May 11, 2012

200 years ago
1812

Died on this date
Spencer Perceval, 49. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1809-1812. Mr. Perceval, a Tory, was shot in the chest as he entered the House of Commons in London by a merchant named John Bellingham who believed that he had been unjustly imprisoned in Russia and whose demands for compensation had been rebuffed. Mr. Perceval remains the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated (so far).

125 years ago
1887

Horse racing
Montrose, with I. Lewis up, won the 13th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:39 1/4. Jim Gore placed second and Jacobin finished third.

120 years ago
1892

Horse racing
Azra, with Alonzo Clayton up, won the 18th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:41 1/2. Huron placed second and Phil Dwyer finished third; they were the only other horses in the race.

100 years ago
1912

Born on this date
Foster Brooks. U.S. comedian. Mr. Brooks was best known for playing the character of a "Loveable Lush" in nightclub and television appearances in the 1960s and '70s. He frequently appeared on The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, receiving an Emmy Award nomination for the former in 1974. Mr. Brooks died of heart failure on December 20, 2001 at the age of 89.

75 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Afonso Costa, 66. Prime Minister of Portugal, 1913-1914, 1915-1916, 1916, 1917. Mr. Costa was the leader of the Portuguese Republican Party and the subsequent Democratic Party faction. Following the proclamation of the First Republic in 1910, he was Minister for Justice in the provisional government of President Teófilo Braga. He served four brief terms as Prime Minister during a period of political instability, and was known for taking measures to establish a separation of church and state. Mr. Costa went into exile in Paris following a military coup d'état led by Sidónio Pais in December 1917, and never again lived in Portugal, although he led the Portuguese delegation at the Paris Peace Conference from March-June 1919, and signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of Portugal. He refused subsequent offers to lead the Portuguese government, and died in Paris.

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Young Man's Fancy, starring Alex Nicol and Phyllis Thaxter

40 years ago
1972

Economics and finance
A referendum in Ireland resulted in voters approving entry into the European Economic Community effective January 1, 1973. The margin of approval was better than 4-1.

Law
A U.S. federal appeals court overturned the contempt of court citations of the “Chicago 7” defendants and their lawyers and ordered new trials. The citations had been handed out by Judge Julius Hoffman in 1970 after a trial in which five of the defendants had been convicted of crossing state lines to incite rioting during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968.

Disasters
The British cargo ship Royston Grange and Liberian oil tanker Tien Cheung collided and burst into flames at the entrance to the River Plate channel off Argentina, burning to death all 75 aboard the Royston Grange and 9 crewmen on the Tien Cheung.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 3 @ New York 0 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Boston defenseman Bobby Orr scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. Gerry Cheevers earned the shutout in goal for the Bruins at Madison Square Garden as they won the Stanley Cup for the second time in three years.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Oh Julie--Shakin' Stevens (10th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Vancouver 4 @ New York Islanders 6 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis (5th week at #1)

Politics and government
Candidates supported by President Corazon Aquino swept to victory in legislative elections in the Philippines.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Edmonton 3 @ Detroit 2 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): 9700-Irma--DJ Konnat

Politics and government
Former Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos emerged with a slim lead in voting for President of the Philippines; he had the support of outgoing President Corazon Aquino. Former judge and runner-up Miriam Defensor Santiago had made corruption a major issue and had said, “Many, if not all, of my presidential opponents are certifiable idiots.” Former first lady Imelda Marcos was among the unsuccessful candidates, receiving about 10% of the vote.

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Joseph Bonanno, 97. Italian-born U.S. gangster. Mr. Bonanno headed one of New York City’s five original crime families from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Hockey
Men’s World Championship
Final
Slovakia 4 Russia 3

It was the first world title for Slovakia.