July 27, 2011

950 years ago
1061

Died on this date
Nicholas II, 65-71. Roman Catholic Pope, 1059-1061. Nicholas II, aka Gerard of Burgundy, became Bishop of Florence in 1046, and became pope after winning a power struggle against Benedict X. Pope Nicholas made an alliance with the Normans, and achieved papal electoral reforms. He was succeeded by Alexander II.

910 years ago
1101

Died on this date
Conrad II, 27. King of Germany (1087-1098); King of Italy (1093-1098). Conrad II, the second son of Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and the eldest to reach adulthood, was Duke of Lower Lorraine (1076-1087) before acceding to his thrones. He rebelled against his father in 1093, and Henry IV eventually deposed his son and replaced him with Conrad's younger brother Henry V. Conrad II died in Florence from a fever.

290 years ago
1721

Diplomacy
Following the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht between France and England, eastern North American First Nations (including Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy) protested: “My land is not thine either by right or conquest, or by grant or by purchase."

270 years ago
1741

Born on this date
François-Hippolyte Barthélémon. French-born U.K. musician and composer. Mr. Barthélémon was a violinist who was educated in Paris, and moved to England in 1764. He was known for his operas and burlettas (short comic operas), and also wrote six symphonies and several concertos. Mr. Barthélémon died on July 20, 1808, a week before his 67th birthday.

130 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Hans Fischer. German chemist. Dr. Fischer won the 1930 Nobel Prize in chemistry "for his researches into the constitution of haemin and chlorophyll and especially for his synthesis of haemin." He committed suicide in Munich on March 31, 1945 at the age of 63, in despair over the destruction of his institute and his work during the last days of World War II.

120 years ago
1891

Transportation
The last spike was driven on the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, which had begun construction on July 21, 1890. The line reduced a five-day stagecoach journey to a train trip of only a few hours.

90 years ago
1921

Medicine
Dr. Frederick Banting, assisted by colleagues J. J. R. Macleod, Charles Best, and Bertram Collip, first isolated insulin from the pancreatic duct of a dog at the University of Toronto, proving that the hormone insulin regulates blood sugar.

70 years ago
1941

War
Japanese troops stationed in Tonkin occupied the southern portion of French Indochina.

The Peruvian government reported a major battle against Ecuadorian forces in the Zaramilla River basin. The Peruvian Foreign Office said that it had not yet replied to the proposed truce in their border war with Ecuador.

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Gypsy--The Ink Spots (Best Seller--10th week at #1; Juke Box--9th week at #1); The Gypsy--Dinah Shore (Airplay--8th week at #1); The Gypsy--The Ink Spots; Dinah Shore (Honor Roll of Hits--10th week at #1)

They Say it's Wonderful was #2, and Doin' What Comes Natur'lly was #3.

Died on this date
Gertrude Stein, 72. U.S. writer. Miss Stein was a Jewish lesbian who spent the last 43 years of her life in France. Her best known work was The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1933); Miss Toklas was her lover. See also here.

War
The Nationalist Chinese government in Nanking rejected Communist proposals for a cease-fire, stating that questions of the control of Manchuria, reorganization of the armies, and reopening of communications must be settled first.

Diplomacy
Drafts of tentative peace treaties prepared at the Paris Peace Conference of Foreign Ministers were published, showing that Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary,and Finland would be stripped of war-making potential. Italy would lose her colonies, and Finland would be forced to cede territory to the U.S.S.R.

The Arab Higher Commission rejected a British proposal for a Jewish-Arab conference, calling for an independent Arab Palestine with no Jewish immigration.

60 years ago
1951

Defense
Pakistan called up five battalions of national guard troops in response to increased Indian troop strength along the border.

U.S. Defense Secretary George Marshall told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he planned to have 400,000 U.S. soldiers in a 2.9-million-man Wesern European defense force by 1953.

Diplomacy
In a note to the United Kingdom, Spain protested against alleged British meddling in U.S. Spanish relations.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Travelin' Man--Ricky Nelson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Temptation--The Everly Brothers (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk rejected Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's proposal to return the Eastern Airlines Electra that had been hijacked from Florida to Cuba three days earlier to the United States only on condition that the U.S. return 10 planes to Cuba that were being held in the United States by court orders to satisfy debt claims against Cuba.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (2-1) 18 @ Winnipeg (1-1) 20

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Butterfly--Danyel Gérard (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road (8th week at #1)

Football
CFL Edmonton (0-1) 11 @ Ottawa (1-0) 22
Saskatchewan (1-0) 14 @ British Columbia (0-1) 10

In the Rough Riders' win over the Eskimos at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa's Barclay Allen fielded a punt from Edmonton's Fred Dunn in the 3rd quarter and lateralled to Al Marcelin on the other side of the field. Mr. Marcelin, without benefit of blocking, raced 84 yards for a touchdown. Edmonton receiver George McGowan, playing his first CFL game, rushed 6 yards on a reverse for the Eskimos' only touchdown.

