January 27, 2010

220 years ago
1790

Born on this date
Juan Álvarez Hurtado. 24th President of Mexico, 1855. General Álvarez was a liberal reformer, republican, and federalist who was a longtime caudillo (regional leader) in southern Mexico. He served as interim President of Mexico from October-December 1855, following the Antonio López de Santa Anna. Gen. Álvarez died on August 21, 1867 at the age of 77.

190 years ago
1820

Exploration
A Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev discovered the Antarctic continent, approaching the Antarctic coast.

160 years ago
1850

Born on this date
Edward Smith. U.K. naval officer. Captain Smith was a Royal Naval Reserve and merchant navy officer who became commodore of the White Star Line in 1904. He was captain of RMS Titanic, and was 62 when he became one of the more than 1,500 people aboard the ship who died when she sank on her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.

Samuel Gompers. U.K.-born U.S. labour leader. Mr. Gompers, a cigarmaker, helped to found the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions in 1881, which was reorganized as the American Federation of Labor in 1886. He served as the AFL's president from 1886 until his death, except for 1895. Mr. Gompers died on December 13, 1924 at the age of 74.

John Collier. U.K. artist. Mr. Collier was one of the most prominent portrait painters of his generation, painting in a Pre-Raphaelite style. He died on April 11, 1934 at the age of 84.

130 years ago
1880

Technology
Thomas Edison was granted a patent for his incandescent light.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Hyman Rickover. Polish-born U.S. military officer. Admiral Rickover moved to the United State with his family at the age of 6. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1918, graduating in 1922. Adm. Rickover was known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy," directing the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlling its operations for three decades as director of the U.S. Naval Reactors office. He was perhaps best known for his association with nuclear-powered submarines. The Navy, under Adm. Rickover's leadership, never experienced a nuclear reactor accident. Adm. Rickover later stated a desire that all nuclear-powered vessels be sunk, but had no regrets about building them, because they were necessary for national security. Adm. Rickover attracted opposition within the service, and was forced into retirement on January 31, 1982, four days after his 82nd birthday. His 63 years of active duty service remain a record for the U.S. armed forces, and he was one of four people to receive two Congressional Gold Medals. Adm. Rickover died on July 8, 1986 at the age of 86.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Edvard Kardelj. Yugoslavian politician. Colonel General Kardelj, a Communist, served as a Slovene partisan during World War II. He held various posts in the Yugoslavian government of President Marshal Josip Broz Tito, including Deputy Prime Minister (1946-1963); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1948-1953); and member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia for Slovenia (1974-1979). Col. Gen. Kardelj died of colon cancer on February 10, 1979, two weeks after his 69th birthday.

Died on this date
Thomas Crapper, 73. U.K. plumbing executive and inventor. Mr. Crapper founded the company that became Thomas Crapper & Co. in 1861. He held nine patents, including three for water closet improvements, such as the floating ballcock. The belief that the word "crap" in reference to human waste comes from Mr. Crapper's name is erroneous. Mr. Crapper died of colon cancer.

Politics and government
Liberal candidate Peter Mackenzie, running without opposition, won a Québec provincial by-election in the riding of Richmond, 10 days after being appointed Treasurer of Québec by Premier Lomer Gouin.

75 years ago
1935

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC

70 years ago
1940

War
South Africa's House of Assembly defeated a motion by General T.B.M. Hertzog to halt the war with Germany.

A clash between Hindus and Muslims in Rangoon resulted in 1 death and 46 injuries.

Diplomacy
Japanese diplomats gathering in Budapest recommended a reaffirmation of the Anti-Comintern Pact despite the Germany-U.S.S.R. non-aggression pact of 1939.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced that the federal election would be held on March 26.

60 years ago
1950

Television
The Emmy Awards for 1949-50 were presented at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles; the awards were primarily given to Los Angeles-based programs and stations. The Ed Wynn Show (KTTV) was named Best Live Show, and Mr. Wynn was named Best Live Personality. Texaco Star Theatre (KNBH) was named Best Kinescoped Show, while its host, Milton Berle, was named Best Kinescoped Personality. The Life of Riley was named the Best Film Made for and Viewed on Television.

War
Chinese Communists said that the last two Nationalist armies operating in Yunan Province near the indochina border had been "completely annihilated," following French reports that 55,000 Nationalist soldiers had fled to Indochina.

Defense
The U.S.A. signed agreements in Washington granting $1 billion in military aid to the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark, under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization defense plan.

University of Chicago chemist Harold C. Urey, who had won a Nobel Prize for discovering heavy hydrogen, said in New York that the hydrogen bomb should be developed and built.

Politics and government
The United Nations Trusteeship Council in Geneva approved an agreement permitting Italy to administer Italian Somaliland as a UN trust territory for 10 years.

Panamanian police arrested former Interior Minister Jose Daniel Crespo after he demanded that an electoral jury decision giving the presidency to Arnulfo Arias be voided.

Society
The Temperance League of America and the National Temperance Movement of America merged in Chicago to form the National Temperance League, Inc.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): En Man i Byrån--Lill Lindfors (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Venus--The Shocking Blue (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Rocco D'Assunta, 65. Italian actor. Mr. D'Assunta was known for his comic performances on radio and in films from the 1930s through the '60s. He died 11 days before his 66th birthday.

