Monday 30 June 2014

July 1, 2014

175 years ago
1839


Died on this date
Mahmud II, 53
. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1808-1839. Mahmud II was preceded as sultan by his brother Mustafa IV, and survived an assassination attempt by his brother. Mahmud II then seized power and had Mustafa IV executed. Sultan Mahmud's reign was characterized by military, administrative, and economic reforms. He died of tuberculosis and was succeeded on the throne by his son Abdülmecid I.

140 years ago
1874


Technology
The Sholes and Glidden typewriter, the first commercially successful typewriter, first went on sale. It was manufactured by E. Remington and Sons, and was also known as Remington No. 1.

120 years ago
1894


Died on this date
Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt, 74
. Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of the Netherlands, 1866-1868. Count van Zuylen van Nijevelt was a conservative politician, and was Dutch Minister Resident in Istanbul from 1855-1860, and served as Foreign Minister from 1860-1861 as well as during his term as Prime Minister.

110 years ago
1904


Olympics
Several months of sports competitions comprising the Summer Olympic games opened in St. Louis as part of the world's fair. In the games, which ran until November 23, Canada did not send a team, but some Canadian athletes competed along with 13 official nations and 625 competitors.

70 years ago
1944


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Be Seeing You--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1); I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)--Harry James and his Music Makers with Dick Haymes (Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

Theatre
Othello, starring Paul Robeson, Jose Ferrer, and Uta Hagen, closed at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in New York after 296 consecutive performances, the longest Broadway run of any William Shakespeare play to date.

Died on this date
Carl Mayer, 49
. Austrian-born U.K. screenwriter. Mr. Mayer, who spent his most productive years in Germany, wrote or co-wrote screenplays for such movies as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920); Der Letzte Mann (The Last Laugh) (1924); Sunrise (1927); Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (1927); 4 Devils (1928); and Das Blaue Licht (The Blue Light) (1932). He fled for England when the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, and worked as an adviser to the British film industry. Mr. Mayer died of cancer.

Tanya Savicheva, 14. U.S.S.R. diarist. Miss Savicheva kept a notebook recording her experiences during the Nazi siege of Leningrad in late 1941 and early 1942. She died of intestinal tuberculosis.

War
Despite repeated German armoured attacks, British forces in France around Caen stood fast. An estimated 15,000 members of the Danish underground attacked German troops in Copenhagen as the city was paralyzed by a general strike in protest against Nazi curfew orders. Soviet troops captured Borisov--45 miles northwest of Minsk--and approached to within 4 miles of Polotsk at the northern end of the White Russian front. Allied troops gained along the Italian front, with U.S. forces reaching Cecina. On the east coast of Saipan, U.S. troops advanced to a point within 5 1/2 miles of the northern tip.

Politics and government
Guatemalan President Jorge Ubico resigned in favour of a military junta headed by Generals Eduardo Villagran, Ariza Buenaventura Pineda, and Federico Ponce.

U.S. Senator Samuel Jackson (Indiana) was named permanent chairman of the U.S. Democratic National Committee.

Economics and finance
Representatives of 44 nations attended the opening of an international monetary conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.

Labour
A U.S. Circuit Court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota upheld a state law requiring labour unions to file annual financial statements.

50 years ago
1964


Died on this date
Pierre Monteux, 89
. French-born U.S. orchestra conductor. Orchestras conducted by Mr. Monteux included New York's Metropolitan Opera (1917-1919); Boston Symphony Orchestra (1919-1924); Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra (1924–1934); Orchestre Symphonique de Paris (1929–1938); San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (1936–52); and London Symphony Orchestra (1961-1964).

Music
The album All Summer Long by the Beach Boys was released on Capitol Records. The first track was I Get Around, which had been released as a single two months earlier, and was at or near the top of singles charts in North America.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Cosmos 34. The mission of Cosmos 33 ended, eight days after launch.

40 years ago
1974


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Billy - Don't Be a Hero--Paper Lace (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ayudadme--Camilo Sesto (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Juan Perón, 78
. 29th and 40th Presidents of Argentina, 1946-1955, 1973-1964. Lieutenant General Perón served in Argentina's military government from 1943-1946 before taking office as President. His presidency, aided by the popularity of his second wife Eva, was marked by extensive economic reforms, including expansion of the welfare state, but his popularity declined after Eva's death from cancer in 1952, and he was deposed by a military coup d'état in 1955. After 18 years in exile--mostly in Spain--Lt. Gen. Perón returned to assume the presidency, with third wife Isabel taking the vice presidency. On June 28, 1974, Lt. Gen. Perón suffered a series of heart attacks, and Mrs. Perón was hastily recalled from a European trade mission, and was secretly sworn in as interim President on June 29. She took the office on a full-time basis upon her husband's death until being deposed in a coup d'état on March 24, 1976.

Agriculture
The Turkish government announced a decision to permit again the cultivation and sale of opium poppies.

Law
A jury in Los Angeles ruled that Robert Maheu had been damaged by defamatory statements made by his former employer, billionaire Howard Hughes. Mr. Maheu had demanded $17.3 million in damages because Mr. Hughes had said in a telephone news conference that he had dismissed Mr. Maheu because "he stole me blind." The money value of the damage was to be determined at a later hearing set in October.

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th inning to defeat the California Angels 5-3 before 16,405 fans at Anaheim Stadium in the Angels' first game under manaer Dick Williams, who was replacing the fired Bobby Winkles. Mr. Williams had managed the Athletics from 1971-1973, leading the team to World Series championships in his last 2 seasons, before resigning.

International League
All-Star Game @ Richmond, Virginia
New York Mets (NL) 2 IL All-Stars 1

Bob Apodaca, the second of four New York pitchers, pitched 6 innings of scoreless relief to get the win as the defending National League champion Mets edged the International League All-Stars before 6,593 fans at Parker Field. Craig Swan started on the mound for the Mets and gave up a run in the bottom of the 1st inning when Art Howe of the Charleston Charlies singled home Alan Bannister of the Toledo Mud Hens. The Mets tied it in the top of the 2nd when Ken Boswell singled home Cleon Jones. The winning run scored in the top of the 5th when Ted Martinez scored from third base as the All-Stars failed to complete a double play on a ground ball hit by Don Hahn. Barry Lersch of the Richmond Braves started on the mound for the IL. Scott McGregor, the third of five IL pitchers, pitched the 5th inning and took the loss. Mr. Apodaca, who pitched the 2nd through the 7th innings for New York, gave up 4 hits and no bases on balls, while striking out 5 batters.

Juan Pizarro tied the Mexican League record with his fifth consecutive shutout as Cordoba edged Tampico 1-0 in 10 innings. The record was set by Jim Horsford in 1968.

30 years ago
1984


Hit parade
#1 single in France: Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Self Control--Raf

Movies
The Motion Picture Association of America established the "PG-13" rating.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. rejected the attempt by the U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan to tie space weapons talks to the talks on nuclear missiles scheduled for Vienna in September.

Politics and government
The National Organization for Women passed a resolution calling for the nomination of a woman for Vice-President of the United States.

Golf
Greg Norman won the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario. First prize money was $72,000.

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-0) 25 @ Saskatchewan (0-1) 10



Baseball
Pitcher Paul Splittorff announced his retirement from the Kansas City Royals. Mr. Splittorff spent his entire major league career (1970-1984) with the Royals, winning 166 games and losing 143. In 1973 he became the first Royal to win 20 games. This blogger saw him pitch in person on August 3, 1975, when he held the Oakland Athletics to one base on balls and one infield hit in the first inning, and retired the last 26 batters in a 5-0 Kansas City win.

25 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): When the Night Comes--Joe Cocker (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Marina (Remix 89)--Rocco Granata & the Carnations (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No More Boleros--Gerard Joling (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny Come Home--Avalanche (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)--Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler (2nd week at #1)

Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 Nur ein Lied--Thomas Forstner (5th week at #1)
2 Americanos--Holly Johnson
3 Eternal Flame--Bangles
4 Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff
5 Ready for Radetzky--Vienna Lusthouse
6 The Look--Roxette
7 Zimbabwe--Toni Childs
8 Lullaby--The Cure
9 Like a Prayer--Madonna
10 Slow Down--Andy Baum & the Trix

Singles entering the chart were Lullaby; Why Don't You Listen to My Music by Espresso (#13); Express Yourself by Madonna (#15); Ferry 'Cross the Mersey by the Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman (#18); When the Night Comes by Joe Cocker (#19); Love is Free by Bilgeri (#28); and Sole, Sun, Soleil by Etta Scollo (#29).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
2 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
3 Satisfied--Richard Marx
4 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
5 If You Don't Know Me by Now--Simply Red
6 Express Yourself--Madonna
7 This Time I Know it's for Real--Donna Summer
8 I Drove All Night--Cyndi Lauper
9 Miss You Like Crazy--Natalie Cole
10 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block

Singles entering the chart were It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be by Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston (#73); Soul Provider by Michael Bolton (#76); Shower Me with Your Love by Surface (#87); The Prisoner by Howard Jones (#89); Come Home with Me Baby by Dead or Alive (#90); Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming by Robert Palmer (#91); and All I Want is You by U2 (#93).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Satisfied--Richard Marx (2nd week at #1)
2 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
3 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
4 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
5 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
6 This Time I Know it's for Real--Donna Summer
7 Express Yourself--Madonna
8 I'll Be Loving You (Forvever)--New Kids on the Block
9 I Drove All Night--Cyndi Lauper
10 Cry--Waterfront

Singles entering the chart were Soul Provider by Michael Bolton (#70); Comin' Down Tonight by Thirty Eight Special (#72); It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be by Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston (#79); Open Letter (To A Landlord) by Living Colour (#83); Talk it Over by Grayson Hugh (#89); Gonna Make It by Sa-Fire (#91); and Little Fighter by White Lion (#93).

