May 18, 2011

720 years ago
1291

War
The six-week siege of Acre concluded with the fall of the Crusader-controlled city into Muslim hands, marking the end of Crusader presence in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

380 years ago
1631

Politics and government
John Winthrop became the first Governor of Massachusetts, taking the oath of office in Dorchester.

200 years ago
1811

War
Revolutionary forces led by José Artigas defeated Spanish forces led by José Posadas in the Battle of Las Piedras, the first great military triumph of the revolution of the Río de la Plata in Uruguay.

160 years ago
1851

Born on this date
James Budd. U.S. politician. Mr. Budd, a Democrat, represented California's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1883-1885) and was Governor of California (1895-1899), winning the 1894 gubernatorial election by just 1,200 votes (0.4%) over Republican Party opponent Morris Estee. Mr. Budd created the state's Bureau of Highways and opposed railroad monopolies, but came up against a hostile Republican majority in the state legislature. He declined to run for re-election in 1898 because of failing health, and died on July 30, 1908 at the age of 57.

150 years ago
1861

Academia
The College of Bytown became the College of Ottawa; it's now the University of Ottawa.

Morrin College in Quebec City received a charter.

125 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Jeanie MacPherson. U.S. actress and screenwriter. Miss MacPherson acted in silent movies directed by D.W. Griffith, but was best known for writing the screenplays for 30 movies with producer Cecil B. DeMille. She died of cancer on August 26, 1946 at the age of 60.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Vincent du Vigneaud. U.S. biochemist. Dr. du Vigneaud was awarded the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his work on biochemically important sulphur compounds, especially for the first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone," a reference to his work on the cyclic peptide oxytocin. He died on December 11, 1978 at the age of 77.

Henri Sauguet. French composer. Mr. Sauguet, born Henri Poupard, wrote four symphonies, ballets, operas, concertos, chamber and choral music, film scores, and numerous songs. He died on June 22, 1989 at the age of 88.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Big Joe Turner. U.S. musician. Mr. Turner was a blues singer who influenced the development of rock and roll. His best-known hit singles were Honey Hush (1953); Shake, Rattle and Roll (1954); Flip, Flop and Fly (1955); and Corrine, Corrina (1956). Mr. Turner was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and died on November 24, 1985 at the age of 74.

Died on this date
Gustav Mahler, 50. Austrian composer and conductor. Mr. Mahler was one of the leading conductors of his day, with appointments in Prague, Leipzig, Budapest, Hamburg, Vienna, and New York in a career spanning 30 years. He was a Romantic composer whose works weren't widely appreciated in his lifetime, but are now performed regularly. Mr. Mahler wrote nine complete symphonies and part of a tenth, and composed many songs and choral works. He died of the heart ailment bacterial endocarditis.

80 years ago
1931

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton

75 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Kichizo Ishida, 42. Japanese restaurateur. Mr. Ishida owned the Yoshidaya restaurant in Tokyo. He was married but a notorious womanizer, and began a sexual relationship with prostitute Sada Abe in April 1936. After several weeks, Miss Abe became upset at the thought of Mr. Ishida returning to his wife. At the conclusion of an evening of kinky sex, she strangled him, cut off his penis and genitals, and carried the body parts in her purse until her arrest on May 21.

70 years ago
1941

War
French High Commissioner for Syria and Lebanon General Henri Fernand Dentz broadcast from Beirut that the French armies in the mandated territories were ready to defend themselves against British attack.

Italiana
King Victor Emmanuel III crowned his cousin, the Duke of Spoleto, King Aimone of Croatia in a 10-minute ceremony in Rome.

Economics and finance
U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull outlined a five-point postwar world reconstruction program based on free trade.

Labour
The San Francisco-area American Federation of Labor Metal Trades Council voted to cross AFL and Congress of Industrial Organizations picket lines at 11 shipyards.

60 years ago
1951

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

Tonight's program included more news on the differences of opinion on the Korean War between U.S. President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur.

