June 19, 2011

290 years ago
1721

Disasters
Fire destroyed 138 houses, about half the town of Montréal.

220 years ago
1791

Politics and government
King George III gave Royal Assent to the Constitutional Act, passed by Parliament on June 10; it divided the province of Québec into the new provinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada, each with an appointed legislative council and an elected legislative assembly.

200 years ago
1811

Died on this date
Samuel Chase, 70. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1796-1811. Justice Chase represented Maryland at the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed Chief Justice of the District Criminal Court in Baltimore in 1788 and Chief Justice of the Maryland General Court in 1791. Justice Chase was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President George Washington, but when Thomas Jefferson became President in 1801, he wanted to weaken Federalist influence over the courts. Justice Chase was impeached on the grounds that his political biases influenced his decisions, but he was acquitted by the Senate and remained on the Court until his death. His acquittal was regarded as an important precedent upholding the independence of the judiciary.

190 years ago
1821

War
Ottoman forces of Sultan Mahmud II decisively defeated forces of the Greek secret insurgent organization Filiki Etaireia in the Battle of Dragashani in Wallachia, Romania.

150 years ago
1861

Born on this date
José Rizal. Filipino writer and polymath. Dr. Rizal, an ophthalmologist by profession, was a Philippine nationalist who was a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement, which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain. His writings were blamed by Spanish authorities for helping to incite the Philippine Revolution in 1896. While en route to Cuba via Spain to minister to victims of yellow fever. Dr. Rizal was arrested and charged with rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy. Despite disavowing the revolution in its present state, he was convicted by a court martial and was executed by a Spanish firing squad in Manila on December 30, 1896 at the age of 35. Dr. Rizal is regarded as a national hero in the Philippines.

Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig. U.K. military officer. Field Marshal Earl Haig served in the Mahdist War and the Boer War, but was best known for commanding the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front from late 1915 until the end of World War I in 1918. His offensives at the Somme (1916) and Passchendaele (1917) resulted in tremendous numbers of casualties, earning him the nickname "Butcher" Haig. Earl Haig died of a heart attack on January 29, 1928 at the age of 66, and his funeral was a day of national mourning. His reputation among historians is divided between those who regard him as a butcher and those who regard him as a great commander.

130 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Jimmy Walker. U.S. politician. Mr. Walker, a Democrat, was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1910-1914 and the New York State Senate from 1915-1925 before serving as Mayor of New York City from 1926-1932. He was associated with the Tammany Hall machine and was known for his stylish dress, affairs with chorus girls, and opposition to prohibition. Mr. Walker was forced to resign in a bribery scandal in 1932. He died of a brain hemorrhage on November 18, 1946 at the age of 65.

90 years ago
1921

Abominations
The village of Knockcroghery, Ireland was burned by British forces.

75 years ago
1936

Died on this date
William Hall-Jones, 85. Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1906. Sir William moved to New Zealand in 1873 and worked as a carpenter and builder before entering politics as an independent Liberal; he later joined the Liberal Party. Sir William represented Timaru in the N.Z. Parliament, and was regarded as an outstanding administrator. He was Minister of Marine from 1896-1906 and then served as interim Prime Minister from June 10-August 6, 1906, following the death of Richard Seddons, and before the return of Sir Joseph Ward from abroad. Sir William served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1908-1912, and was later appointed o the N.Z. Legislative Council.

Space
A solar eclipse occurred whose totality was visible in Europe and Asia.

Boxing
In a huge upset, former world heavyweight champion Max Schmeling (49-7-4), who was regarded as past his prime, knocked out the #1 contender, Joe Louis (24-1), at 2:29 of the 12th round of a scheduled 15-round bout at Yankee Stadium in New York.





70 years ago
1941

War
A Gallup Poll reported that 56% of Americans recently surveyed said that a vote of the people should be required before Congress could send men to fight overseas. Philippines President Manuel Quezon declared in a Loyalty Day celebration day in Manila that if the United States became involved in the European war, she would find the people of the Philippines on her side.

Defense
The Argentine Chamber of Deputies voted to appoint a seven-man committee to investigate Nazi activities in the country.

