February 12, 2010

350 years ago
1660

Born on this date
Thomas Southerne. Irish playwright. Mr. Southerne wrote plays in various genres from 1782-1826; his plays included The Wives' Excuse (1692); The Fatal Marriage (1694); and Oroonoko (1696). He died on May 26, 1746 at the age of 86.

250 years ago
1760

Born on this date
Jan Ladislav Dussek. Czech musician and composer. Mr. Dussek was one of the most widely-travelled concert pianists of the late 18th-early 19th century, and composed numerous works for piano and harp, with some of the traits associated with Romanticism. He died of gout, perhaps hastened by heavy drinking, on March 20, 1812 at the age of 52.

210 years ago
1800

Academia
The College of New Brunswick--later the University of New Brunswick--was established at Fredericton by charter.

140 years ago
1870

Born on this date
Marie Lloyd. U.K. actress and singer. Miss Lloyd, whose real name was Matilda Wood, was a music hall singer and musical theatre actress who was popular in England from the 1880s through the early 1920s, and was known for songs using innuendo and double entendre. She led a scandalous private life, and became a drunkard. Miss Lloyd died of heart and kidney failure on October 7, 1922 at the age of 52, three days after collapsing on stage at the Alhambra Theatre in London.

Abominations
The Utah Territory granted women the right to vote, a right which was revoked in 1887.

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
John L. Lewis. U.S. labour leader. John Llewellyn Lewis worked as a coal miner before becoming a union leader. He served as President of the United Mine Workers of America (1920-1960), and was the leading founder of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1935. Mr. Lewis resigned as President of the CIO in 1941, took the UMW out of the CIO in 1942, and took the union into the American Federation of Labor in 1944. He was a liberal who supported U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but was an isolationist who broke with Mr. Roosevelt over foreign policy in 1940. Mr. Lewis was effective in gaining wage increases for miners, but was detested by those outside the movement for calling for numerous strikes over the years, damaging the American economy and war effort during World War II. His heavy jowls, thick hair, and bushy eyebrows made him a favourite subject of caricaturists. Mr. Lewis died on June 11, 1969 at the age of 89.

125 years ago
1885

Born on this date
Bill Mack. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Mack played with the Chicago Cubs (1908), posting a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 3.00 in 2 games. He played 3 seasons in the minor leagues (1904-1907), and died on September 30, 1971 at the age of 86.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Fred Emney. U.K. actor and comedian. Mr. Emney was a music hall entertainer before appearing in his first movie in 1935. He played character roles as the "posh fat bloke," usually gruff and wearing a monocle, in films such as Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines (1965); Oliver! (1968); and The Italian Job (1969). Mr. Emney also had his own television show in the 1950s. He died on December 25, 1980 at the age of 80.

Roger J. Traynor. U.S. jurist. Dr. Traynor obtained doctorates in both political science and jurisprudence, and was a law professor and California government bureaucrat in the 1930s. He was Deputy Attorney General of California from January-August 1940, and was then appointed to the California Supreme Court, serving as an Associate Justice (1940-1964), and Chief Justice (1964-1970). Justice Traynor believed in using the power of the judiciary to redress social problems, and was perhaps best known for his 1963 ruling creating true strict liability in product liability cases. His liberal activism on the court led him to be viewed by the legal community as one of the greatest justices in American history, and perhaps the greatest not to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Traynor died of cancer on May 14, 1983 at the age of 83.

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Winnipeg Victorias 4 @ Montreal Shamrocks 3 (Winnipeg led best-of-three challenge series 1-0)

Dan Bain scored 2 goals for the Victorias as they edged the defending champion Shamrocks at Montreal Arena. Harry Trihey scored twice for the Shamrocks.

70 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Golden Pince-Nez

War
A British Royal Navy ship forced the scuttling of the German freighter Wakama in Brazilian waters. The first contingent of Australian troops landed at Suez, where they were greeted by U.K. Dominion Secretary Anthony Eden. Japanese sources reported the landing in the Chinese province of Fukien of a 50,000-man Chinese force, to be used by Wang Ching-wei, leader of the Japanese-sponsored government in central China, against the Chinese Nationalist Army.

