June 10, 2009

680 years ago
1329

War
The Battle of Pelekanon in what is now Turkey resulted in the defeat of Byzantine forces by those of the Ottoman Empire.

390 years ago
1619

War
A Roman Catholic Imperial army led by Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Count of Bucquoy defeated the Protestant army of Ernst von Mansfeld in the Battle of Záblatí, a turning point in the Bohemian Revolt.

290 years ago
1719

War
British government forces defeated Jacobite forces in the Battle of Glen Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, ending the Jacobite Rebellion of 1719.

180 years ago
1829

Sport
The first Boat Race between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the Thames River in London. Cambridge issued the challenge, but Oxford easily won the race.

170 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg. Council President of Denmark, 1909. Mr. Holstein-Ledreborg, a member of the Venstre Reform Party, was Council President (Prime Minister) of Denmark from August 16-October 28, 1909, at a time when there was no parliamentary majority. His government lost a non-confidence vote in the Folketing in October, and he resigned and asked the Radical Democrats, who had initiated the motion, to form a new government. Mr. Holstein-Ledreborg died on March 1, 1912 at the age of 82.

Politics and government
William Lyon Mackenzie, leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, was sentenced in Canandaigua, New York to 18 months in prison for violating U.S. neutrality laws.

150 years ago
1859

Transportation
The Anson Northrup, a sternwheeler from Moorhead, Minnesota, named for her captain, became the first steamboat to reach Fort Garry in what is now Manitoba, winning the prize money offered by the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce to the first person to institute steamboat travel on the Red River.

110 years ago
1899

Died on this date
Ernest Chausson, 44. French composer. Mr. Chausson was a Romantic composer who was mainly known for his songs and piano pieces. He died at a country retreat when he was riding a bicycle downhill and hit a brick wall; his death was likely accidental, but because he was prone to depression, there were suspicions of suicide.

100 years ago
1909

Died on this date
Edward Everett Hale, 87. U.S. clergyman and author. Rev. Hale was a Unitarian, and later, a Congregational minister in Massachusetts who was known for his short stories, especially The Man Without a Country (1863), which was written in support of the Union cause during the American Civil War.

80 years ago
1929

At the movies
Thunderbolt, directed by Josef von Sternberg, and starring George Bancroft, Fay Wray, and Richard Arlen, received its premiere screening in Spanish Fork, Utah.



Died on this date
Hélène Smith, 67. Swiss medium. Miss Smith, born Catherine-Elise Müller, became a spiritualist in the early 1890s; Surrealists referred to her as the "Muse of automatic writing." Miss Smith claimed to communicate with Martians, and to be a reincarnation of a Hindu princess and Marie Antoinette; psychologist Théodore Flournoy publicized her claims in his book Des Indes à la Planete Mars (From India to the Planet Mars) (1900). Dr. Flournoy regarded Miss Smith's automatic writing as the result of "cryptomnesia" (unrecognized forgotten memories), and her "cycles" as the products of infantile imaginings, with the Martian language merely a constructed language. In 1952, psychologist Donovan Rawcliffe examined her case in depth, and noted that she had suffered from a fantasy prone personality and hysterical hallucinations.

70 years ago
1939

Golf
Byron Nelson, Denny Shute, and Craig Wood were tied for the lead after 4 rounds at the U.S. Open at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania with 8-over-par scores of 284, necessitating an 18-hole playoff the following day.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Bishop's Experiment, starring Ludwig Donath and Leif Erickson

Died on this date
Sigrid Undset, 67. Danish-born Norwegian authoress. Miss Undset moved to Norway with her family at the age of 2. She was best known Kristin Lavransdatter (1920-1922), a trilogy about life in Norway in the Middle Ages, portrayed through the experiences of a woman from birth until death. Miss Undset fled Norway when German forces occupied the country, and spent the next five years in exile, first in Sweden and then in the United States, before returning to Norway at the end of the war. She was awarded the 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature "principally for her powerful descriptions of Northern life during the Middle Ages."

War
U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky urged the Paris Foreign Ministers Conference to take quick action on a German peace treaty and withdrawal of Allied occupation forces from Germany and Austria. Western delegates rejected the idea of an early peace treaty in the absence of agreement on a unified German state.

Defense
The United Kingdom announced plans to resume arms shipments to Arab states, with the purpose of maintaining their "internal security."

Politics and government
Hungarian Premier Istvan Dobi announced the formation of a new cabinet, following Foreign Minister Laszlo Rajk's ouster for "nationalist" leanings.

The British Labour Party's five-day annual conference ended in Blackpool, England after approving plans for a 1950 election campaign based on the promise of a "new social order."

