March 29, 2010

230 years ago
1780

Born on this date
Jørgen Jørgensen. Danish-born adventurer. Mr. Jørgensen apprenticed with a British collier and sailed to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand in the early 1800s; he's been credited as the founder of the Tasmanian capital of Hobart. While visiting his family in Denmark, he was given command of a small vessel, but was captured in battle with a British ship in 1808. Mr. Jørgensen was paroled, and travelled twice to Iceland. On his second visit in 1809, he and other crew members arrested Icelandic Governor the Count of Trampe, and Mr. Jørgensen proclaimed himself "Protector," intending to establish a liberal society like those emerging in the Americas and elsewhere in Europe. The Royal Navy gunboat HMS Talbot arrived two months later, restored Danish rule, and arrested Mr. Jørgensen for violating parole. He was released in 1811, and served as a spy for the British in France and Germany toward the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Mr. Jørgensen spent some time in prison for theft, and was eventually transported to Australia in 1825, spending most of the rest of his life in Tasmania, obtaining a free pardon in 1835. He died on January 20, 1841 at the age of 60.

220 years ago
1790

Born on this date
John Tyler. 10th President of the United States, 1841-1845. Mr. Tyler, a native of Charles City County, Virginia, was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1840 as the running mate to Whig party candidate William Henry Harrison. When Mr. Harrison died just one month after taking office in 1841, Mr. Tyler became the first vice-president to assume the presidency upon the death of the president. He stood against much of the Whig platform while president, which led to him being the first president to face impeachment proceedings, which were unsuccessful. Mr. Tyler's most notable accomplishments as president included two vetoes of legislation calling for a national banking act, and the annexation of Texas. When Virginia voted to secede from the union in 1861, Mr. Tyler was elected to the House of Representatives of the Confederate Congress, but took ill in Richmond and died on January 18, 1862 at the age of 71, shortly before the session of Congress began. Since he was a Confederate at the time of his death, he was the only U.S. President not to be officially mourned by the U.S. government.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
John McEwen. Prime Minister of Australia, 1967-1968. Sir John, a member of the Country Party, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1934, and held various posts in 25 years as a cabinet minister. He led the Country Party from 1958-1971, and served as interim Prime Minister from December 19, 1967-January 10, 1968, following the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt. Sir John then resigned in favour of John Gorton, and was appointed Australia's first Deputy Prime Minister, serving until his retirement from politics on February 5, 1971. He suffered from severe dermatitis for most of his life, and the pain eventually led him to commit suicide through self-starvation, dying on November 20, 1980 at the age of 80.

Died on this date
Cyrus K. Holliday, 73. U.S. railroad executive and military officer. Mr. Holliday helped to found Topeka, Kansas in 1854; in 1859 he founded what became the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Mr. Holliday was given the honourary title of Colonel for his service in the Wakarusa War (1855) between Free-Staters and pro-slavery militia; he served as Adjutant General of Kansas during the American Civil War (1864-1865). Mr. Holliday died five days before his 74th birthday.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Bill Dietrich. U.S. baseball pitcher. Nicknamed "Bullfrog Bill" because he was slightly pop-eyed (back in the good old days before political correctness), Mr. Dietrich compiled a record of 108-128 and an earned run average of 4.48 in 366 games with the Philadelphia Athletics (1933-1936; 1947-1948); Washington Nationals (1936); and Chicago White Sox (1936-1946), batting .150 with 5 home runs and 43 runs batted in in 368 games. His best season was probably 1943, when he was 12-10 with an earned run average of 2.80. Mr. Dietrich pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns on June 1, 1937. He died on June 20, 1978 at the age of 68.

80 years ago
1930

Politics and government
Centre Party leader Heinrich Brüning was appointed Reichskanzler of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg, following the collapse of the coalition government of Social Democrat Hermann Müller.

75 years ago
1935

Boxing
Joe Louis (17-0) won a 10-round unanimous decision over Natie Brown (28-17-7) at Olympia Stadium in Detroit.

