February 18, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Paul Jelley and Ezra Levant!

320 years ago
1695

Died on this date
William Phips, 44. American politician. Sir William, a native of Maine, moved to Boston in 1673, and was a treasure hunter in the 1680s, recovering a large treasure from a sunken Spanish galleon off the island of Hispaniola in 1686. He led successful naval campaigns against New France in 1690, and was appointed Governor of Massachusetts Bay in 1692. Sir William signed the order creating the court that heard the Salem witch trials in 1692, but became dissatisfied, and disbanded the court after five months. He was recalled to London in 1694 to face charges of conspiring to withhold customs monies, but fell ill with a fever and died 16 days after his 44th birthday, before the charges could be heard.

200 years ago
1815

War
The Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom and the United States, went into effect when it was unanimously approved by the United States Senate. The treaty had been signed in the Flemish city of Ghent on December 24, 1814.

150 years ago
1865

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman set the South Carolina State House on fire during the burning of Columbia. Charleston, South Carolina surrendered control of the city to Union Brigadier General Alexander Schimmelfennig.

130 years ago
1885

Literature
Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Edward Arnold. U.S. actor. Mr. Arnold, born Gunther Edward Arnold Schneider, was a beefy character actor who was known for playing authority figures, especially villainous ones. His movies included Come and Get It (1936); The Toast of New York (1937); You Can't Take it with You (1938); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); Meet John Doe (1941); and The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941). Mr. Arnold died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 66 on April 26, 1956.

Adolphe Menjou. U.S. actor. Mr. Menjou was known for his moustache and natty attire in such movies as The Sheik (1921); A Woman of Paris (1923); The Front Page (1931); A Star is Born (1937); The Hucksters (1947); and State of the Union (1948). His opposition to Communism in the late 1940s and 1950s led to a decline in acting opportunities. Mr. Menjou died of hepatitis on October 29, 1963 at the age of 73.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
George Gipp. U.S. football player. Mr. Gipp, popularly known as "the Gipper," was a quarterback, halfback, and punter with the University of Notre Dame (1917-1920), earning All-American honours in 1920 and setting team records that still stand. He died from a streptococcal throat infection and pneumonia at the age of 25 on December 14, 1920, three weeks after his last game. When Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne visited him on his deathbed, Mr. Gipp reportedly told him that if the team was ever in a desperate situation that he should tell the team to "win just one for the Gipper." Ronald Reagan played Mr. Gipp in the movie Knute Rockne, All American (1940). Mr. Gipp was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1951.

Pete Henderson. Canadian auto racing driver. Mr. Henderson, a native of Arran, Ontario, began racing in 1915, and participated in the Indianapolis 500 in 1916 and 1920, finishing 6th and 10th, respectively. He died in Los Angeles on June 19, 1940 at the age of 45.

Semyon Timoshenko. U.S.S.R. military officer. Marshal of the Soviet Union Timoshenko joined the Red Army in 1918 and the Bolshevik Party in 1919. He achieved success in the Winter War against Finland (1939-1940), which led to his appointment as People's Commissar for Defense of the Soviet Union, holding the office from May 7, 1940-July 19, 1941. Marshal Timoshenko held various commands for the remainder of World War II, and various offices through the 1960s. He died on March 31, 1970 at the age of 75.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Phyllis Calvert. U.K. actress. Miss Calvert, born Phyllis Bickle, was a leading lady in British films in the 1940s and '50s. Her movies included Kipps (1941); The Man in Grey (1943); Appointment with Danger (1951); Mandy (1952); Indiscreet (1958); and Mrs. Dalloway (1997). Miss Calvert died on October 8, 2002 at the age of 87.

75 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Rudy Widoeft, 47. U.S. musician. Mr. Widoeft was a jazz saxophonist who was popular in the 1910s and '20s, and made over 300 recordings. His ragtime-influenced style waned in popularity in the 1930s, and he almost completely stopped performing in the mid-1930s. Mr. Widoeft was a heavy drinker, and died from cirrhosis of the liver.

War
Shanghai authorities reported the landing of Japanese forces at Haiteng and on the Luchow Peninsula in southern China.

Politics and government
A Gallup Poll reported that Democratic voters favoured President Franklin D. Roosevelt over Vice President John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner by a 7-1 margin as the party's nominee for President of the United States in the November 1940 election.

Economics and finance
The British Treasury took control of 60 American stocks held by British subjects.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Ivan Chernyakhovsky, 37. U.S.S.R. military officer. General of the Army Chernyakhovsky was the youngest Soviet general ever to reach that rank. He led the 3rd Belorussian Front against Nazi forces in 1944 in Belarus and on the border of East Prussia. Gen. Chernyakhovsky launched the Soviet East Prussian Offensive in 1945 as part of the drive on Berlin, but was killed by shell fragments from artillery fire while inspecting preparations for an offensive.

War
U.S. forces in Germany expanded their bridgehead over the Our and Sauer Rivers north of Echternach to 5 miles. Soviet forces moved to within 16 miles east of Dresden and completed mop-up operations in Pomerania and Brandenburg. Japanese forces recaptured the Chinese town of Pingshek, regaining control of the Canton-Hankow railway. The Soviet newspaper Pravda accused China of not giving its full effort to the war.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Softly, Softly--Ruby Murray

At the movies
New York Confidential, directed and co-written by Russell Rouse, and starring Broderick Crawford, Richard Conte, Marilyn Maxwell, Anne Bancroft, and J. Carrol Naish, opened in theatres in New York City.





