May 12, 2010

500 years ago
1510

World events
The Prince of Anhua rebellion began in China when Zhu Zhifan killed all the officials invited to a banquet, and declared his intent on ousting the powerful Ming dynasty eunuch Liu Jin during the reign of Emperor Zhengde.

310 years ago
1700

Died on this date
John Dryden, 68. English poet, playwright, and critic. Mr. Dryden was the leading English writer of the Restoration period in the late 17th century, introducing numerous literary forms and rules. He was appointed England's first Poet Laureate, holding the position from 1668-1688.

230 years ago
1780

War
In the largest defeat of the Continental Army, Charleston, South Carolina was taken by British forces.

190 years ago
1820

Born on this date
Florence Nightingale. Italian-born U.K. nurse. Miss Nightingale, born in Tuscany to English parents, began her career in the mid-1840s, and became known for her treatment of British soldiers in the Crimean War (1854-1856). She was largely responsible for the professionalization of nursing for women in the United Kingdom, and her war experiences prompted her to advocate improved sanitary conditions for soldiers. Miss Nightingale began suffering from depression shortly after the end of the war, and was often bedridden for many years; many modern historians believe that she suffered from an extreme form of brucellosis. She died on August 13, 1910 at the age of 90.

Politics and government
Lord Dalhousie was appointed Governor-in-Chief of Lower Canada; he served from June 19, 1820-September 8, 1828.

160 years ago
1850

Born on this date
Frederick Holder. Australian politician. Sir Frederick, a Liberal, then Free Trade, then independent politician, was Premier of South Australia (June-October 1892, 1899-1901) before moving into federal politics, representing South Australia (1901-1903) and Wakefield (1903-1909) in the Australian House of Representatives, and serving as Speaker of the House from 1901 until his death on July 23, 1909 at the age of 59, when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while in the House.

Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. U.S. politician. Dr. Lodge was one of the first Harvard University students to obtain a doctorate in history and government. A Republican, he represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives (1887-1893) and Senate (1893-1924). As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Dr. Lodge led the successful opposition to U.S. participation in the League of Nations, and remained in the Senate until his death on November 9, 1924 at the age of 74.

140 years ago
1870

Canadiana
George-Etienne Cartier saw his Manitoba Act given Royal Assent, providing for the entry of Manitoba into Confederation as a province on July 15,1870. The original boundaries of Manitoba were 1/18th of what they became; the small, square size earned it the nickname "the postage stamp province."

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
Lincoln Ellsworth. U.S. explorer. Mr. Ellsworth accompanied Roald Amundsen on flights to the North Pole in 1925 and 1926, the latter of which resulted in the sighting of the geographic North Pole. He made four air expeditions to Antarctica from 1933-1939, and discovered the Ellsworth Mountains of Antarctica in 1925. Mr. Ellsworth died on May 26, 1951, two weeks after his 71st birthday.

120 years ago
1890

Scandal
General Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton was criticized by a select committee of the Canadian House of Commons for misappropriation of furs from a Métis named Charles Bremner during General Middleton's command of Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion in 1885. Sir Frederick resigned his post under censure in June 1890.

Baseball
A scoreless National League pitching duel between Amos Rusie of the New York Giants and Kid Nichols of the Boston Beaneaters at the Polo Grounds in New York ended in the 13th inning when Mike Tiernan of the Giants hit a long home run to give the Giants a 1-0 win. The ball cleared the center field fence and landed in adjacent Brotherhood Park, where the Giants of the Players League were playing. Mr. Tiernan was cheered by the fans of both teams. In the Players League game, the Boston Reds beat the Giants 12-2.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Lefty Mills. U.S. baseball pitcher. Howard Robinson Mills played with the St. Louis Browns (1934, 1937-1940), compiling a record of 15-30 with an earned run average of 6.06 in 96 games, batting .149 with 1 home run and 5 runs batted in. He was at least 34-29 in at least 4 seasons in the minor leagues from 1934-1937. Mr. Mills died on September 23, 1982 at the age of 72.

