February 10, 2010

170 years ago
1840

Married on this date
Queen Victoria of Great Britain married Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg-Gotha at the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London.

120 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Boris Pasternak. Russian author and poet. Mr. Pasternak was best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago (1957) and his collection of poems, My Sister, Life (1917). Doctor Zhivago was smuggled out of the Soviet Union and first published in Milan in an Italian translation in 1957, and Mr. Pasternak was awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958 "for his important achievement both in contemporary lyrical poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition." Mr. Pasternak was denounced by U.S.S.R. authorities and threatened with deportation, but the Soviet authorities backed off in the face of international criticism. Mr. Pasternak died on May 30, 1960 at the age of 70.

100 years ago
1910

Politics and government
Voting, which had begun on January 15, concluded in the the British general election, resulting in a hung Parliament. The governing Liberals of Prime Minister H.H. Asquith won 274 of 625 seats--a loss of 123 from before the election--but still had the largest number of seats. The Conservative-Liberal Unionist coalition, led by former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, took 272 seats, an increase of 116. The Irish Parliamentary Party dropped from 82 seats to 71, while the Labour Party increased its total from 29 to 40, and the All-for_Ireland Party won 8 seats in its first election. The election resulted from the Conservative-dominated House of Lords' rejection of the "People's Budget" of 1909.

Born on this date
Dominique Pire. Belgian clergyman. Father Pire was a Roman Catholic Dominican friar who was awarded the 1958 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as "...Leader of the relief organization for refugees "L'Europe du Coeur au Service du Monde."" He died on January 30, 1969, 11 days before his 59th birthday, of complications following surgery.

100 years ago
1920

Died on this date
Henry Strangways, 87. U.K.-born Australian politician. Mr. Strangways was a lawyer who moved to South Australia in 1857. He represented Encounter Bay (1858-1862) and West Torrens (1862-1871) in the South Australian House of Assembly, serving as Attorney General (1860-1861) and Premier of South Australia (1868-1870). Mr. Strangways returned to England in 1871, resigned his seat in Australia, and lived at his family estate in Somerset for the rest of his life, although he continued to take an interest in South Australia.

Europeana
Lieutenant General Józef Haller de Hallenburg performed a symbolic wedding of Poland to the sea, celebrating restitution of Polish access to open sea.

Baseball
The major leagues outlawed doctored pitches, including the spitball, the shine ball and the emery ball, in order to bring more hitting into the game. The Brooklyn Dodgers' Burleigh Grimes and 16 others who used the forbidden pitches were allowed to do so for the rest of their careers under a grandfather clause.

80 years ago
1930

World events
The Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng (Vietnamese Nationalist Party) launched the failed Yên Bái mutiny in the hope of overthrowing the French protectorate over Vietnam.

75 years ago
1935

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

70 years ago
1940

At the movies
Puss Gets the Boot, the first Tom and Jerry cartoon, opened in theatres.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to France William Bullitt arrived in Baltimore on his way to Washington to discuss the European war situation with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The World Jewish Congress convened in Washington.

Politics and government
The French Chamber of Deputies backed the government's conduct of the war against Germany.

New Zealand Labour Minister P.C. Webb was appointed Minister of Manpower to organize the entire national service.

U.S. Postmaster General James Farley announced that he was a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1940 election.

Economics and finance
U.S. Senator Arthur Vandenberg (Republican--Michigan) called for an end to reciprocal trade agreements because they were detrimental to farmers.

Labour
United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis proposed a labour peace in which the Congress of Industrial Organizations would join the American Federation of Labor.

60 years ago
1950

Died on this date
Marcel Mauss, 77. French sociologist and anthropologist. Professor Mauss, the nephew of sociology founder Émile Durkheim, was a tremendous influence upon Claude Lévi-Strauss, the founder of structural anthropology. Prof. Mauss founded several institutions, and was chair of the Sociology department at the Collège de France from 1931 until his death. His best-known work, Essai sur le Don (The Gift) (1925), served as the foundation of social theories of reciprocity and gift exchange.

