April 20, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Tanya Dueck!

1,325 years ago
689

Died on this date
Cædwalla, 29 or 30. King of Wessex, 685-688. Cædwalla succeeded Centwine as King of Wessex, expanding his territory to include Sussex and the Isle of Wight. He was wounded while fighting on the Isle of Wight and abdicated the throne to go on a pilgrimage to Rome to be baptized. Cædwalla died shortly after his baptism; he was succeeded as King by Ine.

480 years ago
1534

Exploration
Jacques Cartier left France to begin the voyage during which he discovered Canada and Labrador. He was commissioned by King François I to find a passage to Asia and "lands where there is a great quantity of gold."

325 years ago
1689

War
James II, deposed as King of England in 1688 but still recognized in Ireland, laid siege to Londonderry.

175 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Carol I. Domnitor of Romania, 1866-1881; King of Romania, 1881-1914. Carol was elected Domnitor (Ruling Prince) of Romania in 1866, and was proclaimed King in 1881, the first monarch of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty. He died on October 10, 1914 at the age of 75 with no male heir, and was succeeded on the throne by his nephew Ferdinand I.

125 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Adolf Hitler. Chancellor of Germany, 1933-1934; Fuehrer of Germany, 1934-1945. One of the most evil people in history, Mr. Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary. He joined the German Workers Party--later the National Socialist German Workers Party--in 1919, becoming party chairman in 1921. Mr. Hitler led an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the government of the Weimar Republic on November 9, 1923, in what became known as the "Beer Hall Putsch." He was sentenced to Landsberg Prison, where he wrote his book Mein Kampf. Released after serving less than nine months of his sentence, Mr. Hitler built the Nazi Party into a political force, as the party increased the number of seats it held in the Reichstag, with the number increasing quickly after the onset of the Depression in 1930. Mr. Hitler was appointed Chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg, taking office on January 30, 1933. By the end of the year, Mr. Hitler had effectively eliminated his opposition. Many of his opponents in the Nazi Party were murdered on June 30, 1934 in "The Night of the Long Knives," and a nationwide referendum on August 19 resulted in him being given dictatorial powers as Fuehrer. The German economy improved over the next few years, while the country became more bellicose internationally, culminating in the September 1, 1939 invasion of Poland to begin World War II. Mr. Hitler's crimes and atrocities are too numerous to be mentioned here. He mismanaged the German war effort and retreated to his underground bunker in Berlin during the final weeks of the war. With his longtime lover Eva Braun, whom he had married the previous day, Mr. Hitler committed suicide in his bunker on April 30, 1945, 10 days after his 56th birthday.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Betty Lou Gerson. U.S. actress. Miss Gerson was primarily known as a radio actress, especially in soap operas, from the 1930s through the 1950s. Her few movies included The Red Menace (1949); The Fly (1958); and One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). Miss Gerson died on January 12, 1999 at the age of 84.

Protest
19 men, women, and children died in the Ludlow Massacre during a coal miners' strike at Ludlow, Colorado.

75 years ago
1939

Died on this date
William Mitchell Ramsay, 88. U.K. archaeologist. Sir William, a native of Glasgow, was educated in the Tübingen school of thought which doubted the accuracy of the New Testament. However, Sir William's work led him to write numerous works defending the accuracy of the New Testament. He He became the foremost authority of his day on the history of Asia Minor and Christianity in the erly Roman Empire. Sir William was elected as a founding fellow of the British Academy in 1902, and was knighted in 1906 for his contribution to scholarship.

Music
Billie Holiday recorded the Negro civil rights song Strange Fruit for Commodore Records.

Baseball
Ted Williams made his major league debut, playing right field for the Boston Red Sox as they lost 2-0 to the defending World Series champion New York Yankees before 30,278 fans at Yankee Stadium. Mr. Williams batted 1 for 4, doubling off winning pitcher Red Ruffing with 2 out in the 4th inning for his first major league hit. Mr. Ruffing allowed 7 hits in pitching the shutout, winning the pitchers' duel over Lefty Grove, who allowed 7 hits and 1 earned run in pitching a complete game. New York first baseman Lou Gehrig batted 0 for 4, grounded into 2 double plays, and made an error when Boston second baseman Bobby Doerr knocked the ball out of his hand on an attempted tag with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning. It was the only time that Mr. Williams and Mr. Gehrig played against each other.