Environment
The 1987 Montreal Protocol went into effect; the international treaty dealt with ozone-destroying pollutants, and sought to cut in half production of chemicals like refrigerants posing the greatest risk to the ozone layer above the Earth.

20 years ago
1994


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Baby, I Love Your Way--Big Mountain (2nd week at #1)

World events
Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat returned to the Gaza Strip after 27 years in exile.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council authorized a commission to investigate "acts of genocide" in Rwanda.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had remained unchanged from April to May.

10 years ago
2004


Died on this date
Marlon Brando, 80
. U.S. actor. Mr. Brando achieved fame playing Stanley Kowalski in the Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), a role which propelled him to greater stardom when he starred in the 1951 movie version of the play. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for that role, as well as for starring performances in Viva Zapata! (1952); Julius Caesar (1953); and Sayonara (1957), winning for On the Waterfront (1954) and The Godfather (1972). Mr. Brando starred in an impressive series of movies during the 1950s, but his career gradually declined. Most of the obituaries about Mr. Brando started out by referring to him as the greatest actor of his generation--and finished by talking about how he squandered his talent.

Space
The international Cassini-Huygens probe entered Saturn's orbit after a nearly seven-year journey, and sent back photographs revealing details of Saturn's ice and rock rings.

World events
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, now in Iraqi hands, appeared in court in Baghdad with 11 co-defendants on charges of crimes against humanity stemming from the 1988 gassing of Iraqi Kurds, the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and the persecution of political opponents.

Diplomacy
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Sudan, where they urged the Sudanese government to rein in Arab militias in Darfur.

June 30, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lucia Rios!

225 years ago
1789


Born on this date
Horace Vernet
. French artist. Mr. Vernet, one of several renowned painters in the Vernet family and a relative of Sherlock Holmes, was known for his paintings of battles. He died on January 17, 1863 at the age of 73.

150 years ago
1864


Americana
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act giving Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove to California for "public use, resort and recreation."

125 years ago
1889


Born on this date
Archibald Frazer-Nash
. Indian-born U.K. engineer. Mr. Frazer-Nash was responsible for many successful commercial inventions, but was best known for partnering with Henry Godfrey to produce the GN cycle car, which eventually became the Frazer Nash sports car. Mr. Frazer-Nash died on March 10, 1965 at the age of 75.

100 years ago
1914


Born on this date
Francisco da Costa Gomes
. 15th President of Portugal, 1974-1976. General Costa Gomes was one of several military leaders who made up the National Salvation Junta after the Carnation Revolution in 1974, and was named to the presidency by the junta, replacing António de Spínola, who had resigned. Mr. Costa Gomes was made a Field Marshal in 1982, and died on July 31, 2001 at the age of 87.

80 years ago
1934


World events
In what became known as the Night of the Long Knives, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler ordered the murders of dozens of men regarded as rivals or critics regarding his leaderhip of Germany and the Nazi party. A partial list of victims may be found here.

Defense
The German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee was launched.

Football
NFL
G.A. Richards bought the Portsmouth Spartans and moved the franchise to Detroit, where they were renamed the Lions. They had been in Portsmouth, Ohio since 1930.

Baseball
New York Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig hit 3 triples in as many plate appearances against the Washington Nationals at Griffith Stadium in Washington, but the game was called because of rain after 4½ innings. Since a game has to go at least 5 full innings when the home team isn’t ahead, it officially went as a postponement, and none of the records from the game counted in the official statistics.

70 years ago
1944


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sunday, Monday or Always--Frank Sinatra; George Trevare (2nd month at #1)

War
In France, the Battle of Cherbourg ended with the fall of the strategically valuable port to American forces. Flight Lieutenant David Hornell scored a U-boat kill off Scotland's Shetland Islands, the fourth such kill in June 1944 by Royal Canadian Air Force 162 Squadron. Soviet troops outflanked Minsk, capital of White Russia.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull announced that the U.S.A. was severing diplomatic relations with Finland because of Finland's partnership with Nazi Germany.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a Congressional resolution granting independence to the Philippines as soon as Japanese military forces were ejected.

Herbert Brownell, Jr. was named chairman of the U.S. Republican National Committee.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Parliament passed an Act to establish a Department of Reconstruction.

The U.S. Works Progress Administration officially ended. In eight years, it gave employment to nearly 8.5 million people, spending almost $13 billion.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill extending the term of the Office of Price Administration.

60 years ago
1954


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Heideröslein--Friedel Hensch und die Cyprys (1st month at #1)

Died on this date
Andrass Samuelsen, 80. Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands, 1948-1950. Mr. Samuelsen, leader of the Union Party, was the first Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands after the islands were given self-government within the Danish Realm in 1948. He died the day before his 81st birthday.

Space
A total eclipse of the sun was seen in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden left Ottawa to return to London after two days of talks with Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester Pearson. For Mr. Churchill, it was his last visit to Canada.

50 years ago
1964


Died on this date
Roscoe Pound, 93. U.S. jurist. Dr. Pound was Dean of Law at Harvard University from 1916-1936, and was regarded as the U.S.A.'s greatest living authority on law--despite not having a law degree. He earned the University of Nebraska's first Ph.D. in botany in 1898, eight years after dropping out of Harvard Law School after one year.

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, where they finished recording the song Merry Christmas, Baby, which appeared on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, released several months later.

40 years ago
1974


Died on this date
Mule Haas, 70. U.S. baseball player. George Haas played center field with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1925); Philadelphia Athletics (1928-1932, 1938); and Chicago White Sox (1933-1937), batting .292 with 45 home runs and 496 runs batted in in 1,168 games. He was a member of the teams that won American League pennants from 1929-1931, winning the World Series in 1929 and 1930. The highlight of Mr. Haas' career occurred in the bottom of the 7th inning of the fourth game of the 1929 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Athletics were leading the series 2 games to 1, but the Cubs were leading the game 8-0 after 6 1/2 innings. The Athletics then rallied for 10 runs, the final 3 coming on a home run by Mr. Haas. Philadelphia won the game 10-8 and went on to win the series in 5 games. Mr. Haas was a major league coach in later years, and became known as one of the game's leading "bench jockeys," taunting opposing players such as Ted Williams, Bobo Newsom, and Johnny Allen.

Alberta Williams King, 69. U.S. murder victim. Mrs. King, the mother of slain Negro civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., was shot to death while playing the organ at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. A church deacon was also killed and a young attender wounded. Marcus Wayne Chenualt, 23, of Dayton, Ohio was the shooter.

30 years ago
1984


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Self Control--Raf (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): The Reflex--Duran Duran (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): The Reflex--Duran Duran (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Two Tribes--Frankie Goes To Hollywood (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Two Tribes--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Reflex--Duran Duran (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dancing in the Dark--Bruce Springsteen
2 When Doves Cry--Prince
3 The Reflex--Duran Duran
4 Eyes Without a Face--Billy Idol
5 Self Control--Laura Branigan
6 Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
7 Jump (For My Love)--The Pointer Sisters
8 Sister Christian--Night Ranger
9 Borderline--Madonna
10 Oh Sherrie--Steve Perry

Singles entering the chart were State of Shock by the Jacksons with Mick Jagger (#26); She's Mine by Steve Perry (#62); Sexy Girl by Glenn Frey (#77); It Can Happen by Yes (#87); Missing You by John Waite (#88); and The Warrior by Scandal featuring Patty Smyth (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Let's Hear it for the Boy--Deniece Williams
2 Oh Sherrie--Steve Perry
3 Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
4 The Reflex--Duran Duran
5 Dancing in the Dark--Bruce Springsteen
6 Self Control--Laura Branigan
7 Eyes Without a Face--Billy Idol
8 To All the Girls I've Loved Before--Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
9 The Heart of Rock and Roll--Huey Lewis and the News
10 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Romancing the Stone by Eddy Grant (#45); New Girl Now by Honeymoon Suite (#48); Walk Away by the Box (#49); and What is Love? by Howard Jones (#50).