Divorced on this date
U.S. movie director John Huston was divorced from actress Evelyn Keyes in Juarez, Mexico.

War
The U.S.A. protested to the Chinese Nationalist government that its air raids on Shanghai were causing heavy damage to American property. Communist sources reported that air raids had killed or injured 1,000 Shanghai residents.

Crime
Physicist Klaus Fuchs admitted in a signed statement introduced in a London court that he had passed on atomic information to the U.S.S.R. for seven years because he was devoted to Communism.

Defense
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission said that it would continue to accept U.K. security clearance of British scientists for access to U.S. nuclear information despite the Klaus Fuchs spy case.

Scandal
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) said, during a half-hour stopover at Stapleton air field in Denver, that the U.S. State Department knew the names of its 57 employees who were Communists. Later, in Salt Lake City, he declined to reveal any names to newsmen, and said he would show the list to Secretary of State Dean Acheson if Mr. Acheson would telephone him and "show his sincerity by having a presidential order revoked, at least insofar as the 57 are concerned. It would be a vast waste of effort to give Acheson the names, then have him deny they are Communists when we cannot get the records." The presidential order prohibited government departments from turning over loyalty records to congressional committees.

Religion
After meeting with apostolic nuncio Archbishop Antoniutti, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Montreal Joseph Charbonneau asked Pope Pius XII to remove him from office, ostensibly for health reasons. Archbishop Charbonneau was known for opposing the Union Nationale government of Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis on various issues; most notably, Archbishop Charbonneau had supported the workers in the asbestos strike in 1949. Archbishop Charbonneau's resignation was accepted, and he was succeeded as Archbishop of Montreal by Paul-Émile Léger.

Baseball
The Cleveland Indians released pitcher Satchel Paige, 43. Mr. Paige was 4-7 with an earned run average of 3.04 and 4 saves in 31 games with the Indians in 1949.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Monia--Peter Holm

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam (2nd week at #1)

War
High officials in Amman confirmed that a Pakistani infantry regiment was in Jordan. The Jordanian government also reasserted orders banning the carrying of arms in public by Palestinian commandos. The directive, which also banned demonstrations, unauthorized publications, all political party activity, and called for a surrender of weapons and explosives, was criticized by Al Fatah, largest of the 10 Palestinian commando groups operating in Jordan, as a U.S.-supported move to disarm the guerrillas to ease a settlement with Israel. Three days of clashes between King Hussein’s troops and the commandos began near Amman.

U.S. Defense Secretary Melvin Laird began a three-day visit to South Vietnam to discuss further U.S. troop withdrawals with American commanders.

Terrorism
One Israeli was killed and 23 wounded by three Arabs in an attack on a bus and passenger lounge at the Munich airport. Asaf Dayan, the son of Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, was unhurt in the attack, but Israeli actress Hanna Meron lost a leg.

World events
Israel decided to allow Jews to settle in the West Bank city of Hebron. Israel and Egypt were negotiating autonomy for Arabs on the West Bank when Israel made the decision to allow the Jewish settlement.

Environment
U.S. President Richard Nixon asked Congress to pass 37 measures for control of water and air pollution, disposal of solid wastes, and expansion of parklands and public recreation areas. Not all of the requested measures were new, but observers were struck by the immense authority the President would give to the federal government to enforce the anti-pollution effort. He requested $4 billion for the federal share of a proposed $10-billion plan for building municipal waste-treatment plants.

Disasters
At least 39 skiers in a student chalet at the Alpine resort of Val d’Isere were killed and 37 injured in what was believed to be the worst avalanche in French history.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd

#1 single in Switzerland: Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
U.S. President Jimmy Carter won the Maine caucuses in the contest for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, taking 46% of the vote to 40% for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (Massachusetts). California Governor Jerry Brown had 13%.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 2 Winnipeg 2

25 years ago
1985

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Rayner Road Case

On television tonight
Surviving, on ABC

Surviving was a made-for-television movie about teenage suicide. The cast included Molly Ringwald; Zach Galligan; Ellen Burstyn; Len Cariou; Paul Sorvino; Marsha Mason; Heather O'Rourke; River Phoenix; and William Windom. Although Miss Ringwald and Mr. Galligan played the teenagers who died, in real life it was Miss O'Rourke (in 1988, at age 12) and Mr. Phoenix (in 1993 at age 23) who died young.





