Sunday 4 September 2011

September 5, 2011

360 years ago
1651


Baptized on this date
William Dampier
. English explorer and naturalist. Mr. Dampier served with the Royal Navy and was then a privateer before eventually rejoining the Royal Navy. He was the first person to circumnavigate the world three times (1679-1691, 1703-1707, 1708-1711), and was the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia. Mr. Dampier's expeditions were the among first to identify and name a number of plants, animals, foods, and cooking techniques for a European audience. He was dismissed from the Royal Navy in 1702 after being convicted in a court martial of cruelty in the treatment of Lieutenant George Fisher, whom Mr. Dampier had removed from his ship and jailed in Brazil. Mr. Dampier apparently died in March 1715 at the age of 63. He influenced later prominent figures such as James Cook and Horatio Nelson.

240 years ago
1771


Born on this date
Karl, Duke of Teschen
. Austrian royal family member and military officer. Archduke Karl von Österreich-Teschen, a son of Emperor Leopold II and younger brother of Holy Roman Emperor Franz II, served in the Imperial Army from 1792-1809 as a lieutenant field marshal. He reformed Austria's armies to adopt the nation-at-arms principle, and was regarded as one of the greatest generals of the French Revolutionary Wars. Archduke Karl achieved several victories, most notably against the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Battle of Aspern-Essling (1809), but saw no significant action after suffering a defeat in the Battle of Wagram (1809). Archduke Karl died on April 30, 1847 at the age of 75.

230 years ago
1781


Born on this date
Anton Diabelli
. Austrian composer and publisher. Mr. Diabelli was best known in his own time as a music publisher, but he wrote vocal music and works for piano and guitar, and is best known today for the waltz he composed that served as the basis for Ludwig van Beethoven's Diabelli Variations. Mr. Diabelli died on April 8, 1858 at the age of 76, after a long battle with atherosclerosis.

War
The British Royal Navy was repelled by the French Navy in the Battle of the Chesapeake off the Virginia Capes, contributing to the British surrender to American forces at Yorktown.

220 years ago
1791


Born on this date
Giacomo Meyerbeer
. German musician and composer. Mr. Meyerbeer, born Jacob Liebmann Beer, began his career as a pianist, but devoted the bulk of his career to composing operas. He wrote 19 operas, and has been called "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner." Mr. Meyerbeer wrote choral works and about 50 songs in his later years, and died on May 2, 1864 at the age of 72.

Law
At a town meeting in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a bylaw was passed making it illegal to play baseball and other sports within 80 yards of the town hall to prevent breaking of windows. It was the first mention of baseball in the United States.

175 years ago
1836


Politics and government
Military hero Sam Houston became the first President of the Republic of Texas.

140 years ago
1871


Born on this date
Friedrich Akel
. Elder of State of Estonia, 1924. Dr. Akel, an ophthalmologist, served as Estonia's foreign minister three times, and was Elder (Head) of State from March-December 1924. He was imprisoned by the U.S.S.R. secret police force NKVD in October 1940, and was shot to death in Tallinn on July 3, 1941 at the age of 69.

130 years ago
1881


Born on this date
Otto Bauer
. Austrian politician. Mr. Bauer led the Austrian Social Democratic Party and served as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the coalition government of Chancellor Karl Renner from November 21, 1918-July 26, 1919. He was forced into exile abroad after a failed coup attempt against the dictatorship of Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934, and died of heart failure in Paris on July 4, 1938 at the age of 56.

Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson. U.K. military officer. Field Marshal "Jumbo" Wilson served with the British Army (1900-1947), participating in the Second Boer War and both World Wars. He held several commands in North Africa and the Middle East in World War II, including Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean (1944-1945). Field Marshal Wilson launched Operation Compass (1940-1941), achieving success against Italian forces in Egypt and Libya. He was Chief of the British Joint Mission in Washington (1945-1947), and was aide-to-camp to King George VI. Field Marshal Wilson was created Baron Wilson in 1946, and was Constable of the Tower of London (1955-1960). He died on December 31, 1964 at the age of 83.

110 years ago
1901


Born on this date
Florence Eldridge
. U.S. actress. Miss Eldridge was a character actress who appeared in 23 movies and television programs from 1923-1978, but was better known as a stage actress. She appeared in more than 20 Broadway plays in a career spanning almost 40 years, and was nominated for a Tony Award for her starring performance in Long Day's Journey Into Night (1956), which co-starred her husband Fredric March, who won a Tony Award for his performance. Miss Eldridge died on August 1, 1988 at the age of 86.