Died on this date
Lillian Hellman, 79
. U.S. playwright and author. Miss Hellman's plays included The Children's Hour (1934); The Little Foxes (1939); Watch on the Rhine (1941); Another Part of the Forest (1946); The Autumn Garden (1951); and Toys in the Attic (1960). Her autobiographical books, including Pentimento (1973) and Scoundrel Time (1976) have been criticized as consisting largely of lies.

Politics and government
John Turner, who had been elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada two weeks earlier, took office as Prime Minister of Canada, replacing the retiring Pierre Trudeau.

Golf
Nick Price was leading the Canadian Open after three rounds at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-0) 49 @ Montreal (0-1) 31
Ottawa (0-1) 31 @ Edmonton (1-0) 32

Football
Hamilton running back Kelvin Lindsey, playing his first CFL game, rushed 83 yards for a touchdown as the Tiger-Cats beat the Concordes at Olympic Stadium. It was also the CFL debut for former University of Nebraska star Turner Gill, who started at quarterback for the Concordes.

Dave Cutler’s 11-yard field goal with less than 2 minutes remaining gave the Eskimos their win over the Rough Riders at Commonwealth Stadium. Matt Dunigan, making his first start as a CFL quarterback, completed just 14 of 33 passes, but 4 of the completions went to Brian Kelly for touchdowns as the Eskimos rallied from an early 14-0 deficit. Mr. Kelly tied Jim Germany’s record for touchdowns in a game, and became the first Eskimo to score 4 receiving touchdowns in a game. Eskimos’ safety Lou DesLauriers made 3 interceptions in his first CFL game, all off Ottawa quarterback J.C. Watts. Mr. DesLaurier’s third interception came in the last minute, just when the Rough Riders appeared to be driving for a game-winning field goal. For many members of the rebuilding Eskimos, it was their first game with the team. Among the newcomers was linebacker Danny Bass, recently acquired in a trade with the Calgary Stampeders. For punter Paul Hickie, it was his last game with the team; he punted 8 times for a league-leading 46.3-yard average, but kicked to the wrong side of the field (i.e., away from the coverage that the Eskimos had set up) in the first quarter, and Dave Newman returned the ball 35 yards to set up an Ottawa touchdown. Brian Allen, whose fine play in pre-season had enabled him to beat out Chris Woods for the wide receiver spot opposite Brian Kelly, caught 2 passes for just 10 yards in what turned out to be his only CFL game. For the Eskimos, the win was their seventh straight in season openers.

25 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Das Omen (Teil I)--Mysterious Art

20 years ago
1994


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Anytime You Need a Friend--Mariah Carey

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Riverdance--Bill Whelan (9th week at #1)

Politics and government
Socialist Democratic Party of Japan leader Tomiichi Murayama, who had been named the country's Prime Minister the previous day, announced his cabinet, which was dominated by members of the Liberal Democratic Party, the other partner in the governing coalition.

Figure skating
The United States Figure Skating Association stripped Tonya Harding of her 1994 U.S. women's championship as a result of Ms. Harding's participation in a plot to assault her chief rival and defending champion, Nancy Kerrigan. Miss Kerrigan had been clubbed on the leg on January 6 after a practice in preparation for the national championships. Her injury kept her from skating in the competition, and Ms. Harding won. The USFSA concluded that Ms. Harding had "prior knowledge" of the incident. She was also banned from the USFSA'a ranks for life. Four men, including Ms. Harding's ex-husband, had admitted roles in the attack.

10 years ago
2004


World events
Americans handed over legal custody of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and 11 of his aides to the Iraqi government. The United States, however, retained physical custody of the prisoners.

Law
The Supreme Court of Israel ordered Israel to dismantle a 20.5-mile portion of the security wall in the West Bank because it separated Palestinian landowners from their land. The court, however, ruled that Israel had a right to build the wall.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board raised its key interest rate for the first time in four years, from 1%-1.25%.

Sunday 29 June 2014

June 29, 2014

820 years ago
1194


Europeana
Sverre was crowned King of Norway.

570 years ago
1444


War
League of Lezhë forces commanded by Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman invasion force commanded by Ali Pasha in the Battle of Torvioll in what is now Albania.

420 years ago
1594


Died on this date
Niels Kaas, 58 or 59
. Chancellor of Denmark, 1573-1594. Mr. Kaas entered the Chancery in 1560, and was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Stettin (1570). He used his diplomatic skills as Chancellor, and died in office.

270 years
1744


Died on this date
André Campra, 83
. French composer. Mr. Campra was known for his operas, cantatas, and religious music, including a requiem.

150 years ago
1864


Disasters
In Canada's worst railway disaster, a Grand Trunk Railway train ran through an open switch near St.-Hilaire, Quebec and fell through an open swing bridge into the Richelieu River, killing 99 people, many of them German and Polish immigrants.

125 years ago
1889


Born on this date
Willie Macfarlane
. U.K.-born U.S. golfer. Mr. Macfarlane moved from Scotland to the United States to pursue a professional career. He won 22 professional tournaments from 1916-1936, most notably the 1925 U.S. Open. Mr. Macfarlane died on August 15, 1961 at the age of 72.

100 years ago
1914


Born on this date
Rafael Kubelík
. Czechoslovakian-born Swiss orchestra conductor and composer. Mr. Kubelík fled Czechoslovakia in 1948 after the Communist takeover of the country, and was music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1950–53);Royal Opera, Covent Garden (1955–58); and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1961–79). His compositions included five operas, three symphonies, chamber music, and choral works. Mr. Kubelík died on August 11, 1996 at the age of 82.

80 years ago
1934


Golf
Henry Cotton won the British Open at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England with a score of 283, 5 strokes ahead of Sid Brews. First prize money was £100.

70 years ago
1944


Literature
Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon was published in New York by John Day.

Died on this date
Friedrich Dollmann, 62
. German military officer. Generaloberst Dollman commanded the 7th Army during the Invasion of France and the early phases of the Allied invasion of Normandy until his death--either by heart attack or suicide--three days after the fall of Cherbourg, which had prompted Fuehrer Adolf Hitler to demand that Generaloberst Dollman be relieved of command.

War
In Camilly France, the Canadian Army Second Corps under Guy Simonds was sent to join the Second Army in the Caen sector with the Eighth Army on its left and the First Corps on its right; the second Infantry Division was sent immediately since infantry casualties were heavy because of fierce counterattacks from German forces. Allied troops in Italy made gains of up to 9 miles along a 100-mile front. Soviet units reported the liberation of 1,050 localities in White Russia, including Bobruisk. The White House published a joint statement by U.S. service chiefs General George Marshall, General Hap Arnold, and Admiral Ernest King warning against optimism over an early military victory.

Medicine
The American Red Cross announced development of a serum to prevent measles.

Economics and finance
The government of Argentina seized all properties of the "House of Bamberg," reportedly worth more than $1 billion, for allegedly falsifying inheritance tax reports.

Labour
An estimated 10,000 workers at the Timken Roller Bearing Company in Canton, Ohio went on strike due to a breakdown in labour relations and the company's plans to close down its furnaces.

60 years ago
1954


On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Hunted, starring Ward Bond, John Kerr, Jane Du Frayne, and Steve Parker



Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden arrived in Ottawa for two days of talks with Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester Pearson.

Boxing
Sonny Liston (6-0) won an 8-round unanimous decision over Johnny Summerlin (18-2-2) in a heavywweight bout at Motor City Arena in Detroit.

50 years ago
1964


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Mamma--Charles Aznavour (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Eric Dolphy, 36
. U.S. musician. Mr. Dolphy was a jazz saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist, who also played other instruments and led his own band. He died in Berlin after lapsing into a coma because of an undiagnosed diabetic condition.

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, where they recorded vocals for the songs Frosty the Snowman; We Three Kings of Orient Are; Blue Christmas; White Christmas; Santa Claus is Coming to Town; and I'll Be Home for Christmas, all of which appeared on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, released several months later.