Ted Gerela missed 3 field goal attempts for the Lions, allowing the Roughriders to escape with a win at Empire Stadium in Vancouver and spoiling the first regular season game for Eagle Keys as head coach of the Lions. Mr. Keys had held the same position with the Roughriders from 1965-1970. Mr. Keys' replacement in Saskatchewan, Dave Skrien, had been head coach of the Lions from 1961-1967.

Baseball
Bobby Pfeil drove in 3 runs with his only 2 major league home runs to help the Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Houston Astros 8-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 20,779 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Woodie Fryman (7-4) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory. Jim Wynn singled with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 1st inning and Cesar Cedeno followed with a home run to provide the necessary scoring as the Astros won the second game 5-1. Wade Blasingame (7-8) pitched a 4-hit complete game victory.

Ed Kranepool and Duffy Dyer hit run-scoring singles for the New York Mets as they scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 before 35,597 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Hal McRae batted 5 for 5 with a home run, 3 doubles, 3 runs, and a run batted in to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Diego Padres 11-3 before 5,753 fans at San Diego Stadum. Lee May added 4 RBIs for the Reds with a pair of homers.

Bill Buckner's grand slam climaxed a 6-run 7th inning for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they came from a 5-1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 before 26,564 fans at Dodger Stadium. Mr. Buckner's homer was hit off Mudcat Grant, who had just entered the game in relief of Dock Ellis (15-4).

Clay Dalrymple doubled home Merv Rettenmund with 2 out in the bottom of the 5th inning for the game's only run as the Baltimore Orioles edged the Oakland Athletics 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 20,465 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Pat Dobson (14-4) pitched a 4-hit shutout and struck out 13 batters. Losing pitcher Catfish Hunter (12-10) allowed just 4 hits in 7 innings, but walked 8 batters. Boog Powell doubled with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning and Brooks Robinson followed with a home run to give the Orioles a 6-4 win in the second game to complete the sweep.

Aurelio Rodriguez drew a base on balls with 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning to force Tony Taylor home with the winning run as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 before 18,718 fans at Tiger Stadium. Mickey Lolich (16-7) pitched a 10-hit complete game victory, striking out 10 batters.

Bill Melton's 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 12th inning climaxed a 4-run rally for the Chicago White Sox as they beat the New York Yankees 9-6 before 13,346 fans at White Sox Park.

Harmon Killebrew led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a single and Tony Oliva followed with a home run to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-2 win over the Washington Senators before 7,939 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Medley--Stars on 45 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Nagai Yoru--Chiharu Matsuyama (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ay, Amor--Víctor Manuel

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Elizabeth Rona, 91. Hungarian-born U.S. nuclear chemist. Dr. Rona began her career in her native Hungary before moving to Austria and eventually the United States in 1941, becoming an American citizen in 1948. She was known for her work with radioactive isotopes, and her discoveries included confirmation of the existence of "Uranium-Y" (now known as thorium-231).

William Wyler, 79. Geman-born U.S. movie director. Mr. Wyler was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, which reverted to France after World War I. He emigrated to the United States in the early 1920s, and was in Hollywood by 1923. Mr. Wyler became one of the most successful directors in history, receiving 12 Academy Award nominations for Best Director, winning for Mrs. Miniver (1942); The Best Years of Our Lives (1946); and Ben-Hur (1959). His movies received 36 Oscar nominations in acting categories, winning 14. Mr. Wyler died of a heart attack, three days after filming an interview for a television doucumentary about him.

Adam Walsh, 6. U.S. crime victim. Master Walsh accompanied his mother Revé on a shopping trip to the Hollywood Mall in Hollywood, Florida, was temporarily left alone, and mistakenly ejected from the mall. He disappeared, and his severed head was found in a drainage canal on August 10, 1981; asphyxiation was ruled to be the cause of death. A drifter and convicted serial killer named Ottis Toole confessed to Adam's murder, later recanted his confession, and died in prison in 1996. Police closed the case in 2008 and were satisified that Mr. Toole was the killer. The discovery of Master Walsh's head was reported in The Edmonton Sun under the headline Boy's Head Found, which appeared under an article headlined Buried Alive. Adam's father John Walsh subsequently became an advocate for crime victims, and hosted the television program America's Most Wanted (1988-2011).

Transportation
The government of Canada announced a 20% cut in Via Rail passenger service.

