March 3, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherry and Irishka!

210 years ago
1805

Born on this date
Jonas Furrer. President of the Swiss Confederation, 1848-1849, 1852, 1853. Mr. Furrer, a member of the Radical Party, was elected to the Grand Council in 1834, and was President in 1837 and 1839. He was President of the Swiss Diet in 1845, and was one of the first seven members elected to the Federal Council in 1848. Mr. Furrer held several cabinet posts in addition to his three terms as President, and was in his fourth term as Minister of Justice and Police at the time of his death on July 25, 1861 at the age of 56.

170 years ago
1845

Americana
Florida was admitted to the Union as the 27th state.

Politics and government
On his last full day in office, John Tyler became the first President of the United States to have a veto of his overridden by Congress.

150 years ago
1865

Business
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the founding member of the HSBC Group, opened.

140 years ago
1875

Opera
Georges Bizet's opera Carmen received its première performance at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.

Hockey
The first ever organized indoor game of hockey is played in Montreal, as recorded in the Montreal Gazette.

130 years ago
1885

Business
American Telephone & Telegraph Company was incorporated in New York.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Ragnar Frisch. Norwegian economist. Dr. Frisch was one of the founders of econometrics, and was credited with coining the term pair macroeconomics/microeconomics. He and Jan Tinbergen shared the 1969 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences "for having developed and applied dynamic models for the analysis of economic processes." Dr. Frisch died on January 31, 1973 at the age of 77.

Matthew Ridgway. U.S. military officer. General Ridgway had an outstanding career in the United States Army, and was best known for replacing Douglas MacArthur as commander of United Nations forces in Korea in 1951 after General Douglas MacArthur had been fired by U.S. President Harry Truman. Gen. Ridgway died on July 26, 1993 at the age of 98.

110 years ago
1905

Politics and government
Czar Nicholas II of Russia agreed to create an elected assembly, the Duma.

100 years ago
1915

Aviation
The United States Congress, as a rider to the Naval Appropriation Bill, created the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill into law the same day.

80 years ago
1935

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

75 years ago
1940

War
Soviet forces captured the island of Tuppuransaari, south of Viborg, Finland. Sweden rejected British and French requests that their troops be permitted to cross Swedish territory to aid Finland.

Defense
Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica agreed to permit U.S. military bases on their soil for use in wartime defense of the Panama Canal.

Crime
Five people were killed in an arson attack on the offices of the Communist newspaper Norrskensflamman in Luleå, Sweden.

Economics and finance
Hong Kong sources reported that Japan would monopolize all Chinese industry under the peace pact with Wang Ching-wei, leader of the Japanese-sponsored government in central China.

U.S. Senator Charles McNary (Republican--Oregon) charged in a radio address that President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies had made the hardships of the Depression a permanent way of life.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Juke Box--4th week at #1); Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Airplay--6th week at #1)

War
The British Royal Air Force accidentally bombed the Bezuidenhout neighbourhood in The Hague, killing 511 people. U.S. and Canadian units in Germany effected a junction between Kevelaer and Geldern, and drove eastward in the direction of the Rhine River city of Wesel. The Soviet drive toward the Baltic Sea through Pomerania resulted in the capture of Dargen, Pollnow, and Rummelsburg. American and Filipino troops recaptured Manila. A British motorized force completed an 11-day drive through central Burma to take the communications centre of Meiktila, 80 miles south of Mandalay.

Abominations
A former Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army) unit massacred at least 150 Ukrainian civilians in Pawłokoma, Poland.

Defense
The Organization Committee of the Inter-American Conference in Mexico City adopted the Act of Chapultepec, which guaranteed mutual aid of American nations against aggressors who impeded the war effort by attacking the territorial integrity or political independence of any of these nations. It provided for a treaty to be drafted extending the guarantee into the postwar period.

Diplomacy
Representatives at the meeting of Arab leaders in Cairo agreed upon a draft constitution of the proposed Arab Federation.

U.S. Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew said that an international organization as proposed at Dumbarton Oaks was the only alternative to world anarchy. He also said that the U.S. still accredited and recognized the representatives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania stationed in Washington.

The first Syrian diplomatic delegation since the country's recent independence arrived in New York City en route to Washington.

Labour
The U.S. National War Labor Board denied General Motors employees a blanket wage increase, granting only a 2½% rise in differentials for those working the third shift.

60 years ago
1955

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC
Tonight's episode: The Final Problem

50 years ago
1965

Politics and government
George C. Price took office as British Honduras' first Prime Minister under the new constitution providing for internal self-government.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): 22-sai no Wakare--Kaze

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero (11th week at #1)

Environment
Mr. Justice Thomas Berger of British Columbia began holding public hearings in Yellowknife on the impact of a proposed oil pipeline through the Mackenzie River valley in the Northwest Territories.

Track and field
Francie Larrieu, a 22-year-old Californian, set world indoor records in the women's mile (4:28.5) and women's 1,500 metres (4:09.8) in the annual U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. meet in Richmond, Virginia. She had previously set records in the 1,500 metres on February 14 in Toronto and in the mile on February 15 in San Diego--24 hours and 3,500 miles apart.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Want to Know What Love Is--Foreigner (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Ghostbusters--Ray Parker, Jr. (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Shout--Tears for Fears (2nd week at #1)

Labour
The U.K. National Union of Mineworkers national executive voted 98-91 to end their year-long strike without any deal over pit closures.

