the second game, amassing 28 hits in winning 28-6, scoring 10 runs in each of the 1st and 5th innings; the run and hit totals were National League highs for the 20th century. June Greene, the fourth and last Philadelphia pitcher in the second game, allowed 12 hits and 11 runs--all earned--in 4 2/3 innings, walking 3 batters and striking out 1, while doubling and drawing a base on balls at bat in the 32nd and last game of his 2-year major league career.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
Ernie Lombardi had 5 hits, including a triple and home run, and 6 runs batted in, to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 16-15 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. The final out of the game came when Leo Durocher of the Cardinals was thrown out at home plate.

The Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies combined for 41 hits as the Braves won 16-13 at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Hal Lee led the Braves with 4 hits, 3 of them home runs.

The Boston Red Sox had 20 hits, including 3 by winning pitcher Wes Ferrell, as they beat the Philadelphia Athletics 18-6.

70 years ago
1939

Abominations
The last remaining Jewish-owned businesses in Germany were closed.

60 years ago
1949

Died on this date
Ike Caveney, 54. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Caveney was a shortstop with the Cincinnati Reds (1922-1925), batting .260 with 13 home runs and 196 runs batted in in 466 games. He played at least 1,734 games in 17 seasons in the minor leagues from 1914-1934. He played with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League (1919-1921, 1928-1934), and managed them from 1932-1934, when his players included Vince and Joe DiMaggio.

World events
Indonesian President Ahmed Sukarno returned to Jakarta following Dutch withdrawal from the city.

Politics and government
Detroit Mayor Eugene Van Antwerp established a loyalty board to supervise the dismissal of alleged Communists on the city payroll.

Weather
A 41-day drought and heat wave in the northeastern United States ended.

Economics and finance
Poland joined other Comintern countries in suspending trade with Yugoslavia.

Labour
U.S. Steel rejected union demands for a wage increase, leading United Steel Workers of America President Philip Murray to threaten a nationwide steel strike by mid-month.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds amassed 26 hits in routing the Chicago Cubs 23-4 before 4,036 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Catcher Walker Cooper led the attack, batting 6 for 7 with 3 home runs, 5 runs, and 10 runs batted in.

Johnny Hopp singled home 2 runs to cap a 3-run 9th-inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 before 32,983 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Jerry Priddy singled home Tom Ferrick with the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the St. Louis Browns a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers before 3,237 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Tigers had scored a run in the top of the 12th to take a 5-4 lead, only to have the Browns tie the score on a home run by Jack Graham with 2 out in the bottom of the 12th.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Diana--Paul Anka (9th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton (6th week at #1)
2 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
3 Personality--Lloyd Price
4 Dream Lover--Bobby Darin
5 Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
6 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
7 Tallahassee Lassie--Freddy Cannon
8 Bobby Sox to Stockings--Frankie Avalon
9 Frankie--Connie Francis
10 Tiger--Fabian

Singles entering the chart were A Big Hunk o' Love by Elvis Presley (#43); Sweeter than You by Ricky Nelson (#53); Ragtime Cowboy Joe by David Seville and the Chipmunks (#65); Bei Mir Bist Du Schön by Louis Prima and Keely Smith (#78); What'd I Say (Parts I and II) by Ray Charles and his Orchestra (#82); Ten Thousand Drums by Carl Smith (#84); Sea of Love by Phil Phillips with the Twilights (#85); What is Love? by the Playmates (#89); Lonely Guitar by Annette (#96); Sweet Sugar Lips by the Kalin Twins (#97); and Crackin' Up by Bo Diddley (#98).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton (8th week at #1)
2 Personality--Lloyd Price
3 Frankie/Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
4 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
5 Tallahassee Lassie--Freddy Cannon
6 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
7 Bongo Rock--Preston Epps
8 My Heart is an Open Book--Carl Dobkins, Jr.
9 Tiger--Fabian
10 Kansas City--Wilbert Harrison

Singles entering the chart were Ragtime Cowboy Joe by David Seville and the Chipmunks (#42); Lavender-Blue by Sammy Turner (#43); What is Love? by the Playmates (#50); Ten Thousand Drums by Carl Smith (#53); Bei Mir Bist Du Schön by Louis Prima and Keely Smith (#54); Lonely Guitar by Annette (#55); Here Comes Summer by Jerry Keller (#56); Cherrystone by the Addrisi Brothers (#58); On an Evening in Roma by Dean Martin (#59); and Martinique by Martin Denny (#60).

Space
Moscow radio announced that two dogs and a rabbit had been sent to the "upper atmosphere" in a single-stage rocket and had been brought back alive and in good condition.

Diplomacy
The Hungarian government restricted members of the U.S. legation staff in Budapest to the city and its environs unless granted special travel permits.

Politics and government
Accepting Prime Minister Djuanda's resignation, Indonesian President Ahmed Sukarno announced that he would become both chief of state and head of government under the revived 1945 constitution.

