February 7, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherri Pierce!

230 years ago
1783

War
French and Spanish forces lifted the Great Siege of Gibraltar, an attempt to capture the territory from the United Kingdom during the American Revolutionary War.

150 years ago
1863

Disasters
189 people were killed when HMS Orpheus sank off Auckland, New Zealand.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Ramón Mercader. Spanish assassin. Mr. Mercader was a Communist and Soviet agent who assassinated Leon Trotsky, the chief rival of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, in Mexico City. On August 20, 1940, Mr. Mercader attacked Mr. Trotsky with an ice pick; Mr. Trotsky died the next day, and Mr. Mercader spent almost 20 years in prison. He went to Cuba upon his release, and divided his time between that country and the U.S.S.R. for the rest of his life, dying in Havana on October 18, 1978 at the age of 75.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Harvey Firestone, 69. U.S. industrialist. Mr. Firestone founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1900. He was part of a social circle called the "Millionaires' Club," which included Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

70 years ago
1943

War
Japanese forces completed their evacuation from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands.

60 years ago
1953

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You Belong to Me--Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra; Dean Martin (4th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes--Perry Como (Best seller--5th week at #1, Jukebox--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Till I Waltz Again with You--Teresa Brewer
2 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes--Perry Como
3 Why Don't You Believe Me--Joni James
4 Oh Happy Day--Don Howard
5 Keep it a Secret--Jo Stafford
6 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me--Karen Chandler
7 Have You Heard--Joni James
8 It's in the Book (Parts 1 and 2)--Johnny Standley
9 Tell Me You're Mine--The Gaylords
10 The Glow-Worm--The Mills Brothers

Singles entering the chart were She Wears Red Feathers by Guy Mitchell (#22); (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I by Jo Stafford (#24); How do You Speak to an Angel? by Eddie Fisher (#32); My Heart Belongs to Only You by June Christy (#38, with the version by Betty McLaurin, in its third week on the chart); and Teardrops on My Pillow by Sunny Gale (#41). Teardrops on My Pillow was the B-side of A Stolen Waltz, which charted at #46.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Diamonds--Jet Harris and Tony Meehan (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Death Ship, starring Jack Klugman, Ross Martin, and Frederick Beir

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Gloria--Laura Branigan

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): This Time/Life Without You--Christy Moore (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Alexandra, 72. Queen consort of Yugoslavia, 1944-1945. Alexandra, the posthumous daughter of King Alexander of Greece, became Queen consort of Yugoslavia when she married King Peter II while in exile in Britain, but the monarchy ended on November 29, 1945 when Yugoslavian President Marshal Josip Broz Tito proclaimed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, making her the country's last queen. King Peter turned to drink afterwards and died in 1970, while Queen Alexandra reacted with depression and suicide attempts. She died of cancer.

Politics and government
The Progressive Citizens' Party won 12 of 25 seats in the Landtag in the Liechtensteinian general election. The Patriotic Union won 11 seats, and the Free List won the remaining 2 seats, their first ever.

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honololu
AFC 23 NFC 20 (OT)

Nick Lowery of the Kansas City Chiefs kicked a 33-yard field goal at 4:09 of overtime to give the American Football Conference its win over the National Football Conference before 50,007 fans in a game that was dominated by the NFC everywhere but the scoreboard.