February 4, 2014

1,380 years ago
634

War
Rashidun forces under Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan defeated the Christian Arabs around Gaza (Palestine) in the Battle of Dathin.

225 years ago
1789

Politics and government
George Washington and John Adams were elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the United States of America. Mr. Washington was unopposed for the presidential nomination and received a unanimous vote from the 69 electors.

220 years ago
1794

Society
The French legislature abolished slavery throughout all territories of the French Republic.

120 years ago
1894

Born on this date
Vern Spencer. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Spencer was an outfielder with the New York Giants (1920), batting .200 with no home runs and 19 runs batted in in 45 games. He played at least 1,154 games in at least 13 seasons in the minor leagues (1913-1927), hitting at least 25 home runs. Mr. Spencer died on June 3, 1971 at the age of 77.

Canadiana
The first Quebec Winter Carnaval held, as a pre-lenten celebration. The carnival was originally proposed by Frank Carrell, owner of the Quebec Daily Telegraph; the building of an ice palace was the major event of the first year.

100 years ago
1914

Baseball
The New York Giants and Chicago White Sox departed Cairo by train for Alexandria, where they boarded the German liner SS Prinz Heinrich to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Naples, continuing their post-season exhibition tour.

90 years ago
1924

Olympics
The Toronto Granite Club, representing Canada, won the gold medal in men's hockey, the only gold medal for Canada at the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France.

75 years ago
1939

Transportation
Toronto Island Airport opened.

70 years ago
1944

War
Soviet troops reported tightening their grip on the 10 trapped German divisions in Ukraine, and destroying 70 Junkers transport planes attempting to supply German forces. German troops in Italy opened a fierce counteroffensive north of the Anzio beachhead 20 miles south of Rome, but were thrown back by British forces. American troops landed on and took control of half of Ebaye Island north of Kwajalein. In the first foray of its kind against the Japanese homeland, U.S. naval surface units shelled installations on the south and east coasts of Paramushiro Island at the north end of the Kuriles.

Politics and government
The U.S.S.R. announced that it was granting diplomatic and military autonomy to its 16 constituent republics; included on the list were the Baltic republics of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, which the Soviets had invaded and occupied since 1940.

U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (Republican--Massachusetts) resigned his seat in order to enter the armed services.

The U.S. Senate rejected the "states rights" soldier vote bill as a substitute for the Green-Lucas measure.

U.S. Democrats from 14 states who were opposed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies organized the American Democratic Committee, with Harry Woodring as chairman; they proposed Secretary of State Cordell Hull as their 1944 U.S. presidential candidate.

Diplomacy
Argentina severed relations with Bulgaria, Vichy France, Romania, and Hungary. U.S. Secretary of State Hull advised a "wait and see" attitude toward the Soviet granting of diplomatic and military autonomy to its 16 constituent republics. Latvian Minister to the United States Dr. Alfred Bilmanis said that the inclusion of Latvia in the U.S.S.R.'s list of 16 autonomous republics was "a violation of free people."

Crime
New York Governor Thomas Dewey granted a fifth stay of execution to Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, Louis Capone, and Emanuel Weiss.

50 years ago
1964

On television tonight
The Fugitive, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Search in a Windy City, with guest stars Pat Hingle, Nan Martin, and Addison Richards

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sorrow--David Bowie

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Goodbye My Love, Goodbye--Demis Roussos

Crime
Patricia Hearst, 19, the daughter of San Francisco Examiner president and editor Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped from her Berkeley, California apartment by two Negro men and one white woman who covered their escape with a barrage of rifle fire. The kidnappers were members of a group called the Symbionese Liberation Army. See also here.

Terrorism
The Provisional Irish Republican Army exploded a bomb on a bus carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel in Yorkshire, England. Nine soldiers and three children were killed, and 12 people were injured.

