January 28, 2014

1,200 years ago
814

Died on this date
Charlemagne, 65-71 (?). Carolingian Emperor, 800-814. Charlemagne became King of the Franks in 768, King of the Lombards in 774, and after uniting most of western Europe, was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome on Christmas Day, 800. He was succeeded by Louis the Pious.

390 years ago
1624

Britannica
Sir Thomas Warner founded the first British colony in the Caribbean on the island of Saint Kitts.

290 years ago
1724

Science
The Russian Academy of Sciences was founded in St. Petersburg by Czar Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It was called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917.

80 years ago
1934

Technology
The first ski tow in the United States began operation in Vermont.

75 years ago
1939

Died on this date
William Butler Yeats, 73. Irish poet. Mr. Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923 for "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation." His most frequently-quoted poem is probably The Second Coming (1920).

70 years ago
1944

War
Soviet troops extended their Estonian line by 36 miles, with a 13-mile advance south from Voloslovo to Repolka. U.S.S.R. troops were reported in control of all but 11 miles of the Moscow-Leningrad railway. The Allied beachhead south of Rome was again enlarged, this time to about 24 miles in length. Australian troops in New Guinea advanced up the coast beyond Sio to narrow the gap between them and the Americans in the Saidor area to 40 miles.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department disclosed that it was reviewing U.S. policy toward Spain and that oil shipments to Spain had been stopped.

Labour
David Nederlander of Lafayette Dramatic Productions, Inc. in Detroit filed suit in the New York State Supreme Court for $500,000 in damages against American Federation of Musicians President James Petrillo, charging conspiracy to force the Lafayette Theatre to hire six musicians at $500 per week although its productions did not require music.

50 years ago
1964

On television tonight
The Fugitive, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Where the Action Is, with guest stars Telly Savalas, Joanna Frank, and Don Keefer

Joanna Frank also co-starred in The Outer Limits episode ZZZZZ, which had aired on ABC the previous night.

Music
Sam Cooke was at RCA Studio in Los Angeles, where he produced a recording session for the gospel group The Soul Stirrers--with whom he had sung from 1951-1957--and recorded several songs himself, including Rome (Wasn't Built in a Day), Meet Me at Mary's Place, and Tennessee Waltz.

World events
An unarmed USAF T-39 Sabreliner on a training mission was shot down over Erfurt, East Germany by a Soviet MiG-19.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Photograph--Ringo Starr

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Algo Más--Camilo Sesto (10th week at #1)

War
Israeli forces lifted their siege of the city of Suez and evacuated the surrounding area.

Boxing
In a battle of former world heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali (44-2) won a 12-round unanimous decision over Joe Frazier (30-2) at Madison Square Garden in New York, avenging his 15-round loss to Mr. Frazier in the same building on March 8, 1971.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La Donna Cannone--Francesco De Gregori (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Thriller--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Love of the Common People--Paul Young

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Pipes of Peace--Paul McCartney (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Relax--Frankie Goes to Hollywood

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes (2nd week at #1)
2 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
3 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
4 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
5 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
6 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John
7 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
8 Joanna--Kool & The Gang
9 The Curly Shuffle--Jump 'n The Saddle
10 Running with the Night--Lionel Richie

Singles entering the chart were Got a Hold on Me by Christine McVie (#49); Footloose by Kenny Loggins (#63); Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics (#66); Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell (#77); Automatic by the Pointer Sisters (#83); Rebel Yell by Billy Idol (#85); Body Talk by Deele (#88); Vitamin L. by the B.E. Taylor Group (#90); and Looks That Kill by Motley Crue (#95). Footloose was the title song of the movie.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club (2nd week at #1)
2 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
3 Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling
4 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
5 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
6 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
7 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
8 Red Red Wine--UB40
9 Cum On Feel the Noize--Quiet Riot
10 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were Send Me an Angel by Real Life (#42); New Moon on Monday by Duran Duran (#43); Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics (#47); I Want a New Drug by Huey Lewis and the News (#48); and I Still Can't Get Over Loving You by Ray Parker, Jr. (#50).

Disasters
Tropical Storm Domoina made landfall in southern Mozambique, eventually causing 214 deaths and some of the most severe flooding so far recorded in the region.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles 4 @ Edmonton 2

In their win over the Oilers at Northlands Coliseum, the Kings held Edmonton centre Wayne Gretzky off the scoresheet, ending his record streak at 51 games with at least one point. During the scoring streak, which started October 5, 1983, Mr. Gretzky amassed 153 points on 61 goals and 92 assists.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): C'è da spostare una macchina--Francesco Salvi (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): First Time--Robin Beck (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Tonight--Tina Turner and David Bowie

#1 single in France (SNEP): High--David Hallyday (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Two Hearts--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 When I'm with You--Sheriff
3 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
4 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne
5 When the Children Cry--White Lion
6 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
7 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
8 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
9 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
10 All This Time--Tiffany