The American Medical Association House of Delegates, beginning a five-day meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, barred further public statements by Morris Fishbein, editor of the AMA Journal and one of the most vocal opponents of the national health care plan of the administration of U.S. President Harry Truman. The AMA's move was viewed as a concession to growing public sentiment in favour of a compulsory health care program.

Literature
A Mencken Christomathy by H.L. Mencken was published in New York by Alfred A. Knopf.

Academia
The Southern Regional Education Program for the pooling of specialized higher education facilities was formally organized by the representatives of 14 Southern U.S. states meeting in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Scandal
A U.S. federal grand jury in Chicago indicted automobile manufacturer Preston Tucker and seven associates for mail fraud and conspiracy, after a 3 1/2-month investigation of the defunct Tucker Corporation.

Baseball
New York Giants' coach Frankie Frisch became manager of the Chicago Cubs, succeeding Charlie Grimm, who had resigned with the team in seventh place in the National League with a record of 19-31.

50 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Speed Walker, 61. U.S. baseball player. Joseph Richard Walker was a first baseman who played 2 games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986, batting .286 (2 for 7) with no home runs or runs batted in. He played 1,315 games in 11 seasons in the minor leagues from 1921-1935.

War
The United Kingdom refused to revive the international control commission for Laos to deal with fighting between Laotian troops and pro-Communist guerrillas.

Diplomacy
At the foreign ministers conference in Geneva, U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko proposed a Berlin settlement permitting the West to retain "certain" occupation rights in West Berlin for a one-year period; U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter rejected the plan as "completely unacceptable."

U.A.R. State Minister Aly Sabry warned that Israeli ships and cargoes "hiding behind the standards of other nations" would not be permitted through the Suez Canal despite any action of the United Nations, the World Court, or the great powers.

Politics and government
West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Deputy Chancellor Ludwig Erhard conferred in Bonn in an effort to end their political quarrel.

Crime
At 2 P.M., the almost-naked body of 12-year-old Lynne Harper was found in the woods near her home at the Royal Canadian Air Force base at Clinton, Ontario, about 18½ hours after she was last seen alive, in the company of 14-year-old Steven Truscott.

Economics and finance
The U.S.A. and Poland signed a credit and aid agreement in Washington, reducing U.S. aid to Poland by 50% from 1957-1958 levels.

Labour
The United States Court of Appeals for the Circuit of the District of Columbia upheld a district court order to the Teamsters union and its leaders to follow reform recommendations of its court-appointed monitors.

Baseball
Rocky Colavito hit 4 consecutive home runs, scored 5 runs, and drove in 6 to lead the Cleveland Indians to an 11-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 15,883 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Mr. Colavito joined Bobby Lowe and Lou Gehrig as the only players to hit 4 consecutive home runs in a single game. Gary Bell was the winning pitcher despite allowing 8 hits and 7 runs--all earned--in 6 1/3 innings. Baltimore third baseman Billy Klaus drove in 4 runs with a single and double.

Al Kaline batted 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a run, and 4 runs batted in to help the Detroit Tigers overcome a 6-1 deficit after 5 innings and defeat the Boston Red Sox 10-9 before 4,343 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Boston starting pitcher Ike Delock hit his only major league home run in the 2nd inning.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles

War
Acting on a request from Secretary-General U Thant, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to extend the stay of its 3,480-man peacekeeping force in Cyprus for six more months.

In Paris, the National Liberation Front delegation at the Vietnam War peace talks announced the formation of a provisional regime to govern South Vietnam. The regime was formed by a national congress of 88 representatives from all over South Vietnam.

Defense
In a "major step" toward reducing the United States military budget, the Pentagon cancelled the U.S. Air Force's manned orbiting laboratory (MOL) program. The cancellation was the outcome of an intense struggle between the Bureau of the Budget and the military.

Crime
Suspended Detroit policeman Ronald August, 30, was acquitted of first degree murder in the death of Aubrey Pollard, a Negro youth shot to death at the Algiers Motel in the 1967 Detroit race riots.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Baby it's You--Promises (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Music Box Dancer--Frank Mills (4th week at #1)

Politics and government
Results of two days of voting for the European Parliament showed major setbacks for Socialists and Communists, with centre-right parties winning a plurality of seats.

Auto racing
USAC Championship Car
A.J. Foyt won the 150-mile Rex Mays Classic at the Milwaukee Mile; it was his third win of the season.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Calgary (1-0) 35 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 13

25 years ago
1984

Crime
The New York Times published excerpts from a report by Italian state prosecutor Antonio Albano that linked the Bulgarian secret service to the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, but stopped short of implicating the U.S.S.R. The report included recommendations that three Bulgarians and six Turks be indicted in the conspiracy. The Turks mentioned included Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot the Pope, and whose testimony provided much of the basis for the proposed indictments.