70 years ago
1940

War
The German government issued a White Paper of 16 documents, allegedly captured in Warsaw, revealing American promises to prevent the fall of Poland to Germany.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles' trip to Europe had shown that peace prospects were scant at this time.

Economics and finance
New York District Attorney Thomas Dewey, speaking in Milwaukee, charged that President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies had prolonged the Depression.

Boxing
Joe Louis (42-1) retained his world heavyweight title with a knockout of Johnny Paychek (38-4-2) 41 seconds into the 2nd round at Madison Square Garden in New York.



60 years ago
1950

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: Design for Dying

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Martin Gabel, on ABC

War
Chinese Nationalists admitted that the Communists had won full control of Sinkiang Province north of Tibet.

Diplomacy
Ireland's first Ambassador to the U.S.A., John Hearne, arrived in New York and denounced Britain's "international crime" of keeping Northern Ireland separated from the Irish Republic.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman named Philip Jessup, under attack by Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) as a Communist sympathizer, as Secretary of State Dean Acheson's senior adviser in the State Department.

Television
RCA publicly demonstrated the first electronic colour television receiving tube.

Transportation
Burma reopened the 500-mile Mandalay-Rangoon railroad, blocked by rebels since 1949.

Oddities
"Flying saucer" sightings were reported in Israel, Italy, and Hong Kong.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 1 @ New York 3 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Nick Mickoski's powerplay goal at 11:18 of the 2nd period broke a 1-1 tie as the Rangers beat the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. Norm Dussault opened the scoring for Montreal on a powerplay at 8:27 of the 1st period, and Don Raleigh scored a powerplay at 14:40 of the 1st period to tie the score. Pat Egan closed the scoring with 22 seconds remaining in the game. Chuck Rayner won the goaltending duel over Bill Durnan.

50 years ago
1960

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Toronto 5 @ Detroit 4 (3 OT) (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Montreal 4 @ Chicago 0 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Frank Mahovlich scored 3 minutes into the 3rd overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Red Wings at Olympia Stadium.

Bill Hicke's goal at 10:15 of the 2nd period proved to be the winner as the Canadiens shut out the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium. Jacques Plante earned the shutout, winning the goaltending duel over Glenn Hall.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
St. Louis 113 @ Boston 103 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

The Hawks outscored the Celtics 64-47 in the 2nd half to overcome a 56-49 halftime deficit before 13,909 fans at Boston Garden. Bob Pettit of the Hawks led all scorers with 35 points, while Bill Sharman led the Celtics with 30 points. Boston center Bill Russell scored 21 points and grabbed 40 rebounds.

40 years ago
1970

Died on this date
Anna Louise Strong, 84. U.S. writer and political activist. Dr. Strong, the first woman to earn a doctorate (in philosophy) at the University of Chicago, became a notorious Communist propagandist, writing more than 30 books, and continued to bang the Communist drum even after Soviet authorities briefly imprisoned her in 1949. She spent her last years in the People's Republic of China, lying on behalf of the Communist regime of Chairman Mao Zedong, and died in hospital in Beijing after pulling out her intravenous tubes and refusing to accept all food and medicine, despite pleas to the contrary from Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Malcolm Muggeridge described Dr. Strong as "an enormous woman with a very red face, a lot of white hair, and an expression of stupidity so overwhelming that it amounted to a kind of strange beauty." Lloyd Billingsley devoted a hilarious chapter to her in his book The Generation that Knew Not Josef (1985).

Disasters
At least 20 people were killed and about 100 injured when a derailed train plunged off a trestle bridge into a gully near Karachi, Pakistan.