Mario Scelba. Prime Minister of Italy, 1954-1955. Mr. Scelba was an early member of Christian Democracy in the 1940s, and served as Minister of Mails and Communications (1945-1947) and Minister of the Interior (1947-1953, 1954-1955, 1960-1962). He was known for his law and order and anti-Communist policies, and successfully reorganized the Italian police force. Mr. Scelba was Prime Minister from February 1954-July 1955, but a couple of scandals and intraparty machinations led to his resignation. He was a Member of the European Parliament (1960-1979), and was its President (1969-1971). Mr. Scelba died from a thrombosis on October 29, 1991 at the age of 90.

Baseball
The leaders of seven minor leagues--Eastern League; Western League; Three-I League; New York State League; Western Association; Pacific Northwest League; and New England League--with proxies of compliance from four other leagues, met in Chicago to set guidelines. The meeting determined roster sizes, fines, and a reserve clause, and established the league classifications of A, B, C, and D.

75 years ago
1936


On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS

70 years ago
1941


At the movies
Charlie Chan in Rio, directed by Harry Lachman, and starring Sidney Toler and Victor Sen Yung, opened in theatres.



The Argentine interior minister banned the U.K. anti-Nazi film Freedom Radio (aka A Voice in the Night) on the ground that it was offensive toward a friendly nation.

War
The whole territory of Estonia was occupied by German forces. Japanese cabinet spokeman Iichi Kishi said that if Chinese leader Wang Ching-wei and Chiang Kai-shek were to negotiate a peace settlement, "that would be an affair between two Chinese regimes." Wang Ching-wei led the Japanese-sponsored Chinese government. The American freighter Steel Seafarer was sunk in the Red Sea by a bomb; the nationality of the plane was unknown. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt told a press conference that the previous day's German submarine attack on the U.S. destroyer USS Greer was deliberate, and that U.S. warships would "eliminate" the U-boat if they found it.

Diplomacy
The Argentine Chamber of Deputies investigating committee declared that the German embassy was financing Nazi propaganda in Argentina.

Defense
Japan created an Air Defense Bureau to rush the construction of air-raid shelters throughout the country. The U.S. Senate passed the $3,583,900,000 defense tax bill and sent it to conference with the House of Representatives.

Politics and government
William Woodward was installed as Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

The United States Senate cofirmed the appointment of Francis Biddle as U.S. Attorney General without opposition.

Business
A U.S. federal judge ruled that market-sharing and patent-pooling agreements between the German dye trust I.G. Farbenindustrie and four U.S. drug manufacturers violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Labour
The U.S. National Railway Mediation Board announced that it had failed to mediate the wage dispute between the railraods and 19 unions representing 1.25 million workers.

60 years ago
1951


On the radio
Pete Kelly's Blues, starring Jack Webb, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Zelda

War
Japanese Peace Treaty Conference chairman Dean Acheson ruled Soviet delegate Andrei Gromyko out of order on his proposal to seat the People's Republic of China.

Oil
Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh threatened to expel British oil workers from Iran unless the U.K. submitted new proposals within 15 days to settle the oil nationalization dispute.

Economics and finance
The British government reported a "diamond rush" in British Guiana, following the discovery of a diamond deposit in the Cuyuni River district.

Labour
U.S. Federal Judge Alfred Murrah issued a temporary injunction in Denver, on the request of U.S. Attorney General J. Howard McGrath, halting the 10-day nationwide copper-lead-zinc strike.

Tennis
Frank Sedgman of Australia defeated Victor Seixas of the United States 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in the men's singles final of the U.S. National Championships in Forest Hills, New York.

50 years ago
1961


Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Hello Mary Lou/Travelin' Man--Ricky Nelson (9th week at #1)

Baseball
Mickey Mantle hit his 51st home run of the season and Elston Howard added his 16th homer for the New York Yankees as they beat the Washington Senators 6-1 before 16,917 fans at Yankee Stadium. Jim Coates (10-5) pitched a 4-hitter to win over Joe McClain (8-16).

