February 25, 2013

1,875 years ago
138

Politics and government
Roman Emperor Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor.

300 years ago
1713

Died on this date
Friedrich I, 55. King in Prussia, 1701-1713. Friedrich (or Frederick) was the first King in Prussia and was the paternal grandfather of Frederick the Great.

290 years ago
1723

Died on this date
Christopher Wren, 90. U.K. architect. Sir Christopher was responsible for building 52 churches after the Great Fire of London in 1666, most notably S. Paul's Cathedral. A mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, he was a founder of the Royal Society.

170 years ago
1843

Britannica
Lord George Paulet, a Royal navy officer, obtained the Provisional Cession of the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands, as King Kamehameha III of Hawaii agreed to cede the islands to the British government.

140 years ago
1873

Born on this date
Enrico Caruso. Italian singer. Mr. Caruso was one of the most famous operatic tenors in history, playing 74 roles in Europe and North America in a career spanning 25 years. He was also one of the first recording stars, making almost 250 recordings from 1902-1920. Mr. Caruso's health seriously declined in his last year, and he died in a hotel in Naples on August 2, 1921 at the age of 48, reportedly from peritonitis arising from a burst subphrenic abscess.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Gert Frobe. German actor. Mr. Frobe appeared mostly in German movies, but was best known for playing the title role in Goldfinger (1964). He also appeared in Mr. Arkadin (1955) and The Longest Day (1962). Mr. Frobe died on September 5, 1988 at the age of 75.

Jim Backus. U.S. actor. Mr. Backus starred with Joan Davis in the television comedy series I Married Joan (1952-1955), but was best known for providng the voice for the cartoon character Mr. Magoo and as millionaire Thurston Howell III in the television comedy series Gilligan's Island (1964-1967). He appeared in many movies, the best known of which was Rebel Without a Cause (1955). He died on July 3, 1989 at the age of 76.

80 years ago
1933

Defense
The USS Ranger, the first United States Navy ship to be built solely as an aircraft carrier, was launched at Newport News, Virginia.

70 years ago
1943

Born on this date
George Harrison. U.K. musician. Mr. Harrison, the lead guitarist and youngest member (and this blogger's favourite) of the Beatles was born in Liverpool. He died of cancer on November 29, 2001 at the age of 58.

60 years ago
1953

On the radio
I Was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews
Tonight’s episode: The Red Ladies

50 years ago
1963

Boxing
Leotis Martin (5-0) won a 6-round decision over Buddy Moore (2-4) in Philadelphia.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst)--Peter Schilling (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Tennessee Williams, 71. U.S. playwright. Mr. Williams was one of the best-known playwrights of the 20th century. A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) andCat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) each won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Rose Tattoo (1951) won the Tony for Best Play, and The Glass Menagerie (1944) and The Night of the Iguana (1961) each won awards from the New York Drama Critics' Circle. Many of his works, including all of those mentioned above, were made into movies. These included Summer and Smoke; Suddenly, Last Summer; Sweet Bird of Youth; Period of Adjustment; and Orpheus Descending (released on film as The Fugitive Kind). Mr. Williams wrote the screenplay for Baby Doll (1956), and his novella The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone was made into a movie in 1961. Mr. Williams went into a long decline after the early 1960s, and was never able to recapture his earlier success. For example, The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (1963) closed after just 69 performances on Broadway, and a reworked version a year later lasted just 5 performances. The movie version, titled Boom!, was one of the biggest critical and box office flops of 1968. Mr. Williams died from choking on a plastic bottle cap in his room at the Hotel Elysee in New York. He was apparently in the habit of putting the cap in his mouth while he tilted his head back to put drops in his eyes.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index had risen 0.2% in January.

World events
The Statute of Autonomy was approved for the Balearic Islands, declaring the islands to be one nationality of Spain.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Heatseeker--AC/DC (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz began a week of meetings with leaders in Middle Eastern capitals.

Politics and government
Roe Tae-woo took office as President of South Korea.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): I Feel You--Depeche Mode (2nd week at #1)

Music
This blogger, along with a lovely lady from Ottawa, attended a concert at the National Arts Centre in the nation's capital. The National Arts Centre Orchestra was conducted by Franz-Paul Decker, with violinist Scott St. John the featured soloist.

Politics and government
Kim Young Sam took office as President of South Korea, becoming the country's first civilian leader in more than three decades. He promised to end the "dark political night" of corruption and economic blight.

Protest
More than 1,000 Hindu nationalists were arrested in India by riot police while they were demanding the resignation of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.