November 6, 2015

225 years ago
1790

Died on this date
James Bowdoin, 64. U.S. politician. Mr. Bowdoin was president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress executive council from 1775-1777 and Governor of Massachusetts from 1785-1787. He died of "putrid fever and dysentery."

170 years ago
1845

Technology
In Fredericton, New Brunswick, Benjamin F. Tibbitts patented a practical marine compound steam engine. Considered one of the greatest mechanical achievements of the 19th century, this invention increased the speed of steamships worldwide.

150 years ago
1865

War
The Confederate States Navy ship CSS Shenandoah, commanded by Lieutenant Commander James Waddell, surrendered at Liverpool after circumnavigating the globe on a year-long cruise during which she had sunk or captured 37 unarmed merchant vessels. Her flag was the last sovereign Confederate flag to be officially furled.

110 years ago
1905

Died on this date
George Williams, 84. U.K. philanthropist. Sir George was a draper who converted from Anglicanism to Congregationalism in 1837, and led the group of men who founded the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in London in 1844. He died 26 days after his 84th birthday. Sir George Williams University, now part of Concordia University in Montreal, was named in his honour.

100 years ago
1915

Football
CRU
IRFU
Hamilton (5-0) 36 @ Montreal (0-5) 1
Toronto (3-2) 19 @ Ottawa (2-3) 15

The Rough Riders protested their loss to the Argonauts at Lansdowne Park, and on December 18, their protest was upheld and the game was stricken from the record.

ORFU
Finals
Toronto 27 @ Hamilton 5 (First game of 2-game, total points series)

90 years ago
1925

Died on this date
Khải Định, 40. Emperor of Vietnam, 1916-1925. Khải Định, born Prince Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Đảo, was the son of Emperor Đồng Khánh, but succeeded another emperor, Duy Tan, on the throne. Emperor Khải Định collaborated with the French government, which made him very unpopular with the Vietnamese people. He became a drug addict and died of tuberculosis. Khải Định was succeeded as Emperor by his son Bảo Đại.

80 years ago
1935

Radio
Edwin Armstrong presented his paper A Method of Reducing Disturbances in Radio Signaling by a System of Frequency Modulation to the New York section of the Institute of Radio Engineers.

Defense
The British fighter plane Hawker Hurricane's first prototype, the K5083, piloted by Flight Lieutenant George Bulman, made its first flight at Brooklands aerodrome in Surrey.

75 years ago
1940

War
London had its 300th alarm and suffered one of the most destructive bombings of World War II, lasting nearly 14 hours. British bomber squadrons began arriving in Greece. Yugoslavian reports said that Greek troops had surrounded five Italian regiments and were attempting to force their surrender.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. formed a committee on communications, chaired by Nelson Rockefeller, to spend more than $3 million from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's special defense fund for cultural activities in Latin America to fight Nazi propaganda.

Chile claimed all Antarctic territory between 53 and 90 degrees west longitude, including the base established by U.S. Navy Admiral Richard Byrd.

Defense
Reports indicated that accords had been reached by the United States with virtually all Latin American republics for the use of naval and air bases.

The U.S. Selective Service reported that several hundred thousand men had volunteered for a year's military service, making it unlikely that conscription would be needed to fill the first quota.

The U.S. War Department awarded a $122,323,020 contract for more than 4,000 Pratt & Whitney airplane engines to the Ford Motor Company. It was the first defense contract given to Ford and one of the largest yet made.

Politics and government
Former South African Prime Minister General J.B.M. Hertzog, who had advocated a separate peace with Germany, resigned as leader of the reunited Nationalist Party.

70 years ago
1945

Energy
Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov declared that the atomic bomb could not be kept secret, and promised that the U.S.S.R. would develop atomic energy.

Politics and government
Acting Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies Hubertus van Mook reiterated Queen Wilhelmina's 1942 offer of home rule in a Netherlands Commonwealth for the Indonesians.

Business
The Japanese government ordered the dissolution of the Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Yasuda, and Sumitomo holding companies, which comprised the group of waelthy families known as Zaibatsu.

Labour
The International Labor Organization elected Guildhaume Myrddin-Evans of the United Kingdom as its new chairman, replacing Carter Goodrich of the United States.