Labour
British coal miners voted overwhelmingly to go on strike to support their pay demands.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Richard Nixon submitted to Congress a budget of $304.4 billion, which aides said he would "bust" with more spending to check a serious slump in the economy.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La Donna Cannone--Francesco De Gregori (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Love of the Common People--Paul Young

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Love of the Common People--Paul Young (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): A Rockin' Good Way--Shakin' Stevens and Bonnie Tyler

#1 single in the U.K.: Relax--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Karma Chameleon--Culture Club

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
2 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
3 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
4 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
5 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John
6 Joanna--Kool & The Gang
7 Jump--Van Halen
8 Think of Laura--Christopher Cross
9 Running with the Night--Lionel Richie
10 That's All--Genesis

Singles entering the chart were Thriller by Michael Jackson (#24); The Language of Love by Dan Fogelberg (#69); Back Where You Belong by 38 Special (#75); Red Red Wine by UB40 (#78); Tender Years by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (#84); You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That’s All That Matters) by Kim Carnes (#86); Come Back and Stay by Paul Young (#87); She was Hot by the Rolling Stones (#89); Breaking Up is Hard on You (Don’t Take Ma Bell Away From Me) by American Comedy Network (#96); and Electric Kingdom by Twilight 22 (#98).

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

Singles entering the chart were Freak-A-Zoid by Midnight Star (#44); Let the Music Play by Shannon (#46); Joanna by Kool & The Gang (#48); Got a Hold on Me by Christine McVie (#49); and Just One More Time by the Headpins (#50).

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): C'è da spostare una macchina--Francesco Salvi (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Tonight--Tina Turner and David Bowie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): High--David Hallyday (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): When I'm with You--Sheriff

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

Singles entering the chart were Eternal Flame by the Bangles (#56); Thinking of You by SaFire (#80); Tell Her by Kenny Loggins (#85); 24/7 by Dino (#86); Fading Away by Will to Power (#90); We've Saved the Best for Last by Kenny G (vocal by Smokey Robinson) (#92); Sincerely Yours by Sweet Sensation (with Romeo J.D.) (#93); and Got it Made by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (#96).

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

Singles entering the chart were Feels So Good by Van Halen (#60); Eternal Flame by the Bangles (#63); She Won't Talk to Me by Luther Vandross (#66); Superwoman by Karyn White (#71); Bring Down the Moon by Boy Meets Girl (#75); End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (#78); We've Saved the Best for Last by Kenny G (vocal by Smokey Robinson) (#80); Sing by Mickey Thomas (#85); Into You by Giant Steps (#88); and Second Chance by Thirty Eight Special (#92). Sing was the title song from the movie, which didn't open in theatres until March 31.

Died on this date
Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, 68. U.S. comedian and musician. Mr. Burns, a country and jazz mandolinist, performed with Henry "Homer" Haynes as the country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro from 1936 until Mr. Haynes' death from a heart attack on August 8, 1971, 11 days after his 51st birthday. The duo recorded more than 50 albums, and won a Grammy Award in 1959 for Best Comedy Performance – Musical for The Battle of Kookamonga, a spoof of Johnny Horton's hit The Battle of New Orleans. They were inducted as a duo into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Mr. Burns performed with guitarist Ken Eidson as Homer for some time after Mr. Haynes' death, and also toured and performed with folk musician Steve Goodman. Mr. Burns died of prostate cancer.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 5 @ Montreal 7

Guy Lafleur, who had starred with the Canadiens from 1971-1984 before retiring, played his first game at the Montreal Forum since coming out of retirement to join the Rangers for the 1988-89 season. He scored 2 goals and received more than one standing ovation from the Montreal fans, but the Canadiens came back from a 5-2 deficit to win in Hockey Night in Canada's national telecast.





20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (3rd week at #1)

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had increased 0.3% in January to 6.7%. The increase was attributed to a refinement in the survey.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 96.24 points, a decline of 2.43%.

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board increased the federal funds rate, the interest rate banks charged each other on overnight loans, by 0.25% to 3.25%, the first increase in five years. The objective was to suppress any inflationary tendencies, but investors feared that higher interest rates could kill the economic recovery.

10 years ago
2004

Abominations
The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that only full marriage complied with its November 2003 ruling that barring sodomites from marrying violated the state constitution.

Defense
Abdul Qadeer Khan, the "father" of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, admitted to selling nuclear weapons designs and technology to North Korea, Iran, and Libya. He denied that the Pakistani government had sanctioned the deals.

Society
The online social networking site Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg.