March 18, 2015

1,010 years ago
1005

Died on this date
Lê Hoàn, 64. Emperor of Đại Cồ Việt, 980-1005. Lê Hoàn was a generalissimo who commanded a 10,000-man army of Emperor Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, who was assassinated in 979 and was succeeded by his 6-year-old son Đinh Toàn. Lê Hoàn deposed Đinh Toàn, married his mother, Queen Duong Van Nga, and installed himself as Emperor. He commanded the army that successfully held off a Chinese invasion in 981, and led an seaborne invasion of the southern Champa kingdom in 982. A power struggle between his sons after his death resulted in Le Long Dinh seizing power after murdering his brother Lê Long Việt.

270 years ago
1745

Died on this date
Robert Walpole, 78. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1721-1742. Sir Robert, a Whig, is regarded as the first de facto Prime Minister of Britain, and still holds the record, with almost 21 years in office. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1701, and held various offices, including Chancellor of the Exchequer (1715-1717), an office he also held during his entire time as Prime Minister. Sir Robert was able to handle the increasing influence of the House of Commons with the declining powers of the Crown, thus enabling him to stay in office for so long. With his ability to uphold the principles of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and his good working relationship with Kings George I and George II, Sir Robert is regarded as one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers. His influence declined in later years, and he resigned after losing a non-confidence vote. Sir Robert was then elevated to the House of Lords as the 1st Earl of Orford. He died after a period of declining health.

175 years ago
1840

Born on this date
William Cosmo Monkhouse. U.K. poet and critic. Mr. Monkhouse was a civil servant who published several collections of poetry and a novel, but devoted himself almost exclusively to art criticism from 1879 until his death on July 20, 1901 at the age of 61.

170 years ago
1845

Died on this date
John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, 70. U.S. gardener and missionary. Mr. Chapman was a nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as the northern counties of present-day West Virginia, and was perhaps America's first prominent conservationist. While travelling, he also served as a missionary for the New Church, promoting the New Age doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg.



150 years ago
1865

Politics and government
The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourned for the last time.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Henri Decoin. French film director. Mr. Decoin was a national champion swimmer and a sportswriter before directing films in various genres, from His Highness Love (1931) through Nick Carter va tout casser (1964). He died on July 4, 1969 at the age of 79

Politics and government
Otto von Bismarck, who had served as Germany's only Chancellor since the unification of the German states in 1871, resigned under pressure from Kaiser Wilhelm II. Mr. Bismarck preferred a more cautious foreign policy than that of the Kaiser, who had succeeded his father Friedrich III on the throne in 1888. Mr. Bismarck was succeeded as Chancellor by Leo von Caprivi.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Richard Condon. U.S. author. Mr. Condon was known for his novels about corruption and abuse of power. His best known works were The Manchurian Candidate (1959) and four novels about a family of New York gangsters named Prizzi (1982-1994). Mr. Condon died on April 9, 1996 at the age of 81.

War
During the Battle of Gallipoli, three battleships were sunk during a failed British and French naval attack on the Dardanelles.

90 years ago
1925

Disasters
The Tri-State Tornado hit the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 689 people and injuring 13,000 others.

75 years ago
1940

Diplomacy
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini met on the Italian side of the Brenner Pass in the Alps, and agreed to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom. German sources reported optimism that the U.S.S.R., Italy, and Germany would form a new alliance.

Wang Ching-wei, leader of the Japanese-sponsored government in central China, assailed the United States for assisting the Chinese government of Chiang Kai-shek against Japan.

Politics and government
The United States Senate approved the Hatch bill restricting political activities of state jobholders paid in whole or in part by federal funds.

Economics and finance
The Investment Bankers Association of America passed a resolution calling for the United States Congress to remove from the Securities Exchange Commission unnecessary powers to restrict public investment.

Labour
U.S. Wage-Hour Administrator Philip Fleming permitted an increase in the minimum wage to 33 1/2c per hour for 24,500 workers in the knitwear industry.

Academia
The New York Board of Education voted 11-1 against the appointment of British philosopher Bertrand Russell as a professor of philosophy at City College of New York because of his controversial views on sex and marriage.

