June 24, 2009

500 years ago
1509

Britannica
Henry VIII was crowned King of England at Westminster.

230 years ago
1779

War
The Great Siege of Gibraltar began.

220 years ago
1789

Canadiana
In front of British and American witnesses, Spanish explorer Esteban Jose Martinez performed a formal act of sovereignty, taking possession of the entire northwest coast of North America for Spain.

180 years ago
1829

Academia
James McGill's old country estate Burnside Place formally opened as McGill College, later known as McGill University.

170 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Gustavus Franklin Swift. U.S. businessman. Mr. Swift began working in the meat industry in 1855, co-founding the meat-packing firm that was incorporated in 1885 as Swift & Co. He was responsible for introducing numerous technological innovations in meat-packing and use of animal byproducts. Mr. Swift died on March 29, 1803 at the age of 63.

150 years ago
1859

War
French troops commanded by Emperor Napoleon III and Sardinian troops commanded by King Victor Emmanuel III defeated Austrian forces commanded by Emperor Franz Josef I in the Battle of Solferino (Battle of the Three Sovereigns) in Solferino in northern Italy. It was the last major battle in which the forces were personally commanded by their monarchs.

140 years ago
1869

Born on this date
George. Greek and Danish royal family member. Prince George of Greece and Denmark was the second son and child of King George I of Greece and Queen Olga. He was best known for saving the life of the future Czar Nicholas II of Russia during an assassination attempt in 1891. Prince George died on November 25, 1957 at the age of 88, four days after he and Princess Marie celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

125 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Frank Waller. U.S. athlete and musician. Mr. Waller won silver medals in the men's 400-metre run and 400-metre hurdles events at the 1904 Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis. He later served as a pianist accompanying singer Lillian Russell; as a voice coach with various classical singers; and as director of several orchestras. Mr. Waller died of a heart ailment on November 29, 1941 at the age of 57.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Jean Deslauriers. Canadian conductor and composer. Mr. Deslauriers, a native of Montreal, conducted orchestras for radio and television programs with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1936 until his death on May 30, 1978 at the age of 68. He served as a guest conductor with symphony orchestras across Canada. Mr. Deslaurier's best-known compositions were Prelude for strings and the song La Musique des yeux.

Betty Cavanna. U.S. authoress. Miss Cavanna wrote romance novels, mysteries, and other books for children and teenagers in a career spanning almost 45 years. She wrote under her birth name as well as her married name, Elizabeth Headley, and the pseudonym Betsy Allen. Miss Cavanna died on August 13, 2001 at the age of 92.

Died on this date
Sarah Orne Jewett, 59. U.S. authoress. Miss Jewett lived her entire life near the southern seacoast of Maine, writing novels and short stories about the area that served as important examples of American regional literature. She died after suffering two strokes in three months.

Abominations
Lady Aberdeen, the wife of the Governor General of Canada, hosted a conference of The International Council of Women in Toronto; delegates passed a resolution calling for full women’s suffrage in every country with a representative government.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
Babe Ruth broke a 0 for 21 slump with a grand slam as the New York Yankees blanked the Chicago White Sox 5-0.

70 years ago
1939

Asiatica
As the first of the Thai cultural mandates, Siam was renamed Thailand by Prime Minister Plaek Pibulsonggram.

Communications
The first transatlantic airmail flight departed from Shediac New Brunswick, landing at Foynes, Ireland.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: An Only Son, starring Richard Crane

Died on this date
Themistoklis Sophoulis, 88. Prime Minister of Greece, 1924, 1945-1946, 1947-1949. Mr. Sophoulis began his career as a progressive politician on the island of Samos, eventually joining the new Liberal Party in Greece, serving three terms as Prime Minister. His last term was as head of a Liberal Party-People's Party coalition, attempting to negotiate an end to the civil war against the Communists. Mr. Sophoulis died in office before the end of hostilities, and was succeeded as Prime Minister by Alexandros Diomidis.

War
Dutch troops began evacuating the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council failed to agree on the admission of 12 new UN members when the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. refused to approve the applications of Outer Mongolia and four Eastern European states.

