March 12, 2015

220 years ago
1795

Born on this date
George Tyler Wood. Texas and U.S. politician. Mr. Wood, a Democrat, represented Liberty County in the Texas House of Representatives (1841-1845) when Texas was a republic. After Texas joined the Union in 1845, he represented District 7 in the Texas Senate (1846-1847) and served as Governor of Texas (1849-1858). Mr. Wood campaigned unsuccessfully for Governor in 1853 and 1855, and died on September 3, 1858 at the age of 63.

William Lyon Mackenzie. U.K.-born Canadian journalist and politician. Mr. Mackenzie, a native of Scotland, moved to Lower Canada and then to Upper Canada in the early 1820s. He founded the weekly newspaper Colonial Advocate in 1824, using the newspaper to attack Tory politicians and express admiration for American institutions. Mr. Mackenzie was a Reform politician, and represented York County in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1827-1834; he was expelled three times, and re-elected three times. Mr. Mackenzie was elected an alderman and then as Mayor of Toronto, serving from 1834-1835. While Mayor of Toronto in 1834, he was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly, which repealed his previous expulsions. Mr. Mackenzie lost his seat in the 1836 election, the year he founded another newspaper, the Constitution. His attempts at obtaining constitutional reforms were unsuccessful, and led him to favour armed rebellion against British authority. Mr. Mackenzie led the unsuccessful Upper Canada Rebellion in December 1837, and fled to Buffalo, New York, where he declared himself the President of the "Republic of Canada." An attempt to invade Canada from Navy Island failed, and Mr. Mackenzie founded other newspapers, and also served a year in prison in New York for violating U.S. neutrality laws. He worked as a journalist in New York before returning to what was now Canada West after responsible government was enacted, and an amnesty was granted to the 1837 rebels. Mr. Mackenzie returned permanently to Toronto in 1850, and represented Haldimand County in the Parliament of the Province of Canada (1851-1858), pursuing further reform. He retired in 1858 because of declining health, and died in Toronto after an apoplectic seizure on August 28, 1861 at the age of 66.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
William Dudley Pelley. U.S. writer and political activist. Mr. Pelley was a journalist and writer of novels, short stories, and screenplays, who claimed to have a near-death experience in 1928 in which he saw God and Jesus Christ and received a commission to undertake the spiritual transformation of America. His travels in Russia as a correspondent during the Russian Civil War had left him with a hatred of Communism, and the beginning of the Depression in 1929 and Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany in 1933 led Mr. Pelley to create the Silver Legion of America, also known as "Silver Shirts," an extremist organization whose ideology included anti-Semitism, isolationism, pyramidology, and British Israelism. Mr. Pelley founded the Christian Party and ran as its candidate for President of the United States in 1936. Mr. Pelley's criticism of the U.S. administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, especially in the aftermath of the December 7, 1941 attack by Japanese forces on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, led to charges of high treason and sedition against Mr. Pelley. The Silver Legion disappeared into obscurity as Mr. Pelley was imprisoned until being granted parole in 1952. Mr. Pelley himself became an increasingly obscure figure until his death at the age of 75 on June 30, 1965.

Evert Taube. Swedish musician. Mr. Taube was a singer-songwriter and lutanist who was regarded as the foremost troubadour of the Swedish ballad tradition in the 20th century, with a career spanning almost 60 years. He died on January 31, 1976 at the age of 85.

90 years ago
1925

Died on this date
Sun Yat-sen, 58. 1st President of the Republic of China, 1912; Premier of China, 1919-1925. Dr. Sun, a physician, is regarded as the father of modern China because of his leadership in the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty. He co-founded the governing political party Kuomintang (KMT), and served as its first leader. Dr. Sun died of liver cancer; his death led to a power struggle between Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Ching-wei.

Arkady Averchenko, 43. Russian author. Mr. Averchenko was a liberal satirist whose work was published in about 20 books. He fled Russia in November 1920, and settled in Prague in 1922. Mr. Averchenko took ill after an eye operation and died 15 days before his 44th birthday.

75 years ago
1940

War
Finland and the U.S.S.R. signed the Moscow Peace Treaty to end the Winter War, with Finland ceding almost all of Finnish Karelia and the shores of Lake Ladoga to the U.S.S.R. Finnish troops and the remaining population were immediately evacuated. French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier states that the Allies had agreed on February 6 to send troops to aid Finland if publicly asked.

Diplomacy
Japanese Prime Minister Mitsumasa Yonai announced his government's intention to recognize and support the Wang Ching-wei regime in China. Mr. Wang, who was based in central China, was the longtime rival of Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek.

Politics and government
The Country Party accepted Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies' offer to create a coalition cabinet.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt won the New Hampshire primary in the contest for the 1940 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.

