June 25, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gail McGonigal!

480 years ago
1530

Religion
At the Diet of Augsburg, the Augsburg Confession was presented to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V by the Lutheran princes and Electors of Germany.

175 years ago
1835

Died on this date
Antoine-Jean Gros, 64. French artist. Baron Gros was a neoclassicist painter who obtained the patronage of Napoleon Bonaparte, and painted pictures of Napoleon, historical scenes, and portraits. His later paintings were considered unfashionable when Romanticism increased in popularity, and he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Seine River in Meudon, a suburb of Paris.

170 years ago
1840

Canadiana
Quebec and Montreal were both given city charters.

150 years ago
1860

Born on this date
Gustave Charpentier, 95. French composer. Mr. Charpentier was best known for his opera Louise (1900). He died on February 18, 1956 at the age of 95.

140 years ago
1870

Died on this date
David Heaton, 47. U.S. politician. Mr. Heaton was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1855; he moved to Minnesota two years later, and was a member of the Minnesota State Senate (1858-1863). He went to Bern, North Carolina as a U.S. Treasury Department agent in 1863 after Union troops occupied the area during the American Civil War, and remained there after the war. As a Republican, Mr. Heaton represented North Carolina's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1868 until his death.

125 years ago
1885

Born on this date
Roy Henry. Canadian insurance executive. This blogger's maternal grandfather ran Roy Henry Insurance for many years. After retiring, he became the first historian of the Edmonton Eskimos football club. He died on January 14, 1969 at the age of 83, and is still missed.

Baseball
The Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Athletics as 10 Brooklyn players had at least 2 hits each. Trolley Dodger third baseman George Pinckney batted 6 for 6, while Philadelphia shortstop George Strief had 4 triples and a double.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Louis Mountbatten. U.K. military officer and statesman. Earl Mountbatten, an uncle of Prince Philip and second cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II, was Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command (1943–1946); First Sea Lord (1955-1959); and Chief of the Defence Staff (1959-1965). He was the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first Governor-General of independent India (1947–1948). Lord Mountbatten, along with his grandson Nicholas, 14, and crew member Paul Maxwell, 15, was killed on August 27, 1979 at the age of 79 when a bomb planted by Irish Republican Army terrorists exploded aboard his fishing boat a mile off the coast of County Sligo in northwestern Ireland. Four other passengers were seriously injured, one of whom, Doreen, Lady Brabourne, 83, died the next day.

Georgia Hale. U.S. actress. Miss Hale was known for her appearances in the silent movies The Salvation Hunters (1925); The Gold Rush (1925); and The Great Gatsby (1926). She retired from acting in 1928, and became wealthy through real estate investments. Miss Hale died on June 17, 1985, eight days before her 85th birthday.

Marta Abba. Italian actress. Miss Abba was a stage actress who was known for inspiring and acting in the plays of Luigi Pirandelli from their first meeting in 1925 until his death in 1936. She died on June 24, 1988, the day before her 88th birthday.

Literature
Taoist monk Wang Yuanlu discovered the Dunhuang manuscripts, a cache of ancient texts of great historical and religious significance, in the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, China.

100 years ago
1910

Ballet
The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky premiered at Opéra de Paris, bringing Mr. Stravinsky to prominence as a composer.

Aviation
The 12-day International Aviation Congress, the first of its kind in Canada, opened in Montreal.

Society
The United States Congress passed the Mann Act, prohibiting interstate transport of women or girls for “immoral purposes;” the ambiguous language was used to selectively prosecute people for years to come.

80 years ago
1930

Law
A judge in Chicago ruled that a foul ball hit into the stands at a baseball game belongs "to the boy who grabs it," and dismissed a charge of disorderly conduct against 17-year-old Arthur Porto, who had caught a foul ball off the bat of Chicago Cubs’ slugger Hack Wilson at Wrigley Field the previous day and refused to hand it over when an usher demanded its return. The usher had told him that the Cubs could not "afford to let the customers walk off with their baseballs." Mr. Porto and two friends had been arrested by stadium security staff.

Baseball
Gabby Hartnett hit 2 home runs and 2 singles and drove in 6 runs, including the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning, as the Chicago Cubs edged the Philadelphia Phillies 13-12 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Kiki Cuyler drove in 5 runs for the Cubs with a home run and a double.

The New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Browns 5-4 and 16-4 at Yankee Stadium. Sam Byrd had a single, double, and triple for the Yankees in the first game, while Babe Ruth hit his 25th and 26th home runs of the season in the second game. Billy Werber played shortstop for New York in the second game, batting 2 for 3 with 2 bases on balls, with 2 runs, and making 7 putouts, 2 assists, and an error, participating in a double play in his first major league game.

The Washington Nationals scored 11 runs in the 7th inning as they beat the Cleveland Indians 13-5 at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Ossie Bluege led the Nationals with 4 hits, and Sam Rice drove in 4 runs.

75 years ago
1935

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. and Colombia established diplomatic relations.

