February 17, 2014

1,650 years ago
364

Died on this date
Jovian, 32. Roman Emperor, 363-364. Jovian, who had been declared Emperor by his soldiers on June 27, 363 after the death of Julian the Apostate, was found dead in his tent at Tyana, Asia Minor en route back to Constantinople. Death was attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a charcoal warming fire, or eating too many mushrooms.

275 years ago
1739

War
The Battle of Vasai commenced as the Marathas moved to invade Portuguese-occupied territory in India.

The first group of New Brunswick militia were called-up for defense in the Aroostook War with Maine.

200 years ago
1814

War
French forces commanded by Emperor Napoleon I defeated Russian and Wurttemburg forces led by Count Petr Petrovich Pahlen in the Battle of Mormans in France.

180 years ago
1834

Politics and government
Augustin-Norbert Morin and Louis-Joseph Papineau drafted Ninety-Two Resolutions demanding responsible government, which were adopted by a vote of 56-32 in the Lower Canada Assembly in Quebec City.

160 years ago
1854

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom recognized the independence of the Orange Free State.

150 years ago
1864

War
In the U.S. Civil War, the Confederate States Ship H.L. Hunley, a hand-propelled submarine armed with a ram torpedo, sank the Union ship Housatanic in harbour off the coast off Charleston, South Carolina in the first successful attack by a submarine warship.

110 years ago
1904

Opera
Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly had its world premiere at La Scala in Milan.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Wayne Morris. U.S. actor. Mr. Morris was best known for his starring role in Kid Galahad (1937). He became a highly-decorated fighter pilot in World War II with the United States Navy. Mr. Morris died of a heart attack on September 14, 1959 at the age of 45.

Arthur Kennedy. U.S. actor. Mr. Kennedy was a dependable supporting actor who usually played morally upright characters. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the supporting actor category for Champion (1949); Trial (1955); Peyton Place (1957); and Some Came Running (1958). Mr. Kennedy was nominated in the Best Actor category for one of his few starring roles, in Bright Victory (1951). He also enjoyed a fine career on Broadway, earning a Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for Death of a Salesman (1949). Mr. Kennedy died on January 5, 1990 at the age of 75.

80 years ago
1934

Died on this date
Albert I, 58. King of the Belgians, 1909-1934. Albert I succeeded to the throne upon the death of his uncle King Leopold II. During his reign reforms were initiated in the Belgian Congo, and Belgium was invaded and occupied by German troops. King Albert was the first European monarch to visit the United States. He was killed in a mountaineering accident while climbing alone on the Roche du Vieux Bon Dieu at Marche-les-Dames, in the Ardennes region of Belgium near Namur. Albert I was succeeded on the throne by his son Leopold III.

75 years ago
1939

At the movies
You Can't Cheat an Honest Man, directed by George Marshall and Eddie Cline, and starring W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Constance Moore, and others, received its premiere screening.



70 years ago
1944

At the movies
La mujer sin alma (Woman Without a Soul), directed by Fernando de Fuentes, and starring María Félix and Fernando Soler, opened in theatres in Mexico.



War
Soviet troops liquidated the remains of 10 German divisions trapped in Ukraine west of Cherkassy, bringing the totals after two weeks to 52,000 killed and 11,000 captured. Allied planes in Italy engaged in record operations on the Anzio beachhead to aid in braking German counterattacks. The Battle of Eniwetok Atoll began. Operation Hailstone began as U.S. naval air, surface, and submarines attacked Truk Lagoon, Japan's main base in the central Pacific Ocean, in support of the Eniwetok invasion, destroying 19 ships and 201 planes.

Abominations
The Dutch government-in-exile in London reported that the Nazis had killed 180,000 Jews in the Netherlands.

Politics and government
Italian Prime Minister Marshal Pietro Badoglio reorganized his cabinet.