70 years ago
1945

War
More than 1,300 American bombers dropped 12,400 high explosives and 650,000 fire bombs on Berlin in the heaviest assault on the city to date, leaving huge fires burning. Soviet forces captured the Pomeranian port of Kolberg, clearing the northern flank along a 175-mile stretch of the Baltic coast from the Polish Corridor to Stettin Bay. U.S. units landed on Basilan, the northernmost island in the Sulu archipelago. Radio reports from Tokyo said that all schools had been ordered closed for one year beginning April 1 to mobilize students for food and munitions production, air raid defense, and other war support activities.

Law
In his annual report to Congress, U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle asked for new legislation classifying conscientious objectors, for new sabotage laws to include conspiracy, and to make aid to escaped prisoners of war a treasonable offense.

The U.S. National Lawyers' Guild petitioned President Franklin D. Roosevelt to cancel the deportation proceedings against labour leader Harry Bridges--an Australian national--saying it would "jeopardize" the "unified functioning of democratic world forces."

New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia announced an immediate extension of the city's curfew from midnight to 1 A.M.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal Canadiens' right wing Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season, reaching the milestone in 50 games in a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Give Me Your Word--Tennessee Ernie Ford (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
A Life at Stake, directed by Paul Guilfoyle, and starring Angela Lansbury and Keith Andes, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Morrie Aderholt, 39. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Aderholt was a second baseman and left fielder with the Washington Nationals (1939-1941); Brooklyn Dodgers (1944-1945); and Boston Braves (1945), batting .267 with 3 home runs and 32 runs batted in 106 games. He played his first major league game on his 24th birthday--September 13, 1939--hitting a home run and a single, and remains the only major league player to have multiple hits and a home run in a debut game on his birthday. Mr. Aderholt also hit safely as a pinch hitter in his last major league game on September 30, 1945. He was working as a scout with the Nationals when he died of a heart attack in Sarasota, Florida.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Last Time--The Rolling Stones

At the movies
The Ipcress File, starring Michael Caine, Guy Doleman, and Nigel Green, opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.

Died on this date
Farouk, 45. King of Egypt and Sudan, 1936-1952. Farouk succeeded his father Fuad I in the Muhammad Ali dynasty. King Farouk became known for his ostentatious lifestyle, which eventually made him unpopular. He was deposed in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and lived the rest of his life in exile in Monaco and Italy. Farouk was succeeded as king by his infant son Fuad II, but the monarchy was abolished in 1953. Farouk, who grew to a weight of about 300 pounds, died of a heart attack at the Ile de France restaurant in Rome, collapsing at his dinner table after a typically heavy meal.

Jack Quinlan, 38. U.S. sportscaster. Mr. Quinlan was the radio voice of the Chicago Cubs from 1955-1964. He was attending spring training in Florida when he was killed in a car accident.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Voskhod 2, with Commander Alexei Leonov and Pilot Pavel Belyayev aboard. Mr. Leonov of the U.S.S.R. became the first man to walk in space.





Economics and finance
The French purchase of $231,500,000 worth of gold reduced the U.S. stock to $14,563,000,000, the lowest since December 28, 1965 ($14,508,000,000).

40 years ago
1975

On television tonight
M*A*S*H, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Abyssinia, Henry

This was the last episode of the season, and the last in which actors McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers appeared. Mr. Stevenson's character, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, was killed at the end of the episode.

Died on this date
Clarence "Biggie" Munn, 66. U.S. football player and coach. Mr. Munn was an All-American guard with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, becoming a coach upon his graduation in 1931. He was best known for his years as head coach of the Michigan State University Spartans, compiling a record of 54-9-2 from 1947-1953. Mr. Munn retired as head coach after Michigan State's win in the 1954 Rose Bowl, remaining with MSU as athletic director. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.

War
South Vietnamese forces began abandoning provinces to Communist forces.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. leader Leonid Brezhnev addressed the 11th Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party Congress in Budapest, and called for renewed East-West detente.

Labour
John Cifelli, chief negotiator for major league baseball umpires, recommended that the umpires accept the latest offer from the National and American Leagues.

Hockey
WHA
Quebec 5 @ Edmonton 8

Doug Kerslake scored 2 goals just 12 seconds apart--the second coming just 1:24 into the game--and Eddie Joyal and Bruce MacGregor each added 2 goals, as the Oilers defeated the Nordiques before 14,634 fans at Edmonton Coliseum. Bobby Sheehan and Bill Laing scored the other Edmonton goals. Marc Tardif scored 2 goals for the Nordiques, with Dale Hoganson, Serge Bernier, and Rejean Houle also scoring. Edmonton goalie Chris Worthy made just 20 saves in getting the win, while Quebec goalie Richard Brodeur made 30 saves in taking the loss.