Boxing
Joe Louis (20-0) scored a technical knockout over former world heavyweight champion Primo Carnera (81-8) at 2:32 of the 6th round at Yankee Stadium in New York. The "Brown Bomber" knocked the "Ambling Alp" down 3 times and had him draped helplessly over the top rope when referee Arthur Donovan stopped the fight.



70 years ago
1940

On the radio



War
The Royal Canadian Navy destroyer HMCS Fraser was sunk in collision off France. Shortly after midnight, the cease-fire took effect in France, and France declared a day of national mourning.

Diplomacy
League of Nations Secretary General Joseph Avenol instructed the remaining 89 League employees to resign.

Japan said that it would not permit any foreign power interference in East Asia, including Indochina and Netherlands East Indies.

Politics and government
The United Kingdom granted India and Burma the right to govern themselves as a step toward dominion status.

Delegates to the Republican National Convention at Philadelphia Convention Hall forced changes in the party platform, making it more isolationist. Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover addressed the convention, charging that current President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies had been disastrous, and appealing to the delegates to make Mr. Hoover the Republican Party's 1940 candidate for President of the United States.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the tax bill raising the national debt to $49 billion and adding 2.2 million people to the tax rolls.

U.S. President Roosevelt signed a bill permitting the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to purchase stock of Federal Home Loan Banks.

60 years ago
1950

War
75,000 North Korean People's Army troops invaded South Korea at dawn at six points along the 200-mile border, beginning the Korean War. The North Koreans also made amphibious landings on South Korea's east coast. The United Nations Security Council, boycotted by the U.S.S.R., unanimously passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Korea and withdrawal of North Korean invaders to the 38th Parallel, and asked all UN members "to render every assistance to the UN in the execution of this resolution" and "to refrain from giving assistance" to North Korea. U.S. President Harry Truman told an emergency strategy meeting in Blair House that the United States must take decisive action to save South Korea from the northern attack, and prevent Communist expansion in the Far East, regardless of previous policy.



Labour
A strike by 4,000 members of the American Federation of Labour Switchmen's Union halted operation of four Midwestern and Western railroads.

Auto racing
AAA
Championship Car Series
Jack McGrath won the Langhorne 100 on the dirt track at Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania. Henry Banks finished second and Chuck Stevenson third in the 18-car field.

Baseball
Ralph Kiner hit for the cycle and added a second home run, driving in 8 runs, to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Brooklyn Dodgers 16-11 before 20,196 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

The Chicago Cubs scored 7 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 4-4 tie and withstood a 4-run rally in the bottom of the 9th as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-8 in the first game of a doubleheader before 18,484 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Hank Sauer led the Chicago attack, batting 4 for 4 with a base on balls, 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 4 runs batted in. Richie Ashburn singled home Putsy Caballero with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th to give the Phillies a 2-1 win in the second game. Robin Roberts (9-3) pitched a 7-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bob Rush (8-6), who allowed 8 hits. The results left the Phillies ½ game behind the first-place Dodgers in the National League pennant race.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport--Rolf Harris (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Scandalo al sole (The Theme from "A Summer Place")--Percy Faith and his Orchestra (8th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wir wollen niemals auseinandergehn--Heidi Brühl (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers (9th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool--Connie Francis
2 Cathy’s Clown--The Everly Brothers
3 Alley-Oop--The Hollywood Argyles
--Dante and the Evergreens
4 Because They're Young--Duane Eddy and the Rebels
5 Burning Bridges--Jack Scott
6 Swingin’ School--Bobby Rydell
7 Paper Roses--Anita Bryant
8 Good Timin’--Jimmy Jones
9 A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall in Love)--Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
10 Love You So--Ron Holden with the Thunderbirds

Singles entering the chart were There's Something on Your Mind (Part 2) by Bobby Marchan (#66); Tuxedo Junction (#69)/Where are You (#88) by Frankie Avalon; Look for a Star, with versions by Garry Miles; and Deane Hawley (#71); Sticks and Stones by Ray Charles and his Orchestra (#75); Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson (#77); Trouble in Paradise by the Crests (#78); Wake Me, Shake Me by the Coasters (#80); Bad Man Blunder by the Kingston Trio (#86); All the Love I've Got by Marv Johnson (#87); Johnny Freedom by Johnny Horton (#89); Don't Come Knockin' by Fats Domino (#90); Feel So Fine by Johnny Preston (#92); Is a Blue Bird Blue by Conway Twitty (#94); and Question by Lloyd Price and his Orchestra (#98). Don't Come Knockin' was the other side of Walking to New Orleans, which had yet to chart.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Mule Skinner Blues--The Fendermen
2 Alley-Oop--The Hollywood Argyles
3 Biology--Danny Valentino
4 I'm Sorry--Brenda Lee
5 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool--Connie Francis
6 Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)--Roy Orbison
7 Because They're Young--Duane Eddy and the Rebels
8 Mission Bell--Donnie Brooks
9 Paper Roses--Anita Bryant
10 When Will I Be Loved--The Everly Brothers

