April 26, 2011

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lynn!

1,890 years ago
121

Born on this date
Marcus Aurelius. Emperor of the Roman Empire, 161-180. Marcus Aurelius, a grandnephew of Emperor Hadrian, served as a consul before succeeding his uncle Antoninus Pius on the throne. He conducted several successful military campaigns, but was generally known as a "philosopher king;" his Meditations are a significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the "Five Good Emperors," and the last during the Pax Romana. He died of natural causes on March 17, 180 at the age of 58, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Commodus.

290 years ago
1721

Disasters
A massive earthquake devastated the Iranian city of Tabriz.

210 years ago
1801

Born on this date
Ambrose Dudley Mann. U.S. and C.S. diplomat. Mr. Mann held several posts in Europe before serving as the first United States Assistant Secretary of State (1853-1855). He sided with the Confederacy during the American Civil War; he was one of the first three Confederate commissioners to Europe in 1861, eventually serving as Commissioner of the Confederate States of America for Belgium and the Vatican. Mr. Mann spent his later years in France, where he died on November 15, 1889 at the age of 88.

170 years ago
1841

Politics and government
The opening of the amalgamated Newfoundland Legislature took place in St. John's as the Newfoundland Constitution was suspended.

140 years ago
1871

Canadiana
Eight Ontario land agents reached Fort Garry, Manitoba on a raft from Minnesota, beginning an influx of speculators and settlers that led to the Red River Insurrection.

125 years ago
1886

Politics and government
Andrew Blair's ministry was re-elected in the New Brunswick provincial election. The election was held before the adoption of party labels; in the 26th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, 33 of the 41 elected MLAs supported the government, and 8 formed the opposition.

110 years ago
1901

Baseball
Playing their first American League game, the Boston Americans lost 10-6 to the Baltimore Orioles before 10,371 fans at American League Park in Baltimore. Joe McGinnity (1-0) pitched an 8-hitter in earning the win, and Mike Donlin hit 2 triples off losing pitcher Win Kellum (0-1), who allowed 11 hits and 10 earned runs in his major league debut.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Paul Verner. German politician. Mr. Verner was attracted to Communism at an early age, and joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in 1929. He went into exile after the Nazis took power in Germany in 1933, fighting in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War and then emigrating to Sweden, where he was detained for two years. Mr. Verner returned to Germany after World War II, and was a prominent Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) politician in East Germany. He became a full member of the Politburo in 1963, and for most of the 1970s and early '80s was the second-ranking member of the SED after party leader Erich Honecker. Mr. Verner died on December 12, 1986 at the age of 75.

Baseball
Grover Cleveland Alexander (2-1) allowed 7 hits, struck out 6, walked 6, and hit 2 singles for the Philadelphia Phillies as they defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 10-3 at Washington Park in Brooklyn.

70 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)--Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell (5th week at #1)

War
German troops took Thebes and advanced southward to within 25 miles of Athens. An Axis advance began south of Solum on the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. British troops occupied Dessye, Ethiopia. A Gallup Poll reported 68% of Americans questioned in a recent survey said they would favour U.S. entrance into the European war if there were no other way to defeat the Axis.

Defense
The Inter-American Economic Advisory Committee, representing the 21 American republics, passed a resolution in Washington stating that they had a right to seize immobilized foreign ships with compensation. U.S. Civil Aeronautics Authority experts demonstrated an automatic loop-antennae direction finder that enabled a pilot to fly on a straight line by tuning in simultaneously on broadcasting stations at two points.

Politics and government
Mohandas Gandhi said in Bombay that his All-India Congress party had dropped demands for the independence of India for the time being and wanted only "freedom of speech and pen."

60 years ago
1951
On the radio
Screen Directors Playhouse, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Jackpot, starring James Stewart and Margaret Truman

This adaptation of the 1950 movie The Jackpot, which starred Mr. Stewart and Barbara Hale, was the first performance for Miss Truman under her exclusive contract with NBC. Her father, U.S. President Harry Truman, reportedly enjoyed the program.

Died on this date
Arnold Sommerfeld, 82. German physicist. Dr. Sommerfeld pioneered developments in atomic and quantum physics, and also educated and mentored many students for the new era of theoretical physics. He died from injuries suffered when he was hit by a motor vehicle while walking with his grandchildren.

War
Chinese Communist forces captured Munsan, a key town 10 miles south of the 38th Parallel in their drive on Seoul.

Defense
U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, in Chicago for a parade and rally at Soldier Field, accused Far Eastern policy makers in the administration of President Truman of operating in a "vacuum," and urged a war to "victory" against Communist China. Despite protests from the crowd, Gen. MacArthur asserted that "my public life is now closed."

Politics and government
South Korean Justice Minister Kim Joon Yung and Defense Minister Sihn Sung Mo resigned amidst a public outcry over recently-revealed mass executions of alleged Communists.

Scandal
Assistant U.S. Postmaster General Joseph Lawler testified before a Senate Investigations subcommittee that postal jobs were "sold" in Mississippi by pro-Truman Democrats.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Truman, warning that the worst of inflation was yet to come, sent Congress a message urging a two-year extension of the Defense Production Act and a number of changes in the stabilization program, including housing credit curbs and tougher price control enforcement machinery.