Disasters
An earthquake of magnitude 8.3 struck the Valparaíso Region of Chile, killing 177 people and leaving nearly a million people homeless.

Horse racing
Bill Shoemaker became the first jockey to surpass $100 million in career earnings.

Hockey
NHL
Winnipeg 6 Edmonton 3
Vancouver 7 Hartford 6 (OT)

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un' Estate Italiana--Edoardo Bennato; Gianna Nannini (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over--Technotronic (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Hélène--Roch Voisine (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (3rd week at #1)
2 Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau
3 Sacrifice--Elton John
4 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
5 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
6 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul
7 King Kong Five--Mano Negra
8 Fools Gold--The Stone Roses
9 Me So Horny--The 2 Live Crew
10 Look Away--Chicago

Singles entering the chart were How am I Supposed to Live Without You by Michael Bolton (#20); Ik Zat Effe Nie Op Te Lette... by Bertus Staigerpaip (#24); Escapade by Janet Jackson (#30); The Healer by John Lee Hooker featuring Carlos Santana & the Santana Band (#32); Standing Outside in the Rain by Skipper Wise (#33); and The King and Queen of America by Eurythmics (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson
2 Dangerous--Roxette
3 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
4 Roam--The B-52s
5 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
6 Here We Are--Gloria Estefan
7 Price of Love--Bad English
8 We Can't Go Wrong--The Cover Girls
9 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
10 No More Lies--Michel'le

Singles entering the chart were How Can We Be Lovers by Michael Bolton (#68); Lambada by Kaoma (#71); A Face in the Crowd by Tom Petty (#73); Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin' by Inner City (#92); and Imagination by Xymox (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dangerous--Roxette
2 Escapade--Janet Jackson
3 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
4 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
5 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
6 Tell Me Why--Expose
7 We Can't Go Wrong--Cover Girls
8 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
9 Here We Are--Gloria Estefan
10 Roam--The B-52's

Singles entering the chart were Heartbeat by Seduction (#59); 99 Worlds by Peter Wolf (#65); Make it Like it Was by Regina Belle (#68); Advice for the Young at Heart by Tears for Fears (#77); Whip Appeal by Babyface (#81); Sending All My Love by Linear (#82); House of Pain by Faster Pussycat (#83); and How Can We Be Lovers by Michael Bolton (#86).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
2 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
3 Dangerous--Roxette
4 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
5 Escapade--Janet Jackson
6 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
7 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
8 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
9 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
10 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be Your Everything by Tommy Paige (#74); The Heart of the Matter by Don Henley (#76); Before We Fall by Sheree (#78); Chocolate Box by Bros (#80); Have a Heart by Bonnie Raitt (#82); The Angels by Melissa Etheridge (#84); Heart of Stone by Cher (#86); Battlefield by Paul Carrack (#88); Anything I Want by Kevin Paige (#90); and 99 Worlds by Peter Wolf (#92).

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Self Esteem--The Offspring (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Think Twice--Celine Dion (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Howard W. Hunter, 87. U.S. religious leader. Mr. Hunter, a lawyer, was the 14th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from June 5, 1994 until his death. He succeeded Ezra Taft Benson and was succeeded by Gordon Hinckley. Mr. Hunter was the Mormon Church's first president to have been born in the 20th century.

Crime
U.S. authorities at Newark International Airport arrested former Mexican Deputy Attorney General Mario Ruiz Massieu, and charged him with not reporting $46,000 in cash that he was carrying. Mr. Ruiz's brother Jose, deputy leader of Mexico's governing Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), had been murdered in 1994; Raul Salinas de Gortari, brother of former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, had been charged on February 28 with Jose Ruiz Massieu's murder. Carlos Salinas de Gortari began a hunger strike and asked to meet with officials of his successor, Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon.

War
The last United Nations peacekeepers left Somalia after two years.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colorado) announced that he was switching his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican. He had disagreed with some of the proposals of the administration of President Bill Clinton, notably its support for higher grazing fees on federal lands.

Society
A private member's bill that would ban hunting with hounds in England and Wales became the first such bill to get a second reading in the British House of Commons.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve and banks of a dozen other nations bought $1 billion in U.S. dollars in an effort to boost the currency.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had remained unchanged in January.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
James Roszko, 46. Canadian criminal. Leo Johnston, 31; Brock Myrol, 29; Anthony Gordon, 28; Peter Schiemann, 25. Canadian police officers. The four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers had gone to Mr. Roszko's property near Mayerthorpe, Alberta to execute a property seizure, when they were ambushed inside a quonset shed and shot to death by Mr. Roszko, who then shot himself to death after being wounded in an exchange of gunfire with another policeman. It was the worst multiple killing of police officers in modern Canadian history.

Aviation
U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refuelling, completing a round trip from Salina, Kansas in the Virgin GlobalFlyer.