Singles entering the chart were Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini by Brian Hyland (#14); Image of a Girl by the Safaris with the Phantom's Band (#23); Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson (#35); Feel So Fine by Johnny Preston (#44); Do You Mind? by Andy Williams (#45); How Long by Darwin and the Cupids (#48); Big Boy Pete by the Olympics (#51); I'm Getting Better by Jim Reeves (#52); Walking to New Orleans by Fats Domino (#53); Josephine by Bill Black's Combo (#54); Bad Man Blunder by the Kingston Trio (#56); Girls, Girls, Girls by Steve Lawrence (#57); Bye Bye Johnny by Chuck Berry (#58); Mojo Workout (Dance) by Larry Bright (#59); and Rainbow's End by Chet Atkins (#60).

At the movies
Inherit the Wind, produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, and starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, and Dick York, received its world premiere screening at the Berlin Film Festival.



Died on this date
Tommy Corcoran, 91. U.S. baseball player and umpire. Mr. Corcoran was a shortstop with the Pittsburgh Burghers (1890); Philadelphia Athletics (1891); Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1892-1896); Cincinnati Reds (1897-1906); and New York Giants (1907), batting .256 with 34 home runs and 1,137 runs batted in in 2,205 games. On August 7, 1903, he made 14 assists, which remains the major league record for a 9-inning game. Mr. Corcoran became an umpire after his playing days, and umpired for a season in the Federal League.

Diplomacy
William Martin and Bernon Mitchell, cryptographers working for the United States National Security Agency, left for vacation to Mexico, and from there defected to the Soviet Union.

40 years ago
1970

War
U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers told a press conference that the United States had taken a "political initiative" to get Egypt and Israel to "stop shooting and start talking."

Politics and government
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau issued a White Paper on foreign policy; it outlined ways to safeguard sovereignty and increase foreign aid.

Abominations
Royal assent was given to the revised Canada Elections Act, lowering the federal voting age from 21 to 18.

Environment
Canadian Fisheries Minister Jack Davis announced a $1.5-million assistance program for fishermen and processors hurt by mercury contamination of fish in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Economics and finance
U.S. Commerce Secretary Maurice Stans gave the Nixon administration’s "reluctant" support to legislation imposing import quotas on textiles. The move came the day after negotiations with Japan seeking an agreement on textile trade collapsed.

Disasters
Seven people died and about a dozen were injured when a U.S. Navy jet trainer crashed into a residential area in San Antonio, Texas.

30 years ago
1980

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Letting Go

This was the 86th and last episode of the series.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Ottawa (0-2-1) 24 @ Montreal (3-0) 34
Winnipeg (1-2) 20 @ Toronto (0-3) 16

25 years ago
1985

Terrorism
13 people were arrested in connection with a suspected Irish Republican Army bombing campaign uncovered by British police two days earlier.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Taiyō no Komachi Angel (太陽のＫｏｍａｃｈｉ　Ａｎｇｅｌ)--B'z

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Verdammt, Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Ezio Faraone, 33. Canadian policeman. Mr. Faraone was a constable with Edmonton Police Service. He was with a Tactical Team Unit looking for the getaway car after a bank robbery by Albert Foulston and Jerry Crews, and spotted the car. Constable Faraone saw Mr. Foulston in the front seat and went over to the car, only to be fatally shot by Mr. Crews, who was hiding in the back seat. Constable Faraone was the first Edmonton policeman to be murdered on duty since 1919.

Diplomacy
South African terrorist Nelson Mandela met with U.S. President George Bush at the White House. Mr. Bush urged all parties in South Africa to renounce violence, but Mr. Mandela refused to make that commitment.

World events
Chinese dissidents Fang Lizhi, a physicist, and his wife Li Shuxian left China and flew to London aboard a U.S. Air Force plane. The couple had entered the United States embassy in Beijing in June 1989 to avoid being seized by Chinese authorities in the wake of the aborted uprising against the Communist regime. The Chinese government accused the couple of helping incite the pro-democracy movement. In a statement issued as they left, they admitted opposing elements of the Chinese constitution and agreed not to participate in "activities whose motive lies in opposing China." Mr. Fang was to become affiliated with Cambridge University.

10 years ago
2000

Politics and government
The final day of parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe produced a large voter turnout, but international observers said that the polls were tainted by a dirty campaign plagued by violence and intimidation. Opponents of dictator Robert Mugabe posted gains, nonetheless, with the Movement for Democratic Change receiving 47% of the popular vote and taking 57 of 120 seats in the House of Assembly, to 48% of the vote and 63 seats for Mr. Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF).

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader received the Green Party nomination for President of the United States for the November election; he had also been the Green Party nominee in 1996. Mr. Nader vowed to raise $5 million and wage a serious campaign. He was averaging about 5% support in public opinion polls.