Defense
The United States Army announced a new bomber capable of flying 300 miles per hour with a range of 3,000 miles.

Diplomacy
The American Jewish Congress, at its conference in Washington, adopted a resolution to safeguard the rights of Jews against anti-Semitism in the United States.

Politics and government
A poll showed 56% of Republican Party voters in the United States favouring New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey as the party's candidate for President of the United States in the November 1940 election. Other contenders included U.S. Senators Arthur Vandenberg (Michigan) and Robert Taft (Ohio).

U.S. Representative Hamilton Fish (Republican--New York) said that the most important issue before Americans was keeping out of foreign entanglements.

The American Youth Congress, meeting in Washington, adopted a resolution to keep the U.S.A. out of war.

Economics and finance
New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey told a Lincoln's Birthday audience that the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt had created a "house divided" that had shackled enterprise and caused high unemployment.

Labour
Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen (Republican) charged that the National Labor Relations Board was responsible for conflict between labour and industry, and called for new legislation limiting its power.

60 years ago
1950

World events
The last 6 of 11 British scientists marooned since 1948 on icebound Stonington Island in the Antarctic were flown to a supply ship by ski plane.

Politics and government
Nicaraguan War Minister Anastasio Somoza announced that he would run for President in 1950 to succeed Victor Reyes.

The East German government announced plans to establish a card index on the political history of every adult in the Soviet zone.

Science
American, British, and Canadian scientists ended a three-day meeting in Harwell, England after discussing what non-military nuclear information shared by the three countries could be taken off the secret list.

Americana
The American Jewish Congress presented its first annual Stephen S. Wise Awards to: U.S. President Harry Truman for civil rights activity; Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion for helping Israel's development; Joint Distribution Committee official Joseph Schwartz for aiding Jews abroad; and Harvard University Professor Harry Wolfson for enrichment of Jewish culture.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Why--Anthony Newley (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Why--Anthony Newley (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Purple Testament, starring William Reynolds, Dick York, Barney Phillips, and Warren Oates

40 years ago
1970

On television tonight
Dragnet 1970, on NBC
Tonight's episode: A.I.D.: The Weekend



Died on this date
Clare Turlay Newberry, 66. U.S. authoress and illustrator. Ms. Newberry wrote and illustrated 17 children's books from 1931-1961, four of which won Caldecott Honors. She was known for drawing cats, the subject of all but three of her books.

War
North Vietnamese troops in Laos launched what observers in Vientiane interpreted as a long-expected counteroffensive to recapture the Plaine des Jarres.

At least 70 civilian workers at a scrap metal-processing plant at El Khanka, Egypt were reported killed, and 100 wounded, in an Israeli air attack. The Israelis, saying that one of their bombs may have bombed the plant accidentally, warned of an unexpected time bomb. The U.S.A. decried the raid and urged the Big Four powers--U.S.A.; U.S.S.R.; U.K.; and France--to call for a new cease-fire, but Israel and Egypt showed no intention to comply. Israel claimed that the bombing, intended for an army camp near the factory, was a "technical error." U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers said that the situation "could well be deteriorating."

Three days of clashes between Jordanian troops and Palestinian commandos near Amman concluded with at least 30 killed or wounded.

Abominations
The United States Army announced that Captain Thomas K. Willingham, an officer in a second U.S. Army unit that had participated in the My Lai Massacre of March 16, 1968, had been charged with unpremeditated murder of civilians. Capt. Willingham was the first member of a unit other than Company C, First Battalion, 20th Infantry, to face charges.

Academia
U.S. Vice-President Spiro Agnew, speaking before 2,000 cheering Illinois Republicans, denounced "open admissions" to universities, and admission of Negroes and others to colleges on the basis of quotas rather than "aptitude for learning."