Five Democratic and 16 Republican U.S. Senators sent President Harry Truman a letter demanding that the United States withhold recognition from the Chinese Communist regime and maintain "an affirmative friendly policy" toward the Nationalist government.

Politics and government
U.S. President Truman sent Congress a special message on Post Office reorganization, supporting the Hoover Commission's recommendation that political appointment of postmasters be eliminated.

Crime
U.S. Justice Department employee Judith Coplon completed her testimony at her trial in Washington on espionage charges, calling the charges against her "frameups," and charging "this whole case is so fishy that it smells to high heaven."

Labour
The Communist-led strike of one million Italian farm workers ended when the government promised the country's first national farm workers' contract.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Truman presented Congress with a preliminary plan for aid to developing countries, and requested $45 million for the program's first year.

Baseball
Ted Williams had 3 hits, including 2 home runs, scored 4 runs and batted in 7, and added a stolen base, as the Boston Red Sox hammered the St. Louis Browns 21-2 before 6,722 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Billy Goodman had 5 hits, scored 4 runs, and drove in 3. Ellis Kinder pitched a 5-hit complete game victory and batted 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI.

50 years ago
1959

War
Tank-supported French troops overran a band of Algerian nationalist guerrillas which penetrated to within five miles of the eastern coastal city of Bone.

Diplomacy
Japanese and North Korean Red Cross representatives reached agreement in Geneva on plans for repatriation to North Korea of some of the 600,000 Koreans living in Japan.

Defense
In private talks with Italian President Giovanni Gronchi and Prime Minister Antonio Segni, French President Charles de Gaulle proposed that France, Italy, Spain, and Morocco formed a defense grouping under French leadership.

Politics and government
Five weeks of state elections in Malaya concluded with the Alliance Party winning a majority of seats in all 11 states.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged Congress to extend its foreign military aid authorizations from one year to five years.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Mendocino--Sir Douglas Quintet (2nd week at #1)

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Radio 2
Tonight’s episode: The Dancing Men

Died on this date
Frank O. King, 86. U.S. cartoonist. Mr. King created several comic strips, the best-known and longest-lasting being Gasoline Alley, which he drew from its beginning in 1918 until 1959.

Westbrook Pegler, 74. U.S. journalist. A popular columnist for several decades, Mr. Pegler became the first columnist to win a Pulitzer Prize for reporting, winning in 1941 for his work in exposing racketeering in Hollywood labour unions. Initially a supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he later turned against Mr. Roosevelt's New Deal. Mr. Pegler's influence declined greatly after he lost a libel suit in 1954 brought by writer Quentin Reynolds.

Willy Ley, 62. German-born U.S. author. Mr. Ley studied numerous subjects in Germany before fleeing the Nazi regime in 1935 for Great Britain and then the United States. He was a writer of science fiction and non-fiction, mainly focusing on the possibilities of space travel. Mr. Ley's books included Rockets: The Future of Travel Beyond the Stratosphere (1944); The Conquest of Space (1949); and Ranger to the Moon (1965). He died of a heart attack at his home in New York, less than a month before the launch of Apollo 11, which he was planning to attend. A crater on the far side of the Moon is named in his honour.

War
Long-smouldering animosity over economic and territorial disputes between El Salvador and Honduras erupted into war over another dispute, this one over a referee’s call in a soccer game between the two nations. Prior to the series of games, resentment was high over enforcement of an agrarian law in Honduras permitting only native-born Hondurans to own land, dislodging Salvadorans from land they had farmed. The law would affect nearly 300,000 Salvadorans who had left their land-poor and densely populated country to farm in Honduras.

In Vietnam, the United States Army’s 25th Infantry Division fought to hold a vital sector near Danang and the northern sector near Khesanh.

Terrorism
Arab saboteurs set off explosives under a pipeline at the Haifa oil refinery, one of Israel’s most important facilities, starting a fire, disrupting telephone service, and destroying 1,000 tons of fuel.

World events
Peruvian President Juan Velasco Alvarado announced that his government would expropriate all major land tracts now privately owned and divide them among the people. "Just compensation" was promised for all landholders, Peruvian and foreign.

Environment
A mysterious poison was spreading through 200 miles of the Rhine River in Germany, leaving millions of fish dead and making the waters a hazard for drinking and swimming.

Baseball
The New York Mets swept a twi-night doubleheader from the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 and 5-0 before 39,843 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Tom Seaver pitched a 7-hitter in the first game to win the pitchers' duel over Woodie Fryman, improving his 1969 record to 11-3. Jim McAndrew allowed just 2 hits in 8 innings in the second game to get his first win of the season. Philadelphia third baseman Richie Allen reportedly went to New Jersey in the morning to watch a horse race, and was caught in traffic on his way to Shea Stadium. He was fined $2,500 and suspended indefinitely when he failed to appear in time for the start of play.

Bob Bailey drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs and Coco Laboy added a solo homer for the Montreal Expos as they beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 before 10,924 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Bill Stoneman pitched a 7-hit complete game victory.

Pete Rose singled home Jim Beauchamp with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres before 7,486 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Al Kaline and Willie Horton hit consecutive solo home runs with 2 out in the bottom of the 1st inning, which held up for a 2-1 win for the Detroit Tigers over the New York Yankees before 19,006 fans at Tiger Stadium. Denny McLain pitched a 7-hit complete game victory to improve his 1969 record to 11-5. Joe Pepitone homered for New York with 1 out in the 6th.

Frank Robinson hit a 3-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 6-3 win over the Washington Senators before 14,763 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Senators argued that the ball was foul down the left field line, and third base umpire Hank Soar conferred with home plate umpire Merle Anthony to confirm the call. Paul Blair hit a pair of solo homers for the Orioles, and Boog Powell added a solo homer.

The Chicago White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Seattle Pilots 6-4 and 7-6 before 7,417 fans at Sick's Stadium in Seattle, as Wilbur Wood won both games in relief. Chicago third baseman Bill Melton hit 3 consecutive home runs in the second game, but it was catcher Ed Herrmann’s home run with 2 out in the 9th inning that broke a 6-6 tie. Jim Bouton pitched in relief in both games for the Pilots, and didn’t allow a run in 3 2/3 innings.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Baby it's You--Promises (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Hot Stuff--Donna Summer

World events
Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza ignored a call by the Organization for American States to resign, and vowed to continue his fight against Sandanista rebels.

Politics and government
Americans for Democratic Action voted to dump President Jimmy Carter and support Senator Ted Kennedy for the Democratic party nomination for President of the United States in 1980.

Disasters
A flood in Montego Bay, Jamaica drowned at least 32 people; 25 others were reported missing.

Auto racing
USAC Championship Car
A.J. Foyt won the Music 500 at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania; it was his fourth win of the season.

Golf
Lee Trevino won the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario with a 3-under-par total score of 281, 3 strokes ahead of Ben Crenshaw; it was Mr. Trevino's third Canadian Open victory. First prize money was $63,000.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Ottawa (2-1) 30 @ Edmonton (1-2) 27

Gerry Organ’s field goal on the last play of the game gave the Rough Riders their win over the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium.

Baseball
Rickey Henderson made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics in a 5-1 loss to the Texas Rangers in the first game of a doubleheader. He had a single and double in 4 at bats, and picked up his first major league stolen base.

25 years ago
1984

Died on this date
Clarence S. Campbell, 78. Canadian hockey official and executive. Mr. Campbell graduated from the University of Alberta law school in 1925, and played football for the Edmonton Eskimos in 1929 and 1930. He spent many years as a hockey referee before achieving his greatest fame as president of the National Hockey League from 1946-1977. During his tenure the NHL grew from 6 teams to 18. Mr. Campbell also put his legal training into practice as a prosecutor at the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World War II.

David Overstreet, 25. U.S. football player. Mr. Overstreet was a star running back with the University of Oklahoma from 1977-1980, rushing for 678 yards in his senior year, including 258 yards on 18 carries in one game. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, he instead signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Mr. Overstreet led the Eastern Division in his rookie year of 1981 with 952 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns, catching 48 passes for 356 yards and 1 touchdown. However, he fumbled 15 times--losing 12--in 15 games, which severely detracted from his effectiveness. Mr. Overstreet was released by the Montreal club--renamed the Concordes--in mid-season of 1982 after rushing for just 190 yards in 6 games. Mr. Overstreet joined the Dolphins in 1983 and rushed for 392 yards and 1 touchdown in 14 games. He was killed in a car accident in Winona, Texas at 6 A.M. when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel and his car crashed into gas pumps at a service station.