Diplomacy
The German and Italian governments ordered the United States to close all 31 of her consulates in the Axis and Axis-dominated countries and to remove their personnel by July 15, 1941.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Production Management ordered the rationing of rubber in an effort to reduce consumption from the present rate of 817,000 tons to 600,000 tons annually.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the resignation of National Defense Mediation Board Chairman Clarence Dykstra. Soft-coal operators in the northern United States signed a two-year wage contract with the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America covering 250,000 coal miners. Lumber operators rejected the NDMB's proposals to settle the Washington lumber strike.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: A Killing in Abilene, starring William Prince

Died on this date
Wally Gerber, 59. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gerber was a shortstop with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1914-1915); St. Louis Browns (1917-1928); and Boston Red Sox (1928-1929), batting .257 with 7 home runs and 476 runs batted in in 1,522 games. He batted .248 in 1,055 games in 8 seasons in the minor leagues (1910-1917, 1930). Mr. Gerber umpired in the Mid-Atlantic League (1935-1938), and was men's supervisor with the Columbus (Ohio) Recreation Department (1939-1949). He died after a heart attack.

Space
Astronomer Milton Humason reported observing a group of "runaway" stars from the Mount Palomar, California telescope. He estimated that the stars were receding from the Sun at 38,000 miles per second, evidence supporting the expanding universe theory.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman signed a billextending the draft to mid-1955. He also appointed a five-man National Security Training Commission to draw up and supervise the Universal Military Training progrem provided for in the bill.

Politics and government
A U.S. Senate Labor subcommittee headed by Senator Paul Douglas (Democrat--Illinois) began hearings on "ethics in government."

Journalism
The Cuban Communist newspaper Hoy, seized by the government 10 months earlier, was returned to the Communist Party on court order.

Oil
Talks between the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and the Iranian government collapsed when each side rejected the other's proposals.

Economics and finance
The British government ordered the licensing of all exports to Communist China and Hong Kong, but promised to permit continued shipments of non-strategic materials.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee approved an eight-month extension of price, wage, and rent controls, but voted to ban price rollbacks.

Baseball
Bob Rush (5-3) pitched a 4-hitter for the Chicago Cubs as they shut out the Boston Braves 3-0 before 6,496 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Billy Southworth, who had managed the Braves since 1946 and had piloted them to the National League pennant in 1948, was fired after the game, which dropped them to 28-31, fifth in the standings. Former Braves’ star outfielder Tommy Holmes replaced Mr. Southworth as manager.

Ted Kluszewski hit a 3-run home run with none out in the bottom of the 9th inning and Johnny Pramesa hit a solo homer with 1 out, but relief pitcher Ralph Branca retired Connie Ryan and Bobby Adams to end the game as the Brooklyn Dodgers held on to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 before 26,618 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Yogi Berra hit a 3-run home run in the 1st inning and Mickey Mantle added a 3-run homer in the 3rd for the New York Yankees as they defeated the Chicago White Sox 11-9 in the first game of a doubleheader before 60,441 fans fans at Yankee Stadium. Jim Busby led off the 9th inning with a single and scored on a 1-out double by Bob Dillinger to break a 4-4 tie as the White Sox won the second game 5-4.

Wally Yonamine, an American of Japanese descent, played his first game with Tokyo’s Yomiuri Giants.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Poesía En Movimiento (Poetry in Motion)--Dúo Dinámico (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Non, je ne regrette rien--Édith Piaf (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Moody River--Pat Boone
2 Travelin' Man--Ricky Nelson
3 Quarter to Three--U.S. Bonds
4 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
5 Raindrops--Dee Clark
6 The Writing on the Wall--Adam Wade
7 Tossin' and Turnin'--Bobby Lewis
8 Every Beat of My Heart--The Pips
9 The Boll Weevil Song--Brook Benton
10 Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You)--Little Caesar and the Romans

Singles entering the chart were You Can't Sit Down Part 2 by the Philip Upchurch Combo (#68); Dum Dum by Brenda Lee (#69); I've Got News for You (#84)/I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town (#87) by Ray Charles; Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker (#85); I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door by Eddie Hodges (#91); The Float by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters (#92); Point of No Return by Adam Wade (#93); Dooley by the Olympics (#94); Sea of Heartbreak by Don Gibson (#95); The Charleston by Ernie Fields (#97); Never on Sunday by the Chordettes (#98); No, No, No by the Chanters (#99); and I'll Never Be Free by Kay Starr (#100).

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Michael Martin!

Asiatica
Kuwait declared its independence from the United Kingdom.

Abominations
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision in Maryland's constitution requiring state officeholders to profess a belief in God.

Scandal
Fred Portnoy, 19, testified before a grand jury in New York concerning accusations that he had participated in fixing four basketball games while he was playing for the men’s team at Columbia University during the 1960-61 season.