Hockey
CHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Fort Worth 1 @ Omaha 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Iowa 0 @ Tulsa 5 (Iowa led best-of-seven series 2-1)

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Crying--Don McLean

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Going Underground--The Jam

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Going Underground/Dreams of Children--The Jam (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Pearlydumm--BZN
2 Sajang É--Massada
3 Crying--Don McLean
4 With You I'm Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
5 Matador--Garland Jeffreys
6 Visite--Lenny Kuhr & Les Poppys
7 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
8 Brass in Pocket--Pretenders
9 Rock 'n' Roll High School--Ramones
10 You and Me--Spargo

Singles entering the chart were Willy Alberti Bedankt by André Van Duin (#21); Sun of Jamaica by Goombay Dance Band (#27); The End of the Show by the Cats (#34); Him by Rupert Holmes (#35); Get It by Urban Heroes (#39); and Together We are Beautiful by Fern Kinney (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (2nd week at #1)
2 Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl--Spinners
3 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
4 Desire--Andy Gibb
5 Call Me--Blondie
6 Him--Rupert Holmes
7 Too Hot--Kool & The Gang
8 The Second Time Around--Shalamar
9 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
10 How Do I Make You--Linda Ronstadt

Singles entering the chart were Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer by Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes (#56); I Can't Help It by Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John (#63); Breakdown Dead Ahead by Boz Scaggs (#65); Borrowed Time by Styx (#81); Let's Get Serious by Jermaine Jackson (#83); Starting Over Again by Dolly Parton (#84); The Seduction (Love Theme) by the James Last Band (#85); After You by Dionne Warwick (#86); Gee Whiz by Bernadette Peters (#88); Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#89); Should've Never Let You Go by Neil Sedaka and Dara Sedaka (#90); Holiday by Nazareth (#92); and We were Meant to Be Lovers by Photoglo (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (2nd week at #1)
2 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
3 Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl--Spinners
4 Call Me--Blondie
5 Longer--Dan Fogelberg
6 Him--Rupert Holmes
7 How Do I Make You--Linda Ronstadt
8 Too Hot--Kool & The Gang
9 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
10 The Second Time Around--Shalamar

Singles entering the chart were Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer by Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes (#45); Breakdown Dead Ahead by Boz Scaggs (#60); I Can't Help It by Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John (#68); The Seduction (Love Theme) by the James Last Band (#72); It's Hard to Be Humble by Mac Davis (#74); Lucky Me by Anne Murray (#79); Solitaire by Peter McIan (#82); Borrowed Time by Styx (#84); Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#87); When the Feeling Comes Around by Jennifer Warnes (#88); Gee Whiz by Bernadette Peters (#89); Should've Never Let You Go by Neil Sedaka and Dara Sedaka (#90); Don't Say Goodnight (It’s Time for Love) (Parts 1 and 2) by the Isley Brothers (#94); and You've Got What I Need by Shooting Star (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (3rd week at #1)
2 Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl--Spinners
3 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
4 Call Me--Blondie
5 Too Hot--Kool & The Gang
6 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
7 Him--Rupert Holmes
8 On the Radio--Donna Summer
9 How Do I Make You--Linda Ronstadt
10 Fire Lake--Bob Seger

Singles entering the chart were Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer by Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes (#37); Breakdown Dead Ahead by Boz Scaggs (#51); I Can't Help It by Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John (#63); The Rose by Bette Midler (#76); Starting Over Again by Dolly Parton (#80); Let Me Be the Clock by Smokey Robinson (#81); Gee Whiz by Bernadette Peters (#82); Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#83); Let's Get Serious by Jermaine Jackson (#84); When the Feeling Comes Around by Jennifer Warnes (#85); Solitaire by Peter McIan (#88); Don't Say Goodnight (It’s Time for Love) by the Isley Brothers (#89); Survive by Jimmy Buffett (#94); Holiday by Nazareth (#95); and It's a Night for Beautiful Girls by the Fools (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (2nd week at #1)
2 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
3 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
4 Ladies Night--Kool & The Gang
5 On the Radio--Donna Summer
6 Refugee--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
7 Rock with You--Michael Jackson
8 Janine--Trooper
9 Romeo's Tune--Steve Forbert
10 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille

Singles entering the chart were You May Be Right by Billy Joel (#88); Sexy Eyes by Dr. Hook (#90); Think About Me by Fleetwood Mac (#94); Brass in Pocket (I'm Special) by the Pretenders (#97); Any Way You Want It by Journey (#99); and Outside My Window by Stevie Wonder (#100).

