January 27, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Irina!

230 years ago
1785

Academia
The first public university in the United States, the University of Georgia, was incorporated by the Georgia General Assembly.

225 years ago
1790

Born on this date
Juan Álvarez Hurtado. 24th President of Mexico, 1855. General Álvarez was a liberal reformer, republican, and federalist who was a longtime caudillo (regional leader) in southern Mexico. He served as interim President of Mexico from October-December 1855, following the Antonio López de Santa Anna. Gen. Álvarez died on August 21, 1867 at the age of 77.

160 years ago
1855

Politics and government
In Toronto, Sir Alan MacNab took office as Premier and Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché as Deputy Premier of the United Province of Canada.

Transportation
Chief engineer George Totten drove the last spike to complete the Panama Railroad, covering 47 miles across the Isthmus of Panama.

75 years ago
1935

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC

75 years ago
1940

War
South Africa's House of Assembly defeated a motion by General T.B.M. Hertzog to halt the war with Germany.

A clash between Hindus and Muslims in Rangoon resulted in 1 death and 46 injuries.

Diplomacy
Japanese diplomats gathering in Budapest recommended a reaffirmation of the Anti-Comintern Pact despite the Germany-U.S.S.R. non-aggression pact of 1939.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced that the federal election would be held on March 26.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Airplay--1st week at #1; Juke Box--7th week at #1)

This was the first issue in which Billboard published a chart of singles being played the most on radio.

War
German forces retreated to near the Siegfried Line as the remainder of the bulge in Belgium and the Netherlands was nearly wiped out. Soviet armies surrounded Posen and Torun, Poland and pushed within 4 miles of Koenigsberg, East Prussia. The Soviet Red Army liberated the remaining inmates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp built by the Nazi Germans on the territory of Poland. Allied planes from the Marianas attacked Tokyo, destroying 31 enemy planes, while India-based planes bombed Saigon for the first time. Japanese forces shelled Clark Field from well-prepared hill positions. Allied forces landed on Cheduba Island, 32 miles off the Burmese coast.

Law
U.S. Federal Judge Philip Sullivan ruled in Chicago that the Army seizure of Montgomery Ward properties in seven localities, ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was illegal.

50 years ago
1965

Died on this date
Hassan Ali Mansur, 41. Prime Minister of Iran, 1964-1965. Mr. Mansur held various positions before founding the Iran Novin (New Iran) party. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi appointed Mr. Mansur Prime Minister after the resignation of Asadollah Alam. Mr. Mansur had the support of the U.S. government, and adopted a pro-American foreign policy. He died five days after being shot by 17-year-old Mohammad Bokharaei, a member of the terrorist organization Fada'iyan-e Islam.

Politics and government
South Vietnamese Prime Minister Tran Van Huong resigned after four days of protests by Buddhists and students of conscription age.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Can Help--Billy Swan

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Fuyu no Iro--Momoe Yamaguchi (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero (6th week at #1)

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Ghostbusters--Ray Parker, Jr. (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head (2nd week at #1)

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Italian Intrigue

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
AFC 22 NFC 14

New York Jets’ defensive end Mark Gastineau was the Most Valuable Player. Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers was the winning head coach over Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Love Shack--The B-52's (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (18th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Les Valses de Vienne--François Feldman

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Tears on My Pillow--Kylie Minogue

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield (4th week at #1)
2 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K
3 Me So Horny--The 2 Live Crew
4 Homely Girl--UB40
5 Get a Life--Soul II Soul
6 Eleni--Cees Tol & Thomas Tol
7 Words--The Christians
8 Inna City Mamma--Neneh Cherry
9 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville
10 Everlasting Love--U2

Singles entering the chart were I Wish it Would Rain Down by Phil Collins (#26); Het is Hier Binnen Beter Dan Buiten by De Deurzakkers (#27); Show'm the Bass by M.C. Miker "G" (#28); Fool for Your Loving by Whitesnake (#33); and Sacrifice by Elton John (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton (2nd week at #1)
2 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
3 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
4 Everything--Jody Watley
5 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
6 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
7 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
8 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
9 I Remember You--Skid Row
10 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dayne (#55); Dirty Deeds by Joan Jett (#80); Walk on By by Sybil (#82); Get Up! (Before the Night is Over) by Technotronic (#86); If U were Mine by the U-Krew (#87); Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz (#89); There's a Party Going On by Yvonne (#90); and Fly High Michelle by Enuff Z'Nuff (#91).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly (2nd week at #1)
2 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
3 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
4 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
5 Everything--Jody Watley
6 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
7 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
8 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
9 Love Song--Tesla
10 Two to Make it Right--Seduction

Singles entering the chart were Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dayne (#69); Just a Friend by Biz Markie (#75); Sacrifice by Elton John (#77); Whole Wide World by A'me Lorain (#78); Dirty Deeds by Joan Jett (#81); Anything I Want by Kevin Paige (#83); All My Life by Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville) (#86); House of Fire by Alice Cooper (#87); All Nite by Entouch (featuring Keith Sweat (#89); To Know Someone Deeply is to Know Someone Softly by Terence Trent D'Arby (#91); and Real Love by Skyy (#92).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (7th week at #1)
2 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
3 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
4 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
5 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
6 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
7 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
8 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
9 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
10 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson

Singles entering the chart were Show Don't Tell by Rush (#75); What was Going Through My Head by the Grapes of Wrath (#80); Inside Out by Crash Vegas (#82); Was it Nothing at All by Michael Damian (#84); We Can't Go Wrong by Cover Girls (#86); I'll Be Good to You by Quincy Jones (#88); All or Nothing by Milli Vanilli (#90); I Wish it Would Rain by Phil Collins (#92); The Deeper the Love by Whitesnake (#94); and No Myth by Michael Penn (#96).

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle began a three-day visit to Panama, Honduras, and Jamaica to explain the policy of the administration of President George Bush on Latin America.

Politics and government
A congress of Poland’s United Workers’ (Communist) Party opened in Warsaw, with 1,600 delegates in attendance.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 5 Toronto 3

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Stay Another Day--East 17 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Think Twice--Celine Dion (2nd week at #1)

Law
The United States Senate voted 86-10 in favour of a bill making it difficult for Congress to pass laws that required action by states and cities but that did not provide federal funds for implementation.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the economy had expanded at an annual rate of 4.5% for the fourth quarter of 1994, and the rate for the year was 4%, the highest level for an entire year since 1984.

Soccer
Manchester United striker Eric Cantona was fined £20,000 and banned from playing for nine months for an attack on fan Matthew Simmons during a game at Crystal Palace two days earlier. Mr. Cantona was also stripped of his captaincy of the French national team and lost his place on the team.