Gordon Jenkins. U.S. musician. Mr. Jenkins was a pianist, composer, and bandleader who was best known as an arranger. He achieved commercial success with recordings by his own orchestra, including several major hits accompanying the folk group the Weavers in the early 1950s. Mr. Jenkins' compositions included the suites Manhattan Tower (1946/1956) and Seven Dreams (1953). As an arranger, he was known for his lush string arrangements on several albums by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra in the 1950s and '60s. Mr. Jenkins died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on May 1, 1984, 11 days before his 74th birthday, and several years after being seriously injured in a car accident.

Dorothy Hodgkin. Egyptian-born U.K. biochemist. Dr. Hodgkin was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for her determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances." She died on July 29, 1994 at the age of 84.

James Dudley. U.S. baseball player and wrestling manager. Mr. Dudley was a backup catcher with the Baltimore Elite Giants for 9 seasons from 1938-1947, but played in only about 60 games. He spent almost 50 years with the company now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, working in various capacities, including managing an arena and managing several wrestlers. Mr. Dudley died on June 1, 2004, 20 days after his 94th birthday.

Johan Ferrier. 1st President of Suriname, 1975-1980. Mr. Ferrier, a member of the National Party of Suriname, was Prime Minister (1955-1958) and Governor (1968-1975) of Suriname, taking office as President upon Suriname achieving her independence from the Netherlands. He died of heart failure on January 4, 2010 at the age of 99.

Baseball
Chief Bender (5-0) pitched a no-hitter, allowing just a base on balls to Terry Turner in the 4th inning, as the Philadelphia Athletics blanked the Cleveland Naps 4-0 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia in a game that was played in 1 hour 36 minutes.

The Brooklyn Superbas scored 3 runs in the top of the 12th inning to break an 8-8 tie as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-9 before 2,000 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Brooklyn second baseman John Hummel batted 5 for 6 with a double, triple, 2 runs, and 5 runs batted in.

80 years ago
1930

Baseball
The Boston Braves claimed veteran pitcher Tom Zachary on waivers from the New York Yankees. He was 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in 3 games with New York in 1930, batting .250 (2 for 8) with a triple and 2 runs batted in.

The New York Giants jumped out to a 14-0 lead and held on to defeat the Chicago Cubs 14-12 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Winning pitcher Rube Benton (1-2) set a modern major league record for a single game by giving up 6 home runs, and hit a home run of his own. Bill McAfee relieved starting and losing pitcher Sheriff Blake (3-3) with 2 out in the 3rd inning and allowed 3 hits, including a home run, and 5 runs--all unearned--in his first major league game. He was relieved in turn by Bud Teachout, who allowed 5 hits and 1 run--earned--in 6.1 innings, walking 2 batters and striking out 5, batting 1 for 3 in his major league debut.

70 years ago
1940

War
German forces in Belgium crossed the Albert Canal and took the city of Wareem. Holland was virtually cut in two by advancing German forces. General Heinz Guderian's panzers struck across the Semois and occupied Sedan. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's forces reached the Meuse River near Dinant.

Diplomacy
Argentine Foreign Minister Jose Cantillo said that the Americas should adopt a non-belligerent attitude toward the European war.

Politics and government
A Gallup Poll survey of potential 1940 U.S. presidential preferences showed that President Franklin D. Roosevelt would get 52% of the vote to New York City District Attorney and potential Republican Party nominee Thomas Dewey.

Journalism
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano agreed to cease publication of political news at the request of the Italian government.

Baseball
Leo Durocher of the Brooklyn Dodgers received The Sporting News Award as the outstanding major league manager of 1939. In Mr. Durocher's first year as manager, the Dodgers had finished third in the National League with a record of 84-69, 12½ games behind the pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds. In 1938, with Burleigh Grimes as manager, the Dodgers had finished seventh with a record of 69-81, 17½ games behind the pennant-winning Chicago Cubs.

60 years ago
1950

At the movies
Motor Patrol, directed by Sam Newfield, and starring Don Castle and Jane Nigh, opened in theatres.



Married on this date
U.S. actors Paul Douglas and Jan Sterling were wed in Hollywood.

War
South Koreans warned U.S. officers in Korea that North Korean forces were massing for an invasion.

