February 5, 2013

230 years ago
1783

Disasters
Thousands of people were killed when an earthquake measuring 7.5-8.0 on the Richter scale struck the Italian province of Calabria.

225 years ago
1788

Born on this date
Robert Peel. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1834-1835, 1841-1846. Mr. Peel, leader of the Conservative Party, served as Home Secretary from 1822-1827, and became known for modernizing the London police force, whose constables were nicknamed "Bobbies" in his honour. As Prime Minister, Mr. Peel achieved repeal of the nation's Corn Laws, which had protected Britain's farmers from competition by imports. He died on July 2, 1850 at the age of 62, three days after his horse fell on him.

160 years ago
1853

Died on this date
Thomas Talbot, 81. U.K.-born Canadian politician. Colonel Talbot, a native of Dublin, was a military officer before immigrating to Canada and founding the community of Port Talbot in what is now Elgin County, Ontario in 1803. The original Port Talbot was burned by Ameican raiders in 1814 and never rebuilt. 26,000 settlers were in the area by 1826 and 50,000 by 1837, with Col. Talbot ruling as a despot.

130 years ago
1883

Transportation
The Southern pacific Railroad completed its "Sunset Route" from New Orleans to California.

100 years ago
1913

Aviation
Greek military flyers Michael Moutoussis and Aristeidis Moraitinis, in a Maurice Farman MF.7 hydroplane, performed the first naval air mission in history, conducting reconnaissance of the retreating Ottoman fleet in the Dardanelles, several weeks after the Battle of Lemnos.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Hans Litten, 34. German lawyer. Mr. Litten was an opponent of the Nazi regime who, in 1931, had called Adolf Hitler as a witness in a trial and had cross-examined him for three hours. Mr. Litten was arrested on February 28, 1933, and was imprisoned and beaten. He hanged himself in the concentration camp at Dachau.

70 years ago
1943

Boxing
Jake LaMotta (31-5-2), a 3-1 underdog, upset Sugar Ray Robinson (40-1), winning a unanimous 10-round decision in a middleweight bout before 18,930 fans at Olympia Stadium in Detroit. Mr. Robinson had won a unanimous 10-round decision over Mr. LaMotta four months earlier.

60 years ago
1953

Economics and finance
British Minister of Food Major Gwilym Lloyd-George announced an end to rationing of sweets and chocolate, which had been in force since July 26, 1942.

50 years ago
1963

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Globe of Death

Politics and government
The Canadian government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker was defeated 142-111 on a non-confidence vote in the House of Commons, necessitating a federal election to be held on April 8.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo

#1 single in France: Crazy Horses--The Osmonds (2nd week at #1)

Television
Live television came to the Northwest Territories when the Anik 1 satellite began transmitting the broadcasts of CBUT in Vancouver. Since the station was on Pacific Standard Time, those of us in the western part of the NWT received the programs one hour later than those receiving Canadian Broadcasting Corporation programming in most of the rest of Canada.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Africa--Rose Laurens

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Down Under--Men at Work (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Down Under--Men at Work (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Africa--Toto

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Down Under--Men at Work (3rd week at #1)
2 Baby, Come to Me--Patti Austin (with James Ingram)
3 Africa--Toto
4 Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates
5 Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye
6 Mickey--Toni Basil
7 Dirty Laundry--Don Henley
8 The Other Guy--Little River Band
9 Shame on the Moon--Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
10 You Can't Hurry Love--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey (#58); Make Love Stay by Dan Fogelberg (#85); So Close by Diana Ross (#96); Little Too Late by Pat Benatar (#87); Nice Girls by Melissa Manchester (#88); Too Much Love to Hide by Crosby, Stills & Nash (#89); and I Like It by DeBarge (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Pass the Dutchie--Musical Youth (3rd week at #1)
2 Africa--Toto
3 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club
4 Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye
5 Come On Eileen--Dexys Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express
6 Mickey--Toni Basil
7 Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Baby, Come to Me--Patti Austin (with James Ingram)
9 Mirror Man--The Human League
10 Goody Two Shoes--Adam Ant

Singles entering the chart were We've Got Tonight by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton (#43); Fall in Love with Me by Earth, Wind and Fire (#46); Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (#47); and Tied Up by Olivia Newton-John (#48).

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Always On My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (5th week at #1)

Crime
U.S. federal grand juries in Miami and Tampa returned indictments against Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega, accusing him of protecting and otherwise helping international drug traffickers, and allowing the laundering of drug profits through Panamanian banks. Gen. Noriega denied the charges. He and 15 others were named in the Miami indictments, which charged that he had assisted the Medellin drug cartel, which was linked to 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States. Panama denounced the Florida indictments of Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega. In news interviews, Gen. Noriega said that U.S. national security adviser Rear Adm. John Poindexter had asked him to help topple the Sandanista government of Nicaragua.

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 83. U.S. movie director, writer, and producer. Mr. Mankiewicz won Academy Awards for his screenplay and as Best Director for A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950). His other films as director included 5 Fingers (1952); Julius Caesar (1953); Cleopatra (1963); and Sleuth (1972).