June 4, 2013

275 years ago
1738

Born on this date
George III. King of Great Britain and Ireland, 1760-1820; King of Hanover, 1814-1820. George III was the grandson of King George II, and the son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. He was the first monarch of the House of Hanover to be born in England and to speak English as his first language. He succeeded to the throne on the death of George II. Madness, which in recent years has been attributed to the genetic disease porphyria as well as to arsenic poisoning, increasingly affected King George in his later years, and in 1810 he was replaced as regent by his eldest son, who succeeded to the throne as King George IV upon the death of George III on January 29, 1820 at the age of 81.

230 years ago
1783

Aviation
Brothers Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier publicly demonstrated their montgolfière (hot air balloon), flying the craft in Annonay, France in front of a group of dignitaries from the États particuliers. Its flight covered 2km (1.2miles), lasted 10 minutes, and had an estimated altitude of 1,600-2,000 metres (5,200-6,600 feet).

170 years ago
1843

Canadiana
The town of Victoria, British Columbia was founded.

100 years ago
1913

Protest
U.K. suffragette Emily Davison ran out in front of King George V's horse Anmer at the Epsom Derby. She was trampled, never regained consciousness, and died a few days later.

70 years ago
1943

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Engineer's Thumb

Died on this date
Kermit Roosevelt, 53. U.S. military officer. Major Roosevelt, the second son of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, accompanied his father on expeditions of exploration, and founded the Roosevelt Steamship Company and United States Lines. He served in both world wars, but in World War II, he suffered from depression and increasingly took to drink. Maj. Roosevelt was posted to Fort Richardson, Alaska, working as an intelligence officer and organizing a territorial militia of Inuit and Aleuts, when he fatally shot himself in the head.

War
Chinese troops recaptured Itu and Yangchi, Yangtze River ports in western Hupeh Province, and occupied Nanhsien and Ansiang, north of Tungting Lake. Right Reverend Edward S. Woods, Anglican Bishop of Lichfield, urged that Rome be spared from bombing because any military advantage "would be more than offset by the moral damage to our cause in the eyes of the world."

World events
A military coup in Argentina, led by Generals Arturo Rawson and Pedro Ramirez, ousted Ramón Castillo as President of Argentina. Mr. Castillo, who had held the presidency since June 27, 1942, fled aboard a minesweeper. About 100 soldiers and 15 civilians were killed in isolated clashes, and martial law was invoked.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt told a press conference that understanding and accord between him and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin were excellent, and denied that Admiral William Standley had resigned as U.S. Ambassador to the U.S.S.R.

Defense
U.S. President Roosevelt promoted Major General Omar Bradley, commander of the U.S. 2nd Army Corps which had captured Bizerte, to Lieutenant General.

Labour
The United Mine Workers of America Policy committee voted to end the five-day coal strike on June 7, after UMW President John L. Lewis recommended the move at the request of U.S. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: La maladie d'amour--Michel Sardou

Died on this date
Murry Wilson, 55. U.S. songwriter and music executive. Mr. Wilson was the father of Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and the uncle of Mike Love of the Beach Boys. He was the group's manager in their early years until they fired him in 1965. His composition Two-Step Side-Step was recorded in the early 1950s by country artist Johnnie Lee Wills, and a couple of Mr. Wilson's songs were recorded by the Hollywood Flames. After being fired by the Beach Boys, Mr. Wilson managed a group called the Sunrays, who had several minor hit singles in 1965-1966. The Many Moods of Murry Wilson, an album of instrumental performances of compositions by Mr. Wilson and others, was released in October 1967, with Mr. Wilson credited as the artist. As he said to his son Brian, "I'm a genius, too."

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Succès Fou--Christophe

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Comment ça va--The Shorts

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Every Breath You Take--The Police

#1 single in the U.K.: Every Breath You Take--The Police

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara (2nd week at #1)
2 Let's Dance--David Bowie
3 Beat It--Michael Jackson
4 She Blinded Me with Science--Thomas Dolby
5 Overkill--Men at Work
6 Little Red Corvette--Prince
7 Time (Clock of the Heart)--Culture Club
8 Solitaire--Laura Branigan
9 Der Kommissar--After the Fire
10 Come On Eileen--Dexys Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express