40 years ago
1974


Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Sugar Baby Love--The Rubettes

#1 single in the U.K.: She--Charles Aznavour

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Devil Gate Drive--Suzi Quatro (2nd week at #1)
2 Billy - Don't Be a Hero--Paper Lace
3 The Entertainer--Marvin Hamlisch
4 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks
5 Hooked on a Feeling--Blue Swede
6 The Air That I Breathe--The Hollies
7 Candle in the Wind/Bennie and the Jets--Elton John
8 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk
9 Ships in the Night--Vicki Lawrence
10 The Way We Were--Barbra Streisand

Singles entering the chart were Evie by Stevie Wright (#16); La Grange by ZZ Top (#25); Do the Spunky Monkey by Digby Richards (#28); and You Make Me Feel Brand New by the Stylistics (#37).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot
2 Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
3 Be Thankful for What You Got--William DeVaughn
4 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation
5 You Make Me Feel Brand New--The Stylistics
6 If You Love Me (Let Me Know)--Olivia Newton-John
7 Haven't Got Time for the Pain--Carly Simon
8 Hollywood Swinging--Kool & The Gang
9 Rock Your Baby--George McCrae
10 Rock and Roll Heaven--The Righteous Brothers

Singles entering the chart were Fish Ain't Bitin' by Lamont Dozier (#63); Love is the Message by MFSB featuring the Three Degrees (#76); Kung Fu by Curtis Mayfield (#77); Hang On in There Baby by Johnny Bristol (#84); That Song is Driving Me Crazy by Tom T. Hall (#88); Time for Livin' by Sly and the Family Stone (#94); Secretary by Betty Wright (#98); What's Your Name by Andy and David Williams (#99); and You Can't Be a Beacon (If Your Light Don’t Shine) by Donna Fargo (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot (3rd week at #1)
2 Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
3 You Make Me Feel Brand New--The Stylistics
4 If You Love Me (Let Me Know)--Olivia Newton-John
5 Haven't Got Time for the Pain--Carly Simon
6 The Air that I Breathe--The Hollies
7 Band on the Run--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Save the Last Dance for Me--The DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco
9 Be Thankful for What You Got--William DeVaughn
10 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John (#74); Call on Me by Chicago (#76); Room Full of Roses by Mickey Gilley (#77); Wake Up and Love Me by April (#86); Happiness is Just Around the Bend by the Main Ingredient (#89); I'm on Fire for You Baby by April Wine (#94); Tell Me Something Good by Rufus (#95); Worse Comes to Worst by Billy Joel (#96); When Morning Comes by Hoyt Axton (#98); I Wish it were Me by the Dells (#99); and You're Welcome, Stop on By by Bobby Womack (#100).

#1 single in Calgary: Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
In Moscow, U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev concluded two days of signing agreements on cultural, scientific, and economic cooperation, augmenting accords signed in 1972. Talks between the leaders on nuclear weapons continued for several days thereafter.

In Toronto, Soviet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union while in Toronto as a guest star with the Bolshoi Ballet, who were on a Canadian tour. He was helped by John Fraser, dance critic for the Toronto newspaper The Globe and Mail, and was granted permission to stay.

Politics and government
Isabel Peron, 43, was sworn in as interim President of Argentina after her husband Juan, 78, took ill. Mrs. Peron had been Vice President since her husband's return to power in 1973 after 18 years in exile.

30 years ago
1984


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I'm Only Shooting Love--Time Bandits

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Self Control--Laura Branigan (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. offered to begin talks with the United States in the fall of 1984 on banning weapons in space. The U.S. State Department said it was willing, but wanted the talks broadened to include other weapons systems.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of Leading Economic Indicators had declind 0.1% in May.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (0-1) 17 @ Calgary (1-0) 24

The Stampeders' win over the Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium marked a successful regular season debut for Steve Buratto as a CFL head coach.

25 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): All I Want is You--U2 (2nd week at #1)

Personal
This blogger attended a University of Western Ontario alumni social at University House on the University of Alberta campus, and enjoyed meeting UWO President George Pedersen, among others.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-2) 16 @ Toronto (1-0) 17
British Columbia (1-0) 25 @ Calgary (0-1) 7

The Argos' win over the Blue Bombers was the first football game ever played at SkyDome.

20 years ago
1994


Died on this date
Kurt Eichhorn, 85
. German orchestra conductor. Mr. Eichhorn led various orchestras in a career spanning more than 60 years. He was chief conductor of the State Theatre at the Gärtnerplatz in Munich (1956-1967) and chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra (1967-1975).

Politics and government
The Social Democratic Party of Japan and Liberal Democratic Party joined forces in the Diet to elect Socialist leader Tomiichi Murayama Prime Minister of Japan. Mr. Murayama succeeded Tsutomu Hata, who had resigned four days earlier.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-1) 43 @ Baltimore (2-0) 45
Hamilton (1-1) 28 @ Ottawa (0-2) 27
Sacramento (0-2) 4 @ Saskatchewan (1-1) 19
Edmonton (1-1) 11 @ Las Vegas (2-0) 22

10 years ago
2004


Defense
In the face of growing violence, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to send more troops to Afghanistan ahead of the elections scheduled for October.

Baseball
Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the fourth pitcher in major league history to record 4,000 career strikeouts, striking out 8 as he absorbed a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres before 34,633 fans at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.

Saturday 28 June 2014

June 28, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, James Remnant!

625 years ago
1389


Died on this date
Murad I, 62
. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1362-1389. Murad I acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Orhan. He expanded the Ottoman Empire, but was killed leading his forces against a pan-Christian army commanded by Lazar Hrebeljanović in the Battle of Kosovo, two weeks short of his 63rd birthday. Sultan Murad I was succeeded on the throne by his son Bayezid I.

Lazar Hrebeljanović, 60 (?). Lord of Serbs, 1373-1389. Prince Lazar created a powerful state out of the ruins of the Serbian Empire, and was killed while leading a pan-Christian army against Ottoman Empire forces in the Battle of Kosovo. He was succeeded as "Autocrator of all Serbs" by his son Stefan Lazarević.

War
Ottoman forces recorded a decisive victory over pan-Christian forces in the Battle of Kosovo, but also suffered heavy losses.

570 years ago
1444


Born on this date
Charlotte
. Queen of Cyprus, 1458-1464. Charlotte acceded to the throne upon the death of her father John II. Her illegitimate half-brother James forced her to flee Cyprus, and he took the throne as King James II. An attempt by Charlotte to regain the throne was unsuccessful, and she died childless in Rome on July 16, 1487 at the age of 43.

120 years ago
1894


Born on this date
Frank Hunter
. U.S. tennis player. Mr. Hunter won a gold medal in the men's doubles competition with Vincent Richards at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Mr. Hunter was the losing finalist in the men's singles event at Wimbledon (1923) and the U.S. Championships (1928, 1929), and reached the quarter-finals of the men's singles competition at the French Championships in 1929, the year in which he was ranked among the top five players in the world. In doubles competition, Mr. Hunter won the men's events at Wimbledon in 1924 (with Vincent Richards) and 1927 (with Bill Tilden), and at the U.S. Championships in 1927 (with Mr. Tilden). He won the mixed doubles competition at Wimbledon in 1927 (with Elizabeth Ryan) and 1929 (with Helen Wills), and reached the finals at the French Championships in 1928 and 1929 (both with Miss Wills). Mr. Hunter turned professional in 1931, and was the losing finalist in the world championships in 1933. He died on December 2, 1981 at the age of 87.

Americana
Labor Day became a holiday for federal employees by an act of Congress.

Economics and finance
Delegates from the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand attended the Intercolonial Trade meeting to develop commercial ties and cut tariff barriers.

110 years ago
1904


Disasters
The Danish passenger liner SS Norge ran aground on Hasselwood Rock near Rockall in the north Atlantic Ocean and sank. Over 635 people, including 225 Norwegians, perished, while there were 160 survivors.

100 years ago
1914


Died on this date
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, 50
; Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, 46. The heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife, were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, one of six members of a group supporting Austria-Hungary's southern provinces breaking away to form Yugoslavia. The resulting international reaction and entangling military alliances led to the outbreak of World War I several weeks later.

75 years ago
1939


Boxing
Joe Louis (39-1) retained his world heavyweight title with a technical knockout of Tony Galento (76-24-5) at 2:29 of the 4th round at Yankee Stadium in New York. "Two-Ton" Tony provided some excitement in the 3rd round when he knocked the champion down.



Baseball
The New York Yankees set a major league record with 13 home runs in a doubleheader as they swept a pair from the Philadelphia Athletics, 23-2 and 10-0 before 21,612 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. In the opener, the home runs came from Babe Dahlgren (2); Joe DiMaggio (2); Bill Dickey; Joe Gordon; Tommy Henrich; and George Selkirk. Homers in the second game were hit by Joe Gordon (2); Frank Crosetti; Mr. DiMaggio; and Mr. Dahlgren. The Athletics hit no home runs in the two games. Monty Pearson won the first game, Lefty Gomez the second. New York captain Lou Gehrig, recently diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, took the lineup card to home plate before the second game and received a standing ovation from the fans. Philadelphia manager Connie Mack, who seldom left the dugout, walked to home plate to shake Mr. Gehrig's hand.

70 years ago
1944


Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Hal Breeden!

This blogger's favourite baseball player of the mid-1970s, Mr. Breeden was a first baseman and pinch hitter with the Chicago Cubs (1971) and Montreal Expos (1972-1975). He was born in Albany, Georgia, 2 years and a day after his brother Danny, who was briefly his teammate with the Cubs.

War
Royal Canadian Air Force fighters downed 26 German planes over France, mostly in support of railway yard bombing. U.K. forces in France closed in on Caen from three sides. U.S. troops captured Castagneto, Italy. Soviet troops took Mogilev, 110 miles east of Minsk. Japanese forces in China launched a general offensive from Canton with the aim of joining forces with troops pushing southward from the province of Hunan.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Norman Armour was recalled to Washington for immediate consultation.

