March 16, 2011

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kathy Fisher, Tatyana, and Anastasija!

490 years ago
1521

Exploration
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines after sailing across the Pacific Ocean.

390 years ago
1621

Americana
Samoset, a Mohegan, visited the settlers of Plymouth Colony and greeted them, "Welcome, Englishmen! My name is Samoset."

260 years ago
1751

Born on this date
James Madison. 4th President of the United States, 1809-1817. Known as the "Father of the Constitution," Mr. Madison was President during the War of 1812 and even saw brief action at the front. He died on June 28, 1836 at the age of 85.

240 years ago
1771

Born on this date
Antoine-Jean Gros. 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, on June 25, 1835 at the age of 64.

190 years ago
1821

War The Pemmican War between the Hudson's Bay Company and North West Company in what is now Manitoba ended.

130 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Fannie Charles Dillon. U.S. composer and teacher. Miss Dillon was a pianist who taught at Pomona College (1910-1913) and with the Los Angeles high school system (1918-1941). She wrote orchestral, chamber, and vocal works, and incorporated bird calls into her compositions. Miss Dillon died on February 21, 1947, 23 days before her 66th birthday.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Josef Mengele. German physician and war criminal. Dr. Mengele had doctorates in anthropology and medicine, and joined the Nazi Party in 1937 and the SS in 1938, achieving the rank of Hauptsturmführer (captain). Dr. Mengele became known for his brutal experiments on prisoners during World War II, but was able to evade capture and prosecution as a war criminal, fleeing to South America and eventually settling in Brazil. He suffered a stroke while swimming and drowned on February 7, 1979 at the age of 67; his death wasn't publicly revealed until 1985.

Pierre Harmel. Prime Minister of Belgium, 1965-1966. Mr. Harmel was one of the founders of the Christian Social Party (PSC-CVP) in 1945, and was a member of the Chambre des représentants from 1945-1971. He held several cabinet posts before serving as Prime Minister of a coalition government. Mr. Harmel was Minister of Foreign Affairs (1966-1968) and became a Senator in 1971, serving as its President until his retirement in 1977. Mr. Harmel died on November 15, 2009 at the age of 98.

Hockey
Stanley Cup challenge
Port Arthur 4 @ Ottawa 13

Marty Walsh scored 10 goals to lead the defending champion Senators in a one-game challenge at The Arena. Bruce Ridpath added 2 goals and Albert Kerr 1 for Ottawa. Eddie Carpenter, Jack Walker, W. McGregor, and Mr. Wellington scored for Port Arthur.

80 years ago
1931

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Problem of Thor Bridge

70 years ago
1941

War
The German raiders Scharnhorst and Gniesenau sank 16 ships in two days. German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler said in a speech that "no power or aid in the world" could save the United Kingdom from defeat.

Defense
The U.S. Navy Department announced that two American light cruisers and four destroyers were paying a three-day goodwill visit to Auckland, New Zealand.

Labour
U.S. Congress of Industrial Organizations President Philip Murray, after conferring with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, agreed to a mediation board to settle defense strikes.

Disasters
62 people died in a blizzard that swept North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

5 people were killed and 114 injured when a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train plunged into the Ohio River near Baden, Pennslvania.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Hear it Now, hosted by Edward R. Murrow, on CBS

Tonight's program included news about Frank Costello's testimony before the U.S. Senate Crime Investigating Committee hearings in New York.

Television
The Leningrad Communications Institute reported the first successful experiments with three-dimensional television.

Music
Composer Sergei Prokofiev won a 50,000-ruble Stalin Second Prize for his vocal-symphonic suite Winter Bonfire and his oratorio On Guard for Peace.

Defense
The U.S. Office of Defense Mobilization revealed that the government was buying military equipment at a yearly rate of $60 billion.

Politics and government
The Western Allies asked the West German government to pay $1.7 billion toward military occupation costs, a $283-million increase over 1950.

Education
South Carolina Governor James Byrnes (Democrat) told S.C. teachers that the state "will abandon the public school system" unless federal courts allowed it to maintain segregation.