Singles entering the chart were She Won't Talk to Me by Luther Vandross (#73); Walk the Dinosaur by Was (Not Was) (#74); Feels So Good by Van Halen (#79); Bring Down the Moon by Boy Meets Girl (#82); Cryin' by Vixen (#86); Superwoman by Karyn White (#87); Left to My Own Devices by Pet Shop Boys (#92); Into You by Giant Steps (#96); and She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals (#97).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne
2 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
3 Two Hearts--Phil Collins
4 When I'm with You--Sheriff
5 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
6 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
7 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
8 When the Children Cry--White Lion
9 I Remember Holding You--Boys Club
10 All This Time--Tiffany

Singles entering the chart were Cryin' by Vixen (#75); Dreamin' by Vanessa Williams (#77); Walk the Dinosaur by Was (Not Was) (#78); She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals (#80); Orinoco Flow by Enya (#82); Tell Her by Kenny Loggins (#85); Left to My Own Devices by Pet Shop Boys (#87); Heaven Knows by When in Rome (#89); and Got it Made by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (#92).

Died on this date
Choekyi Gyaltsen, 50. Tibetan religious leader. Mr. Gyaltsen was the 10th Panchen Lama--the highest-ranking member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism--after the Dalai Lama. Mr. Gyaltsen supported China's claim to Tibet, but later expressed criticism of China's treatment of Tibet, and was imprisoned from 1964-1977. He was visiting Tibet when he died, reportedly of a heart attack. Conspiracy theories abound.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (2nd week at #1)

World events
The Mexican government of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari freed 38 prisoners accused of involvement in the Zapatista National Liberation Army in the state of Chiapas earlier in the month.

Politics and government
African National Congress President Nelson Mandela formally opened his campaign for President of South Africa.

Crime
A mistrial was declared in Los Angeles Superior Court in the murder trial of Lyle Menendez, 26, who, with his brother Erik, 23, had been accused of the August 20, 1989 murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills, California home in order to inherit their $14 million estate. The brothers had testified that they had endured years of sexual and emotional abuse from their parents. The brothers had been tried separately, and Erik's trial had also ended in a mistrial on January 13. The brothers had been tried separately, and both juries had been unable to reach verdicts. In one of the trials, the accused admitted killing his mother, but a typically stupid female juror stated afterward to a reporter that she didn't think he'd really done it, prompting conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh to say that women shouldn't be allowed to sit on a jury where the defendant is a hunk.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the initial figures for the gross domestic product had shown growth at an annual rate of 5.9% for the fourth quarter of 1993, the biggest quarterly surge in six years.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Elroy Hirsch, 80. U.S. football player. Mr. Hirsch, nicknamed "Crazylegs," was a flanker and offensive end with the Chicago Rockets (1946-1948) and Los Angeles Rams (1949-1957), catching 387 passes for 7,029 yards and 60 touchdowns. His best season was 1951, when he caught 66 passes for a then-record 1,495 yards and a record 17 touchdowns in just a 12-game season, as the Rams won the NFL championship. Mr. Hirsch teamed up with Tom Fears to give the Rams one of the best combinations of pass receivers in football history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. Mr. Hirsch starred in the movies Crazylegs (1953), Unchained (1955), and Zero Hour! (1957); it's been said that he could have had a fine career as an actor if he chosen to pursue it as an occupation.

Lloyd "Pete" Bucher, 76. U.S. military officer. Commander Bucher was in charge of the U.S. Navy ship USS Pueblo off the coast of North Korea when the ship was boarded and everyone aboard taken prisoner on January 23, 1968. After months of physical and psychological torture, Commander Bucher wrote and signed a confession; he and the 82 surviving crewmen were released on December 23, 1968, upon which the confession was verbally withdrawn.

Crime
Investigators found the bodies of 10 more women at the Port Coquitlam, British Columbia pig farm owned by accused murderer Robert Pickton, bringing the total number of bodies found to 31.

Scandal
Canadian Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan called a public inquiry into the case of Canadian citizen Maher Arar, who had been seized by U.S. officials at a U.S. airport and deported to Syria in September 2002, and had allegedly been tortured while in detention. Justice Dennis O'Connor was appointed to head the inquiry and was given the power to see classified documents.

War
Lord Hutton released his report on British intelligence on Iraq's weapons programs, and said that Prime Minister Tony Blair had not intentionally exaggerated intelligence to justify the war in Iraq. Lord Hutton's report accused the British Broadcasting Corporation of sloppy reporting and editorial judgement, prompting the resignation of its chairman.

David Kay, who had resigned five days earlier as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's chief weapons inspector, called for an independent investigation into the intelligence gathered before the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The 1,400-member Iraq Survey Group had failed to find any evidence of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in Iraq.