November 30, 2010

310 years ago
1700

War
Swedish forces led by King Charles XII defeated the Russian army in the Battle of Narva.

200 years ago
1810

Born on this date
Oliver Winchester. U.S. businessman and politician. Mr. Winchester bought the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, a division of Smith and Wesson, in 1855. The repeating rifle's design was improved, and the company was named the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866. The Winchester rifles were tremendously successful with pioneers in the western United States, making Mr. Winchester a wealthy man. A Republican, he was a City Commissioner in New Haven, Connecticut, and was Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut (1866-1867). Mr. Winchester died on December 10, 1880, 10 days after his 70th birthday.

180 years ago
1830

Died on this date
Pius VIII, 69. Roman Catholic Pope, 1829-1830. Pius VIII, born Francesco Saverio Maria Felice Castiglioni, earned a doctorate in canon law and civil law, and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1785, rising through the ranks until he succeeded Leo XII on the papal throne. He opposed masonic secret societies and modernistic Bible translations, and addressed the issue of marriages between Catholics and Protestants, approving them only if the children were raised as Catholics. Pope Pius VIII suffered from poor health during his entire reign, and his health declined seriously in the final weeks before his death, 10 days after his 69th birthday. Some have speculated that Pope Pius VIII was poisoned, but evidence is lacking. He was succeeded by Gregory XVI.

175 years ago
1835

Born on this date
Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain). U.S. author. The author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) was born in Florida, Missouri.

170 years ago
1840

Born on this date
Henry Birks. Canadian businessman. Mr. Birks, a native of Montreal, founded the jewellery firm Henry Birks and Sons in Montreal in 1879. He died on April 16, 1928 at the age of 87.

125 years ago
1885

Born on this date
Albert Kesselring. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring served with the Bavarian Army (1904-1918); Reichswehr (1918-1933); and Luftwaffe (1933-1945), serving in both world wars and becoming one of Germany's most decorated officers. He commanded air forces in the invasions of Poland, France, and the U.S.S.R., as well as the Battle of Britain. In 1947, Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring was convicted at Nuremburg of war crimes for ordering the murder of 335 Italian civilians in the Ardeatine massacre in 1944, and for inciting and ordering his troops to kill civilians in reprisals against the Italian resistance movement. He was sentenced to death by firing squad, but the sentence was soon commuted to life imprisonment. Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring was released from prison in 1952 on grounds of ill health because of a cancerous growth in his throat, but he lived until his death from a heart attack on July 16, 1960 at the age of 74.

110 years ago
1900

Died on this date
Oscar Wilde, 46. Irish author. The author of The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) died in Paris. His last words were reported as "I am dying beyond my means." Another account has it that his last words were, "Either that wallpaper goes or I do."

80 years ago
1930

Football
NFL
Brooklyn (7-3-1) 7 @ New York (11-4) 6
Green Bay (10-2) 37 @ Staten Island (5-5-2) 7
Portsmouth (4-6-2) 6 @ Chicago Bears (8-4-1) 14

75 years ago
1935

Football
CRU
Eastern Final
Hamilton Tigers 22 Sarnia Imperials 3 @ Toronto

70 years ago
1940

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Woodpecker Song--Kate Smith; Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (1st month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Only Forever--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
George B. McClellan, Jr., 75. U.S. politician. Mr. McClellan, son of U.S. Civil War Union Army General George McLellan, was a Democrat who represented New York's 12 District in the United States House of Representatives from 1895-1903, and served as Mayor of New York from 1904-1909. He later became a professor of economic history at Princeton University. Mr. McClellan died a week after his 75th birthday.

Married on this date
U.S. actress Lucille Ball married Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz in Greenwich, Connecticut.

War
The Greek Army announced the capture of the Italian base of Pogradec in northeastern Albania. Italian Duce Benito Mussolini's newspaper Il Popole d'Italia stated that Italy would settle her quarrel with Greece alone and without the military help of Germany. Radio reports from Rome announced that the Axis powers had abandoned their plans for the defeat of Britain through actual invasion. Thailand announced the occupation of the French Indochinese districts of Banongkien, Bangkokekrabein, and Patruchai, as well as reprisal air raids on Thakhek and Savannakhet in the undeclared war.

Diplomacy
Japan officially recognized the Chinese government in Nanking in a treaty signed by Lieutenant General Noriyuki Abe and "President" Wang Ching-wei.

Politics and government
Paraguayan President Morinigo established a virtual dictatorship by signing a decree granting him full power to carry out the "Paraguayan revolution."

Economics and finance
The U.S. administration of President Harry Truman announced that a $50-million credit had been given to China and that an additional $50 million load would be made soon.

Society
The United States Census Bureau reported that the excess of males over females in the U.S.A. was being reduced by nearly 100,000 per year, and that in about five years there would be a female majority.

Football
CRU
Grey Cup
Ottawa Rough Riders 8 @ Toronto Balmy Beach 2 (First game of 2-game total points series)

Dave Sprague scored the game’s only touchdown, converted by Rick Perley, while Sammy Sward added 2 singles as the Rough Riders defeated Balmy Beach before 4,998 fans at Varsity Stadium. Bobby Porter’s 2 singles accounted for Balmy Beach’s scoring.

