January 11, 2012

225 years ago
1787

Space
William Herschel, who had discovered Uranus in 1781, discovered Oberon and Titania, two of Uranus's moons.

70 years ago
1942

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Haunted Bagpipes

60 years ago
1952

Died on this date
Manuel Herrick, 75. U.S. politician. Mr. Herrick, a Republican, represented Oklahoma's 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1921-1923). He was perhaps the most eccentric character who ever held such an office, and was nicknamed "Okie Jesus Congressman"; he believed himself to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, and served time in a mental institution after a failed train robbery attempt. Mr. Herrick obtained his party's nomination for Congress in 1920 in a fluke, as incumbent Dick Morgan, who was expected to easily win re-election, died on July 4, 1920, the last day of filing for the nomination. Mr. Herrick was the only other candidate for the Republican Party nomination, and was easily elected in the nationwide landslide in the 1920 Congressional election. He failed to win re-nomination in 1922, and was unsuccessful in several subsequent attempts to win office, most of which came in California, where he moved in 1933. Mr. Herrick disappeared during a blizzard while on his way to check a mining claim eight miles northeast of Quincy, California; he was found dead in a snowbank on February 29, 1952, two miles from his cabin.



50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard and the Shadows

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Fall Guy

Disasters
Approximately 4,000 people were killed when an avalanche of rocks and ice buried a mountain vilage and several settlements in northwestern Peru.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Down Under--Men at Work (4th week at #1)

Weather
Wales was virtually cut off from the rest of the U.K. by a snowstorm that killed five people. Many towns and villages in western England were isolated by snowdrifts up to 15 feet high. The temperature dropped to -43 F in Sweden, and ice stopped Denmark's domestic ferry service. Broken ice blocked the flow of the River Vistula in Poland, causing flooding of farmland in the area.

Defense
The U.S. administration announced that President Ronald Reagan had decided to permit the government of Taiwan to buy F-5E fighter planes from the United States, but that more advanced aircraft would not be sold to the Taiwanese. Alan Romberg of the U.S. State Department said there was no limit to the number of planes to be sold to the Taiwanese, and indicated that the planes might be improved later with better electronic systems and more advanced weapons.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (2nd week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Championship
Washington 0 @ New York Giants 17

The Giants blanked the Redskins before 76,633 fans at Giants Stadium to advance to the NFL championship game for the first time since the pre-Super Bowl year of 1963.

AFC Championship
Denver 23 @ Cleveland 20 (OT)

The Browns led the Broncos 20-13 with 5:34 remaining in the 4th quarter, with the Broncos in possession of the ball at their own 2-yard line. Denver quarterback John Elway marched the team 98 yards to the tying touchdown and convert with 37 seconds remaining, and the Broncos won in overtime before 79,915 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Black or White--Michael Jackson (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Black or White--Michael Jackson (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
Algerian President Chadli Benjedid resigned and was replaced by a ruling council dominated by the army.

10 years ago
2002

World events
The first al-Qaeda prisoners arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Space
Astronomers said that if it were possible to view the universe from the outside, it would appear to be pale green.

Business
Ford Motor Company announced its biggest cutbacks in 20 years, including the discontinuation of the Lincoln Continental, Ford Escort, Mercury Cougar, and Mercury Villager.