February 21, 2012

575 years ago
1437

Died on this date
James I, 42. King of Scotland, 1406-1437. James I, the son of King Robert III, was sent to France in March 1406 in order to be safe from a possible plot by his uncle Robert, Duke of Albany. However, the ship was seized by English pirates on its way to France, and James was delivered to King Henry IV of England, and was in captivity when King Robert died on April 4, 1406. James I was educated at the English court and aided Henry IV's successor Henry V in his military campaign in France in 1420-1421. King James married Joan Beaufort, daughter of the Duke of Somerset, in February 1424, and was released two months later. He returned to Scotland and launched pre-emptive attacks against some of his nobles in order to solidify his position. King James I was assassinated by his uncle Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl in an unsuccessful coup attempt. Queen Joan was seriously wounded, but escaped with their 6-year-old son, who succeeded his father as King James II.

70 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A String of Pearls--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Heinz Hitler, 21. German soldier. Unteroffizier Hitler, a nephew of Fuehrer Adolf Hitler, served with the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front during World War II, and participated in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. He was captured by Soviet forces on January 10, 1942, and died, reportedly after torture, in Butyrka military prison in Moscow, 22 days before his 22nd birthday.

60 years ago
1952

Olympics
Dick Button of the United States defeated Helmut Seibt of Austria to win the men's figure skating competition for the second straight Olympics. Skating at Bislett Stadium in Oslo to Enesco's Rumanian Rhapsody, Mr. Button became the first skater to complete three consecutive double axels.

40 years ago
1972

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon became the first American president to visit the People's Republic of China as he arrived to begin a week-long summit.

30 years ago
1982

Hockey
NHL
New York Islanders 3 @ Pittsburgh 4

The Islanders' loss to the Penguins at Civic Arena ended their record 15-game winning streak.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Si Può Dare Di Più--Gianni Morandi, Umberto Tozzi, and Enrico Ruggeri (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Stand by Me--Ben E. King

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi (2nd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi (2nd week at #1)
2 Open Your Heart--Madonna
3 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
4 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
5 Keep Your Hands to Yourself--Georgia Satellites
6 Jacob's Ladder--Huey Lewis and the News
7 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
8 You Got it All--The Jets
9 Ballerina Girl--Lionel Richie
10 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper

Singles entering the chart included I Knew You were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael (#52); Dominoes by Robbie Nevil (#73); Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You by Glenn Medeiros (#84); Boom Boom by Paul Lekakis (#85); The Lady in Red by Chris DeBurgh (#87); and Light of Day by the Barbusters. Light of Day was the title song from the movie; the Barbusters were actually Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters (2nd week at #1)
2 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
3 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
4 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
5 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
6 Keep Your Hands to Yourself--Georgia Satellites
7 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
8 Open Your Heart--Madonna
9 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
10 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago

Singles entering the chart were Fire by Bruce Springsteen (#90); Dirty Water by Rock and Hyde (#93); Skin Trade by Duran Duran (#95); Should I Know by Frozen Ghost (#96); American Singer by Bundock (#97); and Act of Mercy by Luba (#98).

Hockey
NHL
New York Islanders 6 @ Montreal 5

This was the national Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.

20 years ago
1992

Olympics
Women's figure skating
Kristi Yamaguchi of the United States won the competition at Albertville, France, becoming the first American woman to win the gold medal since Dorothy Hamill in 1976. Despite hailing from California, Miss Yamaguchi trained at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton, Alberta.

Men's hockey
Canada 4 Czech Republic 2

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
John Thaw, 60. U.K. actor. Mr. Thaw was best known as the star of the Inspector Morse television mysteries (1987-2000).

Abominations
A video was released that confirmed that Daniel Pearl, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, had been beheaded by Islamic terrorists in Pakistan on February 1, nine days after being kidnapped in Karachi.

Olympics
16-year-old Sarah Hughes of the United States won the gold medal in the women's figure skating competition at Salt Lake City.