NCAA
Navy defeated Army 14-0 in the annual game between the two defense academies at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia.

60 years ago
1950

War
United Nations forces on the west coast of Korea withdrew to a line midway between Pyongyang and the Yalu River to avoid encirclement by Chinese Communist forces. In a formal statement, U.S. President Harry Truman denied any intention of abandoning [the UN] mission in Korea," and threatened to use atomic weapons if necessary to prevent Chinese forces from overrunning the peninsula.

Education
The New York State Court of Appeals upheld a state law barring Communists from teaching in public schools.

Technology
The first concentrated milk, maunfactured by Sealtest, was sold in Wilmington, Delaware.

Economics and finance
Argentina's first automobile factory was opened in Buenos Aires in ceremonies attended by President Juan Peron.

Labour
U.S. Steel and the United Steel Workers of America agreed on a 10% wage raise averaging 16c-18c per hour, an agreement expected to set the pattern for the one million-worker steel industry.

Business
The same day that it reached its agreement with the USW, U.S. Steel raised prices by 5½% ($5.50 per ton).

50 years ago
1960

Business
The last DeSoto rolled off the assembly line in Detroit, 12 days after Chrysler Corporation had announced the discontinuation of the passenger car marque, after more than 32 years of production. Only 3,034 1961 DeSotos were sold.



40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kyōto no Koi--Yūko Nagisa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): N'A Veiriña Do Mar--María Ostiz (3rd week at #1)

Religion

Pope Paul VI departed Manila and visited Western Samoa before arriving in Sydney, Australia.

Football
NFL
Miami (7-4) 20 @ Atlanta (3-6-2) 7



30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): He's So Shy--The Pointer Sisters

#1 single in Switzerland: Woman in Love--Barbra Streisand (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
Edwin Meese, a senior adviser to U.S. President-elect Ronald Reagan, stated that the U.S. and U.S.S.R. would begin talks on a new arms limitation treaty within a few weeks of Mr. Reagan’s inauguration on Jaunuary 20.

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Election Day--Arcadia (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Only Love--Nana Mouskouri (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Take on Me--A-Ha

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): A Good Heart--Feargal Sharkey (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: I'm Your Man--Wham!

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Separate Lives--Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Separate Lives--Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
2 We Built This City--Starship
3 You Belong to the City--Glenn Frey
4 Broken Wings--Mr. Mister
5 Miami Vice Theme--Jan Hammer
6 Head Over Heels--Tears for Fears
7 Never--Heart
8 Who’s Zoomin’ Who--Aretha Franklin
9 Lay Your Hands On Me--Thompson Twins
10 Be Near Me--ABC

Singles entering the chart were I’m Your Man by Wham! (#45); When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean (#55); Everything in My Heart by Corey Hart (#62); The Sweetest Taboo by Sade (#76); The Sun Always Shines on T.V. by A-Ha (#80); Leader of the Pack by Twisted Sister (#83); Can You Feel the Beat by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force (#86); Life in a Northern Town by The Dream Academy (#87); Love in a Vacuum by 'Til Tuesday (#89); and Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground) by Mike + the Mechanics (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Separate Lives--Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin (2nd week at #1)
2 We Built This City--Starship
3 Oh Sheila--Ready for the World
4 Part-Time Lover--Stevie Wonder
5 Alive and Kicking--Simple Minds
6 Cherish--Kool & The Gang
7 You Belong to the City--Glenn Frey
8 Broken Wings--Mr. Mister
8 Lay Your Hands on Me--Thompson Twins
9 Situation Critical--Platinum Blonde
10 Tarzan Boy--Baltimora

Singles entering the chart were That's What Friends are For by Dionne and Friends (with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder) (#80); I'm Your Man by Wham! (#82); Emergency by Kool & The Gang (#87); Cosmetics by Gowan (#90); Burning Heart by Survivor (#96); Go by Asia (#97); and Goodbye by Night Ranger (#98).

Died on this date
Phil Tucker, 58. U.S. movie director, producer, and editor. Mr. Tucker directed several low-budget films from 1953-1960, and was best known for producing and directing Robot Monster (1953), one of the worst movies ever made. He edited several movies and episodes of television programs in the 1970s and '80s.

Football
CIAU
Vanier Cup @ Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Calgary 25 Western Ontario 6

Lew Lawrick threw touchdown passes to Mike Siroishka and Randy Guy and handed off to Elio Geremia for another touchdown to lead the Dinosaurs over the Mustangs before 16,321 fans for their second Canadian championship in three years. The Mustangs scored first on a touchdown pass from Steve Samways to Rick Wolkensperg, but Jeff Crews’ convert was blocked, and Western Ontario never scored again. Brent Matich converted all 3 Calgary touchdowns and added a field goal and a single. The game was played on a muddy field.



10 years ago
2000

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour, with a five-man crew comanded by Brent Jett, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin mission STS-97, an 11-day mission aboard the International Space Station.