May 13, 2014

1,125 years ago
189

Died on this date
Ling, 32 or 33. Emperor of China, 168-189. Ling, born Liu Hong, was chosen to succeed Emperor Huan, who had died without a successor. Emperor Ling's reign was characterized by domination of the government by corrupt eunuchs, weakening the Han dynasty. He died after a long illness, and was succeeded by his son Liu Bian, known as Emperor Shao.

210 years ago
1804

War
The Libyan city of Derna was attacked by forces sent by Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli in an attempt to retake it from the Americans.

150 years ago
1864

War
In the U.S. Civil War, the Battle of Resaca began with Union Army forces under Major General William T. Sherman fighting in Georgia toward Atlanta. A Confederate prisoner of war became the first soldier to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Golf
Charlotte "Lottie" Dod of England, already an international field hockey player, a champion figure skater, an Olympic silver medalist in archery and the youngest-ever Wimbledon tennis champion at age 15 in 1887, defeated May Hezlet 1-up to win the British Ladies' Open tournament at Troon, Scotland.

130 years ago
1884

Died on this date
Cyrus McCormick, 75. U.S. inventor and businessman. Mr. McCormick patented a design for a mechanical reaper in 1834. He and his brother Leander founded the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company after moving to Chicago in 1847; the company merged with several others in 1902 to become International Harvester Company. Cyrus McCormick died four years after suffering a serious stroke.

120 years ago
1894

Born on this date
Ásgeir Ásgeirsson. Prime Minister of Iceland, 1932-1934; President of Iceland, 1952-1968. Mr. Ásgeirsson was first elected to the Althing in 1923 as a member of the Progressive Party, taking office as Finance Minister in 1931 and as Prime Minister in 1932. He left the Progressive Party in 1934, and some time as an independent, joined the Social Democratic Party. After defeating two candidates to win the 1952 presidential election, Mr. Ásgeirsson ran unopposed in 1956, 1960, and 1964. He declined to run for a fifth term in 1968, and died on September 15, 1972 at the age of 78.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Joe Louis. U.S. boxer. Born Joseph Louis Barrow, the "Brown Bomber" compiled a professional record of 66-3 from 1934-1951. He was world heavyweight champion for a record 12-year period from 1937-1949 and made 25 successful title defenses, also a record. Mr. Louis, a Negro who was admired by Americans of all races, died on April 12, 1981 at the age of 66.

Johnnie Wright. U.S. musician. Mr. Wright was a country singer-songwriter who performed on his own and as half of the duo Johnnie & Jack (with Jack Anglin) in a career spanning 60 years. His biggest hit was Hello Vietnam (1965), which reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart. Mr. Wright married country singer Kitty Wells in 1937, and they remained married until his death on September 27, 2011 at the age of 97.

75 years ago
1939

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns made a 10-player trade, one of the biggest of the 1930s. The Browns traded Bobo Newsom, Beau Bell‚ Red Kress‚ and Jim Walkup; the Tigers gave up Vern Kennedy‚ Bob Harris‚ George Gill‚ Roxie Lawson‚ Chet Laabs‚ and Mark Christman. Mr. Newsom, 3-1 with the Browns in 1939, went 17-10 with the Tigers that year to finish at 20-11. Mr. Kennedy, 0-3 with Detroit, went 9-17 with the Browns to lead the American League in losses.

70 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Love You--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (Best Seller--2nd week at #1); San Fernando Valley--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

War
Allied troops advanced up to six miles along the Gustav Line in Italy. Chinese troops captured Suiping on the Peking-Hankow railway, cutting the Japanese hold on that line. Chinese forces launched a new drive on the Japanese bases of Kamaing, Mogaung, and Myitkyina in northern Burma.

Business
The Argentine province of Entre Rios expropriated the Compania de Electricidad del Este Argentina, a subsidiary of the American & Foreign Power Company.

Horse racing
Pensive, with Conn McCreary up, won his second straight Triple Crown race, taking the 69th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:59 1/5; Platter placed second.

60 years ago
1954

Theatre
The Pajama Game, starring Eddie Foy, Jr., Janis Paige, John Raitt, Marion Colby, and Carol Haney, opened at St. James Theatre on Broadway in New York City.

Protest
The anti-National Service Riots by Chinese high school students took place in Singapore. The students were protesting the National Service Ordinance, passed by the British colonial government, requiring all males aged 18-20 to register for National Service by May 1954. 26 people were injured and 48 arrested.

Transportation
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill approving the St. Lawrence Seaway agreement with Canada.

Canadian National Railways amalgamated its National Transcontinental Railway Branch Lines Company and 5 other subsidiaries.