Disasters
While landing at Chihuahua International Airport, Aeromexico Flight 230, a DC-9, overshot the runway and made a hard landing, killing 32 of the 66 passengers and crew.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Rapput (Senza Fiato)--Claudio Bisio; Rocco Tanica

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy (rap BCBG)--Les Inconnus

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Driver's Seat--Sniff 'n' the Tears (2nd week at #1)
2 More than Words--Extreme
3 Burbujas de Amor--Juan Luis Guerra y 4;40
4 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd
5 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
6 La Cumbia--Sailor
7 Mooi Man--Mannenkoor Karrespoor
8 You Could Be Mine--Guns N' Roses
9 Now that We Found Love--Heavy D and the Boyz
10 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul

Singles entering the chart were Baila Mi Rumba by Rumba Tres (#26); Baila Me by Gipsy Kings (#28); Danca Tago-Maga by Kaoma (#30); Ala Li Là (Segâ) by Denis Azor (#34); and Move That Body by Technotronic featuring Reggie (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
2 Right Here, Right Now--Jesus Jones
3 Unbelievable--EMF
4 P.A.S.S.I.O.N.--Rythm Syndicate
5 Summertime--D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
6 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul
7 Piece of My Heart--Tara Kemp
8 Every Heartbeat--Amy Grant
9 It Ain't Over 'til it's Over--Lenny Kravitz
10 Temptation--Corina

Singles entering the chart were I Adore Mi Amor by Color Me Badd (#60); My Name is Not Susan by Whitney Houston (#67); Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. (#71); I Don't Wanna See You by Michael Morales (#88); and Hey Stoopid by Alice Cooper (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Right Here, Right Now--Jesus Jones
2 Unbelievable—EMF
3 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
4 P.A.S.S.I.O.N.--Rythm Syndicate
5 Place in this World--Michael W. Smith
6 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul
7 Every Heartbeat--Amy Grant
8 I Wanna Sex You Up—Color Me Badd
9 Piece of My Heart--Tara Kemp
10 Fading Like a Flower--Roxette

Singles entering the chart were I Adore Mi Amore by Color Me Badd (#60); Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. (#70); Unforgettable by Natalie Cole (Duet with Nat King Cole) (#72); Good Vibrations by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (featuring Loleatta Holloway) (#75); My Name is Not Susan by Whitney Houston (#77); Motownphilly by Boyz II Men (#82); and Pop Goes the Weasel by 3rd Bass (#87).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Rush Rush—Paula Abdul (4th week at #1)
2 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
3 A Better Love--Londonbeat
4 More than Words—Extreme
5 Fading Like a Flower--Roxette
6 Superman's Song--Crash Test Dummies
7 It Ain't Over 'til it's Over--Lenny Kravitz
8 The Rhythm of Your Love--Glass Tiger
9 Chocolate Cake--Crowded House
10 Something to Talk About--Bonnie Raitt

Singles entering the chart were Time, Love and Tenderness by Michael Bolton (#87); The Promise of a New Day by Paula Abdul (#88); The Path of Thorns by Sarah McLachlan (#89); Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. (#91); Summertime by DJ Jazzy and The Fresh Prince (#92); Miss You in a Heart Beat by the Law (#93); Saving My Heart by Yes (#96); and Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp (#97).

Died on this date
Ted Pillette, 83. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Pillette, the younger brother of major league pitcher Herman Pillette, played 12 seasons in the minor leagues (1923-1934), mainly in the Class AA Pacific Coast League and the Class A Western League. He played in at least 293 games, winning at least 80 games and losing at least 101.

John Friedrich, 40. West German-born Australian conman. Mr. Friedrich, born Johann Friedrich Hohenberger, was responsible for more scams than this blogger cares to mention. He shot himself to death on his farm near Sale, Victoria, four days after appearing in court on a fraud charge involving almost $300,000.

Crime
2,000 youths in Penticton, British Columbia rioted after a concert by rap star MC Hammer. The youths smashed and looted downtown stores, and wrecked tourist establishments along the beach. 90 were jailed and 60 treated for injuries.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Harold Land, 72. U.S. musician. Mr. Land was a jazz saxophonist who performed with artists such as Thelonius Monk, Billie Holliday and Tony Bennett in a career spanning more than 50 years. He died from a stroke.

Leon Wilkeson, 49. U.S. musician. Mr. Wilkeson played bass guitar with the Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynrd from its founding in 1972 until suffering severe injuries in the 1977 plane crash that killed three group members. He performed with a couple of other bands in the 1980s, and then with a re-formed version of Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1987 until he died in his sleep from chronic liver and lung disease.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-3) 22 @ Calgary (1-3) 28