Died on this date
Jacob Sechler Coxey, 97. U.S. politician. Mr. Coxey was a perennial candidate for various offices in Ohio for more than 50 years, and served as Mayor of Massillon, Ohio for the entire year of 1931. In 1894 and 1914 he led "Coxey's Army," a group of unemployed men who marched to Washington, D.C., to present a "Petition in Boots" demanding that the United States Congress allocate funds to create jobs for the unemployed. Mr. Coxey's efforts were unsuccessful, but Congress enacted the Social Security Act in 1935 in reaction to the issue of mass unemployment.

War
A United Nations General Assembly session boycotted by the Soviet bloc passed a resolution imposing an arms and strategic materials embargo on Communist China.

Diplomacy
The United Nations began moving out of its temporary headquarters in Lake Success, New York for its permanent home in Manhattan, New York City.

The UN Security Council urged Israel to suspend its swamp-draining projects along the border with Syria.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dean Rusk, speaking in New York, indicated that the United States would actively support a popular revolt against China's Communist government, which he claimed was "not Chinese."

The U.S.A. appealed for "friendly" negotiations between Iran and the United Kingdom on the oil nationalization dispute.

Guatemala's cabinet voted to reopen the border with British Honduras, closed since a 1948 dispute over possession of the British colony.

Defense
U.S., U.K., and French military leaders concluded a four-day conference in Singapore on joint defense strategy in southeast Asia.

Boxing
Kid Gavilan (73-12-3) won a 15-round unanimous decision over defending champion Johnny Bratton (44-17-2) at Madison Square Garden in New York to become the National Boxing Association world welterweight champion. Mr. Bratton's jaw was broken within the first 5 rounds.



50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Blue Moon--The Marcels

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): On the Rebound--Floyd Cramer

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Seventh Vote

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (6th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 3 @ Chicago 2 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Rookie goaltender Ken Dryden made a brilliant save on a shot by Jim Pappin with less than 2 minutes remaining in regulation time to preserve the victory for the Canadiens, who overcame a 2-0 deficit in the series, and a 2-0 deficit in the final game at Chicago Stadium to win the Stanley Cup for the 17th time. Dennis Hull scored with 48 seconds remaining in the 1st period to give the Black Hawks a 1-0 lead, and Danny O’Shea scored in the 2nd period to make it 2-0. The Canadiens got on the scoreboard when Jacques Lemaire took a slapshot from just inside centre ice, and Chicago goalie Tony Esposito let it get by him to make it 2-1. The Canadiens, with renewed life, tied the game late in the 2nd period on a goal by Henri Richard, and Mr. Richard scored the cup-winning goal at 2:34 of the 3rd period. Mr. Dryden, who played every second of 20 playoff games and made 31 saves in this game, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player. It was the last game in the 20-year NHL career of Montreal captain Jean Beliveau, who scored 6 goals and 16 assists in the 1971 playoffs, setting a single-season record for assists. Interest in the series in the United States became so high as the finals went on that CBS decided to televise the final game live. This blogger listened on CBC radio.







Basketball
ABA
Finals
Kentucky 121 @ Utah 131 (Utah won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Zelmo Beaty scored 36 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help the Stars defeat the Colonels before 13,260 fans at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Dan Issel scored 41 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Kentucky.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Jealous Guy--Roxy Music (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ruby no Yubiwa--Akira Terao (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime--The Korgis (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins

Died on this date
Arthur O'Connell, 73. U.S. actor. Mr. O'Connell appeared in numerous movies and television programs in a career spanning more than 40 years, usually in supporting roles. He was best known for his supporting performances in Picnic (1955) and Anatomy of a Murder (1959), for which he received Academy Award nominations. Mr. O'Connell suffered from Alzheimer's disease in later years, appearing only in television commercials for Crest toothpaste.

William Saroyan, 72. U.S. author and playwright. Mr. Saroyan was the son of Armenian immigrants, and wrote extensively about the Armenian immigrant experience in California. His play The Time of Your Life (1939) became the first drama to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. He won an Academy Award for his story for The Human Comedy (1943). When MGM Pictures rejected Mr. Saroyan's original script for the movie, he had it published as a novel, shortly before the film's release. Mr. Saroyan died of prostate cancer.