70 years ago
1944

Died on this date
Elmer Gedeon, 27. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gedeon, an outfielder, played 5 games with the Washington Nationals in 1939, batting .200. He was still active in the minor leagues when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1941. Mr. Gedeon became a bomber pilot, and was shot down on a mission from Boreham, England to attack a Nazi V-1 site in France, five days after his 27th birthday. The co-pilot parachuted to safety, but Mr. Gedeon and five other crewmen were killed. Mr. Gedeon was the first of two former major league baseball players to be killed while serving in World War II; the other was Harry O'Neill, who played 1 game as a catcher with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939 and was killed on Iwo Jima in 1945.

Literature
W. Somerset Maugham's novel The Razor's Edge was published in New York.

War
Soviet air and sea forces sank 18 Nazi ships off Sevastopol, disrupting enemy evacuation efforts. Chinese troops encircled a Japanese division in the Mansum area of northern Burma.

Politics and government
The Haitian General Assembly extended the term of President Elie Lescot to May 15, 1951, and suspended elections of senators, deputies, and mayors until one year after the war.

Economics and finance
U.S. War Secretary Henry Stimson, Navy Secretary Frank Knox, and Maritime Commission Chairman Emory Land sent a joint message to the House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee urging some form of labour draft to man war plants depleted by inductions into the armed services.

Protest
A general strike closed all Bolivian tin mines in protest against a writ of habeas corpus granted to government officials charged with shooting workers.

Medicine
Dr. James L. Gamble reported that experiments showed that glucose prevented excretions of body water and energy and should be useful in sustaining castaways at sea.

Labour
The International Labour Organization opened its conference in Philadelphia and elected Walter Nash president.

60 years ago
1954

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Return Journey, starring Roxanne Arlen, Art Carney, and Kay Medford

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Non Ho L'Etá (Per Amarti)--Gigliola Cinquetti (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Outer Limits, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Production and Decay of Strange Particles, starring George Macready, Signe Hasso, Robert Fortier, John Duke, Joseph Ruskin, Allyson Ames, and Leonard Nimoy

BBC2 was scheduled to begin broadcasting at 7:20 P.M., but a power failure resulting from a fire at Battersea Power Station wiped out all scheduled programming and limited the new network's broadcasting that evening to the reading of brief news bulletins.

Died on this date
Eddie Dyer, 64. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Dyer pitched with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1922-1927, compiling a record of 15-15. He managed the Cardinals from 1946-1950, compiling a record of 446-325, leading the team to a World Series championship in his first season.

Diplomacy
Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, arrived in Ottawa to begin a four-day visit.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
San Francisco 101 @ Boston 124 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-0)

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Be My Day--The Cats

#1 single in the U.K.: Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 My Coo Ca Choo--Alvin Stardust (4th week at #1)
2 Farewell Aunty Jack--Grahame Bond
3 The Lord's Prayer--Sister Janet Mead
4 I Love You Love Me Love--Gary Glitter
5 Sorrow--David Bowie
6 Daytona Demon--Suzi Quatro
7 You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me--New Seekers
8 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
9 She Didn't Remember My Name--Osmosis
10 Eye Level--Simon Park Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Mockingbird, with versions by Johnny O'Keefe and Margaret McLaren, and Carly Simon and James Taylor (#25); and The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand (#38).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)--MFSB featuring the Three Degrees

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)--MFSB featuring the Three Degrees
2 Bennie and the Jets--Elton John
3 Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me--Gladys Knight and the Pips
4 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk
5 The Lord's Prayer--Sister Janet Mead
6 Come and Get Your Love--Redbone
7 Hooked on a Feeling--Blue Swede
8 Oh My My--Ringo Starr
9 Lookin' for a Love--Bobby Womack
10 I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song--Jim Croce