The U.S.S.R. protested Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan General Douglas MacArthur's creation of a parole board to consider clemency for imprisoned Japanese war criminals.

Defense
Associated Press reported the development of a new atomic bomb, as powerful as old models but small enough to be carried by jet fighters and fighter bombers.

The French National Assembly passed a 420-billion franc ($1.2 billion) 1950 defense budget, with $400 million earmarked for the war in Indochina.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver (Democrat--Tennessee) was named chairman of the new Senate Crime Investigating Committee.

Representatives of 15 Western and Midwestern U.S. states formed a Governors' Interstate Council of Indian Affairs in Salt Lake City.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil anti-trust suit charging seven major oil companies and the Conservation Committee of California Oil Producers with price-fixing and restraining competition in crude and refined oil in the Pacific states.

Bowling
The American Bowling Congress abolished a 34-year-old rule limiting membership to "white males."

Baseball
Hans Stoever of Rush High School in Rochester, New York struck out 30 batters in a 6-2 12-inning win over Scottsville High School. Scottsville’s starting pitcher, Gail Rhineland, who had only one hand, had pitched a no-hitter the previous week.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Marina--Rocco Granata and the International Quintet (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers (2nd week at #1)

Baseball
In the Florida State League, Michael Mattaice of the Palatka Redlegs pitched his second straight no-hitter as the Redlegs whipped Tampa 20-0. On May 3 he had tossed a 4-0 no-hitter vs. Daytona Beach.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)--Edison Lighthouse (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Mademoiselle Ninette--The Soulful Dynamics (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Nelly Sachs, 78. German-born Swedish poet and playwright. Miss Sachs fled with her mother to Sweden in 1940. Her experiences as a Jewess in Germany informed her writing, and she was awarded a share of the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her outstanding lyrical and dramatic writing, which interprets Israel's destiny with touching strength."

John Dillard, 50. U.S. military officer. Major General Dillard, head of the U.S. Army Engineer Command in South Vietnam, was killed with nine other Americans when their helicopter was shot down near Pleiku. He was the sixth U.S. general to be killed in action in the Vietnam War.

Abominations
The United States Senate voted 94-0 to confirm Harry Blackmun, 61, a judge with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th District in Minnesota, as the newest member of the Supreme Court of the United States, replacing Abe Fortas, who had resigned in 1969. Justice Blackmun went on to write the court’s infamous Roe v. Wade judgement in 1973, which legalized abortion throughout the U.S.A., leading to the deaths of countless millions of unborn babies.

Protest
Six Negroes were killed, 60 Negroes and whites were injured, and 50 buildings were destroyed when Negroes rioted in Atlanta, three days after a Negro youth had died in the city jail. Georgia Governor Lester Maddox called the riot a "Communist conspiracy," imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew, and sent in 1,200 National Guardsmen to surround the affected neighbourhood, with orders to shoot to kill.

Politics and government
Robert Bourassa was sworn in as Premier of Quebec, 13 days after his Liberals defeated the Union Nationale government of Jean-Jacques Bertrand. Mr. Bourassa's cabinet included Jérôme Choquette (Minister of Justice); Pierre Laporte (Minister of Labour); and Guy Saint-Pierre (Minister of Education).

Kenneth Gibson, a 37-year-old city engineer, earned more than twice the number of votes cast for incumbent Hugh Addonizio in the mayoral election of Newark, New Jersey. However, since he did not win a clear majority of the vote, Mr. Gibson was required to face Mr. Addonizio in a runoff election on June 16. Mr. Addonizio was under U.S. federal indictment for extortion and tax evasion.

Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 1976 Summer Olympic Games to Montréal.

Baseball
The Kansas City Royals released second baseman Jerry Adair as he was preparing to board the team's flight to Cleveland, ending his major league career. He was batting .148 with no home runs and 1 run batted in in 7 games with Kansas City in 1970. Mr. Adair batted .254 with 57 homers and 366 RBIs in 1,165 games from 1958-1970.