Disasters
13 were killed when a Colombian airliner exploded during a forced landing near Puerto Lopez.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (Hot Press): Brass in Pocket--Pretenders

Defense
U.S. President Jimmy Carter ordered a 1,800-man Marine assault battalion to the Arabian Sea in March to exhibit the U.S. ability to project its military power.

20 years ago
1990
Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kuchibiru Kara Biyaku--Shizuka Kudo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Pump ab Das Bier--Werner Wichtig

Environment
Hundreds of families were evacuated from their homes in Hagersville, Ontario when a huge fire started at a gigantic tire dump. The Tyre King dump in southwestern Ontario contained 14 million tires stacked in a heap as high as a low-rise apartment building and covering an area the size of 18 football fields. Residents within a 3 km radius were forced to leave their homes as clouds of smoke, laden with toxic chemicals, spewed from the blaze.

Politics and government
Quebec elected its first-ever New Democratic Party member of the Canadian House of Commons as consumer advocate Phil Edmonston won a federal by-election in the riding of Chambly. Mr. Edmonston, the overrated author of the Lemon-Aid automobile guides, scored a landslide victory over Liberal Clifford Lincoln, who had hoped to win the riding and then the party leadership. The by-election became necessary when Progressive Conservative MP Richard Grise, a typically crooked Quebec politician, admitted guilt to 11 counts of fraud and breach of trust involving public funds.

Carmen Lawrence took office as Premier of Western Australia, becoming the first female Premier in Australian history.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Charles M. Schulz, 77. U.S. cartoonist. Mr. Schulz created the comic strip Peanuts, which began running in newspapers on October 2, 1950, and eventually became a cultural phenomenon. He had announced his retirement because of declining eyesight and health, and died of colon cancer the night before his farewell Peanuts strip appeared.

Tom Landry, 75. U.S. football player and coach. Mr. Landry began his professional career as a defensive back with the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference in 1949, and played with the New York Giants from 1950-1955. He made All-Pro in 1954, and retired with 32 interceptions in 80 games. Mr. Landry began his coaching career while he was still playing in 1954, and continued as an assistant to head coach Jim Lee Howell through 1959. He and offensive coach Vince Lombardi comprised probably the best duo of assistant coaches in professional football history, and the Giants won the NFL championship in 1956. Mr. Landry became the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 1960, and stayed for 29 seasons, until he was rudely dismissed by new owner Jerry Jones in 1989. The Cowboys won Super Bowls in 1972 and 1978, and Mr. Landry’s 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966-1985 is an NFL record for head coaches. Including post-season play, his lifetime head coaching record was 270-178-6. Mr. Landry was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He came to know Jesus Christ as his saviour when he was 32, and he said that he regretted not coming to know the Lord earlier.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, 70. U.S. rhythm and blues singer. Mr. Hawkins had a performing career that spanned almost 50 years, and was best known for his 1956 hit I Put a Spell on You. When performing the song on stage, he would wear a cape and emerge from a coffin. Mr. Hawkins died near Paris, after emergency surgery for an aneurysm.

Oliver, 54. U.S. singer. Born William Oliver Swofford in North Carolina, Oliver achieved brief popularity in 1969 when his recording of Good Morning Starshine (from the musical Hair) hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. His follow-up single, Jean (written by Rod McKuen, from the movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) hit #4. The next single, Sunday Mornin’, reached #35 in December 1969 (although it got as high as #4 in Calgary in February 1970), and Oliver slipped into permanent obscurity. He became a successful pharmaceutical salesman, and died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 10 days before his 55th birthday.

Politics and government
The Ulster Unionist Party, the largest Protestant party in Northern Ireland, said that it would pursue the goal of a power-sharing government with Roman Catholics.

Leaders of the U.S. Reform Party, meeting in Nashville, ousted Jack Gargan--an ally of Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura--as chairman and replaced him with former vice presidential candidate Pat Choate.