Brooks Robinson led off the bottom of the 6th inning with a double, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Dick Williams, and scored on a single by Jackie Brandt for the game's only run as the Baltimore Orioles edged the Detroit Tigers 1-0 before 13,841 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Chuck Estrada (12-8) allowed 3 hits and struck out 11 batters in 8.2 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Don Mossi (14-5), who allowed 5 hits in 7 innings. Rocky Colavito singled with 2 out in the 9th and advanced to second base on an error by left fielder Russ Snyder, but Steve Barber relieved Mr. Estrada and retired Norm Cash on a ground ball to first base to end the game. The evening began with the Orioles recording the last 3 outs of a 4-1 win in a game that had been suspended because of a curfew the previous night.

Al Smith led off the 9th inning with a home run to tie the score and the Chicago White Sox had runners on first and third bases with 2 out, but failed to score. After the Minnesota Twins were retired in order in the bottom of the 9th, the game was called because of fog, ending in a 3-3 tie before 11,099 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Chicago center fielder Mike Hershberger batted 1 for 3 with a sacrifice, making 2 putouts in his first major league game.

Jerry Lumpe's 3-run home run with 2 out climaxed a 5-run 2nd inning, giving the Kansas City Athletics a 7-0 lead as they coasted to a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in the first game of a doubleheader before 4,692 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Jerry Walker (7-11) pitched a 10-hit complete game victory and batted 2 for 3. Los Angeles left fielder Lee Thomas was 5 for 5 with a double. Bobby Del Greco hit a 2-run homer with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th to give the Athletics a 13-12 win in the second game to complete the sweep. Mr. Thomas was 4 for 6 with 3 home runs--including a grand slam--and 8 runs batted in, tying the major league record with 9 hits in a doubleheader.

Frank Bolling singled with 1 out in the bottom of the 14th inning, advanced to third base on a single by Sammy White, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Joe Torre to give the Milwaukee Braves a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 8,018 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Lou Burdette (16-9), the fourth and last Milwaukee pitcher, allowed 2 hits in 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out 8 batters, to get the win over Frank Sullivan (3-15), who allowed 6 hits and 1 run--earned--in 5.2 innings in relief of Robin Roberts, suffering his second loss in as many days.

40 years ago
1971


Auto racing
In the closest finish in Formula One history, Peter Gethin achieved his only podium finish, winning the Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, finishing 0.01 seconds ahead of Ronnie Peterson. François Cevert finished third, Mike Hailwood fourth, and Howden Ganley fifth as the top five cars were separated by just 0.61 seconds. With an average speed of 150.754 miles per hour (242.615 kilometres per hour), this race stood as the fastest-ever Formula One race until the 2003 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.



Baseball
Denis Menke singled with 1 out in the top of the 2nd inning, advanced to second base on a single by Johnny Edwards, and scored on an error by pitcher Gaylord Perry on a ground ball by Ray Busse for the game's only run as the Houston Astros edged the San Francisco Giants 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 25,527 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Jack Billingham (7-14) pitched a 5-hitter, striking out 11 batters, to win the pitchers' duel over Mr. Perry (14-11), who allowed 6 hits in 8 innings. J.R. Richard (1-0) struck out 15 batters and walked 3, batting 0 for 3 with a sacrifice, making 1 putout in his first major league game, as the Astros came back from a 2-0 deficit to win the second game 5-3 to complete the sweep. Jim Willoughby (0-1) also made his major league debut as San Francisco's starting pitcher, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 3+ innings, striking out 3 batters and walking 1 and making a wild pitch, striking out in his only plate appearance, making 2 assists. Dave Rader made his first major league appearance, grounding out for the Giants as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning of the second game. Jim Howarth played the 9th inning in center field for San Francisco in the second game, with no fielding chances in his first major league game.

The Chicago Cubs scored 5 runs in the top of the 8th inning, but all that accomplished was to spoil a bid for a shutout as they lost 12-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals before 39,309 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. St. Louis leadoff hitter Lou Brock batted 4 for 5 with 3 doubles, 2 runs, 2 runs batted in, and 2 stolen bases. Jerry Reuss (14-12) allowed 7 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 7.1 innings to win over Ferguson Jenkins (21-12), who allowed 12 hits and 7 runs--6 earned--in 4.1 innings.

The New York Yankees scored all their runs in the first 5 innings to take a 6-1 lead, and withstood a 4-run 7th-inning rally to defeat the Detroit Tigers 6-5 before 12,366 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers had the bases loaded with 2 out in the 7th, but pinch hitter Kevin Collins flied out to center field to end the inning as Jack Aker pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to get his 4th save of the season.