Politics and government
At the Republican National Convention in Chicago, New York Governor Thomas Dewey and Ohio Governor John Bricker were nominated on the first ballot as the party's respective candidates for President and Vice President of the United States in the November 1944 election.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill giving preference in government employment to war veterans.

50 years ago
1964


Society
Malcolm X formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity.

40 years ago
1974


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Streak--Ray Stevens (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Waterloo--ABBA (3rd week at #1)

On the radio
Peter Gzowski did his last show after four years as host of This Country in the Morning on CBC AM.

Died on this date
Vannevar Bush, 84. U.S. engineer. Dr. Bush was head of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) during World War II, and thus oversaw almost all military research and development. He co-founded Raytheon Company and devised the memex, a forerunner of the World Wide Web.

Frank Sutton, 50. U.S. actor. Mr. Sutton was best known for playing Sergeant Carter in the television comedy series Gomer Pyle, USMC (1964-1969). Mr. Sutton died of a heart attack.

World events
The Ethiopian army's 4th Division took virtual control of Addis Ababa and began a new series of arrests of prominent officials.

Terrorism
The U.S. State Department reported that eight Arab terrorists who had killed two American diplomats and a Belgian in the March attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum and had been turned over to the Palestine Liberation Organization on June 24 by Sudanese President Gafaar al-Nimeiry had been arrested upon their arrival in Egypt.

Crime
Chief prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi and defense attorney David Shinn, both participants in the 1970 murder trial of Charles Manson, were indicted in Los Angeles on three counts each of perjury for denyin that they had violated a gag rule that prohibited participants in the trial from discussing the case with the press, specifically in saying that they were sources for Los Angeles reporter William Farr. Mr. Farr had written an exclusive article saying that the Manson "family" had planned a series of murders other than the ones for which they were being tried, and had already serve 46 days in jail for refusing to reveal his sources before a grand jury.

Disasters
At least 200 people were killed in a landslide in Colombia 95 miles east of Bogota.

30 years ago
1984


Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, in Nicaragua, praised the Sandanista regime and predicted that it would win a "final victory" over insurgents supported by the United States. He then returned to Havana and then returned to the United States, accompanied by the 22 American prisoners who had been freed the previous day after negotiations with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Rev. Jackson repudiated the comments of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who four days earlier, had said that Judaism was a "gutter religion" and that Israel was an "outlaw" state.

In a prisoner exchange, Syria delivered to Israel 3 soldiers captured in Lebanon and 3 diplomats seized May 1 after they drove into Syrian-controlled territory in Lebanon. Israel returned 291 Syrian soldiers.

Crime
In London, Ontario, a number of archival documents were stolen from the regional history collection at D.B. Weldon Library at the University of Western Ontario. The thief had asked to see certain documents, and while the staff weren't looking, had stuffed them into his briefcase and departed. Regional history curator Ed Phelps became aware of the theft when a local coin and stamp dealer called him to report that someone had attempted to sell the documents to him, and a foot chase then took place on the streets of downtown London at lunchtime. Police commandeered a truck, but the chase ended when the truck driver was reluctant to pursue the thief down the wrong way of a one-way street. The London Free Press reported, "Phelps regretted that he was not in better shape so that he could continue the chase. 'I stood there jumping up and down with my glasses flapping.'" The documents were recovered several months later when they were found in a locker at the downtown train station (or was it the bus depot?), and the thief was nabbed in the United States when he tried to pull a similar caper. In 1987 Mr. Phelps was kind enough to show this blogger the regional history collection's file on the case, and Mr. Phelps remarked that it may have been the first time that a police report form was used as an archival finding aid.

25 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Eternal Flame--Bangles (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Mike Sebastian, 79
. U.S. football player and coach. Mr. Sebastian was a fullback with the University of Pittsburgh (1931-1933), helping the Panthers win a share of the national championship in 1931, and earning All-American honours in his last two seasons after moving to halfback. He played professionally for 10 teams from 1934-1938. Mr. Sebastian was forced to retire as a player because of knee and hip injuries, and went on to a long and successful career as a high school teacher and football coach. He died three weeks after his 79th birthday, from hepatitis contracted during hip replacement surgery.

Politics and government
On the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević delivered the Gazimestan speech at the site of the historic battle, in which he described the possibility of "armed battles" in the future of Serbia's national development.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Ottawa (0-1) 7 @ Hamilton (1-0) 41
Edmonton (0-1) 24 @ Saskatchewan (2-0) 28

The Roughriders' win over the Eskimos at Taylor Field in Regina was the last game for Edmonton receiver James Hood, who was playing for his fifth Canadian Football League team in as many years. He began his career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1985, then went to the Montreal Alouettes in 1986, where he was chosen the Eastern Division’s Most Outstanding Player. When the Alouettes folded in 1987, Mr. Hood was picked up by the Ottawa Rough Riders. In 1988 he played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and joined the Eskimos in the off-season.

20 years ago
1994


Football
CFL
Pre-season
Shreveport (0-2) 1 @ Toronto (2-0) 24
British Columbia (1-1) 37 @ Calgary (1-1) 24

10 years ago
2004


Politics and government
In the Canadian federal election, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin, which had a year and a half remaining with a majority of the 308 seats in the House of Commons before the expiration of the life of Parliament, was reduced to a minority. The Liberals captured 135 seats to 99 for the Conservative Party; 54 for the Bloc Quebecois; 19 for the New Democratic Party; and 1 independent. At the dissolution of Parliament 36 days earlier, the standings had been: Liberal--168; Conservative--72; Bloc Quebecois--33; New Democratic Party--14; Independent--10. Voter turnout was 60.9%, the lowest in Canadian history.

Two days earlier than planned, sovereign power was handed to the interim government of Iraq by the Coalition Provisional Authority, ending U.S.-led rule of that nation.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that enemy combatants could challenge their detention in U.S. courts.

Friday 27 June 2014

June 27, 2014

820 years ago
1194


Died on this date
Sancho VI, 62
. King of Navarre, 1150-1194. Sancho VI, known as Sancho the Wise, succeeded his father García Ramírez on the throne, and dropped the title King of Pamplona in favour of King of Navarre, thus changing the designation of his kingdom. He repaired the borders of his kingdom and brought it into the political orbit of Europe. Sancho VI was succeeded by his son Sancho VII.

175 years ago
1839


Died on this date
Ranjit Singh, 58
. Maharajah of Punjab, 1801-1839. Majarajah Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh Empire, that existed from 1799-1849. He was succeeded as Maharajah by his son Kharak Singh.

170 years ago
1844


Died on this date
Hyrum Smith, 44
; Joseph Smith, 38. U.S. religious leaders. Joseph Smith was a con man who founded the Church of Christ--later known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--in 1830, based on an alleged visit from an angel, resulting in The Book of Mormon, an alleged history of North America that had been preserved in a book of buried golden plates--which nobody ever saw. Mr. Smith's older brother Hyrum became an early follower and eventually Assistant President of the church. The church began in New York state and moved westward to Illinois, accompanied by various scams. The Smith brothers, along with apostles John Taylor and Willard Richards, were being held at the jail in Carthage, Illinois, when a mob of 60-200 dissident Saints descended on the jail. A shootout resulted, resulting in the deaths of the Smith brothers and the wounding of Mr. Taylor. Another brother, William Smith, succeeded Joseph as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, popularly known as the Mormon Church.

160 years ago
1854


Technology
New Brunswick chemist Abraham Gesner was awarded a U.S. patent for distilling kerosene from petroleum; it completely replaced whale oil in lamps in a few years.

130 years ago
1884


Baseball
Larry Corcoran pitched a no-hitter as the Chicago White Stockings blanked the Providence Grays 6-0 at Lakefront Park in Chicago.

125 years ago
1889


Born on this date
Moroni Olsen
. U.S. actor. Mr. Olsen began acting in plays in the 1910s, but was best known as a character actor in numerous movies from the mid-1930s until his death on November 22, 1954 at the age of 65.

100 years ago
1914


Boxing
Jack Johnson (40-5-8) retained his world heavyweight title with a 20-round decision over Frank Moran (21-7-2) at Velodrome d'Hiver in Paris.



90 years ago
1924


Golf
Walter Hagen won the British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England with a score of 301, 1 stroke ahead of Ernest Whitcombe. First prize money was £75.

80 years ago
1934


Died on this date
Francesco Buhagiar, 57
. Prime Minister of Malta, 1923-1924. Mr. Buhagiar, the leader of the Popular Union party, was Malta's second Prime Minister. He was succeeded by Ugo Mifsud.

70 years ago
1944


Theatre
Ten Little Indians by Agatha Christie opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway in New York City. The cast included Neil Fitzgerald, Georgia Harvey, and Halliwell Hobbes.

Died on this date
Milan Hodža, 66
. Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, 1935-1938. Mr. Hodža, the leader of the Czechoslovak Agrarian Party, was known for his attempts to establish a democratic federation of Central European states. He fled the country after the Munich agreement in 1938 that essentially violated Czechoslovakia's sovereignty, and lived in exile in several countries. Mr. Hodža died in Clearwater, Florida.

War
British units on the left flank of the Normandy beachhead launched an offensive that gained more than five miles southeast of Tilly-sur-Seulles. British troops recaptured Chiusi, Italy. Soviet troops captured Mogilev, 110 miles east of Minsk. U.S. troops pushed two miles north of Kagman Point on the eastern shore of Saipan.

World events
Guatemalan President Jorge Ubico issued a decree placing all personnel of railroads, health, light, and water organizations under military laws and regulations until further notice.

Politics and government
The platform of the U.S. Republican Party, presented at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, pledged extension to old age and unemployment insurance; promised labour freedom from "political trickery;" offered farmers reorganization of the U.S. Agriculture Department; and approved U.S. participation in a postwar organization to prevent the rise of militarism.

60 years ago
1954


Energy
The Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant, the world's first nuclear power station, opened in Obninsk, near Moscow.

Soccer
FIFA World Cup @ Berne, Switzerland
Quarter-Finals
Hungary 4 Brazil 2

60,000 fans at Wankdorf Stadium witnessed one of the most violent games in World Cup history, which became known as the Battle of Berne. Referee Arthur Ellis of England disqualified three players during the match and the fighting continued after the game when Brazilian players invaded the Hungarian dressing room.

50 years ago
1964


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Can't Buy Me Love/You Can't Do That--The Beatles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser--Sylvie Vartan (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Cin, cin--Richard Anthony (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Shake Hands--Drafi Deutscher (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): It's Over--Roy Orbison (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A World Without Love--Peter and Gordon

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A World Without Love--Peter and Gordon
2 Chapel of Love--The Dixie Cups
3 I Get Around--The Beach Boys
4 My Boy Lollipop--Millie Small
5 People--Barbra Streisand
6 Memphis--Johnny Rivers
7 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying--Gerry and the Pacemakers
8 Love Me with All Your Heart (Cuando Calienta El Sol)--The Ray Charles Singers
9 No Particular Place to Go--Chuck Berry
10 Love Me Do--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) by Jan & Dean (#60); Under the Boardwalk by the Drifters (#70); Do I Love You? by the Ronettes (#76); Nobody I Know by Peter and Gordon (#79); I Believe by the Bachelors (#80); I Wanna Love Him So Bad by the Jelly Bens (#81); Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin (#87); Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) by Irma Thomas (#93); Mixed-Up, Shook-Up, Girl by Patty and the Emblems (#96); Precious Words by the Wallace Brothers (#97); I'm a Fool for Loving You by Bobby Wood (#98); It's All Over Now by the Valentinos (#99); and Love is All We Need by Vic Dana (#100).

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, where they finished recording the song Christmas Day, which was released on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album several months later.

40 years ago
1974


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Always Yours--Gary Glitter

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon arrived in Moscow for talks with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

France and Iran reached agreement on a 10-year development program amounting to $4 billion. Included was a provision for the sale to Iran of five 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors worth $1.1 billion. Iran's promise to advance $1 billion to the Bank of France and to pay for three quarters of the reactors in five years would substantially ease France's balance of payment problem.

30 years ago
1984


Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was named the 1984 winner of the Albert Einstein Peace Prize for his global campaign to ease East-West tensions.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the 1984 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States, continued a visit to the Caribbean and Central America with an eight-hour meeting in Havana with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, after which Rev. Jackson announced the release of 22 American and 26 Cuban prisoners. It was believed that most of the Americans were being held on drug charges. The two men called for normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba, and endorsed peace negotiations to end military conflicts in Central America. Mr. Castro indicated willingness to discuss the return to Cuba of hundreds of Cubans being held in the U.S. since being permitted by Mr. Castro to migrate to Florida from the Cuban port of Mariel in 1980. Mr. Jackson then went to Nicaragua.

Roberto D'Aubuisson, leader of El Salvador's right-wing Arena party, met in Washington with 12 U.S. Senators and denied involvement in a plot to assassinate U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Thomas Pickering. The plot had been alleged in an article in The New York Times on June 23.

Economics and finance
The United States Senate voted 83-15 and House of Representatives voted 268-155 to endorse a package worked out by congressional leaders to raise $50 billion in taxes and reduce spending by $11 billion in an effort to make a "down payment" against enormous budget deficits projected for the coming years.

25 years ago
1989


Law
U.S. President George Bush announced his support for an amendment to the United States Constitution to prohibit desecration of the American flag. Civil liberties groups objected to such an idea on the grounds that such an amendment would infringe on freedom of speech. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 411-5 to express its concern over the June 21 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that burning the flag was permitted as a form of political protest.

Scandal
A U.S. federal appeals court ruled 2-1 to overturn the 1988 conviction of Lyn Nofziger, a former official in the administration of President Ronald Reagan, for illegal lobbying, because prosecutors had failed to prove that Mr. Nofziger had known he was breaking the law.

Baseball
Randy Milligan batted 4 for 5 with a home run, 2 doubles, and 4 runs batted in as the Baltimore Orioles routed the Toronto Blue Jays 16-6 before 30,136 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Jay Tibbs allowed 13 hits and 6 earned runs in pitching a complete game victory to improve his record for the season to 5-0. The most interesting aspect of the game was that with Frank Robinson managing the Orioles and Cito Gaston managing the Blue Jays, it was the first regular season game in major league history to feature Negro managers for both teams.

Charlie Puleo and Steve Ziem combined to pitch a no-hitter for the Richmond Braves of the International League as they shut out the Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association 3-0 in an interlocking game.

20 years ago
1994


Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): United--Prince Ital Joe & Marky Mark (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Swear--All-4-One (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Turn Around--Ace of Base
3 Wild Night--John Mellencamp with Me’shell Ndegeocello
4 I'll Remember--Madonna
5 If You Go--Jon Secada
6 Round Here--Counting Crows
7 Sleeping in My Car--Roxette
8 Shine--Collective Soul
9 You Mean the World to Me--Toni Braxton
10 Misled--Celine Dion

Singles entering the chart were Crash! Boom! Bang! by Roxette (#72); Ain't Got Nothing If You Ain't Got Love by Michael Bolton (#74); Love is Strong by the Rolling Stones (#77); Broadway Joe by Koven Jordan (#78); This Weight on Me by Chris DeBurgh (#83); Just a Step from Heaven by Eternal (#86); Love is All Around by Wet Wet Wet (#87); Always by Erasure (#88); Bad Timing by Blue Rodeo (#93); I Wish by Gabrielle (#94); and I'll Remember You by Atlantic Starr (#96).

Terrorism
Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas in Matsumoto, Japan; 7 people were killed, 660 injured.

Politics and government
U.S. President Bill Clinton named former Congressman and current director of the White House Office of Management and Budget Leon Panetta as his chief of staff, replacing Mr. Clinton's longtime friend Thomas McLarty.

10 years ago
2004


Died on this date
George Patton IV, 80
. U.S. military officer. Mr. Patton was a Major General in the United States Army and the son of General George Patton who achieved fame in World War II. Major General Patton served three tours of duty in the Vietnam War and won the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Darrell Russell, 35. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Russell was a drag racer who was the National Hot Rod Association's Rookie of the Year in 2001. He was killed in an accident at the Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis.

Football
CFL
Montreal (2-0) 32 @ Calgary (1-1) 14

Thursday 26 June 2014

June 26, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Beth Stover!

220 years ago
1794


War
French forces commanded by General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan defeated a Coalition Army (Great Britain, Hanover, Dutch Republic, and Habsburg Monarchy) commanded by Prince Josias of Coburg in the Battle of Fleurus in the Netherlands, leading to the permanent loss of the Austrian Netherlands and the destruction of the Dutch Republic. The French use of the reconnaissance balloon l'Entreprenant marked the first successful use of aircraft to influence a battle.

125 years ago
1889


Died on this date
Simon Cameron, 90
. U.S. politician. Mr. Cameron was a journalist, railroad executive, and banker before entering politics. As a Democrat, he represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1845-1849. Mr. Cameron was then a member of the American Party before joining the Republican Party in 1856. He represented Pennsylvania in the Senate again from 1857-1861, and served as U.S. Secretary of War in the administration of President Abraham Lincoln from 1861-1862, resigning amid accusations of corruption. Mr. Cameron served as U.S. Minister to Russia from June-September 1862, and returned to the Senate in 1867, representing Pennsylvania until 1877.

Africana
Bangui, the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic, was founded in French Congo.

120 years ago
1894


Politics and government
Premier Sir Oliver Mowat led his Liberal Party to its seventh consecutive victory in the Ontario provincial election. The Liberals took 45 of 94 seats in the Legislative Assembly--a decrease of 8 from the most recent election in 1890--but Liberals running under the joint banners of Patrons of Industry (12) and Protestant Protective Association (1) provided a majority. The Conservative Party, led by W.R. Meredith, won 23 seats--a decrease of 11 from 1890--and Conservatives running under the joint banners of Protestant Protective Association (6) and Patrons of Industry (1) gave them a total of 30. The Patrons of Industry (3) and PPA (2) won seats without party affiliation, and one independent candidate was elected.

Academia
The cornerstone of Wesley College was laid in downtown Winnipeg; the college later became a founding college of what is now the University of Winnipeg.

Labour
The American Railway Union, led by Eugene Debs, called a general strike in sympathy with Pullman sleeping car workers.

100 years ago
1914


Born on this date
Shapour Bakhtiar
. Prime Minister of Iran, 1979. Dr. Bakhtiar, a member of the National Front and an opponent of the excesses of Shah Reza Pahlevi, served as Prime Minister from January 4-February 11, 1979 during the last days of the Shah's regime. Dr. Bakhtiar declared Iran to be a republic and himself as the country's first President just before fleeing to exile in France upon the return to Iran and accession to power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The Islamic Republic of Iran issued a death sentence for Mr. Bakhtiar and finally carried it out; Dr. Bakhtiar, 77, and his secretary Soroush Katibeh were stabbed to death on August 6, 1991 by three assassins in Dr. Bakhtiar's home in the Paris suburb of Suresnes.

90 years ago
1924


World events
American forces left the Dominican Republic after eight years of occupation.

80 years ago
1934


Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Credit Union Act, establishing credit unions.

75 years ago
1939


Died on this date
Ford Madox Ford, 65
. U.K. author. Born Ford Hermann Hueffer, Mr. Ford was known for his novels The Fifth Queen (trilogy, 1906-1908); The Good Soldier (1915); and Parade's End (tetralogy, 1924-1928).

70 years ago
1944


On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Dissimilar Body

War
The Battle of Osuchy in Poland ended with the defeat of the Polish resistance forces. Soviet forces took Vitebsk and Zhlobin and pushed to within 35 miles of the Polish border in western Russia. U.S. troops in France mopped up the remaining German resistance in Cherbourg.

Politics and government
California Governor Earl Warren delivered the keynote speech at the opening of the Republican National Convention in Chicago, pledging the party to cooperation in international affairs and internal reconstruction.

Baseball
More than 50,000 fans packed the Polo Grounds in New York for a unique exhibition game among the city's three major league teams to raise war bonds for World War II. The teams rotated, with one team sitting out an inning. The final score was Brooklyn Dodgers 5, New York Yankees 1, New York Giants 0.

60 years ago
1954


Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Answer Me, My Love--Nat "King" Cole; Answer Me, Lord Above--Frankie Laine (4th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Little Things Mean a Lot--Kitty Kallen (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--1st week at #1)

#1 Rhythm and Blues single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Shake, Rattle and Roll--Joe Turner and his Blues Kings (3rd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Three Coins in the Fountain--The Four Aces
--[Frank Sinatra]
2 Little Things Mean a Lot--Kitty Kallen
3 Hernando's Hideaway--Archie Bleyer
--[Johnnie Ray]
4 The Happy Wanderer--Frank Weir and his Orchestra
--Henri Rene's Musette
5 Wanted--Perry Como
6 If You Love Me (Really Love Me)--Kay Starr
--Vera Lynn
7 Young at Heart--Frank Sinatra
8 I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)--The Four Knights
9 Here--Tony Martin
10 I Understand Just How You Feel--The Four Tunes
--June Valli

Singles entering the chart were The Little Shoemaker, with versions by the Gaylords and Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (#16); Skinny Minnie (Fish Tail) by Teresa Brewer (#30); Sweetheart (Will You Remember) by the Hilltoppers (#31); Someone Else's Roses by Doris Day (#32); and Song of the Sewer by Art Carney (#41).

50 years ago
1964


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): It's Over--Roy Orbison (2nd week at #1)

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Thank You Girl--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 All My Loving--The Beatles
3 A World Without Love--Peter and Gordon
4 My Boy Lollipop--Millie Small
5 As Long as I'm Sure of You--Bobby Curtola
6 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying--Gerry and the Pacemakers
7 Sidewinder--Wes Dakus and the CJCA Rebels
8 Memphis--Johnny Rivers
9 Lucky Star--Rick Nelson
10 Little Children--Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas
Pick hit of the week: Nobody I Know--Peter and Gordon
New this week: Over My Shoulder--Barry Allen
Man Walks Among Us--Marty Robbins
I Guess I'm Crazy--Jim Reeves
Licorice Stick--Pete Fountain
Donnie--The Bermudas
Only You--Wayne Newton

Man Walks Among Us was the B-side of The Cowboy in the Continental Suit, which had been new on the playlist the week before.

Music
The original motion picture soundtrack album from A Hard Day's Night was released in North America on United Artists Records. The album featured eight songs performed by the Beatles and four Beatles' compositions performed by George Martin and his Orchestra.

Died on this date
Léo Dandurand, 74
. U.S.-born Canadian sports executive. Mr. Dandurand, a native of Illinois, moved with his family to Canada at the age of 16. He was a referee in the National Hockey Association and owned the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1921-1935. Mr. Dandurand coached the team from 1921-26 and 1934-35, winning the Stanley Cup in 1924. He was one of the founders of the Montreal Alouettes of the Interprovincial Provincial Football Union in 1946, and the team won the Grey Cup in 1949. Mr. Dandurand also owned a number of horse racing tracks. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963. Mr. Dandurand died 13 days before his 75th birthday.

40 years ago
1974


Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks

Technology
The Universal Product Code was scanned for the first time to sell a package of Wrigley's chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

Defense
Leaders of the 15-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization signed in Brussels a declaration on Atlantic Relations to guide NATO through the next 25 years that had been agreed upon by the members' foreign ministers a week earlier in Ottawa. The declaration affirmed a wider and more intimate consultation on common problems, including those outside the alliance area. U.S. President Richard Nixon, who was in Brussels while on his way to Moscow to meet with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, told his NATO allies that the United States would maintain its forces in Europe "if there is a similar effort by our allies," and also pledged not to reduce U.S. forces unless there was a reciprocal action by the U.S.S.R.

Scandal
U.S. District Court Judge Gerhard Gesell ordered John Ehrlichman, a former aide to President Richard Nixon, to stand trial with three other defendants on charges arising from the 1971 break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of former Defense Department employee Daniel Ellsberg.

Football
CFL
All-Star Game
CFL All-Stars 22 @ Ottawa 25

Rhome Nixon caught 2 touchdown passes and was named the game's most valuable player as the defending Grey Cup champion Rough Riders defeated the All-Stars before 15,102 fans at Lansdowne Park. Gerry Organ converted both touchdowns and added 3 field goals, while Dick Adams punted for 2 singles. Jim Young of the British Columbia Lions and Terry Evanshen of the Montreal Alouettes each caught a touchdown pass for the All-Stars. Dave Cutler of the Edmonton Eskimos converted both touchdowns and added 2 field goals and a single, while Zenon Andrusyshyn of the Toronto Argonauts punted for a single for the All-Stars.

30 years ago
1984


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Big in Japan--Alphaville (5th week at #1)

Space
The maiden flight of the U.S. space shuttle Discovery, already postponed by one day, was aborted 4 seconds before scheduled launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida because of a malfunctioning engine fuel valve, after the main rocket engines had begun to ignite. A few minutes later, while the six-person crew were still in the craft, a fire broke out near the faulty engine. Jets of water ejected from within the launch pad extinguished the fire quickly, and the astronauts left the spacecraft unharmed.

25 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Look--Roxette

Canada's top 10 (RPM):
1 Pop Singer--John Mellencamp
2 Satisfied--Richard Marx
3 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
4 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
5 I Won't Back Down--Tom Petty
6 Rock On--Michael Damian
7 Cry--Waterfront
8 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
9 Soldier of Love--Donny Osmond
10 Express Yourself--Madonna

Singles entering the chart were Batdance by Prince (#78); How Long by Blue Rodeo (#80); A Friend is a Friend by Pete Townshend (#84); Boy with a Beat by Trooper (#87); Cover of Love by Michael Damian (#89); Bye Bye Mon Cowboy by Mitsou (#91); and Hangin' High and Dry by Brighton Rock (#93).

Died on this date
Howard Green, 93
. Canadian politician. Mr. Green was a Conservative and Progressive member of the House of Commons from 1935-1963. He was Minister of Public Works in the government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker from 1957-1959 and Secretary of State for External Affairs from 1959-1963. Mr. Green was known for his support of the Commonwealth of Nations and nuclear disarmament. His support for Mr. Diefenbaker's refusal to allow nuclear-tipped Bomarc missiles into Canada helped lead to his, and the government's defeat in the 1963 federal election.

