May 19, 2011

960 years ago
1051

Married on this date
King Henry I of France married Rus' Princess Anne of Kiev.

475 years ago
1536

Died on this date
Anne Boleyn, 29. Queen consort of England, 1533-1536. The second wife of King Henry VIII was beheaded after being convicted on charges of adultery and incest. She gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth I in 1533, but the king was greatly disappointed at the birth of a daughter instead of a son, and Miss Boleyn’s miscarriage of a son shortly before her death.

410 years ago
1601

Died on this date
Costanzo Porta, 71-73 (?). Italian composer. Mr. Porta was representative of the Venetian School of composers. He mainly wrote sacred music, especially motets, and also madrigals.

230 years ago
1781

Americana
Chippewas ceded Michilimackinac Island in Michigan to Britain for £5,000.

150 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Nellie Melba. Australian singer and actress. Miss Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell, was an operatic soprano who was internationally famous from the 1880s until her death from septicaemia which had developed after facial surgery. She made recordings as early as 1895, and more from 1904-1926. Miss Melba died on February 23, 1931 at the age of 59.

130 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Prime Minister of Turkey, 1920-1921; 1st President of Turkey, 1923-1938. Mr. Kemal, born Ali Rıza oğlu Mustafa, came to prominence as a field marshal in World War I, helping to defeat Allied forces in the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire following the war, Mr. Kemal led the Turkish National Movement, which succeeded in defeating Allied armies in the Turkish War of Independence and establishing a secular republic. His government initiated reforms in numerous areas of Turkish society, and he was granted the surname Atatürk--"Father of the Turks"--by the Turkish Parliament in 1934. Mr. Atatürk died of cirrhosis of the liver on November 10, 1938 at the age of 57 while still in office, and was succeeded as President by İsmet İnönü.

120 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Oswald Boelcke. German military aviator. Hauptmann Boelcke was known as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics," and was the first to formalize rules of air fighting. He shot down 40 enemy aircraft during World War I, the highest total by a German ace prior to "Red Baron" Manfred von Richtofen, whom he mentored. Hauptmann Boelcke was killed during an air battle on October 28, 1916 at the age of 25, when he accidentally made contact with the plane of a fellow German, which damaged his plane and caused it to crash. He hadn't had time to properly fasten his safety belt, and he never wore a helmet, which caused his injuries to be fatal.

110 years ago
1901

Died on this date
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, 81. 1st President of the South African Republic, 1857-1860, 1864-1871; State President of the Orange Free State (1860-1863). Mr. Pretorius founded the city of Pretoria in 1855, and served as President of both the South African Republic and Orange Free State from February-September 1860 in an attempt to forge bonds between the two states. After his two terms as President of the South African Republic, Mr. Pretorius served as co-head of state with Paul Kruger and Piet Joubert as the Triumvirate from 1881-1883.

100 years ago
1911

Environment
The Dominion Parks Branch (now Parks Canada) was established by the government of Canada under the Department of the Interior, to oversee and administer Canada's forest reserves and a nascent assemblage of western national parks. It was the world’s first national park service, preceding the creation of the National Park Service in the United States by more than five years; the first Parks Commissioner was J.B. Harkin.

90 years ago
1921

Society
The Emergency Quota Act, establishing national quotas for immigrants, was signed into law by U.S. President Warren G. Harding.

80 years ago
1931

Politics and government
Charles Richards was sworn in as Premier of New Brunswick, succeeding John Baxter as head of the province's Conservative government.

70 years ago
1941

War
The Duke of Aosta, Italian commander in Ethiopia, surrendered to British forces, ending the British conquest of Ethiopia and bringing the total of Italian prisoners to 230,000. The Iraqi government claimed that 30 British armoured cars and trucks had been destroyed and 2 British gunboats damaged in the Tigris Rivers south of Basra.

Defense
The U.S. Navy Department announced that U.S. Navy Captain William Quigley had been appointed chief of staff of the Peruvian Navy.

Diplomacy
U.S. Representative Francis Case (Republican--South Dakota) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives authorizing Secretary of State Cordell Hull to negotiate for the purchase of French islands in the Western Hemisphere.

Europeana
Danish sources reported that the Icelandic Althing (Parliament) had cancelled Iceland's permanent union with Denmark and had declared the island's independence.

Academia
The New York Board of Higher Education announced the suspension of five more teachers and seven clerks at City College of New York on charges of Communist Party membership and refusal to cooperate with the Rapp-Coudert committee investigation.

Economics and finance
U.S. Assistant Treasury Secretary John L. Sullivan, addressing the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, urged that the Excess Profits Tax Act of 1940 be revised to raise at least $1.096 billion in excess profits from defense programs.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America and hard coal operators agreed in New York to a two-year contract providing wage increases for 91,000 miners who would return to their jobs on May 20, ending a one-day strike.

60 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Tennessee Waltz--Pee Wee King and his Orchestra; Patti Page

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--4th week at #1; Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
2 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Patti Page
3 How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford
4 If--Perry Como
5 Be My Love--Mario Lanza
6 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)--Patti Page
7 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole
8 Beautiful Brown Eyes--Rosemary Clooney
9 Aba Daba Honeymoon--Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
10 I Apologize--Billy Eckstine

Singles entering the chart were Hello, Young Lovers, with versions by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting (#27); Rose, Rose, I Love You by Frankie Laine (#28); and Old Soldiers Never Die by Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (#29). Mr. Como’s version of Hello, Young Lovers was the other side of We Kissed in a Shadow, charting at #26; Rose, Rose, I Love You was the B-side of Jezebel, which charted at #16. Old Soldiers Never Die was presumably recorded by Mr. Monroe as an aftermath to the farewell speech of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur after being fired by President Harry Truman.