60 years ago
1955

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Salvage, starring Gene Barry, Nancy Gates, and Elisha Cook, Jr.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)/Shakin' All Over--Normie Rowe (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Mes Mains Sur Tes Hanches--Salvatore Adamo (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La danza di Zorba--Mikis Theodorakis (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): This Strange Effect--Dave Berry (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones
2 A Lover's Concerto--The Toys
3 Yesterday--The Beatles
4 I Hear a Symphony--The Supremes
5 Keep on Dancing--The Gentrys
6 1-2-3--Len Barry
7 Everybody Loves a Clown--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
8 You're the One--The Vogues
9 Rescue Me--Fontella Bass
10 Positively 4th Street--Bob Dylan

Singles entering the chart were I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown and the Famous Flames (#73); It's My Life by the Animals (#74); Over and Over by the Dave Clark Five (#75); Here it Comes Again by the Fortunes (#80); A Time to Love - A Time to Cry (Petite Fleur) by Lou Johnson (#81); Crawling Back by Roy Orbison (#82); Fever by the McCoys (#83); I Can Never Go Home Again by the Shangri-Las (#86); Don't Think Twice by the Wonder Who? (#87); Just a Little Bit by Roy Head (#89); Run to My Lovin' Arms by Lenny Welch (#97); Dance with Me by the Mojo Men (#98); Child of Our Times by Barry McGuire (#99); It's All Over by Wilson Pickett (#100); and I Want to Meet Him by the Royalettes (also #100).

U.S.A. Top Ten (Sound Format)
1 You're the One--The Vogues
2 Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones
3 Just a Little Bit Better--Herman's Hermits
4 Everybody Loves a Clown--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
5 Positively 4th Street--Bob Dylan
6 1-2-3--Len Barry
7 Taste of Honey--Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
8 I Knew You When--Billy Joe Royal
9 Rescue Me--Fontella Bass
10 I Still Love You--The Vejtables

Singles entering the chart included 1-2-3; But You're Mine by Sonny and Cher (#16); Make Me Your Baby by Barbara Lewis (#20); and Say Something Funny by Patty Duke (#21).

Died on this date
Edgard Varèse, 81. French-born U.S. composer. Mr. Varèse has been called the "Father of electronic music" for his use of new instruments and electronic resources.

Clarence Williams, 67 or 72. U.S. musician. Mr. Williams was a jazz pianist, composer, and producer from the 1910s through the 1930s who played on numerous recordings with other bands, as well as leading his own band.

Space
The United States launched Geodetic Explorer Observation Satellite (GEOS) 1, to measure Earth.

Diplomacy
Congo (Brazzaville) and Congo (Leopoldville) resumed diplomatic relations after a two-year break.

Cuba and the United States formally agreed to begin an airlift for Cubans who wanted to go to the United States.

Football
CFL
Eastern Semi-Final
Montreal 7 @ Ottawa 36

The Rough Riders made 3 interceptions against Montreal quarterback Bernie Faloney in the 2nd quarter, one of which was returned 65 yards for a touchdown by defensive back Gene Gaines, as they routed the Alouettes before 19,171 fans at Lansdowne Park. Ottawa rushed for 266 yards, with Jim Dillard rushing 15 times for 92 yards. The game was the last for Jim Trimble as head coach of the Alouettes, who was in his third season with Montreal after 7 years as head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Rhinestone Cowboy--Glen Campbell (3rd week at #1)

World events
300,000 unarmed Moroccans converged on the southern city of Tarfaya and waited for a signal from King Hassan II of Morocco to cross into Spanish Sahara.

30 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Joel Crothers, 44. U.S. actor. Mr. Crothers was known for playing Joe Haskell and Lieutenant Nathan Forbes in the television soap opera Dark Shadows (1966-1969) and Dr. Miles Cavanaugh in the soap opera The Edge of Night (1977-1984). He was a sodomite who died of AIDS.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Challenger landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California to conclude the seven-day mission STS-61-A. It was Challenger's ninth and last successful mission.



Terrorism
60 Colombian rebels with the M-19 movement seized the Palace of Justice in Bogota and took more than 300 people hostage.

Crime
The espionage trial of Richard Miller, a former agent of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, ended in a hung jury. Mr. Miller had been accused of involvement in a plot with a Soviet émigré couple who had already pled guilty to espionage.

Diplomacy
Former Soviet KGB defector-turned-undefector Vitaly Yurchenko returned to the U.S.S.R., leaving U.S. authorities to wonder about the validity of the information he had provided.

Defense
U.S. President Ronald Reagan emphasized that he would not bargain away his plans for research on the Strategic Defense Initiative, the shield that--if it worked--would protect the United States from incoming Soviet missiles.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 1400 for the first time.