Baseball
The Kansas City Athletics, eighth in the American League with a record of 26-33, fired Joe Gordon as manager and replaced him with Hank Bauer. In that night's game against the New York Yankees before 16,715 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Roger Maris led off the 9th inning with his 25th home run of the season to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Norm Siebern hit an inside-the park home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th to tie the score. Luis Arroyo (2-3) then relieved New York starting pitcher Rollie Sheldon, and pinch hitter Wes Covington homered to give the Athletics a 4-3 win in Mr. Bauer's first game as manager. Jim Archer (5-1) pitched a 7-hit complete game for Kansas City.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Put Your Hand in the Hand--Alan Garrity (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Pensieri e parole--Lucio Battisti (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): O'Brien Has No Place to Go--Brendan Shine

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Too Young to Be Married--The Hollies
2 Another Day--Paul McCartney
3 Hot Love--T. Rex
4 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road
--Lally Stott
5 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
6 Eagle Rock--Daddy Cool
7 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Allison Durbin
--Ocean
8 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
9 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
10 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin

Singles entering the chart were Glory Glory by Johnny Chester (#46); I Play and Sing by Dawn (#47); Falling/Miracles by Autumn (#51); Seasons of Change by Fraternity (#52); I Don't Know How to Love Him by Helen Reddy (#54); Life is Getting Better by Flake (#58); He Gives Us All His Love/Life by Ross D. Wylie (#59); and Nickel Song by the New Seekers (#60).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Double Barrel--Dave & Ansil Collins
2 Rosetta--Georgie Fame & Alan Price
3 Che Sará--José Feliciano
4 Soldiers Prayer--Oscar Harris and the Twinkle Stars
5 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
6 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
7 Poetas Andaluces--Aguaviva
8 Zou Het Erg Zijn Lieve Opa--Wilma met Vader Abraham
9 Ein Mädchen für Immer--Peter Orloff
10 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond

Singles entering the chart were My Darling Helena! by the Walkers (#14); Co Co by the Sweet (#23); I Trust (Everything is Gonna Work Out Alright) by the Byrds (#30); Chicago by Graham Nash (#32); Kleine Sonja by De Makkers (#33); Black Lisa by Livin' Blues (#37); and Goodbye Yesterday by Jimmy Cliff (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move--Carole King
2 Rainy Days and Mondays—Carpenters
3 Want Ads--The Honey Cone
4 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
5 It Don't Come Easy--Ringo Starr
6 Treat Her Like a Lady—Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
7 Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders
8 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
9 I’ll Meet You Halfway—The Partridge Family
10 Sweet and Innocent--Donny Osmond

Singles entering the chart were Love the One You’re With by the Isley Brothers (#72); Summer Sand by Dawn (#78); Hey! Love/Over and Over by the Delfonics (#82); Rainy Jane by Davy Jones (#83); Resurrection Shuffle by Ashton, Gardner and Dyke (#84); Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones (#85); Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer by Stevie Wonder (#86); Talking in Your Sleep by Gordon Lightfoot (#87); Give Up Your Guns by the Buoys (#88); I Need Someone (To Love Me) by Z.Z. Hill (#89); I'm Sorry by Bobby Bland (#97); Day by Day (Every Minute of the Hour) by the Continental 4 (#98); Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G Minor K. 550, 1st Movement by Waldo De Los Rios (#99); and The Language of Love by the Intrigues (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It Don’t Come Easy--Ringo Starr
2 I’ll Meet You Halfway—The Partridge Family
3 It’s Too Late—Carole King
4 Rainy Days and Mondays—Carpenters
5 Want Ads--The Honey Cone
6 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
7 Sweet and Innocent—Donny Osmond
8 Treat Her Like a Lady—Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
9 Double Lovin’--The Osmonds
10 Don’t Knock My Love (Part 1)—Wilson Pickett

Singles entering the chart were Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones (#68); Moon Shadow by Cat Stevens (#74); How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by the Bee Gees (#76); Love the One You’re With by the Isley Brothers (#85); Rainy Jane by Davy Jones (#86); Deep Enough for Me by Ocean (#87); You're the Reason Why by the Ebonys (#89); Like an Open Door by the Fuzz (#90); She Didn’t Do Magic by Lobo (#92); I’m a Believer by Neil Diamond (#93); Talking in Your Sleep by Gordon Lightfoot (#97); and Love is Life by Earth, Wind & Fire (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Want Ads--The Honey Cone (2nd week at #1)
2 It Don’t Come Easy--Ringo Starr
3 Rainy Days and Mondays—Carpenters
4 It’s Too Late—Carole King
5 Sweet and Innocent--Donny Osmond
6 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
7 I’ll Meet You Halfway—The Partridge Family
8 Treat Her Like a Lady—Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
9 Nathan Jones--The Supremes
10 Don't Knock My Love--Wilson Pickett