War
Iraqi planes struck a Greek tanker at Iran’s Kharg Island oil-loading terminal. The tanker received only slight damage.

Diplomacy
Continuing his tour of Latin America, U.S. presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson met with four representatives of the rebels of El Salvador.

Abominations
Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan uttered his infamous remarks that Judaism was a "gutter religion" and that Israel was an "outlaw" state.

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 4-2. Oakland’s Joe Morgan hit a home run off Frank Tanana in the first inning; it was his 265th career home run as a second baseman, breaking Rogers Hornsby’s record.

Tim Teufel’s bloop single off Rich Dotson bounced over the head of Harold Baines for a three-run inside-the-park home run to give the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Express Yourself--Madonna

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Marina (Remix 89)--Rocco Granata & the Carnations

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No More Boleros--Gerard Joling (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny Come Home--Avalanche (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)--Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Satisfied--Richard Marx
2 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block
3 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
4 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
5 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
6 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
7 This Time I Know it's for Real--Donna Summer
8 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
9 Miss You Like Crazy--Natalie Cole
10 Cry--Waterfront

Singles entering the chart were The End of the Innocence by Don Henley (#62); Cold Hearted by Paula Abdul (#65); Keep on Movin' by Soul II Soul (Featuring Caron Wheeler) (#82); Comin' Down Tonight by Thirty Eight Special (#83); Talk it Over by Grayson Hugh (#88); Gonna Make It by SaFire (#90); Don't Say You Love Me by Billy Squier (#93); Little Fighter by White Lion (#94); and My One Temptation by Mica Paris (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Satisfied--Richard Marx
2 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
3 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
4 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
5 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block
6 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
7 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
8 This Time I Know it's for Real--Donna Summer
9 Express Yourself--Madonna
10 Cry--Waterfront

Singles entering the chart were The End of the Innocence by Don Henley (#60); Cold Hearted by Paula Abdul (#70); Cover of Love by Michael Damian (#75); Friends by Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim (#77); Love Train by Holly Johnson (#85); I'm That Type of Guy by L.L. Cool J (#87); and Trouble Me by 10,000 Maniacs (#90).

Music
The Who started a North American tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, the same venue where they had played their farewell performance in 1982.

Politics and government
Jiang Zemin succeeded Zhao Ziyang as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, three weeks after the crushing of student-led protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The Central Committee of Hungary's Socialist Workers' (Communist) Party established a collective presidency of four officials in which reformers appeared to be control.

Baseball
Dave Stewart pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1989 record to 12-3 and Rickey Henderson hit a 2-run home run for the Oakland Athletics as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 before 39,659 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Mel Hall's grand slam opened the scoring in a 6-run 1st inning for the New York Yankees as they beat the Kansas City Royals 12-5 before 40,589 fans at Royals Stadium.

Joe Carter hit 3 home runs in a game for the third time in his major league career to lead the Cleveland Indians past the Texas Rangers 7-3 before 39,496 fans at Arlington Stadium. Texas pitchers Charlie Hough and Kenny Rogers allowed just 6 hits, but all were home runs.

Kevin Gross pitched a 3-hitter and the Montreal Expos scored all their runs in the 5th inning as they shut out the Chicago Cubs 5-0 before 36,068 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

St. Louis Cardinals’ center fielder Vince Coleman picked up his 39th and 40th consecutive stolen bases to break a major league record set by Davey Lopes in 1975, but the Cardinals lost 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates before 36,064 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Will Clark tripled home 2 runs and scored on a sacrifice fly as the San Francisco Giants scored all their runs in the 8th inning to defeat the San Diego Padres 3-1 before 32,615 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.

10 years ago
1999

War
The United States offered a $5-million reward for information leading to the capture of Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic or any of the other four government leaders indicted in May for war crimes.

The Shiite Muslim terrorist group Hezbollah fired mortars into northern Israel, and Hezbollah fighters battled with the South Lebanese Army, which was allied with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered air strikes against Hezbollah.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Montreal (1-0) 18 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 12