At the movies
Sealed Cargo, directed by Alfred L. Werker, and starring Dana Andrews, Carla Balenda, and Claude Rains, opened in theatres.



War
North Korean forces failed in a suicidal effort to break into Seoul.

In a note to the U.S.S.R., the U.S.A. rejected Soviet demands on Japanese peace treaty organizations.

Diplomacy
Brazil, Peru, and Spain all recognized Bolivia's new military junta.

Defense
The U.S.A., U.K., and Canada agreed to standardize 400 items of military equipment, including the new U.S. Walker Bulldog light tank.

Oil
A British note on oil nationalization delivered in Tehran warned that Iran's refusal to negotiate a settlement could lead to "the most serious consequences" and threatened to withdraw British technicians and transport facilities from Iran.

Horse racing
Bold, with Eddie Arcaro up, won the 66th running of the Preakness Stakes before 24,863 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:56 2/5. First prize money was $83,110. Counterpoint placed second and Alerted finished third in the 8-horse field.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Runaway--Del Shannon

On television tonight
The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Sonny Rosen Story II

Protest
U.S. President John F. Kennedy sent John Siegenthaler, a member of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s staff, to Alabama as his personal representative in an attempt to obtain from Alabama Governor John Patterson guarantees of protection for the Freedom Riders, the civil rights activists riding buses from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans to challenge various state segregation laws.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Knock Three Times--Dawn

Died on this date
Ogden Nash, 68. U.S. poet. Mr. Nash was known for his light verse and unconventional rhymes in a career spanning 40 years. He frequently appeared on radio and television, and spoke on college campuses. Mr. Nash died of complications from Crohn's disease aggravated by a lactobacillus infection transmitted by improperly prepared coleslaw.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the probe Mars 2, scheduled to reach Mars about November 15, 1971.

Baseball
Clete Boyer and Mike Lum each hit 2 home runs to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 10-4 win over the Montreal Expos before 4,686 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Mr. Boyer now had 5 homers in his last 5 games and 6 for the season, but the 2 he hit in this game were his last in the major leagues. Clyde Mashore hit his first major league home run as a pinch hitter for the Expos with 1 out in the 9th inning.

30 years ago
1981

Crime
Edmonton Trappers’ shortstop Todd Cruz, who had joined the team from the Chicago White Sox on an injury rehabilitation assignment several days earlier in Hawaii, was arrested in the wee hours of the morning in the Hudson’s Bay store downtown, where he was found by police with a number of watches strapped to his arms. Mr. Cruz had played both games of a Victoria Day doubleheader the previous afternoon, but had too much to drink that evening. After his arrest, he spent most of the day in court and didn’t play that night. Mr. Cruz was charged with breaking and entering and theft.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
New York Islanders 2 @ Minnesota 4 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Steve Payne scored with 7:34 remaining in regulation time and Bobby Smith scored on a powerplay with 1:48 remaining at Metropolitan Sports Center to enable the North Stars to avert a sweep. Craig Hartsburg and Al MacAdam also scored for Minnesota, while Brad Maxwell aded 3 assists and Mr. Smith 2. Gord Lane and Mike McEwen scored for the Islanders. Don Beaupre returned to play goal for the North Stars--replacing the benched Gilles Meloche--while Billy Smith was in goal once again for the Islanders.



25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Love Missile F1-11--Sigue Sigue Sputnik

War
South African troops launched raids on cities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana in an attempt to destroy bases being used by the African National Congress.

Law
The U.S. Firearm Owners Protection Act was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Trippin'--Push Push (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (8th week at #1)
2 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
3 Secret Love--Bee Gees
4 No Coke--Dr. Alban
5 The One and Only--Chesney Hawkes
6 Crazy--Seal
7 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
8 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
9 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
10 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash

The only single entering the chart was My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#20).

World events
With the local Serb population boycotting the referendum, Croatians voted in favour of independence from Yugoslavia.
Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Pittsburgh 1 @ Minnesota 3 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 2-1)



10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Aleksey Maresyev, 85. U.S.S.R. military aviator. Colonel Maresyev joined the Soviet Air Force in 1937 and had shot down four German aircraft in World War II before being shot down in April 1942, and having both his legs amputated above the knee. He eventually mastered the use of prostheses, and returned to active duty a year later, and shot down three German planes in a dogfight in August 1943. Col. Maresyev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in August 1943, joined the Communist Party in 1944, and retired from the Air Force in 1946. He obtained a doctorate in history in 1956, and eventually became a member of the Supreme Soviet. Dr. Maresyev died of a heart attack, two weeks after his 85th birthday.

Susannah McCorkle, 55. U.S. singer. Miss McCorkle was a jazz singer who performed in clubs and recorded about 20 albums from the mid-1970s until her death. She long suffered from depression, and committed suicide by jumping from the window of her New York apartment.

Business
Apple, Inc. opened its first retail stores, in Tysons Corner, Virginia and Glendale, California.

Horse racing
Point Given, with Gary Stevens up, won the 126th running of the Preakness Stakes before 118,926 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. A.P. Valentine placed second, Congaree, finished third, and Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos finished sixth in the 11-horse field.



Baseball
The Montreal Expos gave up 20 runs in a game for the first time in their 33-year history, losing 20-7 to the San Diego Padres before 7,297 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. San Diego right fielder Bubba Trammell batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, base on balls, was hit twice by pitches, scored 4 runs, and drove in 6.