January 14, 2011

880 years ago
1131

Born on this date
Valdemar I. King of Denmark, 1154-1182. Valdemar I "the Great" joined forces with Knut V and they became joint kings in 1154; Valdemar became sole King after the deaths of Knud and rival Sweyn III in 1157. King Valdemar reorganized and rebuilt Denmark after more than a decade of civil war; he died on May 12, 1182 at the age of 51 and was succeeded by his son Valdemar II.

710 years ago
1301

Died on this date
Andrew III, 35 (?). King of Hungary and Croatia, 1290-1301. Andrew III "the Venetian" was the son of Stephen, the posthumous son of King Andrew II of Hungary and Croatia, although Stephen's brothers regarded him as a bastard. Andrew III grew up in Venice, visited Hungary for the first time in 1278, and returned to Hungary to take the throne after the assassination of King Laduslaus IV. He successfully fended off several challenges by pretenders to the throne, but died after a period of illness--there were suggestions that he was poisoned--and was succeeded by his son-in-law Wenceslaus III.

270 years ago
1741

Born on this date
Benedict Arnold. American-born military officer. Major General Arnold served with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War from 1775-1780, earning the admiration of George Washington. Maj. Gen. Arnold resented that he was passed over for promotion by the Continental Congress; he married Peggy Shippen, who had Loyalist sympathies, in 1779, and began secretly communicating with British representatives. Gen. Washington placed Maj. Gen. Arnold in command of West Point, New York on August 3, 1780, and began preparations to hand the fort over to British forces. The plot was foiled on September 23 when British spy Major John André was captured by American militiamen. Maj. Gen. Arnold found out the next day and managed to escape to the British side, where he was commissioned as a brigadier general, serving in the war until the British surrendered in 1781. He went to England after the war, but was unsuccessful in advancing his career, and moved to Saint John, New Brunswick in 1785. Brig. Gen. Arnold specualted in land and established a business trading with the West Indies, but was involved in legal disputes with his neighbours in New Brunswick, and returned to London in December 1791. He suffered from gout and the lingering effects of wounds suffered in the Revolutionary War, and died in London on June 14, 1801 at the age of 60.

250 years ago
1761

War
The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in India between the Afghans under Ahmad Shah Durrani and Maratha Empire forces led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau, resulting in the Marathas losing suzerainty over Punjab above north of the Sutlej River to the Durranis.

150 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Mehmed VI. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1918-1922. Mehmed VI, the son of Sultan Abdülmecid I, succeeded to the throne two years after the apparent suicide of Crown Prince Yusuf Izzettin Efendi, heir to the throne. Mehmed VI's reign ended on November 1, 1922, when the Ottoman sultanate was abolished; he went into exile in Malta, and later in Italy, where he died on May 16, 1926 at the age of 65.

Albertana
The community of St. Albert was founded.

120 years ago
1891

Boxing
Bob Fitzsimmons (24-6-12-4) won the world middleweight title when defending champion Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (50-2-10-3) retired after the 13th round at the Olympic Club in New Orleans.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Bebe Daniels. U.S. actress. Phyllis Virginia Daniels began appearing in silent films at the age of 9, and co-starred with Harold Lloyd in numerous comedies from 1915-1919. She appeared in movies such as Monsieur Beaucaire (1924) and Rio Rita (1929), making the transition to sound film. Miss Daniels was romantically involved with Mr. Lloyed during their time making movies together, but she married actor Ben Lyon in 1930 and retired from movies when they moved to London in 1935. The two made several radio and television programs together from the early 1940s through the early '60s. Miss Daniels suffered a severe stroke in 1963 and died at the age of 70 from a cerebral hemorrhage on March 16, 1971, eight days after the death of Mr. Lloyd.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Anatoly Rybakov. U.S.S.R. author. Mr. Rybakov, a native of Ukraine, wrte the anti-Stalinist tetralogy Children of the Arbat (1987-1994) and many popular children's books. He died in New York City on December 23, 1998 at the age of 87.

Exploration
Roald Amundsen's South Pole expedition made landfall on the eastern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf.

80 years ago
1941

Politics and government
Dr. Federico Pinedo resigned as Argentina's Finance Minister when the government rejected his plan for mobilizing the nation against the depression.

The United States Senate refused to seat new West Virginia Senators Joseph Rosier (Democrat)--appointed the previous day by new West Virginia Governor Matthew Neely to fill Mr. Neely's unexpired term--and Clarence E. Martin, appointed by retiring Governor Homer Holt. Mr. Rosier took his seat four months later after surviving a challenge to his nomination.