Singles entering the chart were You Won't See Me by Anne Murray (#75); For the Love of Money by the O'Jays (#78); (I’m A) Yoyo Man by Rick Cunha (#84); Billy - Don't Be a Hero by Paper Lace (#92); The Air that I Breathe by the Hollies (#95); Don't Mess Up a Good Thing by Gregg Allman (#96); Daybreaker by Electric Light Orchestra (#99); and Under the Influence of Love by Love Unlimited (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Bennie and the Jets--Elton John (2nd week at #1)
2 Hooked on a Feeling--Blue Swede
3 The Lord's Prayer--Sister Janet Mead
4 A Very Special Love Song--Charlie Rich
5 TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)--MFSB featuring the Three Degrees
6 Oh My My--Ringo Starr
7 I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song--Jim Croce
8 Let it Ride--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
9 Star Baby--Guess Who
10 Mockingbird--Carly Simon and James Taylor

Singles entering the chart were I Won't Last a Day Without You by the Carpenters (#72); Who is He and What is He to You by Creative Source (#74); You Won't See Me by Anne Murray (#76); Band on the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings (#85); If it Feels Good Do It by Ian Lloyd and Stories (#86); My Girl Bill by Jim Stafford (#89); Summer Breeze by the Isley Brothers (#91); Steam Heat by the Pointer Sisters (#92); The Streak by Ray Stevens (#93); No Charge by Melba Montgomery (#94); I'll Be the Other Woman by Soul Children (#95); The Same Love that Made Me Laugh by Bill Withers (#97); Time to Cry by Don Goodwin (#98); La Grange by ZZ Top (#99); and What Do You Know About Love by Apple & Appleberry (#100).

Calgary's top 10
1 Hooked on a Feeling--Blue Swede (2nd week at #1)
2 The Show Must Go On--Three Dog Night
3 The Lord's Prayer--Sister Janet Mead
4 Bennie and the Jets--Elton John
5 Let it Ride--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
6 I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song--Jim Croce
7 Keep on Singing--Helen Reddy
8 Jet--Paul McCartney & Wings
9 TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)--MFSB featuring the Three Degrees
10 Help Me--Joni Mitchell
Pick hit of the week: (I've Been) Searchin' So Long--Chicago

Died on this date
James Murphy. U.K. terrorism victim. Mr. Murphy, a Roman Catholic and a petrol station owner, was found murdered in County Fermanagh, and became the 1,000th victim of the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 0 @ Philadelphia 4 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
Wayne Garland pitched a no-hitter as the Rochester Red Wings blanked the Charleston Charlies 5-0 in Charleston in the AAA International League.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Reggae Nights--Jimmy Cliff

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Big in Japan--Alphaville (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Mabel Mercer, 84. U.K.-born U.S. singer. Miss Mercer was a vaudeville and music hall singer in Britain and Europe before moving to the United States at the beginning of World War II. She achieved success as a nightclub singer in New York City, making occasional recordings from 1942-1980.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Quebec 3 @ Montreal 5 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Minnesota 0 @ St. Louis 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Edmonton 4 @ Calgary 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

The Canadiens scored 4 goals in the 3rd period to eliminate the Nordiques at the Montreal Forum in a game that became known as the Good Friday Massacre because of two major brawls, at the end of the 2nd period and the beginning of the 3rd period.

Mike Liut stopped 33 shots for the shutout and Bernie Federko, Joe Mullen, Wayne Babych, and Perry Ganchar scored for the Blues before 16,111 fans at St. Louis Arena.

Lanny McDonald scored in the 1st overtime period to give the Flames their win over the Oilers at the Olympic Saddledome.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Like a Prayer--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Eternal Flame--Bangles (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Liberal Party, led by Clyde Wells, defeated the governing Progressive Conservatives in the Newfoundland provincial election. The Liberals captured 31 of 52 seats in the House of Assembly, but Mr. Wells lost in his riding of Humber East, necessitating the resignation of one of the successful Liberal candidates to enable Mr. Wells to run in a by-election. The Progressive Conservatives, led by Premier Tom Rideout, won the remaining 21 seats. Mr. Rideout had recently succeeded Brian Peckford as Premier.

20 years ago
1994

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Chicago 0 @ Toronto 1 (OT) (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-0)

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Mary McGrory, 85. U.S. journalist. Miss McGrory worked with the Washington Star from 1947-1981 and the Washington Post from 1981 until her death. She was known for her liberal views, and won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her coverage of the Watergate scandal.

Scandal
An international arrest warrant was issued for former Argentine President Carlos Menem, who was accused of fraudulently using public funds.

Politics and government
The first phase of India's general elections--involving four stages and 670 million voters over three weeks--began.