June 18, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Irma Tovar!

200 years ago
1812

Born on this date
Ivan Goncharov. Russian author. Mr. Goncharov was known for his three novels A Common Story (1847), Oblomov (1859), and The Precipice (1869). He wrote literary and theatrical reviews in later years, and died of pneumonia on September 27, 1891 at the age of 79. His memoir An Uncommon Story, in which he accused his rivals of plagiarizing his works, wasn't published until 1924.

War
The United States Congress, by a small majority, voted in favour of war against Great Britain. The three major causes were: 1/Britain’s seizure of American ships as part of her blockade of France; 2/Britain’s refusal to recognize naturalized American sailors; 4,000 had been seized by 1810, and 2/3 had been impressed into British service; 3/Britain had armed Indians who had raided America’s western border. On June 16, Britain had lifted her blockade of France for American ships, but the news hadn’t reached the U.S.A. when Congress voted on the declaration of war.

70 years ago
1942

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Paul McCartney!
The "cute Beatle" was born in Liverpool.

60 years ago
1952

On the radio
I Was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews
Tonight’s episode: Tight Wire

On television tonight
The Unexpected, hosted by Herbert Marshall, on NBC
Tonight's episode: False Colors, starring David Colmans, Marlene Lyden, Sheila Ryan, and Robert Shayne

50 years ago
1962

Politics and government
In the Canadian federal election, the governing Progressive Conservatives under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker lost 92 seats, but emerged with a plurality. The PCs had won 208 seats in 1958, but in 1962, they were reduced to 116 seats. The Liberals, under Lester Pearson, won 99 seats, up from 48 in 1958. Social Credit, led by Robert Thompson, held the balance of power with 30 seats—26 in Quebec—while the New Democratic Party, campaigning in its first election since changing its name from Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation the previous year, captured 19 seats.

40 years ago
1972

Disasters
All 118 people aboard a British European Airways jet were killed when it plunged into a field minutes after taking off from London’s Heathrow Airport.

30 years ago
1982

Died on this date
Roscoe Hillenkoetter, 85. U.S. military officer and spymaster. Admiral Hillenkoetter was the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency, holding the post from 1947-1950.

Curt Jurgens, 66. German actor. Mr. Jurgens appeared in such movies as The Longest Day (1962); Battle of Britain (1969); The Mephisto Waltz (1971); and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). For some strange reason, he was usually cast as a German.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Edmonton (0-2) 27 @ Saskatchewan (2-0) 34

Rookie quarterback Joe Adams scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line with 8 seconds remaining in the game to give the Roughriders the win over the Eskimos at Taylor Field in Regina. A highlight for the Eskimos was a 37-yard touchdown rush by new running back Kevin Cole.

25 years ago
1987

Protest
Tens of thousands of students protesting South Korea’s electoral system gained control of the streets of downtown Seoul for several hours. The U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan called on the South Korean government to permit a renewal of debate over changing the constitution.

20 years ago
1992

Died on this date
Peter Allen, 48. Australian entertainer and songwriter. Mr. Allen, born Peter Woolnough, was a popular performer in his native land. Notable songs that he wrote or co-wrote included I Honestly Love You; Don't Cry Out Loud; and Arthur's Theme (Best that You Can Do).

Politics and government
69% of voters in Ireland approved the Maastricht treaty on European economic and political union.

Czechoslovakian Premier-designate Vaclav Klaus proposed that the country split in two. Slovak nationalist leader Vladimir Meciar, who had been pressing for a confederation in which Slovakia would control its own economy, welcomed the proposal.

Diplomacy
Peter Teeley, former press secretary to U.S. President George Bush, was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Canada.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the merchandise trade deficit was $6.97 billion in April, the biggest in more than a year.

Baseball
NL
Montreal 4 @ Pittsburgh 0

10 years ago
2002

Terrorism
At least 19 people were killed in Jerusalem when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb on a bus during morning rush hour.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-1) 4 @ British Columbia (1-1) 27