Died on this date
Johnny Mokan, 89. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Mokan was an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1921-1922) and Philadelphia Phillies (1922-1927). He batted .291 with 32 home runs and 273 runs batted in in 582 games. Mr. Mokan's best season was 1923, when he batted .312 with 10 homers and 76 RBIs.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 3 Montreal 2 (OT)

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Love Shack--The B-52's (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un' Estate Italiana--Edoardo Bennato; Gianna Nannini

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau

#1 single in France (SNEP): Les Valses de Vienne--François Feldman (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Me So Horny--The 2 Live Crew (2nd week at #1)
2 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K
3 Get a Life--Soul II Soul
4 Get Into It--Tony Scott
5 Words--The Christians
6 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
7 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
8 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
9 Whatcha' Gonna Do with My Lovin'--Inner City
10 In Private--Dusty Springfield

Singles entering the chart were King Kong Five by Mano Negra (#27); Wij Doen Zelf Straks Het Licht Wel Uit by Sus-5 (#32); Welcome to the Terror Dome by Public Enemy (#33); Spin That Wheel by Hi Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K (#35); Look Away by Chicago (#36); and We Almost Got it Together by Tanita Tikaram (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
2 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
3 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
4 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
5 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
6 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
7 Dangerous--Roxette
8 I Remember You--Skid Row
9 Escapade--Janet Jackson
10 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli

Singles entering the chart were All My Life by Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville (#47); Don't Wanna Fall in Love by Jane Child (#75); Almost Hear You Sigh by the Rolling Stones (#84); Heart of Stone by Cher (#92); I Wanna Be Rich by Calloway (#93); and You're the Voice by John Farnham (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
2 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
3 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
4 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
5 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
6 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
7 I Remember You--Skid Row
8 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
9 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
10 Everything--Jody Watley

Singles entering the chart were Love Me for Life by Stevie B (#70); I Wish it Would Rain Down by Phil Collins (#72); Almost Hear You Sigh by the Rolling Stones (#78); I Wanna Be Rich by Calloway (#81); That's What I Like by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (#82); 1-2-3 by the Chimes (#86); Don't Wanna Fall in Love by Jane Child (#87); and You're the Only Woman by Brat Pack (#89).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
2 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
3 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
4 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
5 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
6 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
7 Peace in Our Time--Eddie Money
8 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
9 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
10 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)

Singles entering the chart were Lover of Mine by Alannah Myles (#79); Summer Rain by Belinda Carlisle (#80); Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode (#83); Keep it Together by Madonna (#85); Here and Now by Luther Vandross (#87); Figure of Eight by Paul McCartney (#90); and The Last Thing by Cutting Crew (#93).

Diplomacy
West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl met with U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev met in Moscow. Afterward, Mr. Kohl said that Soviet leaders supported "the right of the German people alone" to choose their form of relationship.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Jim Varney, 50. U.S. actor and comedian. Mr. Varney played the comic character Ernest P. Worrell in a series of television commercials in the 1980s, as well as in several movies and the television series Hey Vern, It's Ernest! (1988), for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series. Mr. Varney played Jed Clampett in the movie The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), and provided the voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999). Mr. Varney was a smoker, and died of lung cancer.

War
Russian forces began attacking Chechen rebel strongholds in the mountains from the air.

World events
The Irish Republican Army issued another statement asserting its commitment to disarmament.

Terrorism
Four days after an Afghan jetliner carrying more than 180 people had been hijacked shortly after takeoff from Kabul, and three days after it landed in London, the hijackers released the last of their hostages.

Politics and government
Lois Hole, a well-known horticulturist from St. Albert, was installed as Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, succeeding Bud Olson.

Two days after finishing third in the Delaware primary, publisher Steve Forbes withdrew from the contest for the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States. In two unsuccessful campaigns, Mr. Forbes had spent nearly $70 million of his own money.