Baseball
Ron LeFlore tripled to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning and scored on a wild pitch by Chuck Taylor to give the Detroit Tigers an 11-10 win over the Montreal Expos in a spring training game before 2,387 fans in Lakeland, Florida.

The New York Mets scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning as they came from behind to edge the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in a spring training game before 3,775 fans in St. Petersburg, Florida. Boston left fielder Tony Conigliaro, attempting a comeback after nearly four years away from baseball, batted 3 for 5, with 2 doubles and 3 runs batted in.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Mi Amore (Meu amor é...)--Akina Nakamori

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Woodpeckers from Space--VideoKids (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Don't Make Me Over--Sybil (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (3rd week at #1)
2 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
3 Bakerman--Laid Back
4 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K.
5 Sit and Wait--Sydney Youngblood
6 Rich in Paradise "Going Back to My Roots"--F.P.I. Project
7 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
8 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville
9 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
10 Touch Me--49ers

Singles entering the chart were Pump ab das Bier by Werner (#16); Dangerous by Roxette (#20); and Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode (#23).

Music
The Juno Awards were presented in Toronto by Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the best achievements in recorded music in 1989. The winners included:
Rita McNeil--Best Female Vocalist
Kim Mitchell--Best Male Vocalist
The Family Brown--Best Country Group
George Fox--Best Male Country Vocalist
k.d. lang--Best Female Country Vocalist
Alannah Myles--Best Album and Best Single
Blue Rodeo--Best Canadian Group

Defense
Soviet forces began military maneuvers in Lithuania, which had declared its independence from the U.S.S.R. a week earlier.

Politics and government
In the first democratic East German general election, three conservative parties which had united as the Alliance for Germany, led by Lothar de Maizière, and who favoured rapid reunification of East and West Germany earned 40.8% of the vote and an equivalent percentage of the seats in the Volkshammer (163 of 400). The Social Democratic Party, led by Ibrahim Böhme, was a distant second with 21.9% of the vote (48 seats), while the Party of Democratic Socialism, the successor to the Communist Party, led by Hans Modrow, received 16.4% (66 seats).

Crime
13 works of art valued at $100 million or more were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. In terms of monetary value, the robbery was the largest in the history of art. Three Rembrandt paintings, including his only seascape, were taken. Five works by Degas and one painting each by Vermeer and Manet were also seized. 20 years later, the paintings still haven't been recovered.

Labour
Ending a 32-day lockout of players from spring training camps, major league baseball owners and players agreed to a new labour agreement to extend through the 1993 season.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 8 Quebec 3
Hartford 3 Edmonton 1

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Another Night--Real McCoy (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Think Twice--Celine Dion

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): A Girl Like You--Edwyn Collins (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Zombie--The Cranberries (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Alice, Who the X is Alice--Gompie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Think Twice--Celine Dion (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Take a Bow--Madonna (4th week at #1)
2 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
3 Creep--TLC
4 Baby--Brandy
5 Red Light Special--TLC
6 Big Poppa/Warning--The Notorious B.I.G.
7 Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow
8 If You Love Me--Brownstone
9 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
10 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men

Singles entering the chart were Until the End of Time by Foreigner (#89); Close to You by Fun Factory (#93); Keep Their Heads Ringin' by Dr. Dre (#96); and Release Yo' Delf by Method Man (#98). Keep Their Heads Ringin' was from the movie Friday (1995).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Take a Bow--Madonna (5th week at #1)
2 Creep--TLC
3 If You Love Me--Brownstone
4 Baby--Brandy
5 Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow
6 Hold My Hand--Hootie & the Blowfish
7 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
8 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
9 I Know--Dionne Farris
10 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men

Singles entering the chart were Run Away by Real McCoy (#44); No More "I Love You's" by Annie Lennox (#62); Keep Their Heads Ringin' by Dr. Dre (#82); Think of You by Usher (#86); and Shy Guy by Diana King (#89).

Swimming
Janet Evans won her 45th and final U.S. national title, the 1,500-metre freestyle in the indoor championships at Minneapolis. Ms. Evans won three gold medals in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and one in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles 3 @ Toronto 5

10 years ago
2005

Abominations
Doctors in Florida, acting on orders of a state judge, removed Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. (The brain-damaged woman died 15 days later).