Singles entering the chart were Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones (#66); Summer Sand by Dawn (#81); Like an Open Door by the Fuzz (#87); Hey! Love/Over and Over by the Delfonics (#88); Follow Me by Mary Travers (#92); You're the Reason Why by the Ebonys (#95); Suspicious Minds by Dee Dee Warwick (#96); Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G Minor K. 550, 1st Movement by Waldo De Los Rios (#97); Give Up Your Guns by the Buoys (#98); Moon Shadow by Cat Stevens (#99); and L.A. International Airport by Susan Raye (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones (3rd week at #1)
2 It Don’t Come Easy--Ringo Starr
3 Sweet and Innocent--Donny Osmond
4 Rainy Days and Mondays—Carpenters
5 I’ll Meet You Halfway—The Partridge Family
6 Superstar—Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers
7 It’s Too Late—Carole King
8 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
9 Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders
10 I Don’t Know How to Love Him—Helen Reddy

Singles entering the chart were Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones (#62); Deep Enough for Me by Ocean (#84); Wait for the Miracle by the Cycle (#85); Talking in Your Sleep by Gordon Lightfoot (#98); The Last Time I Saw Her by Glen Campbell (#99); and Wholesale Love by Buddy Miles (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 It Don’t Come Easy--Ringo Starr
2 Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders
3 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
4 When You’re Hot, You’re Hot—Jerry Reed
5 Sweet and Innocent—Donny Osmond
6 Rainy Days and Mondays—Carpenters
7 I’ll Meet You Halfway—The Partridge Family
8 The Drum—Bobby Sherman
9 Sweet City Woman--Stampeders
10 Love Her Madly--The Doors
Pick hit of the week: Don’t Pull Your Love—Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Hubba Hubba Zoot-Zoot--Caramba

#1 single in France (IFOP): Pour le plaisir--Herbert Léonard (4th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens (5th week at #1)
2 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
3 More and More--Joe Dolan
4 Antmusic--Adam & the Ants
5 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
6 Santa Maria--Alan Garrity
7 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
8 Vienna--Ultravox
9 Gypsy Girl--David Scobie
10 Jealous Guy--Roxy Music

Singles entering the chart were Kids in America by Kim Wilde (#13); Turn Me Loose by Loverboy (#15); Stars on 45 by Star Sound (#16); and Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#17).

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Senza una donna--Zucchero featuring Paul Young

Died on this date
Jean Arthur, 90. U.S. actress. Miss Arthur, born Gladys Georgianna Greene, was a major star of screwball comedy movie such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936); You Can't Take It With You (1938); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); and The More the Merrier (1943). Her final film performance was in a dramatic role in the Western Shane (1953). Miss Arthur suffered from chronic stage fright, leading to her retirement.

World events
The U.S.S.R. occupation of Hungary ended after more than 40 years, as the final Soviet troops left the country.

Politics and government
The Canadian Parliament set up the Special Joint Committee on a Renewed Canada, a super-committee with 20 MPs and 10 senators, to make recommendations to Parliament on the proposals made public on September 24, 1991. The the Dobbie-Castonguay Committee--later known as the Beaudoin-Dobbie Committee--travelled across Canada to present federal proposals to provinces and interest groups.

Former Québec City mayor Jean Pelletier replaced Michel Fournier as Liberal Party of Canada Leader Jean Chrétien's chief of staff.

Business
Petro-Canada's public issue of 39.5 million shares almost sold out in one day; the federal government was distributing 19.5% of Petro-Canada in a partial privatization.

Scandal
Canadian sprinter Brian Morison was banned from competition for two years by Athletics Canada for steroid use.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Stanley Mosk, 88. U.S. judge and politician. Mr. Mosk served on the California Superior Court from 1942 until his election as the state's Attorney General in 1958. He held that office until 1964, and was known for supporting the rights of minorities. Mr. Mosk served as Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court from September 1, 1964 until his death, being elected to three consecutive 12-year terms. He was known for his liberal views, but also showed an independent streak.