June 21, 2009

480 years ago
1529

War
The French army under Francis de Bourbon was destroyed in the Battle of Landriano in Lombardy, Italy, by Spanish and Holy Roman Empire forces commanded by Antonio de Leyva.

370 years ago
1639

Born on this date
Increase Mather. American clergyman. Rev. Mather was a Puritan minister in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the latter part of the 17th century, and served as President of Harvard College. He opposed the pro-Roman Catholic measures of King James II, and had some early involvement with the Salem witch trials in 1692. Rev. Mather died on August 23, 1723 at the age of 84.

260 years ago
1749

Canadiana
Halifax, Nova Scotia was founded.

250 years ago
1759

Born on this date
Alexander Dallas. Jamaican-born U.S. politician. Mr. Dallas, a native of Kingston, grew up in Britain, and moved to Philadelphia in 1783. He was U.S. Supreme Court Reporter from 1790-1800, and served as Secretary of the Treasury in the administration of President James Madison from 1814-1816. His son George was Vice President under President James Polk (1845-1849). Mr. Dallas died on January 16, 1817 at the age of 57.

175 years ago
1834

Technology
Cyrus McCormick’s mechanical reaper was patented.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Ralph Craig. U.S. runner. Mr. Craig won gold medals in the men's 100-metre and 200-metre events at the 1912 Summer Olympic Games in Oslo. He died on July 21, 1972 at the age of 83.

110 years ago
1899

Politics and government
Treaty 8 was signed at Lesser Slave Lake, Northwest Territories by representatives of Queen Victoria and the Chipewyan, Cree, Beaver and Athapascan (Slavey) Indian nations. The Crown promised support and reserves in return for aboriginal title to much of what is now northern Alberta.

90 years ago
1919

Defense
Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttled the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow to prevent the ships from being seized and divided amongst the Allied Powers.

Labour
Winnipeg city police and 90 Royal North West Mounted Police surrounded City Hall square as Mayor Charles Gray read the Riot Act from the steps to disperse hundreds of unemployed war veterans illegally parading to support the Winnipeg General Strike; Royal North West Mounted Police and Specials were ordered to fire a volley into the crowd to disperse them, then charged when they did not disperse; two strikers were killed, and 30 injured. So-called Bloody Saturday led Mayor Gray to call in the Army; the strike ended four days later.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Leonard Hobhouse, 64. U.K. sociologist. Professor Hobhouse was a leading early proponent of social liberalism through books such as Liberalism (1911) and the journal The Sociological Review, of which he was the founder and first editor. He supported a regulated free market economy and the expansion of civil liberties, and opposed imperialism.

War
An agreement brokered by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Dwight Morrow ended the Cristero War, a rebellion in central-western Mexico against the Mexican government's imposition of secularist measures.

70 years ago
1939

Baseball
The New York Yankees announced the retirement of first baseman Lou Gehrig, based on the report from the Mayo Clinic that Mr. Gehrig had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mr. Gehrig remained with the team as the captain, and was on the Yankees' active roster for the remainder of the season, including the World Series.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Philo Vance, starring Jackson Beck
Tonight’s episode: The Peacock Murder Case

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Stolen Empire, starring Audrey Christie and Ken Lynch

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman appointed Washington hostess and Democratic Party fund-raiser Perl Mesta as U.S. minister to Luxembourg.

Society
St. Louis Mayor Joseph Darst revoked an order ending segregation in city swimming pools and playgrounds, following a battle between white and Negro youths.

Journalism
A New York Herald Tribune expose focused national interest on "five percenters"--influential lobbyists who obtained government contracts for private firms in return for 5% of the contract price. One lobbyist named was James Hunt, a friend of presidential aide Harry Vaughan, Defense Secretary Louis Johnson, and other officials.

Energy
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission admitted to the Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Committee that an unspecified amount of uranium was missing from the Oak Ridge nuclear laboratory, blaming "inventory discrepancies."

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations United Brewery Workers ended an 82-day strike of 6,400 New York beer workers by accepting an agreement providing for a wage increase and a reduction of the work week to 37 1/2 hours.