Adam Reiss, leader of the German Volksbund--the official German minority organization in Hungary--was ousted from the party on charges of working against the interest of the German minority.

Defense
General Mordant arrived in Saigon from France to take command of the Indochinese army.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt denounced Senator Burton K. Wheeler's (Democrat--Montana) statement that the Lend-Lease policy would "plow under every fourth American boy."

Labour
U.S. federal mediator James Dewey warned Eaton Manufacturing Company and Congress of Industrial Orgnizations-United Auto Workers to settle their dispute as "an urgent matter of national defense."

60 years ago
1951

War
General Clark Ruffner replaced Gen. Robert McClure as commander of the U.S. Army's 2nd Division in central Korea.

Economics and finance
Negotiations for settlement of the U.S.S.R.'s $10.8-billion Lend-Lease debt to the U.S.A. were resumed in Washington after a lapse of nearly three years.

Golf
Byron Nelson won the Bing Crosby Open in Pebble Beach, California, earning $2,000.

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
American Conference 28 National Conference 27

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Are You Lonesome To-night?/I Gotta Know--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Il cielo in una stanza--Mina (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ramona--Blue Diamonds (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): Ramona--Blue Diamonds

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Poetry in Motion--Johnny Tillotson (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Exodus--Ferrante and Teicher
--[Mantovani & his Orchestra]
2 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
--[Louis Prima]
--[Anita Bryant]
3 Will You Love Me Tomorrow--The Shirelles
4 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley
5 Calcutta--Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
6 Rubber Ball--Bobby Vee
7 Corinna, Corinna--Ray Peterson
8 Angel Baby--Rosie and the Originals
9 Last Date--Floyd Cramer
10 North to Alaska--Johnny Horton

Singles entering the chart were The Tear of the Year by Jackie Wilson (#64); Jimmy's Girl by Johnny Tillotson (#67); Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight by Thelma Carpenter (#77, charting with the version by Dodie Stevens); (I Wanna) Love My Life Away by Gene Pitney (#91); Angel on My Shoulder by Shelby Flint (#92); Spanish Harlem by Ben E. King (#95); Trouble in Mind by Nina Simone (#96); (Let’s Do) The Hully Gully Twist by Bill Doggett (#98); The Story of My Love by Paul Anka (#100); and Muskrat Ramble by Freddy Cannon (also #100). The Tear of the Year was the other side of My Empty Arms, charting at #50.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Corinna, Corinna--Ray Peterson
2 Calendar Girl--Neil Sedaka
3 Pepe--Duane Eddy and the Rebels
4 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
5 Cool Operator--Sandy Nelson
6 (I Wanna) Love My Life Away--Gene Pitney
7 Calcutta--Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
8 Lonely Teenager--Dion
9 Angel Baby--Rosie and the Originals
10 (Ghost) Riders in the Sky--Ramrods

Singles entering the chart were You've Been Torturing Me by Gary Paxton (#34); Valley of Love by Johnny Ferguson (#37); Salvation Rock by Marv Meredith (#39); Don't Cha Know by the Crickets (#41); Oh Lonesome Me by Johnny Cash with the Gene Lowery Singers (#43); He Had Pretty Eyes by Libby and Sue (#44); Cherry Berry Wine by Charlie McCoy (#47); C'est Si Bon (It's So Good) by Conway Twitty (#48); Did You Ever See a Dream Walking by Randy Lee (#49); and You Can Have Her by Roy Hamilton (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Calendar Girl--Neil Sedaka (2nd week at #1)
2 Corinna, Corinna--Ray Peterson
3 Wings of a Dove--Paul Clayton
4 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
5 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley
6 Angel Baby--Rosie and the Originals
7 Calcutta--Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
8 Lonely Teenager--Dion
9 Emotions--Brenda Lee
10 Rubber Ball/Everyday--Bobby Vee

Singles entering the chart were (I Wanna) Love My Life Away by Gene Pitney (#28); Try Me by Margie Rayburn (#32); Tell the World/Wheels by the String-A-Longs (#33); Valley of Love by Johnny Ferguson (#34); What a Price by Fats Domino (#37); Girl in Saskatoon by Johnny Cash (#38); Oh Joan by the Beau-Marks (#39); Where the Boys Are by Connie Francis (#40); and Dance by the Light of the Moon by the Olympics (also #40). Where the Boys Are was the title song of the movie.

On television tonight
The Roaring 20's, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Dance Marathon



Died on this date
Barry Fitzgerald, 72. Irish-born U.S. actor. Mr. Fitzgerald, born William Joseph Shields, appeared in many plays, films, and television programs, and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Going My Way (1944).

Politics and government
Gertrude Guerin became the first woman to be elected chief of the Musqueam Indian Band, residing on the north shore of the Fraser River near the University of British Columbia.

Boxing
Paul Pender (38-5-2), recognized as world middleweight champion by the state athletic commissions of New York and Massachusetts, retained his share of the title with a technical knockout of Terry Downes (25-7) 57 seconds into the 7th round at Boston Arena. Referee Billy Connelly stopped the fight because Mr. Downes was bleeding profusely from the nose.



40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison

At the movies
Haré Rama Haré Krishna, produced, directed, written by, and starring Dev Anand, opened in theatres in India.



Crime
A court-martial cleared U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Hutto of charges of assault with intent to kill at least six civilians in the March 16, 1968 attack on the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai.

Environment
A U.S. Navy transport started removing mustard gas shells, part of the 13,000 tons of chemical weaponry, from Okinawa, where it had been the cause of public protests.

War
The 99th session of the Paris peace talks ended in stalemate between the U.S. and South Vietnam on one side and North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on the other.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 (Just Like) Starting Over--John Lennon (6th week at #1)
2 The Tide is High--Blondie
3 Looking for Clues--Robert Palmer
4 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da--The Police
5 I Got You--Split Enz
6 Passion--Rod Stewart
7 Hungry Heart--Bruce Springsteen
8 Every Woman in the World--Air Supply
9 Turn Me Loose--Loverboy
10 Teacher Teacher--Rockpile

Singles entering the chart were The Winner Takes it All by ABBA (#16); and Celebration by Kool & The Gang (#20).

Died on this date
G. Lloyd Spencer, 87. U.S. politician. Mr. Spencer, a Democrat, was an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve and a banker when he was appointed to fill the remainder of the term of U.S. Senator John E. Miller, who had resigned to take a judicial appointment. Mr. Spencer represented Arkansas in the Senate from 1941-1943; he declined to run for election in 1942, choosing instead to return to the Navy for service in World War II.

Politics and government
Jimmy Carter delivered his farewell address as the 39th President of the United States of America.



Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 7 @ Toronto 4

The Maple Leafs were ahead 4-1 at Maple Leaf Gardens before collapsing in the 3rd period. Toronto goalie Jim Rutherford allowed 6 goals on 7 shots in the 3rd period, thus indicating that his career was about over.

25 years ago
1986

War
The day after gunmen allied with South Yemeni President Ali Nasir Mohammed Husani had assassinated several of the president’s political opponents at a cabinet meeting in the capital city of Aden, fighting was reported in Aden, and the conflict between government forces and a faction led by a more radical pro-Soviet faction soon spread.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ai wa Katsu--(愛は勝つ)--Kan (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Raptori--Debi Gibson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
David Arkin, 49. U.S. actor. Mr. Arkin was known for his supporting roles in movies directed by Robert Altman, including MASH (1970); The Long Goodbye (1973); and Nashville (1975). Mr. Arkin committed suicide.

Salah Khalaf, aka Abu Iyad, and Hayel Abdel-Hamin. Palestinian leaders. The two high-ranking members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, along with an aide to Mr. Khalaf, were shot to death in Tunis by a bodyguard linked to Abu Nidal’s terrorist organization.

War
Russian President Boris Yeltsin denounced the previous day’s killings of civilians in Vilnius, Lithuania, and called on Russian troops to refuse to shoot civilians. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said that he had not given the order to attack the demonstrators.

Politics and government
The Supreme Soviet confirmed Finance Minister Valentin Pavlov as the U.S.S.R.’s new Premier, replacing the ailing Nikolai Ryzhkov.

10 years ago
2001

Football
NFL
NFC Championship
Minnesota 0 @ New York Giants 41

Kerry Collins passed for 381 yards and 5 touchdowns as the Giants shut out the Vikings before 79,310 fans at Giants Stadium (see video).

AFC Championship
Baltimore 16 @ Oakland 3

The Ravens defeated the Raiders before 62,784 fans at Network Associates Coliseum to earn their first trip to a Super Bowl and their first trip to a National Football League championship game since 1969, when the team was known as the Cleveland Browns (see video).