Died on this date
Mantovani, 74. Italian-born U.K. composer and bandleader. Annunzio Paolo Mantovani, a native of Venice, moved to England with his family in 1912. He led his own orchestra in Birmingham in the 1930s and '40s, and achieved popularity at dances during World War II. Mr. Mantovani stopped live performances after the war and concentrated on recording. His orchestra, which featured "cascading strings," recorded more than 50 albums through the mid-1970s, including albums that were used to demonstrate stereo sound.

War
The New York Times reported that Afghan rebel activity in Kumar Valley and the northeastern province of Badakshan had been virtually wiped out. Estimates that 1,500 Soviet soldiers had been killed since December were called conservative by travellers who had heard about the situation in civilian and military hospitals. Only 35,000 soldiers were reported remaining in the Afghan army after recent desertions and defections.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 8 Toronto 5



25 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Luther Terry, 73. U.S. physician. Dr. Terry was Surgeon General of the United States from 1961-1965. He was best known for Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States, released on January 11, 1964, which concluded that lung cancer and chronic bronchitis were causally related to cigarette smoking.

Jeanne Deckers, aka Sœur Sourire and The Singing Nun, 61. Belgian nun and musician. Miss Deckers, who took the name Sister Luc-Gabrielle when she became a Dominican nun in 1959, wrote and performed songs under the name Sœur Sourire (The Singing Nun in English-speaking countries). Her album Dominique became an international bestseller in 1962, and the title song, sung in French, was a major international hit in 1963. Miss Deckers left the Dominican order several years later, continuing as a lay Dominican. Her subsequent musical career was mostly unsuccessful, and she and Annie Pécher, with whom she had lived for almost 20 years, both committed suicide with overdoses of barbiturates and alcohol, citing financial difficulties.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 7 @ Hartford 8

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Oi beibi/Tuhansien sulojen maa--Raptori (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): That Sounds Good To Me--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Czechoslovak parliament was unable to reach an agreement on what to call the country after the fall of Communism, sparking the so-called Hyphen War.

Society
Canada’s best-known abortionist, Henry Morgentaler, who was in the process of opening a clinic in Edmonton, was speaking in the Tory Lecture Theatre at the University of Alberta. A pro-life rally was held on campus before the event, and even the local media had to admit that the pro-life crowd was considerably larger than the pro-abortion crowd. This blogger was at the pro-life rally, and I noticed that some of the abortion supporters were the same ones who had been wearing blue jeans on campus in support of sodomite rights eight days earlier.

Environment
Canadian Environment Minister Lucien Bouchard released a Green Plan working paper to clean up the environment.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 4 Toronto 2

10 years ago
2000

Scandal
A U.S. federal judge in Washington, D.C. ruled that President Bill Clinton had violated the Privacy Act when he released letters written to him by Kathleen Willey, a private citizen. Ms. Willey had claimed that Mr. Clinton had made unwanted sexual advances to her at the White House in 1993. After she made her allegations public, Mr. Clinton released the letters in an effort to show they had remained on good terms after the alleged incident.

Oil
Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, meeting in Vienna, announced that 9 of the 11 member nations of the cartel would increase production after a one-year cutback. Iran then reluctantly went along with the production increase, while Iraq, which was not part of the previous production cuts, was excluded from the increase.

Baseball
Major league baseball played its first regular season game outside North America when the Chicago Cubs defeated the New York Mets 5-3 at the Tokyo Dome before a crowd announced at an even 55,000. Shane Andrews drove in 3 runs for the Cubs with a 2-run home run and a bases-loaded walk, while Mike Piazza hit a 2-run homer for the Mets, who were officially the home team.