June 24, 2011

440 years ago
1571

Asiatica
Miguel López de Legazpi founded the city of Manila.

420 years ago
1591

Born on this date
Mustafa I. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1617-1618, 1622-1623. Sultan Mustafa I, a son of Sultan Mehmed III, acceded to the throne upon the death of his older brother Ahmed I in November 1617, but was deposed after just three months in favour of Ahmed I's son Osman II. Mustafa I was restored to the throne in May 1622 upon the deposition and assassination of his nephew, but was mentally unstable, and was deposed in September 1623 in favour of Ahmed I's 11-year-old son Murad IV. He died on January 20, 1639 at the age of 47, either executed on the orders of his nephew, or dying from epilepsy caused by spending most of his life in confinement.

240 years ago
1771

Born on this date
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont. French-born chemist. Mr. du Pont and his father Pierre supported the Jacobins in the French Revolution, but aided in the escape of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette when the Tuileries Palace was stormed in August 1792. They emigrated to Rhode Island in 1800, eventually settling in Wilmington, Delaware, where Éleuthère Irénée du Pont founded the gunpowder firm E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company in 1802. He died of unspecified causes on October 31, 1834 at the age of 63.

190 years ago
1821

War
Independence fighters led by General Simón Bolívar defeated Royalist forces led by Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre in the Battle of Carabobo; it is the decisive battle in the war of independence of Venezuela from Spain.

150 years ago
1861

Canadiana
Prince Alfred continued his tour, arriving at Hamilton from Niagara; he reached Toronto that night on the steamer Niagara.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Marcel Mule. French musician and educator. Mr. Mule was perhaps the greatest classical saxophonist in history, playing in quartets and as a featured solist from the 1920s until his retirement in 1967. He taught at the Paris Conservatoire for more than 20 years, and wrote several instructional books. Mr. Mule died on December 18, 2001 at the age of 100.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Portia White. Canadian singer. Miss White, a native of Truro, Nova Scotia, was an operatic contralto who performed nationally and internationally from 1941-1952. She retired because of vocal and health problems, and died in Toronto on February 13, 1968 at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer.

Juan Manuel Fangio. Argentine auto racing driver. Mr. Fangio drove in the Formula One circuit from 1950-1958, winning the World Drivers' Championship five times (1951, 1954-1957). He won 24 of 52 Formula One races in which he competed, and his victory percentage of 46.15 remains the record. Mr. Fangio died on July 17, 1995, 24 days after his 84th birthday.

80 years ago
1931

Died on this date
Xiang Zhongfa, 51-52. Chinese politician. Mr. Xiang was a labour union leader before joining the Communist Party of China in 1921. He became the party's General Secretary in 1928, but his influence declined, and when he realized he was a puppet, his interest in Communism declined, and he devoted himself to a life of luxury. Mr. Xiang was soon arrested by the ruling Kuomintang, and was executed on the order of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

70 years ago
1941

War
German troops captured the Lithuanian capital of Kaunas, and Vilna and Shavli in northern Lithuania, while other German forces drove into Soviet-occupied western Ukraine and White Russia. U.S.S.R. bombers hit Romanian cities.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced at a press conference that the United States would give all possible aid to the U.S.S.R.

Politics and government
Ignoring the Communists, Chilean leftist parties signed an agreement to strengthen the groups behind President Pedro Aguirre Cerda and speed up his reform program.

Labour
The Congress of Indistrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America ordered 150,000 southern soft-coal miners to strike unless the Harlan County Coal Operators Association agreed to sign the union contract accepted by 12 other operators' groups in the southern United States.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Mr. Moto, starring James Monks, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Victim

Defense
South Korean President Syngman Rhee named General Kim Il Whan as Deputy Defense Minister and Gen. Lee Chong Chan as commander-in-chief to succeed Gen. Chung Il Kwon.

Religion
Pope Pius XII proclaimed two new Roman Catholic saints: Sister Emilie de Vialar of France and Marie Domenica Mazzarello of Italy.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations American Radio Association signed a contract with East Coast and Gulf Coast shippers, providing the same terms for its members as those gained by the National Maritime Union.

Auto racing
British drivers Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Jaguar sports car, averaging a record 93.112 miles per hour over the 8.4-mile course.



50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A Scottish Soldier--Andy Stewart

#1 single in Italy: Legata a un granello di sabbia--Nico Fidenco

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wheels (Vier Schimmel, ein Wagen)--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): Wheels--The String-A-Longs (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Surrender--Elvis Presley (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Travelin' Man--Ricky Nelson (3rd week at #1)
2 Quarter to Three--U.S. Bonds
3 Moody River--Pat Boone
4 Raindrops--Dee Clark--
5 The Boll Weevil Song--Brook Benton
6 Runnin' Scared--Roy Orbison
7 Stand By Me--Ben E. King
8 I Feel So Bad--Elvis Presley
9 Those Oldies But Goodies--Little Caesar and the Romans
--[Nino and the Ebb Tides]
10 Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson

Singles entering the chart were Dum Dum (#76)/Eventually (#87) by Brenda Lee; Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker (#78); The Switch-A-Roo by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters (#80); Never on Sunday by the Chordettes (#89); Bobby by Neil Scott (#92); Missing You by Ray Peterson (#94); Daydreams by Johnny Crawford (#96); Sea of Heartbreak by Don Gibson (#97); Quite a Party by the Fireballs (#98); Jimmy Love by Cathy Carroll (#99); The Graduation Song...Pomp and Circumstance by Adrian Kimberly (#100); Michael by the Highwaymen (also #100); and Theme from the Motion Picture "Goodbye Again" by Ferrante & Teicher (also #100). Adrian Kimberly was a pseudonym for Don Everly of the Everly Brothers.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Hats Off to Larry--Del Shannon
2 Fallen Idol--Ken Lyon
3 I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door--Eddie Hodges
4 Heart and Soul--Jan and Dean
5 Dance On Little Girl--Paul Anka
6 Daydreams--Johnny Crawford
7 Barbara-Ann--The Regents
8 Sea of Heartbreak--Don Gibson
9 Temptation--The Everly Brothers
10 Quarter to Three--U.S. Bonds

Singles entering the chart were Don't Be Cruel by Elvis Presley (#25); Starlight, Starbright by Linda Scott (37); Missing You by Ray Peterson (#39); Wooden Heart by Joe Dowell (#40); Right or Wrong by Wanda Jackson (#43); The Piano Boy by Joanie Sommers (#45); Windy and Warm by Chet Atkins (#46); Yellow Bird by the Arthur Lyman Group (#48); and San Antonio Rose by Floyd Cramer (#50). Don't Be Cruel was a major hit for Mr. Presley in 1956, but there was no CFUN chart then.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Hats Off to Larry--Del Shannon
2 I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door--Eddie Hodges
3 Fallen Idol--Ken Lyon
4 Sea of Heartbreak--Don Gibson
5 Barbara-Ann--The Regents
6 Temptation--The Everly Brothers
7 Quarter to Three--U.S. Bonds
8 Ring of Fire--Duane Eddy
9 Daydreams--Johnny Crawford
10 Never on Sunday--The Chordettes

Singles entering the chart were Classmate by the Beau-Marks (#29); I Love My Baby by Tommy Sands (#31); Cupid by Sam Cooke (#32); Windy and Warm by Chet Atkins (#34); Stand by Me by Ben E. King (#35); Bobby by Neil Scott (#36); Starlight, Starbright by Linda Scott (38); San Antonio Rose/I Can Just Imagine by Floyd Cramer (#39); and I Dreamed of a Hill-Billy Heaven by Tex Ritter (#40).

Space
The American public learned of President John F. Kennedy's letter assigning Vice President Lyndon Johnson the priority of unifying U.S. satellite programs.

Canadiana
Upper Canada Village, a living museum containing significant buildings from villages permanently submerged by the St. Lawrence Power Project and St. Lawrence Seaway between Iroquois and Cornwall, opened near the site of the Battle of Crysler's Farm at Morrisburg, Ontario.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Here's to You--Joan Baez (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Kenny Washington, 52. U.S. football player and actor. Mr. Washington was a halfback with the University of California at Los Angeles Bruins in the late 1930s, leading the nation in total offense and earning All-American recognition in 1939, his senior year. He played with the Hollywood Bears of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (1940-1945), earning all-Star honours every year, while also working with the Los Angeles Police Department, as a knee injury made him ineligible for the military draft during World War II. Mr. Washington also played baseball at UCLA, and was regarded more highly than his teammate, Jackie Robinson; Mr. Washington was a third baseman, and played 6 games with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League (1950), batting 0 for 8 with a base on balls and a run. He joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1946, becoming the first Negro to sign with a National Football League team in the post-World War II era. Knee injuries shortened his career, but he played with the Rams through 1948, averaging 6.1 yards per rush. Mr. Washington also appeared in several movies from 1940-1950, starring in While Thousands Cheer (1940). He returned to the LAPD after his career, and scouted for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mr. Washington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956, and died from heart and lung problems.

Environment
The government of Canada brought in a $1.5-million compensation program for losses due to mercury contamination.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Medley--Stars on 45 (4th week at #1)
2 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
3 All Those Years Ago--George Harrison
4 Sukiyaki--A Taste of Honey
5 Nobody Wins--Elton John
6 This Little Girl--Gary U.S. Bonds
7 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
8 I Love You--Climax Blues Band
9 Winning--Santana
10 The One that You Love--Air Supply

Singles entering the chart were Hearts by Marty Balin (#19); and Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys (#20).

On the radio
Don Percy, who was leaving Winnipeg for Edmonton after 6 years as morning man on CKY, did a farewell program on CKY's rival station CFRW. The Master of the Morning had earned ablout 90% of the listening audience at CKY, but that station had refused to let him do a farewell program after he had decided to accept an offer from CFRN in Edmonton. He assumed his duties in Edmonton on August 4.

Transportation
The Humber Bridge opened to traffic, connecting Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, England. It remained the world's longest bridge span for 17 years.

25 years ago
1986

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-0) 21 @ Calgary (0-1) 20

The earliest CFL regular season opener to date ended with a 56-yard touchdown bomb from Edmonton quarterback Matt Dunigan to Stephen Jones on the last play of the game at McMahon Stadium. Tom Dixon converted to give the Eskimos their ninth straight win in a season opener. It was Mr. Jones' first game as an Eskimo.



20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Anata ni aete yokatta (あなたに会えてよかった)--Kyōko Koizumi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Pienestä pitäen--Juice Leskinen

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wind of Change--Scorpions (4th week at #1)

Scandal
Senator Michel Cogger (Progressive Conservative--Lauzon) was to be reimbursed for legal fees from a court inquiry into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation of his business.

Labour
Statistics Canada reported government payrolls up by 1.6%, while payrolls in the entire Canadian workforce were down 2.2% in the first quarter of 1991.

Hockey
NHL
National Hockey League governors adopted the instant replay and the tenth of a second clock in the final minute of play.