The U.S. House of Representatives Census Committee approved a congressional reapportionment bill that could exclude the counting of alien residents in determining the number of House members from each state.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported an increase in business inventories and an 8% decrease in industrial orders for the first two months of 1940.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters (3rd week at #1)
--Abe Lyman and his Orchestra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
2 Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Artie Shaw and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
3 Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Kate Smith
--Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights
4 Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week)--Frank Sinatra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
5 I Dream of You (More than You Dream I Do)--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Andy Russell
--Frank Sinatra
--Perry Como
6 I'm Beginning to See the Light--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
7 Cocktails for Two--Spike Jones and his City Slickers
8 Candy--Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
9 More and More--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Perry Como
10 A Little on the Lonely Side--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians

Singles entering the chart were Just a Prayer Away, with versions by Bing Crosby and Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (#38); and He's Home for a Little While by Dinah Shore (#40). He's Home for a Little While was the B-side of Candy.

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

War
Soviet troops in Germany captured Kuestrin, the Oder River fortress 38 miles east of Berlin.

Society
New York Governor Thomas Dewey signed the Ives-Quinn Act, making New York the first U.S. state to set up a permanent commission to eliminate discrimination in employment on the basis of race or creed.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the suit of the Shoshone Indians for $15 million in damages because of occupation by white settlers of lands in Idaho, Utah, and Nevada, on the grounds that the Box Elder Treaty left them no cause for claiming the land.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the U.S. government's appeal for any early review of the Montgomery Ward case, pending circuit court action. On January 27, U.S. Federal Judge Philip Sullivan had ruled in Chicago that the U.S. Army seizure of Montgomery Ward and Company properties in seven localities was illegal. The Army had acted on directions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt after Montgomery Ward had refused to obey National War Labor Board orders.

Business
Three judges of the U.S. Circuit Court of New York declared Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) to be a participant in a monopolistic aluminum conspiracy, violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Need You Now--Eddie Fisher

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Softly, Softly--Ruby Murray

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sincerely--The McGuire Sisters (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Disc Jockey--5th week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Melody of Love--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)
--David Carroll and his Orchestra
--The Four Aces
2 Sincerely--The McGuire Sisters
3 Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)--Perry Como
--The Crew-Cuts
4 Tweedlee Dee--Georgia Gibbs
--LaVern Baker and the Gliders
5 Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)--The Penguins
--The Crew-Cuts
6 The Crazy Otto--Johnny Maddox and the Rhythmasters
7 Hearts of Stone--The Fontane Sisters
--The Charms
8 The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes
9 How Important Can it Be?--Joni James
--Sarah Vaughan
10 Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)--Cowboy Church Sunday School

Singles entering the chart were There Goes My Heart by the Four Aces (#24); Chow Mein by the Gaylords (#28); Honestly by Kitty Kallen (#31); Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower) by Georgia Gibbs (#32); and Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean) by the Dinning Sisters (#36).

Died on this date
Charlie Parker, 34. U.S. musician. Mr. Parker, nicknamed "Bird," was an alto saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, and was highly influential in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique and improvisation. Years of drinking and drug abuse contributed to his death.

Music
The Dave Brubeck Quartet appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York for first time, with Mr. Brubeck on vibes; Paul Desmond on alto saxophone; Joe Morello on drums; and Eugene Wright on bass.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Eight Days a Week--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Ferry Cross the Mersey--Gerry & the Pacemakers
3 The Birds and the Bees--Jewel Akens
4 King of the Road--Roger Miller
5 This Diamond Ring--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
6 Goldfinger--Shirley Bassey
7 Little Things--Bobby Goldsboro
8 Can't You Hear My Heartbeat--Herman's Hermits
9 Easy Come, Easy Go--Barry Allen
10 The Jolly Green Giant--The Kingsmen
Pick hit of the week: That'll Be the Day--The Everly Brothers
New this week: The White Cliffs of Dover--Sir Raleigh
Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup--Pierre Lalonde
I Made My Choice--Sylvie Vartan
The Greatest Love--Marty Hill
Land of 1000 Dances--Cannibal and the Headhunters
My Own Two Feet--Kenny Lynch

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Cosmos 60.

40 years ago
1975

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Aurora!

Died on this date
Olga Hepnarová, 23. Czechoslovakian criminal. Miss Hepnarová was executed for deliberately driving a truck into a crowd of 25 people in Prague waiting for a tram on July 10, 1973, killing 8. She was the last woman executed in Czechoslovakia, and the last person to be executed in that country by short-drop hanging.

Politics and government
Portugal's 200-member Armed Forces Movement (MFA), the junta that had seized power on April 25, 1974, set up a Supreme Revolutionary Council with full legislative powers.

Scandal
13 companies and 14 people were charged in Hamilton, Ontario with conspiring to defraud the governments of Canada and Ontario of $4 million in what became known as the Hamilton Harbour dredging scandal.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 3 @ Toronto 3

Ron Ellis scored his 26th goal of the season with 3 seconds remaining in the game to give the Maple Leafs the tie with the Canadiens before 16,485 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens in the Wednesday Hockey Night in Canada telecast on CTV. Darryl Sittler scored his 30th of the season to open the scoring for Toronto in the 1st period, but Murray Wilson, with his 21st, and Jacques Lemaire with his 29th, scored for Montreal in the 1st period, and Pete Mahovlich scored his 33rd in the 2nd period to give Montreal a 3-1 lead. Tiger Williams scored his 10th of the season for Toronto 48 seconds into the 3rd period to make the score 3-2. Ken Dryden made 40 saves in goal for Montreal, while Toronto goaie Gord McRae stopped 27 shots.