50 years ago
1964

Education
The Quebec National Assembly passed Education Bill 60, establishing the Quebec Department of Education.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Someday, Somewhere--Demis Roussos (2nd week at #1)

Economics and finance
The Bank of Canada raised its prime lending rate to 8.75%.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Relax--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Big in Japan--Alphaville (4th week at #1)

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Like a Prayer--Madonna (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Eternal Flame--Bangles

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Eternal Flame--Bangles (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Megamix--Boney M. (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Hand on Your Heart--Kylie Minogue

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I'll Be There for You--Bon Jovi
2 Like a Prayer--Madonna
3 Real Love--Jody Watley
4 Forever Your Girl--Paula Abdul
5 Soldier of Love--Donny Osmond
6 After All--Cher and Peter Cetera
7 Funky Cold Medina--Tone Loc
8 Rock On--Michael Damian
9 Patience--Guns n' Roses
10 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler

Singles entering the chart were Send Me an Angel '89 by Real Life (#72); Crazy About Her by Rod Stewart (#74); Fascination Street by the Cure (#77); We Can Last Forever by Chicago (#84); I Like It by Dino (#89); I Want it All by Queen (#92); Now You're in Heaven by Julian Lennon (#93); Once Bitten Twice Shy by Great White (#94); and (Between A) Rock and a Hard Place by Cutting Crew (#96).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I'll Be There for You--Bon Jovi
2 Real Love--Jody Watley
3 Like a Prayer--Madonna
4 Forever Your Girl--Paula Abdul
5 Funky Cold Medina--Tone Loc
6 Heaven Help Me--Deon Estus (with George Michael)
7 Second Chance--Thirty Eight Special
8 Cult of Personality--Living Colour
9 After All--Cher and Peter Cetera
10 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals

Singles entering the chart were I Like It by Dino (#75); I Want it All by Queen (#78); Send Me an Angel '89 by Real Life (#82); and (Between A) Rock and a Hard Place by Cutting Crew (#88).

Died on this date
Al Reiss, 80. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Reiss was a shortstop who batted .200 (1 for 5) with 1 run batted in in 9 games with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1932.

Art
A painting by artist Jean-Paul Riopelle sold for U.S.$4 million, a record sum for a Canadian artist.

Terrorism
Former Royal Air Force pilot Jackie Mann, 74, was feared kidnapped in Beirut by the Hezbollah organization.

Protest
Large groups of students occupied Tiananmen Square in Beijing and began a hunger strike.

Politics and government
Scott Thorkelson, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Strathcona, hosted a town hall meeting in his riding.

Hockey
Canadian Junior
Memorial Cup @ Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon
Final
Swift Current 4 Saskatoon 3 (OT)

An overflow crowd of more than 11,000 saw the Western Hockey League champion Broncos edge the host Blades. The head coach of the Broncos was Graham James, who was later convicted of sexually molesting several players, including Broncos' right wing Sheldon Kennedy, who was named to the tournament's all-star team.

Baseball
Kirby Puckett tied a major league single-game record with 4 doubles as he helped his Minnesota Twins defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 before 29,712 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Alvin Davis drove in 5 runs with a home run and a double to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 14-6 before 29,689 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle.

The Oakland Athletics withstood a 3-run 9th inning rally and held on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 before 33,053 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, Mike Fitzgerald singled, stole second base, and scored on a single by Spike Owen to give the Montreal Expos a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants before 13,029 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Pinch hitter Dave Magadan singled home Lenny Dykstra with the bases loaded and 2 out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the New York Mets a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres before 46,484 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Larry McWilliams pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Tim Belcher as the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 before 30,294 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Mr. Belcher allowed 3 hits and 1 run--earned--in 6 innings.

Bob Knepper allowed 3 hits in 7 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Greg Maddux, who pitched a 3-hit complete game, as the Houston Astros edged the Chicago Cubs 1-0 before 27,775 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Gerald Young had 2 of the Houston hits, singling to lead off the game, and then singling home Rafael Ramirez, who had led off the 8th inning with a double, to drive in the only run.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Without You--Mariah Carey (6th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Late Show with David Letterman, on CBS

Johnny Carson, who hosted Tonight on NBC from 1962-1992, was one of Mr. Letterman's guests in what turned out to be Mr. Carson's last appearance on television.



Died on this date
Duncan Hamilton, 74. U.K. auto racing driver. Mr. Hamilton was known for his success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1950s, especially with partner Tony Rolt from 1950-1955. The pair won the event in 1953, reportedly under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Hamilton died of lung cancer.

John Swainson, 68. Canadian-born U.S. politician and judge. Mr. Swainson, a native of Windsor, Ontario, moved with his family to Port Huron, Michigan at the age of 2, and lost both legs in a landmine explosion while serving with the U.S. Army in France during World War II. A Democrat, he was a member of the Michigan Senate (1954-1959); Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (1959-1961); and Governor of Michigan (1961-1963). Mr. Swainson was defeated in the 1962 gubernatorial election by Republican challenger George Romney, and served as a judge on the Michigan Circuit Court (1965-1971) and Michigan Supreme Court (1971-1975). His judicial career ended when he was accused of accepting a bribe from a felon who was seeking the Court's review of his case. Justice Swainson was acquitted, but was convicted of perjury over his testimony to the grand jury, resulting in a short prison sentence and a three-year suspension from the practice of law, amid accusations from some that he was the victim of an overzealous prosecutor. Mr. Swainson dedicated himself to the preservation of Michigan history in later years, and died of a heart attack.