Oil
The United Kingdom formally protested Iranian plans to expropriate the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): I Love You--Cliff Richard and the Shadows

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes--The Everly Brothers (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Lily Dallas Story

Died on this date
Václav Talich, 77. Czech musician and conductor. Mr. Talich was a violinist and violist who took up conducting in his late 20s. He was chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (1919-1941), and was known for performing the works of Czech composers. He ran afoul of the Nazis and Communists in the 1940s, interrupting his career. Mr. Talich established the Czech Chamber Orchestra in 1946, and founded and led the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (1948-1952). He resumed his association with the Czech Philharmonic in the 1950s, conducting concerts, broadcasts, and recording sessions.

Economics and finance
The United States Senate voted 72-18 in favour of a treaty making the United States a member of the new 20-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, whose aim was to "promote economic stability and the orderly growth of the economies of member countries," and to distribute equitably the burden of aiding backward countries. Besides the U.S. and Canada, the signatories were the 18 members of the old Organization for European Economic Cooperation: U.K.; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; France; West Germany; Greece; Ireland; Iceland; Italy; Luxembourg; the Netherlands; Norway; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Portugal; and Turkey.

The day after announcing that his country would be leaving the Commonwealth of Nations upon becoming a republic on May 31, South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd said that South Africa would remain within the sterling bloc and hoped to retain its reciprocal tariff arrangements within the Commonwealth. He also hoped to make additional arrangements with regard to defense and other matters.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Butterfly--Danyel Gérard (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bebe Daniels, 70. 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 from a cerebral hemorrhage, eight days after the death of Mr. Lloyd.

Thomas E. Dewey, 68. U.S. politician; Governor of New York, 1943-1955. A "gangbusting" special prosecutor and district attorney, Mr. Dewey ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New York in 1938 before winning in 1942, holding the office from 1943-1954. He was the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1944 against Democratic incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt, and again in 1948, against Mr. Roosevelt’s successor, Harry Truman. Mr. Dewey held a wide lead over Mr. Truman in the polls, but a risk-free, platitude-filled, safe campaign proved his undoing, and Mr. Truman won in one of the biggest upsets in U.S. presidential election history. Mr. Dewey was vacationing in Miami, Florida with friend, Archer Daniels Midland magnate Dwayne Andreas, and had just finished a round of golf with Boston Red Sox’ star outfielder Carl Yastrzemski when he suffered a fatal heart attack, eight days before his 69th birthday.

Television
The Columbia Broadcasting System announced the cancellation of The Ed Sullivan Show--originally titled Talk of the Town--which had been on the air since 1948. The program's ratings had been declining in recent years, and it was one of a large number of CBS shows that were being cancelled because of their appeal to an older and less profitable demographic than that preferred by advertisers and network executives.

World events
Ceylonese Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike declared a nationwide state of siege following weeks of terrorist activity.

Politics and government
Turkey’s four major party leaders agreed to back a coalition government, and several high-ranking military officers were forced to retire, easing the risk of a military coup.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers again emphasized his position that Israel rely on international guarantees rather than on border rectification for her security. Israeli officials criticized his stand, stressing that multinational peacekeeping had failed in the past.

Environment
The government of Canada sued Dow Chemical of Canada Ltd. for $25 million for ecological damage to the Great Lakes.

Boxing
Joe Bugner (32-2-1), three days past his 21st birthday, won a 15-round decision over Henry Cooper (40-14-1) at Empire Pool, Wembley, London, to capture the British, Commonwealth, and European heavyweight titles. Mr. Cooper, 36, who had held the British and Commonwealth titles since 1959 and the European belt since 1964, retired from boxing after this fight, ending a professional career that had begun in September 1954.



30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Counting the Beat--The Swingers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Machikado Twilight--Chanels (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Qué Será--Ana Belén

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Fade to Grey--Visage (2nd week at #1)

Adventure
George Kinnear announced in Calgary the first Canadian attempt to scale Mount Everest, to be made in 1982 by group of 15 climbers.

25 years ago
1986

Politics and government
French Premier Laurent Fabius, a Socialist, resigned as a result of the day’s elections, in which rightist parties captured a plurality of seats in the National Assembly.