Disasters
Snow avalanches in Iran’s Elburz Mountains killed 43 people and injured 100.

Boxing
Al Jones (29-1-2), one of the top contenders for the world heavyweight title, fought a 10-round draw with Luis Faustino Pires (13-5-1) at Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida. Mr. Jones broke his right hand in the first round; it was an injury that was to recur in later bouts and curtail a fine career.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Montego Bay--Jon Stevens

#1 single in Switzerland: I Have a Dream--ABBA (2nd week at #1)

Abominations
Rhodesian opposition leader Robert Mugabe made a triumphant return to his home country after five years in exile. Cheering crowds greeted Mr Mugabe's arrival in the capital, Salisbury, from Mozambique where he had been gathering support for his Zimbabwe African National Union party.

Diplomacy
Newly-elected Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr took a tough stand and charged the United States with the major responsibility for ending the crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, where 50 people had been held hostage by Iranian militants since November 4, 1979.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 3 @ Philadelphia 5

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
NFC 37 AFC 27

This was the first Pro Bowl to be held at Aloha Stadium. New Orleans Saints’ running back Chuck Muncie was the Most Valuable Player. John McKay of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the winning head coach over Bum Phillips of the Houston Oilers.

25 years ago
1985

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
AFC 22 NFC 14

New York Jets’ defensive end Mark Gastineau was the Most Valuable Player. Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers was the winning head coach over Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Love Shack--The B-52's (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (18th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Les Valses de Vienne--François Feldman

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Tears on My Pillow--Kylie Minogue

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield (4th week at #1)
2 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K
3 Me So Horny--The 2 Live Crew
4 Homely Girl--UB40
5 Get a Life--Soul II Soul
6 Eleni--Cees Tol & Thomas Tol
7 Words--The Christians
8 Inna City Mamma--Neneh Cherry
9 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville
10 Everlasting Love--U2

Singles entering the chart were I Wish it Would Rain Down by Phil Collins (#26); Het is Hier Binnen Beter Dan Buiten by De Deurzakkers (#27); Show'm the Bass by M.C. Miker "G" (#28); Fool for Your Loving by Whitesnake (#33); and Sacrifice by Elton John (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton (2nd week at #1)
2 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
3 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
4 Everything--Jody Watley
5 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
6 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
7 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
8 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
9 I Remember You--Skid Row
10 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dayne (#55); Dirty Deeds by Joan Jett (#80); Walk on By by Sybil (#82); Get Up! (Before the Night is Over) by Technotronic (#86); If U were Mine by the U-Krew (#87); Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz (#89); There's a Party Going On by Yvonne (#90); and Fly High Michelle by Enuff Z'Nuff (#91).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly (2nd week at #1)
2 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
3 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
4 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
5 Everything--Jody Watley
6 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
7 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
8 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
9 Love Song--Tesla
10 Two to Make it Right--Seduction

Singles entering the chart were Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dayne (#69); Just a Friend by Biz Markie (#75); Sacrifice by Elton John (#77); Whole Wide World by A'me Lorain (#78); Dirty Deeds by Joan Jett (#81); Anything I Want by Kevin Paige (#83); All My Life by Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville) (#86); House of Fire by Alice Cooper (#87); All Nite by Entouch (featuring Keith Sweat (#89); To Know Someone Deeply is to Know Someone Softly by Terence Trent D'Arby (#91); and Real Love by Skyy (#92).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (7th week at #1)
2 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
3 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
4 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
5 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
6 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
7 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
8 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
9 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
10 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson

Singles entering the chart were Show Don't Tell by Rush (#75); What was Going Through My Head by the Grapes of Wrath (#80); Inside Out by Crash Vegas (#82); Was it Nothing at All by Michael Damian (#84); We Can't Go Wrong by Cover Girls (#86); I'll Be Good to You by Quincy Jones (#88); All or Nothing by Milli Vanilli (#90); I Wish it Would Rain by Phil Collins (#92); The Deeper the Love by Whitesnake (#94); and No Myth by Michael Penn (#96).

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle began a three-day visit to Panama, Honduras, and Jamaica to explain the policy of the administration of President George Bush on Latin America.

Politics and government
A congress of Poland’s United Workers’ (Communist) Party opened in Warsaw, with 1,600 delegates in attendance.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 5 Toronto 3

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Friedrich Gulda, 69. Austrian musician. Mr. Gulda was a pianist who played both classical music and jazz in a performing and recording career from the 1940s through the rest of his life. He also composed classical and jazz works.

Politics and government
The Reform Party of Canada opened the convention in Ottawa that was destined to change its course (and its name) and lead to the creation of the Canadian Alliance party.

U.S. President Bill Clinton delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress. He boasted that the country had never been in better shape, noting that crime, teen births, and welfare rolls were down, and adoptions were up. Mr. Clinton also offered various proposals for the future, including support for a limited tax cut, with special emphasis on help for married couples. He advocated state licensing for all handguns. His many spending proposals included more for Head Start; school construction; teacher salaries; and prescription drug benefits under Medicare. Mr. Clinton urged the removal of remaining trade barriers and asked Congress to establish "normal trade relations" with China by opening China’s markets to the U.S. He also made frequent mention of Vice-President Al Gore, who was seated behind him, and whom he endorsed to succeed him as President.



Weather
Northern lights were visible in Edmonton.