30 years ago
1981


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Out Here on My Own--Nikka Costa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): One Day in Your Life--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Green Door--Shakin' Stevens (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Japanese Boy--Aneka

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Tainted Love--Soft Cell

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 De Nederlandse Sterre Die Strale Overal!--Rubberen Robbie (3rd week at #1)
2 Wordy Rappinghood--Tom Tom Club
3 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)--Ottawan
4 For Your Eyes Only--Sheena Easton
5 Hold on Tight--Electric Light Orchestra
6 The Old Calahan "Live"--BZN
7 One Day in Your Life--Michael Jackson
8 Ghost Town--The Specials
9 No Me Hables--Juan Pardo
10 Happy Birthday--Stevie Wonder

Singles entering the chart were Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones (#24); Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (#31); Volume III by Stars on 45 (#36); and Heart and Soul by Exile (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (4th week at #1)
2 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
3 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
4 Urgent--Foreigner
5 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap
6 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
7 Who's Crying Now--Journey
8 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
9 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
10 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury

Singles entering the chart were Share Your Love with Me by Kenny Rogers (#47); Just Be My Lady by Larry Graham (#79); Magic Man by Herb Alpert (#84); and Working in the Coal Mine by Devo (#87).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (4th week at #1)
2 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
3 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
4 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
5 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
6 Urgent--Foreigner
7 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
8 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
9 Who's Crying Now--Journey
10 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap

Singles entering the chart were Share Your Love with Me by Kenny Rogers (#59); Working in the Coal Mine by Devo (#84); Easy to Love Again by Carole Bayer Sager (#87); At This Moment by Billy and the Beaters (#89); and Stay Awake by Ronnie Laws (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (3rd week at #1)
2 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
3 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
4 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
5 Urgent--Foreigner
6 The Stroke--Billy Squier
7 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
8 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap
9 Who's Crying Now--Journey
10 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

Singles entering the chart were Share Your Love with Me by Kenny Rogers (#58); The Theme from Hill Street Blues by Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton (#77); Alien by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#81); and Working in the Coal Mine by Devo (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Sausalito Summernight--Diesel
2 Gemini Dream--Moody Blues
3 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
4 Urgent--Foreigner
5 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
6 Fire and Ice--Pat Benatar
7 The Stroke--Billy Squier
8 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
9 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
10 Don't Let Him Go--REO Speedwagon

Singles entering the chart were The Beach Boys Medley by the Beach Boys (#40); In the Dark by Billy Squier (#43); Lady by the Commodores (#46); What Have You Got to Do by Red Rider (#48); and Step by Step by Eddie Rabbitt (#49).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
2 Fire and Ice--Pat Benatar
3 Urgent--Foreigner
4 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
5 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
6 Who's Crying Now--Journey
7 Hold on Tight--Electric Light Orchestra
8 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
9 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
10 The Break Up Song (They Don't Write 'em)--Greg Kihn Band

Singles entering the chart were Sausalito Summernight by Diesel (#26); In Your Letter by REO Speedwagon (#28); and Cool Love by Pablo Cruise (#30).

Football
CIAU
British Columbia (0-1) 9 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 13

Glenn Steele rushed for 151 yards, including a 25-yard run for the Thunderbirds' only touchdown in thei loss to the Huskies at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

Pre-season
Ottawa 7 @ Alberta 15

Rick Paulitsch rushed 2 yards for a touchdown and Reg Gilmour added a convert, 2 field goals, and a single for the defending national champion Golden Bears as they defeated the Gee-Gees at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton in a rematch of the 1980 Canadian College Bowl contestants. Rick Zmich passed 8 yards to Don Burns for the Ottawa touchdown in the 2nd quarter.

25 years ago
1986


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Holiday Rap--MC Miker G & Deejay Sven (3rd week at #1)

Terrorism
22 people were killed and 150 injured during a 16-hour siege aboard a Pan Am jet at Karachi Airport. Four gunmen held 390 people hostage. The flight had departed Bombay bound for New York.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (4-6) 14 @ Winnipeg (6-4) 38

James Sykes rushed for 191 yards, including one run for 57 yards, as the Blue Bombers easily beat the Roughriders before 24,996 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Winnipe quarterback John Hufnagel passed for 328 yards in a brilliant performance, but when he was removed from the game in the 4th quarter, it was former Seattle Seahawk Jim Zorn, dressing for his first CFL game, who was given a standing ovation, merely for going onto the field.



20 years ago
1991


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (10th week at #1)

Law
The current international treaty defending indigenous peoples, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989, came into force.

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