Defense
The United States Army successfully tested a missile system designed to destroy incoming intercontinental ballistic warheads.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Calgary (0-2) 13 @ Winnipeg (2-0) 29

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Like a Prayer--Madonna (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Eternal Flame--Bangles (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Me, Myself and I--De La Soul (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny Come Home--Avalanche (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Sealed with a Kiss--Jason Donovan

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
2 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block
3 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
4 Rock On--Michael Damian
5 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
6 Patience--Guns n' Roses
7 Satisfied--Richard Marx
8 Soldier of Love--Donny Osmond
9 Close My Eyes Forever--Lita Ford (Duet with Ozzy Osbourne)
10 Where are You Now?--Jimmy Harnen with Synch

Singles entering the chart were On Our Own by Bobby Brown (#64); Calling it Love by Animotion (#91); Pop Song 89 by R.E.M. (#93); I'm that Type of Guy by LL Cool J (#94); and Youth Gone Wild by Skid Row (#99). On Our Own was from the movie Ghostbusters II (1989).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
2 Soldier of Love--Donny Osmond
3 Rock On--Michael Damian
4 Patience--Guns n' Roses
5 Satisfied--Richard Marx
6 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
7 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block
8 Real Love--Jody Watley
9 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
10 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry

Singles entering the chart were On Our Own by Bobby Brown (#70); Me Myself and I by De la Soul (#76); Darlin' I by Vanessa Williams (#85); and Right Next to Me by Whistle (#90).

Died on this date
Joe Stripp, 86. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Stripp was a third baseman with the Cincinnati Reds (1928-1931); Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1937); St. Louis Cardinals (1938); and Boston Bees (1938), batting .294 with 24 home runs and 464 runs batted in in 1,146 games. He batted over .300 six times, with a best mark of .324 in 1931.

War
A week of ethnic violence in Uzbekistan between Uzbeks (mainly Sunni Turkish Muslims) and Meskhetians (mainly Shiite Turkish Muslims) ended with at least 90 people, mostly Meskhetians, killed, and more than 1,000 injured.

Horse racing
Easy Goer, with Pat Day aboard, won the 121st running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, New York, ruining the Triple Crown hope of Sunday Silence, who placed second, 8 lengths behind. Easy Goer won in a time of 2:26, the second-fastest time in Belmont Stakes history, behind only Secretariat's time of 2:24 in 1973.



Baseball
Pat Sheridan batted 3 for 4 with a run and 3 runs batted in, and Chet Lemon drove in 3 runs with a pair of doubles to help the Detroit Tigers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 11-8 before 48,430 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. Alex Sanchez, the second of four Toronto pitchers, allowed 4 hits, 2 bases on balls, and 4 runs--all earned--in 2/3 inning in his fourth and last major league game.

The Boston Red Sox amassed 19 hits in beating the New York Yankees 14-8 before 49,348 fans at Yankee Stadium. Boston third baseman Wade Boggs batted 4 for 6 with 2 runs and 2 runs batted in.

Pinch hitter Tim Raines doubled home 3 runs and came around to score in a 5-run 6th inning for the Montreal Expos as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1 before 23,981 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Bryn Smith pitched a 5-hit complete game victory and scored a run.

Rey Quinones hit a 2-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 win over the New York Mets before 27,463 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Bill Doran doubled home Billy Hatcher with 2 out in the bottom of the 6th inning for the game's only run as the Houston Astros edged the Atlanta Braves 1-0 before 31,972 fans at the Astrodome. Jim Clancy allowed 5 hits in 7 1/3 innings to win the pitchers' duel over John Smoltz, who allowed 4 hits in 7 innings.

Robby Thompson tripled with 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Clark for the game's only run as the San Francisco Giants shut out the San Diego Padres 1-0 before 29,116 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Scott Garrelts allowed 6 hits in 6 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Ed Whitson, who allowed just 2 hits in 6 innings.

10 years ago
1999

War
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Javier Solana announced that NATO was suspending its bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, as Serb forces began to with draw from the province of Kosovo. Foreign ministers of leading western nations agreed on a series of stabilizing measures for the Balkans aimed at promoting democracy, human rights, and economic recovery.

Politics and government
The Reform Party of Canada announced that 65% of its members had voted to look at developing a new right-of-centre political party, dubbed the "United Alternative;" it became the Canadian Alliance Party.

Law
Canadian Justice Minister Anne McLellan announced the appointment of Louise Arbour of Quebec to the Supreme Court of Canada effective September 15, 1999. From 1996-1999, Ms. Arbour had served as Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague in cases involving Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Buffalo 2 @ Dallas 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)