Ecuador's dominant Liberal Radical Party named Miguel Angel Albornez as its presidential candidate.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt a bill extending the life of the Civilian Conservation Corps with a rider ending consumer food subsidies after June 30, 1944. The U.S. Senate passed the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration bill, carrying an appropriation of $1.3 billion, with restrictions on the uses of funds.

U.K. Health Minister Henry Willink presented a White Paper proposing that legislation be enacted providing every Briton with health care.

Labour
The Canadian Parliament received an order-in-council providing for compulsory collective bargaining for Canadian workers for the duration of World War II.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): If I Had a Hammer--Trini Lopez (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Outer Limits, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Children of Spider County, starring Lee Kinsolving, Kent Smith, John Milford, Crahan Denton, Dabbs Greer, Bennye Gatteys, and Burt Douglas

World events
Gabonese President Leon M'ba was toppled by a coup led by his rival Jean-Hilaire Aubame, who was installed in his place.

Law
In Wesberry v. Sanders, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that congressional districts had to be approximately equal in population.

40 years ago
1974

Disasters
At least 60 people were dead and 100,000 homeless after severe flooding in three northwestern provinces in Argentina.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Maggie--Foster and Allen

War
Sporadic fighting began across the line separating Muslim and Christian sections of Beirut.

Diplomacy
U.S. envoy to Central America Richard Stone resigned, reportedly because of differences with Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Langhorne Motley. Harry Shlaudeman, former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, was chosen to succeed Mr. Stone. Meanwhile, U.S. President Ronald Reagan submitted legislation to Congress calling for new outlays to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, saying that aid would be provided under conditions aimed at fostering human rights and political and economic development.

Olympics
The U.S.S.R. defeated Canada 4-0 in men's hockey at the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): First Time--Robin Beck (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Lefty Gomez, 80. U.S. baseball pitcher. Born Vernon Gomez, "Lefty" pitched with the New York Yankees (1930-1942) and Washington Nationals (1943), compiling a record of 189-102 in 368 games, for an outstanding winning percentage of .649. He led the American League in wins, earned run average, and strikeouts in both 1934 and 1937. Mr. Gomez was a member of 6 World Series championship teams, and was 6-0 in World Series competition. He was the winning pitcher in the first All-Star Game in 1933 and drove in the winning run. Mr. Gomez was a popular speaker after his playing days were over, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Abominations
Three days after Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had issued a fatwa--a legal judgment--against British author Salman Rushdie because his novel The Satanic Verses (1988) was considered disrespectful toward the prophet Muhammad, the Canadian government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney temporarily blocked importation of the novel into Canada.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had declined from $170.32 billion in 1987 to $137.34 billion, the first drop in eight years.

Hockey
NHL
Washington 8 @ Edmonton 2

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Right in the Night--Jam & Spoon (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Randy Shilts, 42. U.S. journalist. Mr. Shilts was a sodomite activist who was a freelance reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle and the sodomite publication The Advocate. He was best known for his book And the Band Played On (1987), about the early years of the AIDS plague in the United States. Mr. Shilts died of AIDS.

War
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vitaly Churkin announced in Bosnia that Serbs in Bosnia had agreed to withdraw in exchange for the deployment of 800 Russian peacekeeping troops.

Scandal
Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, U.S. Treasurer from 1989-1993, pled guilty to obstructing the investigation of influence peddling in the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the 1980s. Ms. Villalpando, the 12th person to be convicted or plead guilty in connection with the HUD scandal, also pled guilty to income tax evasion.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that consumer prices had held steady in January. The Commerce Department reported that he U.S. merchandise trade deficit in 1993 was $115.78 billion, the highest in five years.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Jose Lopez Portillo, 83. 51st President of Mexico, 1976-1982. Mr. Lopez Portillo, a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), began his political career in 1959 and held various positions before succeeding Luis Echevarria as President. His reign, during which banks were nationalized, was beset by corruption. Mr. Lopez Portillo was succeeded in the presidency by Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado.

World events
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and Prime Minister Yvon Neptune appealed to the international community for help after rebels attacked a police station in central Haiti and killed the police chief.