50 years ago
1961

Baseball
Mickey Mantle hit a home run from each side of the plate--including a 2-run blow off Hank Aguirre (0-1) in the top of the 10th inning to break an 11-11 tie--as the New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 13-11 before 4,676 fans at Tiger Stadium. Roger Maris hit his first home run of the season for the Yankees, against Paul Foytack in the 5th inning. Joe Grzenda, the third of five Detroit pitchers, allowed 3 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 1.1 innings, with no bases on balls or strikeouts in his major league debut.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Naomi no Yume--Hedva & David (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (6th week at #1)

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): The Bridge--Deane Waretini (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Jim Davis, 71. U.S. actor. Mr. Davis, born Marlin Davis, appeared in numerous films and television programs--especially Westerns--in a 40-year career, but was best known for playing patriarch Jock Ewing in the television series Dallas (1978-1981). He died of cancer.

Medicine
Dr. Michael R. Harrison of the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center performed the world's first human open fetal surgery.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Calgary 4 @ Philadelphia 1 (Calgary won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Ken Houston’s goal at 8:33 of the 1st period held up as the winner as the Flames advanced to the semi-finals for the first time in their nine-year history.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): You Can Leave Your Hat On--Joe Cocker (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): The Promise You Made--Cock Robin (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Young Ones (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Rock Me Amadeus--Falco

#1 single in the U.K.: A Different Corner--George Michael

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Kiss--Prince and the Revolution (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
2 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution
3 Manic Monday--Bangles
4 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
5 What You Need--INXS
6 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
7 Why Can’t This Be Love--Van Halen
8 Rock Me Amadeus--Falco
9 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox
10 Tender Love--Force M.D.’s

Singles entering the chart were A Different Corner by George Michael (#49); Rain on the Scarecrow by John Cougar Mellencamp (#65); Vienna Calling by Falco (#76); The Love Parade by the Dream Academy (#79); Who's Johnny by El DeBarge (#81); Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues (#83); Out of Mind Out of Sight by the Models (#85); Under the Influence by Vanity (#86); Tuff Enuff by the Fabulous Thunderbirds (#87); Mutual Surrender by Bourgeois Tagg (#88); Lead a Double Life by Loverboy (#89); and Shot in the Dark by Ozzy Osbourne (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Power of Love--Jennifer Rush
2 Bop--Dan Seals
3 Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)--Glass Tiger
4 Nikita--Elton John
5 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
6 Manic Monday--Bangles
7 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox
8 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
9 Secret Lovers--Atlantic Starr
10 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution

Singles entering the chart were There’ll Be Sad Songs by Billy Ocean (#90); Song in My Head by M+M (#92); and The Love Parade by the Dream Academy (#93); I Can't Wait by Nu Shooz (#94); and Chains by the Arrows (#96).

Died on this date
Bessie Love, 87. U.S. actress. Miss Love, born Juanita Horton, was popular during the era of silent films, but also achieved success during the early years of sound films, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her starring performance in The Broadway Melody (1929).

Broderick Crawford, 74. U.S. actor. Mr. Crawford had a lengthy career as a character actor, often playing "heavies." He won an Academy Award for his starring performance in All the King's Men (1949). Mr. Crawford starred in the popular television series Highway Patrol (1955-1959) and the less popular series The Interns (1970-1971).

Disasters
Although it didn’t become public knowledge for a couple of days, the world’s worst nuclear disaster occurred at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Toronto 3 @ St. Louis 4 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Calgary 4 @ Edmonton 1 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 3-2)

20 years ago
1991

Died on this date
A.B. Guthrie, Jr., 90. U.S. author. Mr. Guthrie won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel The Way West.

Leo Arnaud, 86. French-born U.S. composer. Mr. Arnaud wrote and orchestrated numerous film scores, but was best known for Bugler's Dream, the theme music for telecasts of the Olympic Games on American network television.

Carmine Coppola, 80. U.S. composer and conductor. Mr. Coppola was the father of movie director Francis Ford Coppola, and contributed music to several of his son's films. Carmine Coppola and Nino Rota shared the 1974 Academy Award for the score for The Godfather Part II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Emily McLaughlin, 62. U.S. actress. Miss McLaughlin played nurse Jessie Brewer on the television soap opera General Hospital from 1963-1991.

Richard Hatfield, 60. Canadian politician. Mr. Hatfield, a Progressive Conservative, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1961-1987, and Premier from 1970-1987. Mr. Hatfield's reign as Premier, the longest in New Brunswick history, ended when the PCs lost all their seats to the Liberals in the 1987 provincial election. Mr. Hatfield died, reportedly of brain cancer, 17 days after his 60th birthday. He was widely believed to be a sodomite, although he never admitted it.

Defense
Canadian Navy Vice-Admiral Charles Thomas resigned, warning that defense cuts would threaten Canadian sovereignty and endanger the lives of military personnel; Vice-Admiral Thomas was Deputy Commander of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Weather
70 tornadoes broke out in the central United States.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Minnesota 2 @ St. Louis 4 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Edmonton 2 @ Los Angeles 5 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-2)