Defense
In a nationally-televised address, U.S. President Ronald Reagan appealed for public support for aid to the Contras in Nicaragua, warning that the Contras needed help "to deal with Russian tanks and gunships." In his rebuttal, U.S. Senator Jim Sasser (Democrat--Tennessee) said that the U.S. had not exhausted its diplomatic opportunities, and that many of the Contra leaders had been members of the hated National Guard under deposed dictator Anastasio Somoza.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Do the Bartman--The Simpsons

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Take No Crap--Cut 'N' Move (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Crazy--Seal

#1 single in France (SNEP): Wind of Change--Scorpions (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Liefde Voor Muziek--Raymond v/h Groenewoud
2 Crazy--Seal
3 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B.
4 Do the Bartman--The Simpsons
5 The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
6 3 A.M. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.)--The KLF
7 (I Wanna Give You) Devotion--Nomad featuring Mc Mikee Freedom
8 Knockin' Boots--Candyman
9 Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden--Lisa Boray & Louis De Vries
10 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C&C Music Factory

Singles entering the chart were Rescue Me by Madonna (#30); Wiggle It by 2 in a Room (#34); Young Souls by Angela & the Rude (#38); and This is Your Life by Banderas (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Someday--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)
2 One More Try--Timmy -T-
3 Show Me the Way--Styx
4 Coming Out of the Dark--Gloria Estefan
5 All This Time--Sting
6 This House--Tracie Spencer
7 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
8 Get Here--Oleta Adams
9 Where Does My Heart Beat Now--Celine Dion
10 Hold You Tight--Tara Kemp

Singles entering the chart were Rhythm of My Heart by Rod Stewart (#53); You Don't Have to Go Home Tonight by the Triplets (#75); Voices that Care by Voices that Care (#76); I'll Never Let You Go by Steelheart (#77); It's a Shame (My Sister) by Monie Love featuring True Image (#81); Deep, Deep Trouble by the Simpsons featuring Bart and Homer (#89); Save Some Love by Keedy (#91); She Talks to Angels by the Black Crowes (#92); Step On by Happy Mondays (#95); One in a Million by Trixter (#97); and Heartbreak Station by Cinderella (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Someday--Mariah Carey
2 One More Try--Timmy -T-
3 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
4 Coming Out of the Dark--Gloria Estefan
5 All This Time--Sting
6 Show Me the Way--Styx
7 Where Does My Heart Beat Now--Celine Dion
8 This House--Tracie Spencer
9 Hold You Tight--Tara Kemp
10 Waiting for Love--Alias

Singles entering the chart included Rhythm of My Heart by Rod Stewart (#55) and Voices that Care by Voices that Care (#75).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 Someday--Mariah Carey
2 All This Time--Sting
3 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
4 Wicked Game--Chris Isaak
5 Show Me the Way--Styx
6 Waiting for Love--Alias
7 Coming Out of the Dark--Gloria Estefan
8 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C + C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
9 Waiting for that Day--George Michael
10 How Long Can a Man Be Strong--The Jeff Healey Band

Singles entering the chart included Hold You Tight by Tara Kemp (#55); Come in from the Cold by Joni Mitchell (#93); Losing My Religion by R.E.M. (#95); Dream Away by the Northern Pikes (#97); and The Last to Know by Celine Dion (#99).

World events
Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, in an implicit declaration of secession from Yugoslavia, announced that Serbia would no longer recognize the legitimacy of the Yugoslav federal government. Two more people resigned from the collective presidency of Yugoslavia.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles 4 Calgary 3

10 years ago
2001

Terrorism
In Medina, Saudi commandos stormed a Russian airliner that had been hijacked the previous day by three Chechen rebels. More than 100 passengers and crew were freed, while one of the hijackers was killed, as well as a Russian flight attendant and a Turkish passenger.

Crime
A series of bombings that took place in the city of Shijiazhuang, China killed 108 people and injured 38 others, was the biggest mass murder in China in decades. The bomber was Jin Ruchao, 40, who stabbed his girlfriend to death before going on his rampage.

18-year-old Claire Marsh was convicted of rape in England after a 37-year-old woman had been attacked by Miss Marsh and two teenage boys on July 22, 2000.

Economics and finance
All the major stock indexes were down more than 6% for the week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average recording its worst week since 1989.

Disasters
10 workers were killed when three explosions destroyed one of the structural support beams of the largest offshore oil rig in the world, causing the rig to list severely.

Golf
Annika Sorenstam of Sweden became the first woman to shoot a score of 59 in a single round as she accomplished the feat at the Standard Register Ping at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix.