August 1, 2014

550 years ago
1464

Died on this date
Cosimo de' Medici, 74. Italian banker. Mr. Medici was the first member of the family dynasty that served as de facto rulers of Florence.

425 years ago
1589

Died on this date
Jacques Clément, 22 (?). French assassin. Mr. Clément, a Roman Catholic, stabbed King Henry III and was executed on the spot by bodyguards. King Henry died the following day.

350 years ago
1664

War
An Austrian army led by Raimondo Montecuccoli defeated Ottoman forces in the Battle of Saint Gotthard in western Hungary, resulting in the Peace of Vasvár.

300 years ago
1714

Died on this date
Anne, 49. Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, 1702-1714. Anne, the daughter of King James II, succeeded her cousin, William III, upon his death. The major events of her reign included the union of England and Scotland in 1707. Queen Anne was the last British sovereign to preside over a meeting of the Privy Council, and the last to refuse royal asset to a bill passed by Parliament. She died after many years of failing health, leaving no surviving children, and was succeeded on the throne by King George I, Elector of Hanover, the nearest Protestant heir.

270 years ago
1744

Born on this date
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. French naturalist. Mr. Lamarck wrote the three-volume botanical work Flore françoise (1778), and was an authority on invertebrate zoology, but was primarily remembered for his belief in evolution through the inheritance of acquired characteristics, an evolutionary model that was preferred by some who rejected Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. He died on December 18, 1829 at the age of 85.

180 years ago
1834

Society
Slavery was abolished in the British Empire as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force. An estimated 770,280 slaves were freed.

125 years ago
1889

Died on this date
A.E.B. Davie, 41. Canadian politician. Alexander Edmund Batson Davie represented Cariboo (1875-1878) and Lillooet (1882-1889) in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, serving as Premier of B.C. from April 1887 until his death after a long illness, He was succeeded as Premier by John Robson.

Americana
The National Monument to the Forefathers, originally known as the Pilgrim Monument, was dedicated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, one day short of the 30th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. The monument was dedicated to the pilgrims who came to Plymouth Rock from England aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

Education
The Manitoba government of Premier Thomas Greenway announced its decision to abolish the dual school system of separate schools for Roman Catholics and Protestants.

120 years ago
1894

War
The First Sino-Japanese War erupted between Japan and China over control of Korea.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
J. Lee Thompson. U.K.-born U.S. movie director. Mr. Thompson directed some good movies in Britain in the 1950s, such as Yield to the Night (1956) and Ice Cold in Alex (1958), before moving to Hollywood, where he had his greatest success with The Guns of Navarone (1961). His other movies included Cape Fear (1962) and Mackenna's Gold (1969). Mr. Thompson died on August 30, 2002 at the age of 88.

War
The German Empire declared war on the Russian Empire in the opening days of World War I. The Swiss Army mobilized. The Duke of Connaught, Governor General of Canada, formally offeed the services of Canadian troops to assist Britain.

75 years ago
1939

Journalism
The Quebec City newspaper La Nation ceased publication.

70 years ago
1944

At the movies
The Pearl of Death, starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson, received its first screening. This is my favourite Sherlock Holmes movie and one of my favourite movies ever.



Died on this date
Manuel L. Quezon, 65. 2nd President of the Philippines, 1935-1944. Mr. Quezon, a was the first Filipino President to be elected through a national election. He fled to the United States in 1942 after the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, and died of tuberculosis at Saranac Lake, New York, 18 days before his 66th birthday. Mr. Quezon was succeeded as President by Vice President Sergio Osmena.

War
U.S. forces in France crossed the Selune River on a wide front and drove from Normandy into Brittany. Polish partisans loyal to the Polish government-in-exile in England engaged German forces in fierce fighting. Soviet forces in Latvia took Klapkalns on the Gulf of Riga. The Allies reported that organized resistance on Tinian had ended. U.S. Selective Service Director Lewis Hershey ordered local draft boards to proceed with the induction of men over 25 years of age who were not making a contribution to the war effort.

Protest
The Warsaw Uprising against Nazi occupation began in the Polish capital as Soviet troops approached the city but did not enter.

Defense
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King said that Canada was taking over two chains of airfields built in Canada by or in conjunction with the United States for continental defense.

Politics and government
Risto Ryti resigned as President of Finland; Field Marshal Carl Gustav Mannerheim was appointed to succeed him.

The United States Senate and House of Representatives reconvened, but neither house had a quorum to conduct business.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Parliament passed the Family Allowances Act, providing for monthly baby bonuses to parents of children under 18.

Distilleries across the United States resumed production of beverage alcohol.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A Hard Day's Night/Things We Said Today--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: J'y Pense et Puis J'oublie--Claude François (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): In ginocchio da te--Gianni Morandi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Liebeskummer lohnt sich nicht--Siw Malmkvist (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): A Hard Day's Night--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A Hard Day's Night--The Beatles

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Hard Day's Night--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 Rag Doll--The 4 Seasons
3 I Get Around--The Beach Boys
4 Wishin' and Hopin'--Dusty Springfield
5 The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)--Jan & Dean
6 Everybody Loves Somebody--Dean Martin
7 Dang Me--Roger Miller
8 The Girl from Ipanema--Getz/Gilberto
9 Where Did Our Love Go--The Supremes
10 Keep on Pushing--The Impressions

Singles entering the chart were Because by the Dave Clark Five (#65); And I Love Her by the Beatles (#67); I've Got No Time to Lose by Carla Thomas (#75); Sweet William by Millie Small (#81); Ringo's Theme (This Boy) by George Martin and his Orchestra (#86); G.T.O. by Ronnie and the Daytonas (#93); It Hurts to Be in Love by Gene Pitney (#95); Thank You Baby by the Shirelles (#96); More and More of Your Amorby Nat King Cole (#97); The Mexican Shuffle by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass (#98); The New "Frankie and Johnny" Song by the Greenwood County Singers (#100); and Down Where the Winds Blow (Chilly Winds) by the Serendipity Singers (also #100).

Music
The Beach Boys performed at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The concert comprised the basis for the album Beach Boys Concert, which was released on Capitol Records on October 19, 1964.

World events
Belgian Congo was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): If Ma Could See Me Now--The Times (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
George Ellis, 53. U.S. football official. Mr. Ellis, who operated a sporting goods company in Akron, Ohio, was a field judge in the National Football League from 1967 until his death.

Music
Robert Charlebois, Félix Leclerc, and Gilles Vigneault held a concert on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, telecast by Radio Canada.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council authorized the UNFICYP to create the "Green Line," dividing Cyprus into two zones.

Law
Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis' civilian government restored the 1952 Greek constitution that had been abolished in 1968 following the military coup of 1967. Legislative power was to be vested in the cabinet, and the government would retain the right to rule by decree until a Constitutional Assembly was held. Constitutional provisions relating to the monarchy were temporarily suspended and executive powers vested in the presidency, thus postponing the controversial decision of whether deposed King Constantine would be recalled from exile.

Scandal
U.S. District Court Judge George Hart fined Associated Milk Producers, Inc., the U.S.A.'s largest dairy cooperative, the maximum amount of $35,000 following a guilty plea to six counts of conspiracy and making illegal contributions to the campaigns of various politicians, including President Richard Nixon, who received $100,000 in 1969 in what AMI officials had described as an effort to "make peace" with the incoming administration. Other recipients included U.S. Senators Hubert Humphrey (Democrat--Minnesota); Edmund Muskie (Democrat--Maine); and Wilbur Mills (Democrat--Ohio). AMP had requested leniency because the offense was a "cavalier violation" of a widely disregarded law.

Football
WFL
Southern California (2-2) 15 @ Memphis (3-1) 25

Baseball
Ray Busse hit a 3-run home run and doubled in another run to lead the Houston Astros over the American Association All-Stars 5-1 in the AA All-Star Game before 4,781 fans at All Sports Stadium in Oklahoma City.

30 years ago
1984

Diplomacy
With Great Britain’s leases on most of Hong Kong due to expire in 1997, the British government announced that it had reached an agreement with China on the future of the colony. British Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe, who had met with Chinese leaders in Beijing in late July, made the announcement in Hong Kong. He said that the draft agreement provided for "the preservation of all the rights and freedom which the people of Hong Kong now enjoy." Legal, judicial, and educational systems would be maintained for 50 years after 1997. He said that China planned to incorporate Hong Kong into a special administrative region.

Terrorism
Three Iranians hijacked a Paris-bound jet from Frankfurt, West Germany, and forced it to fly to Tehran. The hijackers demanded the release of five Iranians held in Paris in connection with an assassination attempt against an opponent of Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini.

Politics and government
U.S. Democratic party presidential candidate Walter Mondale, campaigning in Mississippi, said, "What Americans want is common sense, not salesmanship," and added that the campaign "shouldn’t be a contest between advertising agencies, it should be about ideas and plans for the American people."

Archaeology
Commercial peat-cutters discovered the preserved bog body of a man, called Lindow Man, at Lindow Moss, Cheshire, northwest England.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 Americanos--Holly Johnson
2 Das Omen (Teil 1)--Mysterious Art
3 Eternal Flame--Bangles
4 Ready for Radetzky--Vienna Lusthouse
5 Lullaby--The Cure
6 Manchild--Neneh Cherry
7 Love is Free--Bilgeri
8 Nur ein Lied--Thomas Forstner
9 Express Yourself--Madonna
10 Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff

Singles entering the chart were A Cry in the Night by Lory "Bonnie" Bianco (#12); Requiem by London Boys (#27); and Blame it on the Rain by Milli Vanilli (#28).

Football
CFL
Ottawa (0-4) 29 @ Calgary (2-2) 35

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I Swear--All-4-One (2nd week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Wild Night--John Mellencamp with Me’shell Ndegeocello (3rd week at #1)
2 Can You Feel the Love Tonight--Elton John
3 Crazy--Aerosmith
4 If You Go--Jon Secada
5 I Swear--All-4-One
6 Don't Turn Around--Ace of Base
7 Stay (I Missed You)--Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
8 Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind--Stevie Nicks
9 Love is Strong--Rolling Stones
10 Prayer for the Dying--Seal

Singles entering the chart were All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow (#54); Rain King by Counting Crows (#58); Girls and Boys by Blur (#69); Could I Be Your Girl by Jann Arden (#81); If I Wanted To by Melissa Etheridge (#88); This is Love by Chris DeBurgh (#93); and Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins (#94). Return to Pooh Corner was presumably a sequel to House at Pooh Corner, written by Mr. Loggins and a hit for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1971.

World events
Responding to a United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing an invasion of Haiti, the country's de facto President, Emile Jonassaint, declared that Haiti was under a state of siege.

Disasters
Thousands of historical documents and 100,000 books were destroyed when fire ripped through Norwich Central Library in Norwich, England.

10 years ago
2004

Terrorism
Four churches in Iraq were attacked in coordinated car bombings in Baghdad and Mosul.

U.S. intelligence agencies indicated that financial institutions in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Newark, New Jersey were vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Disasters
A supermarket fire in Asunción, Paraguay killed 396 people and injured 500 others.