Baseball
First baseman Hal Breeden, this blogger's favourite player, hit what turned out to be his last home run in a major league uniform as he hit a 3-run blast off Steve Carlton in the top of the 4th inning to help the Montreal Expos rout the Philadelphia Phillies 10-1 in a spring training game before 3,734 fans in Clearwater, Florida. Bombo Rivera added a 2-run homer as the Expos scored 5 runs in the 9th off Jim Lonborg. Dennis Blair started on the mound for Montreal and pitched 3 innings to get the win.

Willie Horton hit 2 home runs and a single, batting in 4 runs, as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-2 before 2,109 fans in a spring training game in Winter Haven, Florida. The game was a disaster for Boston, as catcher Carlton Fisk, who had missed the last half of the 1974 season because of a knee injury, suffered a broken right arm when hit by a pitch from Fred Holdsworth in his first plate appearance, putting him on the disabled list until mid-season.

Tom Seaver, coming back from a hip injury that had limited his effectiveness in 1974, pitched 4 scoreless innings to get the win and recently-acquired Dave Kingman hit 2 home runs off Catfish Hunter as the New York Mets blanked the New York Yankees 3-0 before 7,195 fans in a spring training game in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was the second appearance in a Yankee uniform for Mr. Hunter, who had signed as a free agent after 10 years with the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics. He allowed 3 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in taking the loss.

30 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Eugene Ormandy, 85. Austro-Hungarian born U.S. musician and orchestra conductor. Mr. Ormandy, born Jenő Blau in Budapest, was a violinist who moved to the United States in 1921. He eventually turned to conducting, leading the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra from 1931-1936, and achieving fame as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1936-1980.

Terrorism
Security guard Claude Brunelle was killed as three Armenian terrorists raided the Turkish embassy in Ottawa.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Miss Me! (見逃してくれよ！)--Kyōko Koizumi

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The United States refused to grant diplomatic recognition to Lithuania, which had declared independence from the U.S.S.R. the previous day. Soviet Politburo member Yegor Ligachev called for a peaceful solution, adding, "Tanks will not help in this matter."

Outgoing Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, meeting with U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle in Santiago, Chile, assured Mr. Quayle that his government would surrender control of the military and the security police to the new administration of Violetta Chamorro.

Nelson Mandela, recently named Deputy President of the African National Congress, met with ailing President Oliver Tambo in Sweden; it was their first visit in 28 years.

Politics and government
A Gallup poll in Canada showed the Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's support dropping to 17%; the Liberals, under departing leader John Turner, rose to 50%, while the New Democratic Party, led by Audrey McLaughlin, stalled at 25%.

Jambyn Batmunh, general secretary of the Communist Party of Mongolia, said that the Communists would work with opposition forces to make needed political changes.

Scandal
Testifying at the trial of former U.S. national security adviser Admiral John Poindexter, Oliver North, a former aide to Adm. Poindexter admitted that he had seen Adm. Poindexter destroy an order signed by then-President Ronald Reagan authorizing U.S. participation in arms sales to Iran in the mid-1980s.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Old Pop in an Oak--Rednex (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Rick Muther, 59. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Muther won the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship runoffs at Riverside, California in 1964. He raced in the USAC (1967-1975) and CART (1980) championship car series, participating in 46 races, with best finishes of 5th at Riverside in 1968 and Milwaukee in 1972. Mr. Muther drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1970, 1971, and 1974, with a best finish of 15th in 1970. He died in his sleep of heart failure.

Juanin Clay, 45. U.S. actress. Born Juanin Clay de Zalduondo in Los Angeles, Miss Clay played Raven Alexander in the CBS television soap opera The Edge of Night in the mid-1970s, and married Joe Lambie, who played Logan Swift in the same show. She appeared in the movies The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) and WarGames(1983), as well as various television programs before dying of natural causes.

War
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, meeting with U.S. Vice President Al Gore in Copenhagen, agreed to let 5,000 United Nations peacekeepers--down from the current 15,000--remain in Croatia to patrol its borders with Serbia and Bosnia.

Curling
Brier @ Metro Centre, Halifax
Final
Manitoba (Kerry Burtnyk) 10 Saskatchewan (Heidt) 8

Hockey
CIAU
University Cup
Final
Moncton 5 Guelph 1

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Bill Cameron, 62. Canadian journalist. Mr. Cameron, a native of Vancouver, wrote for the Toronto Star and Maclean's magazine before moving into television, with the Global network in Ontario, CITY-TV in Toronto, and finally, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where he hosted various news programs on television and radio from 1983-1999. He taught at Ryerson University in Toronto and occasionally substituted as a host on CBC radio until his death from throat cancer.

Politics and government
Karolos Papoulias, leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, took office as President of Greece, succeeding Konstantinos Stephanopoulos.