Walter Martin, 60. U.S. Christian apologist. Dr. Martin was the founder of the Christian Research Institute and author of numerous books, most notably The Kingdom of the Cults (originally published in 1965). He died of a heart attack the day after debating apostate Anglican Bishop John Shelby Spong. Dr. Martin's messages and writings can be found at Walter Martin's Religious Info Net, a site operated by his daughter, Jill Martin Rische.

Business
Time, Inc. rejected an offer of $12.2 billion ($200 per share) from Paramount Communications Corporation to purchase the company.

20 years ago
1994


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol) (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Without You--Mariah Carey (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Without You--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Love is All Around--Wet Wet Wet (5th week at #1)

Baseball
Damian Moss pitched a no-hitter for the Danville Braves as they shut out the Bluefield Orioles 6-0 in an Appalachian League game.

10 years ago
2004


Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-1) 41 @ Edmonton (0-2) 34

Tuesday 24 June 2014

June 25, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gail McGonigal!

150 years ago
1864


Born on this date
Walther Nernst
. German chemist, physicist, and inventor. Mr. Nernst won the 1920 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in thermochemistry, in particular the Third Law of Thermodynamics (describing the behaviour of matter as temperatures approach absolute zero). His inventions included an electric lamp that was a precursor to the modern incandescent lamp and an electric piano. Mr. Nernst, whose opposition to the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler ruined his career, died on November 18, 1941 at the age of 77.

120 years ago
1894


Born on this date
Hermann Oberth
. Austro-Hungarian-born German physicist and engineer. Professor Oberth was known as the "Father of German rocketry," through his rejected, but prophetic doctoral thesis Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen (The Rocket into Planetary Space) (1923), expanded and revised as Wege zur Raumschiffahrt (Ways to Spaceflight) (1929). He was an advisor for the film Frau im Mond (Woman in the Moon) (1929). He taught Wernher von Braun, and later worked for his former student in the United States. Prof. Oberth died on December 28,1989 at the age of 95. A lunar crater and an asteroid are named in his honour.

Died on this date
Marie François Sadi Carnot, 56
. 5th President of France, 1887-1894. Mr. Carnot, a moderate Republican, was first elected to the French National Assembly in 1871. He held several cabinet posts before serving as President. President Carnot died several hours after being stabbed by Italian anarchist Sante Geronimo Caserio, and was succeeded as President by Jean Casimir-Perier.

75 years ago
1939


Died on this date
Dick Seaman, 26
. U.K. auto racing driver. Mr. Seaman, one of Adolf Hitler's favourite drivers, drove for Mercedes-Benz and won the German Grand Prix in 1938, finishing second in that year's Swiss Grand Prix. He was leading the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps when he crashed into a tree on lap 22, and died from burns several hours later.

Auto racing
German drivers Hermann Lang, Rudolf Hasse, and Manfred von Brauchitsch finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, in a race marred by the death of Dick Seaman.

70 years ago
1944


Died on this date
Dénes Berinkey, 72
. Prime Minister of Hungary, 1919. Mr. Berinkey was Prime Minister of Hungary from January 11-March 21, 1919, just prior to the Communist accession to power and the creation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic.

Lucha Reyes, 38. Mexican singer. Miss Reyes, born María de la Luz Flores Aceves, was known as the "Mother of ranchera music," achieving popularity in the 1930s and '40s. She died of "acute intoxication" caused by an "unknown substance," which was believed to be barbiturates.

Popular culture
The final page of the comic strip Krazy Kat was published, exactly two months after the death of its author, George Herriman. The strip was first published in the New York Evening Journal on October 28, 1913.

War
The Battle of Tali-Ihantala between Soviet and Finnish forces--the largest battle fought in the Nordic countries during World War II--began in Finland's Karelian Peninsula. Soviet forces in the eastern front closed the Vitebsk trap and pushed into the city, where street fighting erupted. In France, United States Navy and Royal Navy ships bombarded Cherbourg to support U.S. Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg, and German forces conceded the loss of the port later in the day. U.S. Army units in Italy took Follonica and moved further northward and inland, nearing the highway centre of Massa.

Protest
With stores and theatres closed, police used smoke bombs to disperse student demonstrations against the suspension of civil rights in Guatemala City.

Track and field
Gunder Haegg broke his own two-year-old record for 2 miles, covering the distance in 8:46.4 in Ostersund, Sweden.

60 years ago
1954


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Secret Love--Doris Day (9th week at #1)

50 years ago
1964


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: My Guy--Mary Wells

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): It's Over--Roy Orbison

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, where they recorded the songs The Man with All the Toys; Santa's Beard; Merry Christmas, Baby; Christmas Day; and Auld Lang Syne, all of which appeared on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, released several months later.

40 years ago
1974


Hit parade
#1 single in France: Pot pour rire Mr le Président--Patrick Green & Olivier Lejeune (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The United States recalled its ambassador to Sudan and issued a strongly-worded protest over the previous day's decision by Sudanese President Gaafar al-Nimeiry to turn over to the Palestine Liberation Organization--essentially freeing--eight Arab guerrillas who had killed two American diplomats and a Belgian in a March 1973 attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum.

Terrorism
Al Fatah, the largest and most "moderate" Palestinian terrorist organization, took responsibility for for the previous day's attack by three guerrillas on a small apartment house in the northern Israeli resort town of Nahariya, in which the terrorists had killed three civilians and an Israeli soldier before the guerrillas had been killed in the ensuing gunfight with Israeli soldiers.

30 years ago
1984


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): It's Just Not Cricket--The Twelfth Man

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lobo-Hombre en París--La Unión (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Michel Foucault, 57
. French philosopher. Dr. Foucault emphasized the role played by power in social discourse. His books included Madness and Insanity: History of Madness in the Classical Age (1961); Birth of the Clinic: An Archaeology of Medical Perception (1963); and The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences (1966). Dr. Foucault, who was heavily influenced by the 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, was a heavy user and promiscuous sodomite who admitted that his intellectual pursuits were greatly influenced by his homosexual desires. He died of AIDS.

Defense
The United States Senate voted 88-1 to delete $21 million in additional military aid for Contra rebels seeking to overthrow the Sandanista regime in Nicaragua.

Economics and finance
Major banks in the United States raised their prime interest rate from 12.5%-13%, the highest level since October 1982. U.S. President Ronald Reagan said he could see "no excuse" for the increase.

25 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): If You Don't Know Me by Now--Simply Red (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: The Look--Roxette (5th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-1) 7 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 37

The Roughriders routed the Blue Bombers in the first Canadian Football League game to be played at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

20 years ago
1994


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm--Crash Test Dummies (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Il Cielo--Fiorello & Caterina (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Baby, I Love Your Way--Big Mountain (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Come On You Reds--Manchester United F.C. with Status Quo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): I Like to Move It--Reel 2 Real featuring the Mad Stuntman (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): I Can See Clearly Now--Jimmy Cliff (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): The Real Thing--2 Unlimited (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Love is All Around--Wet Wet Wet (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Swear--All-4-One (6th week at #1)
2 Any Time, Any Place/And On and On--Janet Jackson
3 Regulate--Warren G & Nate Dogg
4 Don't Turn Around--Ace of Base
5 I'll Remember--Madonna
6 Back and Forth--Aaliyah
7 You Mean the World to Me--Toni Braxton
8 The Sign--Ace of Base
9 Baby I Love Your Way--Big Mountain
10 Stay (I Missed You)--Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

Singles entering the chart were Always in My Heart by Tevin Campbell (#79); Girls & Boys by Blur (#88); Booti Call by BLACKstreet (#94); and It's Over Now by Cause and Effect (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Swear--All-4-One (5th week at #1)
2 Don't Turn Around--Ace of Base
3 I'll Remember--Madonna
4 Any Time, Any Place/And On and On--Janet Jackson
5 You Mean the World to Me--Toni Braxton
6 If You Go--Jon Secada
7 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol)
8 Baby, I Love Your Way--Big Mountain
9 Misled--Celine Dion
10 Anytime You Need a Friend--Mariah Carey

Singles entering the chart were Ain't Got Nothing If You Ain't Got Love by Michael Bolton (#63); Sleeping in My Car by Roxette (#83); Hard Luck Woman by Garth Brooks (#84); Booti Call by BLACKStreet (#87); Selling the Drama by Live (#88); and Funkdafied by Da Brat (#89). Ain't Got Nothing If You Ain't Got Love was actually an album track, which, for some reason, was listed on the singles chart.

Died on this date
James Hagerstrom, 73
. U.S. military aviator. Colonel Hagerstrom was a fighter ace with the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II and U.S. Air Force in the Korean War, recording 14.5 combat victories, becoming one of seven American pilots to achieve ace status in both wars. He also flew 30 missions in the Vietnam War, and died of stomach cancer.

10 years ago
2004


Football
CFL
Winnipeg (0-2) 22 @ Hamilton (2-0) 32