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board ruled that a secondary boycott against railroads did not violate the Taft-Hartley Act, which excluded rail employers and employees.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Ce serait dommage--Sacha Distel (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Invitation to an Accident, starring Gary Merrill, Joanna Moore, and Alan Hewitt

This was the last episode of the season.

Died on this date
Arch Selwyn, 81. Canadian-born U.S. theatrical producer. Mr. Selwyn, born Archibald Simon, grew up in Toronto before moving with his family to Selma, Alabama and following his brother Edgar, an actor, to New York. The brothers produced numerous successful Broadway plays in the 1910s and '20s, and also produced movies, such as Polly of the Circus (1917).

Béla Kovács, 51. Hungarian politician. Mr. Kovács, a member of the Independent Smallholders' Party (FKGP), was Minister of Agriculture (1945-1946) in a Communist-dominated coalition government. He was imprisoned in Siberia from 1948-1956, but was freed just in time for the Hungarian Revolution. Mr. Kovács was again Minister of Agriculture from October 24-November 4, 1956 in the short-lived government of Premier Imre Nagy. Invading U.S.S.R. forces crushed the revolution, but Mr. Kovács remained as a member of parliament until his death.

Baseball
Hank Aaron hit 3 two-run home runs to lead the Milwaukee Braves to a 13-3 win over the San Francisco Giants before 22,934 fans at Seals Stadium in San Francisco. It was the only 3-homer game of Mr. Aaron’s career. Warren Spahn pitched an 11-hit complete game victory.

Former Dodger Don Newcombe batted 4 for 4 with 2 bases on balls, 3 runs, and 4 runs batted in, while pitching a 10-hit complete game for the Cincinnati Reds as they routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 17-3 before 24,965 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Vic Power and Rocky Colavito each hit home runs in both games for the Cleveland Indians as they swept a doubleheader from the New York Yankees by scores of 4-2 and 5-4 in 14 innings before 68,680 fans at Yankee Stadium to increase their American League lead to 2 games over the Chicago White Sox. Mr. Power's solo home run with 1 out in the top of the 14th inning of the second game broke a 4-4 tie.

The Washington Senators scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and a run in the 9th to overcome a 3-0 deficit and defeat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 18,667 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. The Senators scored 6 runs in the 4th inning and held on to win the second game 7-5 to complete the sweep.

Ned Garver pitched a 3-hitter and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in to lead the Kansas City Athletics over the Baltimore Orioles 7-0 before 9,002 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Get Back/Don't Let Me Down--The Beatles with Billy Preston (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Oh Happy Day--The Edwin Hawkins Singers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Storia d'amore--Adriano Celentano (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Das Mädchen Carina--Roy Black (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Dizzy--Tommy Roe (2nd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Get Back/Don't Let Me Down--The Beatles with Billy Preston (3rd week at #1)
2 Hair--The Cowsills
3 The Real Thing--Russell Morris
4 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
5 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
6 Israelites--Desmond Dekker and the Aces
7 Goodbye--Mary Hopkin
8 The Boxer/Baby Driver--Simon & Garfunkel
9 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 Love Me Tonight--Tom Jones

Singles entering the chart were Heather Honey by Tommy Roe (#22); Ragamuffin Man by Manfred Mann (#33); Badge by Cream (#38); and Seattle by Perry Como (#40).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles
2 Oh Happy Day--The Edwin Hawkins Singers
3 Big Bamboo--The Merrymen
4 Je t'aime...mon non plus--Jane Birkin avec Serge Gainsbourg
5 Israelites--Desmond Dekker and the Aces
6 Stop the Machine--Swinging Soul Machine
7 Suzanne--Herman Van Veen
8 Cupid--Johnny Nash
9 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
10 Tomorrow Tomorrow--The Bee Gees

Singles entering the chart were Tomorrow Tomorrow; Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#28); A Salty Dog by Procol Harum (#30); Rhapsody in Blue by Ekseption (#35); Een Klomp Met Een Zeiltje by Gert Timmerman presenteert: Wilma (#36); I Want to Live by Aphrodite's Child (#38); and In the Ghetto by Elvis Presley (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (5th week at #1)
2 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
3 Bad Moon Rising--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
5 Too Busy Thinking About My Baby--Marvin Gaye
6 One--Three Dog Night
7 Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy
8 Grazing in the Grass--The Friends of Distinction
9 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver
10 Spinning Wheel--Blood, Sweat & Tears

