December 29, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Christine Gotaas!

200 years ago
1812

War
In the War of 1812, USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captured HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle.

150 years ago
1862

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Union forces under the command of General William T. Sherman were rebuffed in their attempt to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi in the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs.

75 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Don Marquis, 59. U.S. writer. Mr. Marquis, an editor and columnist with several newspapers, created the fictional characters "archy and mehitabel."

Politics and government
The Constitution of Ireland went into effect, replacing the Constitution of the Irish Free State that had been in effect since 1922.

60 years ago
1952

Literature
The Adventure of the Seven Clocks by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr appeared in the Decamber 29, 1952 issue of Life. It was the first in a series of stories known as The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes.

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Speedy Gonzales--Pat Boone (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Junge, komm bald wieder--Freddy Quinn

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Next Time/Bachelor Boy--Cliff Richard and the Shadows

Both songs were included in the movie Summer Holiday (1963).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Telstar--The Tornados (2nd week at #1)

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Telstar--The Tornados
2 Bobby's Girl--Marcie Blane
3 Limbo Rock--Chubby Checker
4 Return to Sender--Elvis Presley
5 Go Away Little Girl--Steve Lawrence
6 Big Girls Don't Cry--The 4 Seasons
7 The Lonely Bull--The Tijuana Brass
8 Release Me--"Little Esther" Phillips
9 You are My Sunshine--Ray Charles
10 Hotel Happiness--Brook Benton

Singles entering the chart were Walk Right In by the Rooftop Singers (#86); Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry) by Marion Worth (#89); Java by Floyd Cramer (#94); Proud by Johnny Crawford (#97); Would it Make Any Difference to You by Etta James (#98); and There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight by Adam Wade (#99).

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ich wünsch' mir 'ne kleine Miezekatze--Wums Gesang (2nd week at #1)

Journalism
This was the date of the last issue of Life after 36 years as a weekly magazine.

Disasters
101 people were killed when an Eastern Air Lines Lockheed Tristar jet crashed on approach to Miami International Airport.

30 years ago
1982

Died on this date
Hugh Gallen, 58. U.S. politician. Mr. Gallen, a Democrat, was Governor of New Hampshire from 1979-1982. Defeated by Republican candidate John Sununu in the 1982 election, he contracted a rare blood infection and was forced to yield his powers as Governor to Vesta Roy, President of the Senate. Mr. Gallen died eight days before the inauguration of Mr. Sununu.