The Montreal Expos traded catcher Jack Hiatt to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Boots Day. Mr. Hiatt was batting .326 with no home runs and 7 runs batted in in 27 games wit Montreal in 1970, while Mr. Day was batting .250 (2 for 8) with no homers or RBIs in 11 games with Chicago in 1970.

Art Shamsky hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 5th inning and the New York Mets took advantage of 4 bases on balls to score 3 in the 6th as they beat the Montreal Expos 8-4 before 8,521 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Boots Day, in his first game as an Expo, flied out as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning and played the bottom of the 7th in center field, with no fielding chances. Joe Sparma, the fifth of six Montreal pitchers, allowed no hits and 1 run--earned--in 1 inning, walking 4 batters and striking out 1 in the 185th and last game of his 7-year major league career.

Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs hit his 500th career major league home run and 1,600th run batted in as the Cubs edged the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in 11 innings before 5,264 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Banks hit his milestone home run off Pat Jarvis. The Braves were ahead until Billy Williams homered in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game. Ron Santo singled home Don Kessinger with the winning run in the 11th. Rico Carty of the Braves had 3 singles to extend his hitting streak to 30 games.



Billy Cowan's bases-loaded single with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning scored Ken McMullen and Bill Voss to complete a 4-run rally, giving the California Angels a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox before 7,806 fans at Anaheim Stadium.

Sal Bando's 2-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Oakland Athletics a 5-3 win over the Washington Senators before 3,230 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Got You--Split Enz (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Runaway--Chanels (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Rapper's Delight--Sugarhill Gang (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Weekend--Earth and Fire (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Lillian Roth, 69. U.S. actress and singer. Miss Roth, born Lillian Rutstein, achieved popularity in musical productions on stage and screen in the 1920s and early '30s, but her career was derailed by heavy drinking. Her autobiography I'll Cry Tomorrow (1954) was adapted into a movie in 1955, starring Susan Hayward, and its success enabled Miss Roth to make a comeback in shows such as the Broadway musicals I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1962) and Funny Girl (1964). She died three months after suffering a stroke.

Personal
This blogger started his first job, working at the Edmonton Journal’s plant in the Eastgate Business Park--and hating it.

Aviation
Maxie Anderson and his son Chris Anderson landed their 23-metre-high helium-filled balloon, The Kitty Hawk, at Québec City to complet the first non-stop balloon flight across North America. They flew the 2,000 miles from San Francisco to Québec in four days.

Religion
Pope John Paul left Abidjan, Ivory Coast for Rome, ending his 10-day visit to Africa.

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): We are the World--USA for Africa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

Golf
Kathy Whitworth won the United Virginia Bank Classic in Suffolk, Virginia, for her 88th and final victory on the LPGA Tour. She holds the record for most titles of any golfer, male or female.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Edmonton 6 @ Chicago 8 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Philadelphia 3 @ Quebec 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Basketball
NBA
The New York Knickerbockers won the draft lottery, and used the first pick to select center Patrick Ewing of the Georgetown University Hoyas.

Baseball
San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Jim Gott hit 2 home runs as the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 in 10 innings before 19,614 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Mr. Gott allowed 3 earned runs in 7 innings; Scott Garrelts pitched the 10th inning and was credited with the win.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Vogue/Keep It Together--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vogue--Madonna

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Vogue--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh

#1 single in France (SNEP): Words--The Christians

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Killer--Adamski featuring Seal

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Kingston Town--UB40
2 The Power--Snap!
3 Vogue--Madonna
4 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
5 Paint it Black--The Rolling Stones
6 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
7 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins
8 Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
9 Save Me--Fleetwood Mac
10 Oranje Bovenaan--André Hazes

Paint it Black had originally been a hit in 1966. Singles entering the chart were Pump That Body by Mr. Lee (#26); All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You by Heart (#28); Hand In Hand Achter Oranje by Het Nederlands Elftal & Ron Brandsteder en de Havenzangers (#31); A Dreams a Dream by Soul II Soul (#33); What's a Woman? by Vaya Con Dios (#36); and Hangin' Tough by New Kids on the Block (#37). Hand In Hand Achter Oranje was the theme song for the Dutch soccer team in the 1990 World Cup.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)
2 Vogue--Madonna
3 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
4 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
5 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
6 Hold On--Wilson Phillips
7 Sending All My Love--Linear
8 Alright--Janet Jackson
9 What it Takes--Aerosmith
10 Poison--Bell Biv DeVoe