25 years ago
1990

Politics and government
In midterm U.S. elections, the Democratic Party made small gains in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The only Senate seat to change parties was in Minnesota, where Democrat Paul Wellstone defeated Republican incumbent Rudy Boschwitz, leaving the Democrats with a 56-44 lead. The Democrats picked up 8 seats in the House of Representatives to increase their lead to 267-167, with one independent--socialist Bernie Sanders in Vermont. About 96% of the incumbents seeking re-election were successful; only 15 lost. In gubernatorial elections, both major parties lost a state, as Alaskan Independence Party candidate Wally Hickel and A Connecticut Party candidate Lowell Weicker--both former Republicans--won in their respective states.



Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, replacing Benazir Bhutto, who had been dismissed on August 27 amidst accusations of corruption. Mr. Sharif was elected by the new 217-seat National Assembly that had been sworn in three days earlier. Mrs. Bhutto addressed the Assembly and denounced the interim government, calling for dismissal of corruption charges against herself and members of her administration.

The Quebec Commission on the Political and Constitutional Future of Quebec, chaired by Michel Belanger and Jean Campeau, began six weeks of hearings. It had been asked by Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa to examine whether Quebec should remain linked to Canada politically and economically, and whether a political link was necessary to support economic ties.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Exhale (Shoop Shoop)--Whitney Houston

Exhale (Shoop Shoop) was from the movie Waiting to Exhale (1995).

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V. (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V. (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Back for Good--Take That
2 Until I Hear it from You--Gin Blossoms
3 I Wish You Well--Tom Cochrane
4 Side of the Road--Blue Rodeo
5 Fantasy--Mariah Carey
6 This--Rod Stewart
7 As I Lay Me Down--Sophie B. Hawkins
8 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
9 You Oughta Know--Alanis Morissette
10 I Could Fall in Love--Selena

Singles entering the chart were Solitude by Edwin McCain (#93); Like a Rolling Stone by the Rolling Stones (#94); Sister Awake by the Tea Party (#96); You'll See by Madonna (#97); Diamond Dreams by Bass is Base (#98); Bullet with Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins (#99); and Time by Hootie & the Blowfish (#100).

Died on this date
Aneta Corsaut, 62. U.S. actress. Miss Corsaut played Helen Crump on the television comedy series The Andy Griffith Show (1963-1968). She died of cancer three days after her 62nd birthday.

Edmontonia
Leaders Summit 95 took place at the Edmonton Convention Centre, with proceeds going to the Capital Care Foundation. The speakers, in order of appearance, were political commentator and future Canadian Senator Mike Duffy; former astronaut Jim Lovell; sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer; world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman; author Pat Conroy; and retired U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf. This blogger had the pleasure of meeting Messrs. Lovell, Foreman, and Schwarzkopf, and managed to sneak into the question-and-answer session with Gen. Schwarzkopf.

Hockey
NHL
Calgary 2 @ New York Rangers 4

Mark Messier scored 3 goals, including the 500th of his National Hockey League career, to lead the Rangers to their win over the Flames at Madison Square Garden.



Football
NFL
Cleveland Browns' owner Art Modell announced that he had signed a deal that would relocate the Browns to Baltimore to become the Baltimore Ravens. The team had been one of the founding members of the All-America Football Conference in 1946, and had been one of four AAFC franchises that had joined the National Football League in 1950.

10 years ago
2005

Football
CFL
Edmonton (11-7) 23 @ Calgary (11-7) 43

Henry Burris passed for 311 yards and touchdowns to Brett Ralph, Martay Jenkins, and Nik Lewis to lead the Stampeders to victory over the Eskimos before 31,017 fans at McMahon Stadium, clinching second place in the West Division for the Stampeders, who took the position by winning 2 of the 3 games played between the teams in 2005. Mr.Burris also handed off to Joffrey Reynolds for a 14-yard touchdown run and rushed 1 yard for a TD of his own, while linebacker Tyrone Chatman returned an interception 43 yards for another Calgary touchdown. Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray handed off to Troy Davis for a 3-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the 1st quarter, and rushed 1 yard for a TD early in the 4th quarter. Mr. Ray, who had played every down at quarterback for the Eskimos in 2005, was relieved by Jason Maas in the last 3 minutes. Mr. Maas promptly completed all 3 of his passes for 75 yards, finishing the drive with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jason Tucker. Mr. Davis rushed for 84 yards on 14 carries and caught 4 passes for 39 yards, while Mr. Tucker caught 8 passes for 133 yards. It was the 16th and final CFL game for Edmonton defensive end Cedric Scott.