Singles entering the chart were In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) by Zager & Evans (#72); Doggone Right by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (#76); Moments to Remember by the Vogues (#84); The Prophecy of Daniel & John the Divine (Six-Six-Six) by the Cowsills (#85); I'd Rather Be an Old Man's Sweetheart (Than a Young Man's Fool) by Candi Staton (#88); The Feeling is Right by Clarence Carter (#89); Girl You're Too Young by Archie Bell & the Drells (#90); Baby, Don't Be Looking in My Mind by Joe Simon (#96); And She's Mine by Spanky and Our Gang (#97); Pinch Me (Baby, Convince Me) by Ohio Express (#99); and Feeling Alright by Joe Cocker (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (5th week at #1)
2 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
3 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
4 Bad Moon Rising--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 Too Busy Thinking About My Baby--Marvin Gaye
6 Grazing in the Grass--The Friends of Distinction
7 One--Three Dog Night
8 These Eyes--The Guess Who?
9 Israelites--Desmond Dekker and the Aces
10 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver

Singles entering the chart were Moments to Remember by the Vogues (#63); Good Old Rock 'n Roll by Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys (#67); Girl You're Too Young by Archie Bell & the Drells (#75); I'd Wait a Million Years by the Grass Roots (#79); Baby, Don't Be Looking in My Mind by Joe Simon (#80); Abraham, Martin and John by Moms Mabley (#82); Theme from 'A Summer Place' by the Ventures (#83); My Little Chickadee by the Foundations (#89); Hurt So Bad by the Lettermen (#92); Choice of Colors by the Impressions (#93); I'd Rather Be an Old Man's Sweetheart (Than a Young Man's Fool) by Candi Staton (#95); While You're Out Looking for Sugar? by the Honey Cone (#97); Tears on My Pillow by Johnny Tillotson (#98); Feeling Alright by Joe Cocker (#99); Angel of the Morning by Bettye Swann (#100); and Dammit Isn't God's Last Name by Frankie Laine (also #100).

Calgary’s top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Get Back--The Beatles
2 Medicine Man (Part I)--Buchanan Brothers
3 Goodbye--Mary Hopkin
4 Bad Moon Rising--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
6 Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy
7 See--The Rascals
8 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
9 Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
10 Israelites--Desmond Dekker and the Aces
Pick hit of the week: The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles

Died on this date
Maureen Connolly (Brinker), 34. U.S. tennis player. "Little Mo" was the top female tennis player in the world from 1952-1954, becoming the first woman to win the "Grand Slam"--the national championships of Australia, France, England, and the United States--in the same year. She won the United States singles championship from 1951-1953, and at Wimbledon from 1952-1954. Miss Connolly's Grand Slam came in 1953, and she lost just one set in the four tournaments. She declined to defend her Australian title in 1954, but retained her French and Wimbledon championships; in France she also shared the women's doubles and mixed doubles titles. Just two weeks after winning at Wimbledon, her career came to a tragic end when she was hit by a truck while horseback riding, and her right leg was crushed. Miss Connolly, who married former U.S. Olympic equestrian Norman Brinker in 1955, died after a long battle with stomach cancer. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969. Glynnis O'Connor portrayed her in the 1978 made-for-television movie Little Mo.

Space
The United States launched the satellite Explorer 41, a satellite whose mission was to measure charged particles as well as electrical and magnetic fields in space.

Protest
A 9 P.M. to 5 A.M. curfew was imposed in Charleston, South Carolina, and Rev. Ralph Abernathy was jailed on charges of rioting and inciting to riot. A confrontation near a Negro church culminated in bricks, bottles, and boards being thrown at police and National Guardsmen when Rev. Abernathy was arrested. The violence took place at a rally in support of striking hospital workers.

Disasters
A barge carrying 156 Portuguese soldiers across the Zambesi River capsized, leaving 108 missing and presumed dead.

At least 62 died and 141 were injured when an express train derailed near Benares, India.