...Y mañana serán mujeres, directed by Alejandro Galindo, and starring Rosita Quintana, Roberto Cañedo, and Carmen Ignarra, opened in theatres in Mexico.



Defense
Wasp, the first of 14 shots in the Operation Teapot series of nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site, was successfully detonated, with a yield of 1.2 kilotons.

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles (84-12-1) won a 10-round unanimous decision over Charley Norkus (26-13) at Madison Square Garden in New York.





50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Tired of Waiting for You--The Kinks

Music
The Beatles were at EMI Studios in London, where they recorded the songs Tell Me What You See, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, and If You've Got Trouble.

Africana
The Gambia gained its independence from Britain.

Politics and government
The second report of the Canadian Royal Commission on Health Services outlined workings of the new pre-paid medical care plan.

Disasters
An avalanche on Grandue Mountain killed 18 copper miners, 8 others at the Oranduc Mines camp 30 miles north of Stewart, British Columbia.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Want to Know What Love Is--Foreigner (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Tenshi no Wink--Seiko Matsuda (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The NeverEnding Story--Limahl

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Welcome to Our World--John Grenell (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Bakerman--Laid Back
2 Sit and Wait--Sydney Youngblood
3 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
4 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
5 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
6 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K.
7 Leave a Light On--Belinda Carlisle
8 Get a Life--Soul II Soul
9 Ride on Time--Black Box
10 Rich in Paradise "Going Back to My Roots"--F.P.I. Project

Singles entering the chart were Got to Get; Scandalous! by Prince (#27); Get Up! (Before the Night is Over) by Technotronic (#28); and La Luna by Belinda Carlisle (#29).

Died on this date
Joe Erskine, 56. U.K. boxer. Mr. Erskine, a native of Wales, was a heavyweight who compiled a record of 45-8-1 in a professional career from 1954-1964. He was British (1956-1958) and British Empire (1957-1958) heavyweight champion, recording two wins each against Henry Cooper and Dick Richardson, and also beating Joe Bygraves, Willie Pastrano, George Chuvalo, and Jack Bodell. Mr. Erskine died 23 days after his 56th birthday.

Politics and government
The Liberal Democratic Party won a decisive victory in elections to the House of Representatives, lower house of the Diet in Japan. The LDs’ long rule had appeared threatened by the Recruit Company scandal, in which the conglomerate had given millions of dollars (actually yen, I suppose) in cash and stocks to leading politicians. However, the LDP won 275 of 512 seats, losing 25 seats and holding its majority in the House. The Socialist Party, the principal opposition, gained 51 seats for a total of 136, but mostly at the expense of smaller parties. The results appeared to strengthen the position of Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

Diplomacy
Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel began a trip to North American with a visit to Ottawa, where he met with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Another Night--Real McCoy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Stay Another Day--East 17 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): A Girl Like You--Edwyn Collins

#1 single in France (SNEP): Short Dick Man--Fingers featuring Gillette (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No Limit--Irene Moors & de Smurfen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Think Twice--Celine Dion (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Creep--TLC (4th week at #1)
2 Take a Bow--Madonna
3 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men
4 Another Night--Real McCoy
5 Baby--Brandy
6 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
7 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
8 Always--Bon Jovi
9 Sukiyaki--4 P.M.
10 Hold My Hand--Hootie & the Blowfish

Singles entering the chart were Like the Way I Do/If I Wanted To by Melissa Etheridge (#25); If You Think You're Lonely Now by K-Ci Hailey (#52); She's a River by Simple Minds (#67); You Got It by Bonnie Raitt (#74); Can I Stay with You by Karyn White (#81); I Believe by Blessid Union of Souls (#85); How Did I Get by Without You? by John Waite (#93); and Think of You by Usher (#94). You Got It was from the movie Boys on the Side (1995).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Take a Bow--Madonna
2 Creep--TLC
3 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men
4 Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow
5 Hold My Hand--Hootie & the Blowfish
6 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
7 Every Day of the Week--Jade
8 Sukiyaki--4 P.M.
9 I Know--Dionne Farris
10 Another Night--Real McCoy

Singles entering the chart were This Lil' Game We Play by Subway featuring 702 (#61); Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me) by Portishead (#65); Tour by Capleton (#69); Mad Izm by Channel Live (#72); I Believe by Blessid Union of Souls (#79); Keep Givin' Me Your Love by Ce Ce Peniston (#81); and She's a River by Simple Minds (#88).

Politics and government
The executive board of the U.S. civil rights organization National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) voted 30-29 to elect Myrlie Evers, widow of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, to replace Benjamin Chavis as chairman. Mrs. Evers, whose husband had been gunned down outside the couple's Jackson, Mississippi home in 1963 by white racist Byron De La Beckwith, had been commissioner of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works and an executive at Atlantic Richfield and an advertising firm. Mr. Chavis had been fired in 1994 amidst allegations of mismanagement, as the NAACP faced a debt of $4 million.

10 years ago
2005

Society
A ban on fox hunting with dogs in England and Wales came into force.