Labour
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported in its 1958 production yearbook that the percentage of people engaged in farm work had declined between 1942 and 1957.

40 years ago
1969

War
Fighting in Vietnam increased sharply, although confined to short engagements, leading to speculation about whether the current lull in North Vietnamese and Viet Cong activity was over.

Abominations
The Washington Square United Methodist Church in New York City became the first predominantly white religious organization to give money to the National Black Economic Development Conference when they handed the group’s chief spokesman, James Foreman, a cheque for $15,000. Mr. Foreman had demanded that American white religious institutions pay $500 million in "reparations" for past injustices to Negroes. Of course, 40 years later such demands are referred to using such terms as "a process of reconciliation" instead of by the more accurate term "extortion."

Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (0-1) 10 @ Calgary (1-0) 23

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Hallelujah--Milk & Honey (10th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Pop Muzik--M (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Born to Be Alive--Patrick Hernandez (15th week at #1)

Died on this date
Van McCoy, 39. U.S. musician. Mr. McCoy was a pianist and singer who had a successful career as a songwriter, arranger, and producer. He was best known for the instrumental single The Hustle, a major hit single in 1975, credited to Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. Mr. McCoy died of a heart attack.

Diplomacy
Egypt and Israel agreed to a plan by United States Middle East envoy Robert Strauss to form "working groups" to hammer out issues in stalemated talks on Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza.

Energy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter called top aides and energy advisors to a "weekend summit" at Camp David, two days after postponing a major address on his administration’s energy policy.

25 years ago
1984

World events
Nigerian authorities detained a British airplane in retaliation for the British detention of a plane that was to have flown to Nigeria carrying crates containing former Nigerian cabinet minister Umaru Dikko, who had been kidnapped and drugged the previous day before being found by British police at Stansted Airport, 30 miles north of London.

Abominations
The Church of England consecrated David Jenkins as Bishop of Durham despite his public expression of opinions that denied fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the national unemployment rate had fallen to 7.0% in June, the lowest level since the spring of 1980.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-1) 10 @ British Columbia (1-0) 44

B.C. receiver Jim Sandusky, playing his first CFL game, caught a touchdown pass from Roy Dewalt as the Lions routed the Eskimos at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. The Eskimos’ touchdown came on a pass from Matt Dunigan to Brian Kelly. It was the 5th touchdown in 2 games for Mr. Kelly, all on passes from Mr. Dunigan. Playing their first game with the Eskimos were punter and backup quarterback Johnny Evans and wide receiver Chris Woods. Mr. Woods, a graduate of Auburn University in Alabama, wore #72 in the game instead of his usual #74. After the pre-game warmup, he cut off the bottom of his regular jersey, only to find out that wearing such a jersey wasn’t allowed in the Canadian Football League, in contrast to U.S. college football; the team also billed him for the cost of his cut-up #74 jersey.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): And a Bang on the Ear--The Waterboys

Died on this date
János Kádár, 77. Hungarian politician. Mr. Kádár was General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers (Communist) Party from 1956-1988, in effect leader of that country's Communist dictatorship. He took office in the wake of the U.S.S.R.'s suppression of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, governing until old age an economic difficulties led to his resignation.

War
A group of nine Indian tribes across Canada signed a mutual defence treaty to go to one another's aid in confrontations with authorities.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev was in Strasbourg, France to address the Council of Europe, a parliament representing Western European nations. In an apparent assurance that the U.S.S.R. would not intervene in the liberalization movements underway in Poland and Hungary, he said, "Any interference in domestic affairs and any attempt to restrict the sovereignty of states...are inadmissible." Mr. Gorbachev renewed a call for negotiations on reducing or eliminating short-range nuclear missiles in Europe, but U.S. President George Bush replied that a reduction in conventional arms had to come first.

Terrorism
A Palestinian extremist grabbed the wheel of a bus west of Jerusalem and caused it to crash and kill 16 passengers.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Joaquín Rodrigo, 97. Spanish composer. Mr. Rodrigo, who went blind at the age of 3 and wrote his compositions in Braille, was a pianist who was known for his compositions for guitar. His best-known work is Concierto de Aranjuez (1940).

Barry Winchell, 21. U.S. soldier. Private First Class Winchell was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was dating a transfreak. PFC Winchell died a day after being clubbed with a baseball bat by fellow soldier Calvin Glover, which led to a review of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuality. Mr. Glover was sentenced to life in prison.

War
Russian troops entered the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo, as per Russia’s agreement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Politics and government
Ehud Barak was sworn in as Prime Minister of Israel. His government, embracing seven parties from the political centre and left, had control of 75 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. Mr. Barak pledged to act boldly to achieve a final settlement with the Palestinians (but without giving up any of Jerusalem), and he said he would also seek peace with Syria. Mr. Barak decided to serve as his own defense minister; as foreign minister he named David Levy, who had held the position for a time under the previous Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.