Singles entering the chart were Every Breath You Take by the Police (#32); Is There Something I Should Know by Duran Duran (#62); Stand Back by Stevie Nicks (#65); Love Never Fails by the Greg Kihn Band (#81); China Girl by David Bowie (#82); Maniac by Michael Sembello (#85); Stop in the Name of Love by the Hollies (#87); The Salt in My Tears by Martin Briley (#89); and The Metro by Berlin (#90). Maniac was from the movie Flashdance (1983).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
2 Let's Dance--David Bowie
3 Puttin' on the Ritz--Taco
4 Time (Clock of the Heart)--Culture Club
5 Beat It--Michael Jackson
6 Rio--Duran Duran
7 Overkill--Men at Work
8 She Blinded Me with Science--Thomas Dolby
9 Jeopardy--Greg Kihn Band
10 Solitaire--Laura Branigan

Singles entering the chart were Hot Girls in Love by Loverboy (#43); China Girl by David Bowie (#45); Tornado by Teenage Head (#47); Stranger in My House by Ronnie Milsap (#48); and Love on Your Side by Thompson Twins (#49).

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Gimme Five--Jovanotti

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Yé ké yé ké--Mory Kante (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): N'importe quoi--Florent Pagny (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): With a Little Help from My Friends--Wet Wet Wet/She's Leaving Home--Billy Bragg featuring Cara Tivey (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): With a Little Help from My Friends--Wet Wet Wet/She's Leaving Home--Billy Bragg featuring Cara Tivey (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): One More Try--George Michael (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 One More Try--George Michael (2nd week at #1)
2 Anything for You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
3 Shattered Dreams--Johnny Hates Jazz
4 Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)--Samantha Fox
5 Together Forever--Rick Astley
6 Everything Your Heart Desires--Daryl Hall John Oates
7 Foolish Beat--Debbie Gibson
8 I Don't Want to Live Without You--Foreigner
9 Piano in the Dark--Brenda Russell
10 Make it Real--The Jets

Singles entering the chart were I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love by Chicago (#75); Rag Doll by Aerosmith (#79); 1-2-3 by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (#83); and Wait on Love by Michael Bolton (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Beds are Burning--Midnight Oil
2 I'm Still Searching--Glass Tiger
3 One More Try--George Michael
4 Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys
5 Together Forever--Rick Astley
6 Wishing Well--Terence Trent D'Arby
7 Pink Cadillac--Natalie Cole
8 Shattered Dreams--Johnny Hates Jazz
9 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
10 Anything for You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

Singles entering the chart were In Your Soul by Corey Hart (#69); Roll With It by Steve Winwood (#76); My Love by Julio Iglesias and Stevie Wonder (#80); Mercedes Boy by Pebbles (#82); Do You Know What I Mean? by Myles Goodwyn with Lee Aaron (#85); Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard (#88); and When We Kiss by Bardeux (#93). When We Kiss was the B-side of Magic Carpet Ride, which had peaked at #93 on May 28.

Disasters
Three cars on a train carrying hexogen to Kazakhstan exploded in Arzamas, Gorky Oblast, U.S.S.R., killing 91 and injuring about 1,500.

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Dallas 102 @ Los Angeles Lakers 117 (Los Angeles won best-of-seven series 4-3)

20 years ago
1993

War
The United Nations Security Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing the United States and her allies to attack forces besieging six Muslim enclaves in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
New York 88 @ Chicago 96 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-2)

10 years ago
2003

World events
The Special Court for Sierra Leone, a joint United Nations-Sierra Leone tribunal established to try people accused of war crimes in connection with the civil war there that had ended in 2002, announced that it had indicted Liberian President Charles Taylor. Mr. Taylor was accused of "bearing the greatest responsibility" for the war, which had cost 200,000 lives. Mr. Taylor was in Ghana when the indictment was announced, and returned to Liberia before he could be arrested.

Society
The United States House of Representatives voted 282-139 to ban late-term "partial-birth" abortions.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George W. Bush met in Jordan with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mr. Abbas declared that the uprising by Muslim militants "must end," while Mr. Sharon vowed to remove unauthorized outposts of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Protest
Tens of thousands of Israelis opposed to U.S. President George W. Bush's "road map to peace" in the Middle East demonstrated in Jerusalem.

Scandal
Interior decoration tycoon Martha Stewart was indicted in a U.S. district court in New York on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and securities fraud, related to her sale of ImClone stock after she had allegedly recieved inside information unfavourable to the company. She pled not guilty and resigned as president and chief executive officer of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Her former stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, was also indicted.

Health
McGill University nutritionists announced that they had developed a healthier cooking oil. The blend of plant sterols and olive, flaxseed, coconut, and tropical oils was said to increase the body's metabolism rather than being stored as fat.

Basketball
New Jersey 89 @ San Antonio 101 (San Antonio led best-of-seven series 1-0)