Singles entering the chart were Rub You the Right Way by Johnny Gill (#49); The Power by Snap! (#81); Bad of the Heart by George LaMond (#84); Shake by Andrew Ridgeley (#86); When I Dream of You by Tommy Page (#87); Mentirosa by Mellow Man Ace (#88); Jealous Again by the Black Crowes (#95); and When Something is Wrong with My Baby by Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor (3rd week at #1)
2 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
3 Vogue--Madonna
4 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
5 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
6 Whip Appeal--Babyface
7 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
8 What it Takes--Aerosmith
9 Alright--Janet Jackson
10 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield

Singles entering the chart were When I Dream of You by Tommy Page (#53); Rub You the Right Way by Johnny Gill (#55); Hold On by En Vogue (#56); The Downeaster "Alexa" by Billy Joel (#75); Up All Night by Slaughter (#77); "B" Girls by Young and Restless (#82); and Blues Before and After by Smithereens (#91).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor (2nd week at #1)
2 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
5 This Old Heart of Mine--Rod Stewart with Ronald Isley
6 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles
7 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
8 Vogue--Madonna
9 The Heart of the Matter--Don Henley
10 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway

Singles entering the chart were Before We Fall by Sheree (#72); The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground (#74); Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue by Expose (#84); Get a Life by Soul II Soul (#88); Doubleback by ZZ Top (#90); and Hit 'Em with Your Thing by Nasty Joe (#91).

Politics and government
MPP Mike Harris (Nipissing) won the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, defeating rookie MPP Diane Cunningham of London by a margin of 7,175-5,825. The leader was chosen a by one-member, one-vote system from 33,000 party members.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Adam Petty, 19. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Petty, a fourth-generation stock car driver on the NASCAR circuit, began his career in 1998, and was making progress at the time of his death from a basilar skull fracture when his car's throttle stuck and the car crashed into a wall during a practice session for the Busch 200 race in New Hampshire.

War
The border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea which had begun in 1998 flared again when Ethiopia launched an attack to reclaim land lost in the earlier fighting. Ethiopia had rejected a settlement negotiated in 1999 by the Organization of African States.

A cease-fire was declared in the 25-year guerrilla war in the Indonesian oil province of Aceh.

Economics and finance
Quebec Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Bernard Landry announced that the Government of Quebec would inject $14.5 million into the Gaspé economy; the money would be used to create nearly 800 jobs related to four major projects.

Business
Ford Motor Company confirmed that it was closing its Dagenham plant in Essex, England after more than 70 years of operation, meaning the loss of about 3,000 jobs.

Baseball
Pedro Martinez (6-1) pitched a 2-hitter, walked no batters, and struck out 15, giving him an American League record-tying 32 strikeouts in his last 2 games, as the Boston Red Sox blanked the Baltimore Orioles 9-0 before 48,354 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels combined to hit 9 home runs as the Rangers won 13-11 before 35,305 fans at Edison International Field of Anaheim. Anaheim catcher Bengie Molina batted 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, a double, 4 runs, and 3 runs batted in.

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning and costed to a 13-0 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals before 44,975 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Darren Dreifort (3-1) pitched a 2-hit shutout.

Pokey Reese hit a 3-run home run and winning pitcher Danny Graves followed with a homer as the Cincinnati Reds scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 3--3 tie and defeated the Houston Astros 7-3 before 42,043 fans at Enron Field in Houston. Mr. Graves (5-0), the fourth Cincinnati pitcher, allowed 3 hits and no runs in 3 innings.

The Colorado Rockies took a 13-6 lead after 3 innings and coasted to a 15-7 win over the San Francisco Giants before 42,566 fans at Coors Field in Denver. Colorado left fielder Jeffrey Hammonds drove in 7 runs with 3-run home runs in each of the first 2 innings and a single in the 7th, while first baseman Todd Helton batted 4 for 5 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and a run batted in.