Baseball
PCL
The Edmonton Trappers and Spokane Indians split a Victoria Day doubleheader at Renfrew Park in Edmonton. Edmonton shortstop Todd Cruz, who had joined the team from the Chicago White Sox on an injury rehabilitation assignment several days earlier in Hawaii, played his first two home games, and hit a home run in the second game. That night, Mr. Cruz had too much to drink, and broke into the Hudson’s Bay store downtown, where he was found by police with a number of watches strapped to his arms. The doubleheader marked this blogger’s first assignment in the press box as sound man, in charge of playing recordings of national anthems, trumpet blasts, and music between innings. It was a very enjoyable job.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Midnight Lady--Chris Norman (2nd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 3 @ Calgary 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Brian Skrudland of the Canadiens set a Stanley Cup record for the fastest overtime goal when he scored just 9 seconds after the faceoff to begin the first overtime period at Olympic Saddledome.



20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Horses--Daryl Braithwaite

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 One More Try--Timmy T
2 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
3 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
4 You--Ten Sharp
5 Wind of Change--Scorpions
6 Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)--De La Soul
7 Future Love Paradise--Seal
8 Always on the Run--Lenny Kravitz
9 Liefde is Lekker Maar Lekker is Niet Altijd Liefde--Hanny
10 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa

Singles entering the chart were Last Train to Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent) by the KLF (#24); The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes (#28); Word of Mouth by Mike & the Mechanics (#29); Baby Come Back by BC & the Basic Boom (#31); Couple Days Off by Huey Lewis and the News (#35); and I Dreamed a Dream by Chess (#37). I Dreamed a Dream was a version of the theme from the musical Les Miserables.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
2 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
3 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
4 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
5 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
6 Joyride--Roxette
7 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
8 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
9 More than Words--Extreme
10 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd

Singles entering the chart were See the Lights by Simple Minds (#82); This Time Make it Funky by Tracie Spencer (#89); Lily was Here by David A. Stewart introducing Candy Dulfer (#91); Temptation by Corina (#94); Treat 'em Right by Chubb Rock (#95); and Exclusivity by Damian Dame (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Joyride--Roxette
8 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
9 More than Words--Extreme
10 You Don’t Have to Go Home Tonight--The Triplets

Singles entering the chart were Lift Me Up by Yes (#82); Right Here, Right Now by Jesus Jones (#83); Life Goes On by Poison (#84); Lily was Here by David A. Stewart introducing Candy Dulfer (#86); Never Gonna Let You Down by Surface (#87); Mama Said Knock You Out by L.L. Cool J (#88); and Give Me Your Heart by Vanity Kills (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joyride--Roxette (2nd week at #1)
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
5 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
6 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
7 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
8 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
9 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
10 Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You--Robert Palmer

Singles entering the chart included Rush Rush by Paula Abdul (#41); Power of Love/Love Power by Luther Vandross (#56); The Answer's Electric by Brett Ryan (#86); Starting All Over Again by Daryl Hall and John Oates (#90); Compared to Nothing by Jude Cole (#94); and Ordinary Average Guy by Joe Walsh (#98).

Space
Helen Sharman of Sheffield, England became the first Briton to go into space when she travelled aboard the Soyuz TM-12 spacecraft with commander Anatoly Artebartsky and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalyov as part of the U.S.S.R.’s Project Juno.



Africana
Northern Somalia declared independence from the rest of Somalia as the Republic of Somaliland, but was not recognized by the "international community."

Horse racing
Hansel, with Jerry Bailey up, won the 116th running of the Preakness Stakes before 96,695 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:54. Corporate Report placed second and Mane Minister finished third. Kentucky Derby winner and favourite Strike the Gold finished sixth.



10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Irene Hunt, 94. U.S. authoress. Miss Hunt was an elementary and junior high school English teacher who began writing novels for children in the mid-1960s. Her first novel, Across Five Aprils (1964), was runner-up for the Newbery Medal, and she won the award for her next novel, Up a Road Slowly (1966). Miss Hunt died on her 94th birthday.

Business
Media magnate Conrad Black said that he would give up his Canadian citizenship to become a British peer, Lord Black of Crossharbour; Canadian citizens were discouraged from accepting some honours from foreign governments.