April 6, 2012

160 years ago
1852

Died on this date
François-Louis Cailler, 55. Swiss chocolatier. Mr. Cailler founded the firm bearing his name in 1819 as the first modern brand of Swiss chocolate.

150 years ago
1862

War
The Battle of Shiloh began in the U.S. Civil War in Hardin County, Tennessee.

120 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Donald Wills Douglas, Sr.. U.S. engineer and aviation executive. Mr. Douglas founded the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1921, which became one of the major firms in the aircraft industry, achieving tremendous success with the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) and the DC-3 in the mid-late 1930s. He was president of the company until he retired in favour of his son Douglas, Jr. in 1957, but remained as Chairman of the Board, approving a merger with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967 to become McDonnell Douglas. Mr. Douglas was honourary chairman of the board with McDonnell Douglas until his death on February 1, 1981 at the age of 88.

Lowell Thomas. U.S. journalist. Mr. Thomas was a writer, broadcaster, and film producer who was known for his wide travels. He publicized T.E. Lawrence during World War I, making him famous as Lawrence of Arabia. Mr. Thomas presented the first televised newscast in 1939, and produced the first Cinerama movie in 1952, but was best known for his radio newscasts, which he presented on CBS and from 1930-1932 and 1947-1976 and on NBC from 1932-1947. He died on August 29, 1981 at the age of 89.

80 years ago
1932

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger

75 years ago
1937

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 1 @ New York Rangers 5 (New York led best-of-five series 1-0)

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Four O'Clock, starring Theodore Bikel

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 2, whose mission was to study cosmic rays and dust, Earth’s geomagnetic field, cloud distribution, and solar radiation.

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
Heinrich Luebke, 77. 2nd President of West Germany, 1959-1969. Mr. Luebke, a member of the Christian Democratic Union party, served as West Germany's minister of agriculture in the government of Premier Konrad Adenauer before succeeding to the largely ceremonial position of President.

Brian Donlevy, 71. U.S. actor. Mr. Donlevy achieved success on stage in the 1920s and '30s before moving to Hollywood, where he appeared in movies, radio, and television programs through the 1960s, often in "tough guy" roles. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting performance in Beau Geste (1939), and starred as the title character in The Great McGinty (1940). Mr. Donlevy appeared in films noir such as Impact (1949) and The Big Combo (1955), and played Professor Bernard Quatermass in The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) and Quatermass 2 (1957). He starred in the radio (1949, 1950-1953) and television (1951-1952) series Dangerous Assignment. Mr. Donlevy died of throat cancer.

War
A North Vietnamese tank force struck from Cambodia against South Vietnamese troops at Loc Ninh, a fire base five miles from the border.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Montreal 2 @ New York 5 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Toronto 4 @ Boston 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Pittsburgh 2 @ Chicago 3 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-0)
St. Louis 5 @ Minnesota 6 (OT) (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Bill Fairbairn scored 2 goals in the 3rd period and Ted Irvine added another to lead the Rangers past the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. Guy Lafleur scored his first career Stanley Cup goal for the Canadiens.

Jim Harrison scored 2:58 into overtime as the Maple Leafs upset the Bruins at Boston Garden. The Bruins led 3-2 before Guy Trottier tied the game with his only Stanley Cup goal at 9:42 of the 3rd period. Bernie Parent won the goaltending duel over Gerry Cheevers.

Chico Maki's goal with 8:43 remaining in regulation time lifted the Black Hawks past the Penguins at Chicago Stadium. Tony Esposito won his second straight goaltending duel over Jim Rutherford.

Bill Goldsworthy scored 1:36 into overtime to give the North Stars the win over the Blues at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington. Frank St. Marseille scored 2 goals for the Blues.

Baseball
The Montreal Expos traded right fielder Rusty Staub to the New York Mets for first baseman Mike Jorgensen, shortstop Tim Foli, and right fielder Ken Singleton. Mr. Staub, nicknamed "Le Grand Orange," had been the Expos' biggest star in the first three seasons of the team's existence from 1969-1971, leading them in home runs in all three years. The three players the Expos obtained were promising youngsters.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Oh Julie--Shakin' Stevens (5th week at #1)

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Knew You were Waiting for Me--Aretha Franklin and George Michael (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney concluded their two-day summit in Ottawa, with the main subjects being acid rain and free trade. Mr. Reagan addressed Parliament and gave no timetable, but said that he and Mr. Mulroney had agreed to consider a bilateral accord on acid rain. He also said that his administration was committed to “good-faith negotiations” to achieve free trade between the countries.

Boxing
Sugar Ray Leonard (34-1), fighting for the first time in three years, won a 12-round split decision over defending champion Marvin Hagler (62-3-2) to win the World Boxing Council world middleweight chamionship at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. It was Mr. Hagler's last fight.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): En rakkauttas saa--Kurre (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Isaac Asimov, 72. Russian-born U.S. author. Dr. Asimov, the author and/or editor of more than 500 books of fiction and non-fiction, was best known for his Foundation series. In 1969 this blogger received a signed postcard from Dr. Asimov after pointing out an error in an astronomy book that he had written for children.

Politics and government
Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, citing corruption in the Congress and the judiciary, dissolved the Peruvian Congress.

Two days of voting in the Italian general election produced a minority government, with the Christian Democrats failing to gain a majority. 67% of the 47.5 million eligible voters cast ballots.

10 years ago
2002

Politics and government
Jose Manuel Durao Barroso was sworn in as Prime Minister of Portugal.