A truck carrying 35 girl harvesters in central Syria overturned, killing 25.

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins broke open a 3-3 tie with 11 runs in the 10th inning as they defeated the Oakland Athletics 14-4 before 16,973 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The big blow was a 3-run home run by Harmon Killebrew, who walked and scored later in the 10th.

Willie Horton hit a grand slam and a 2-run home run to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Washington Senators 9-5 before 25,340 fans at Tiger Stadium. Winning pitcher Mickey Lolich improved his 1969 record to 8-1.

In a day game before 12,453 fans at Fenway Park in Boston, the New York Yankees scored 3 runs in the top of the 11th inning to take a 5-2 lead, only to have the Red Sox come back with 4 in the bottom of the inning to win 6-5. In a night game, with separate admission, Roy White tripled with the bases loaded and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bill Robinson as the Yankees scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th and won 6-3 before 30,571 fans. Merle Anthony worked his first 2 games as an American League umpire, at third base in the first game and second base for the second game.

30 years ago
1979

Terrorism
Serbian nationalist Nikola Kavaja surrendered to authorities at Shannon Airport in Ireland, the day after hijacking an American Airlines Boeing 707 jetliner bound from New York to Chicago. All 128 passengers an women in the flight crew had been released in Chicago. Mr. Kavaja had then had the plane flown back to New York, where he switched to another Boeing 707 and flew with his lawyer to Ireland. Mr. Kavaja was demanding the release of fellow Serbian Rev. Stojilko Kajevic, who was in prison and waiting to be flown to Peru.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance told representatives of the Organization of American States that the Nicaraguan government of President Anastasio Somoza Debayle should be replaced. Mr. Vance called for an inter-American peace force to restore order and democracy in Nicaragua. Most of the OAS delegates reacted negatively to the proposed intervention.

Protest
Thousands filled the streets of Kampala demanding the return of Yusufu Lule as President of Uganda. Mr. Lule had resigned the previous day after losing a non-confidence vote in the National Consultative Council.

Golf
Jack Newton led after the first round of the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.

25 years ago
1984

World events
At a dinner for visiting French President Francois Mitterand, Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko said "We shall not allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs."

Football
The Edmonton Eskimos finished the pre-season 0-4 as they dropped a 29-16 decision to the Calgary Stampeders (2-2) at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. One of the few bright spots for the Eskimos was 6'9" rookie slotback Dan Runge, who made a spectacular touchdown catch. Larry Cowan scored the other Eskimo touchdown on a 3-yard rush.

The British Columbia Lions finished the pre-season with a 4-0 record as they defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) 13-4 at Winnipeg Stadium. The game was plagued by a lightning storm and torrential rain. A short distance away, a player in a local soccer game was fatally struck by lightning.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Eternal Flame--Bangles (4th week at #1)

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Texas v Johnson that burning the American flag was a permitted form of political protest. Writing for the majority, Justice William Brennan said, "The government may not prohibit expression simply because it disagrees with its message." Chief Justice William Rehnquist, dissenting, called the flag "the visible symbol embodying our nation."

10 years ago
1999

War
The day after NATO had ceased bombing Yugoslavia, U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Slovenia.

Scandal
John Huang, a former fund-raiser for the Democratic party in California, was arraigned on a felony count--conspiracy to defraud the Federal Election Commission--in connection with $7,500 he had raised for the California party between 1992 and 1994. He was not charged in connection with the $3.4 million he had raised for the Democrats for the 1996 campaign. The party had returned nearly half of that money as potentially tainted. Mr. Huang, in accepting the felony count, agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Politics and government
Bernard Lord was sworn in as Premier of New Brunswick, replacing Camille Thériault.

Health
A report released by independent investigators from the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine in the United States concluded that silicone breast implants did not cause systemic diseases. The implants had been linked to cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other illnesses. The report did conclude that the implants could cause local conditions, including injuries to tissues and infections of the breasts.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
San Antonio 81 @ New York 89 (San Antonio led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Allan Houston scored 34 points and Latrell Sprewell added 24 for the Knickerbockers as they beat the Spurs before 19,763 fans at Madison Square Garden. David Robinson scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Spurs, while Tim Duncan scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.