December 10, 2015

350 years ago
1665

Defense
The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps was founded by Michiel de Ruyter.

150 years ago
1865

Died on this date
Leopold I, 74. King of the Belgians, 1831-1865. Leopold I was a German prince who declined the offer to become King of Greece, but became the first King of the Belgians following Belgian independence in 1830. He established the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to which all subsequent Belgian kings have belonged. King Leopold I died six days short of his 75th birthday and was succeeded by his son Leopold II.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
László Bárdossy. Prime Minister of Hungary, 1941-1942. Mr. Bárdossy, a member of the Party of Hungarian Life, held several positions before succeeding Pál Teleki as Prime Minister upon the latter's suicide on April 3, 1941. Mr. Bárdossy pursued a pro-German policy before resigning under duress in March 1942. He was arrested at the end of World Aar II and was executed by firing squad in Budapest on January 10, 1946 at the age of 55, two months after after being convicted by the People's Court of war crimes and collaboration with the Nazis.

110 years ago
1905

Transportation
The Great Northern Railway/Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway started service to Midway, British Columbia.

90 years ago
1925

Disasters
Fire destroyed the Tourist Hotel in Bull River, British Columbia.

80 years ago
1935

Canadiana
The Bessborough Hotel, a Canadian National Railways hotel, opened in Saskatoon.

75 years ago
1940

War
British troops captured Sidi Barrani, Egypt, with the capture of 38,000 Italian prisoners.

Diplomacy
12,000 people greeted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor when they arrived at the airport in Miami from the Bahamas to begin their first visit to the United States since their marriage in 1937.

Politics and government
U.S. Attorney General Robert Jackson wrote to Representative Jerry Voorhis (Democrat--California) of the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, saying that the two bodies could cooperate in their investigation into fifth column activities.

Economics and finance
The Japanese cabinet approved a budget that would exceed 10 million yen--more than the entire national debt in 1936, when the war against China had begun.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that iron ore, pig iron, ferro alloys, and certain iron and steel manufactures would be placed under export licensing controls on December 30, 1940. The act was seen as a major blow to Japan, which was heavily dependent on American exports of those items.

Education
The U.S. National Association of Manufacturers announced that it was analyzing 800 public school textbooks for teachings subversive of the government or free enterprise.

Baseball
The National and American Leagues, meeting separately in Chicago, re-elected Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as commissioner for another five-year term.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It's Been a Long Long Time--Harry James and his Orchestra (4th week at #1)
--Bing Crosby with Les Paul and his Trio
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
--Stan Kenton and his Orchestra
2 Chickery Chick--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra with Nancy Norman, Billy Williams and the Kaye Choir
--Evelyn Knight and the Jesters
3 It Might as Well Be Spring--Paul Weston and his Orchestra with Margaret Whiting
--Dick Haymes
4 I'll Buy that Dream--Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes
--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra
5 Till the End of Time--Perry Como
--Dick Haymes
--Les Brown and his Orchestra
6 That's for Me--Dick Haymes
--Jo Stafford
7 I Can't Begin to Tell You--Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro
--Andy Russell
--Harry James and his Orchestra
8 Waitin' for the Train to Come In--Peggy Lee
--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
9 Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
--Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
10 It's Only a Paper Moon--Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
--Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys

Singles entering the chart were the version of Chickery Chick by Evelyn Knight and the Jesters; Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba) by Perry Como and the Satisfyers (#21); and Doctor Lawyer, Indian Chief by Betty Hutton (#23).

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: A Scandal in Bohemia

Died on this date
Theodor Dannecker, 32. German SS officer. Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Dannecker was one of Adolf Eichmann's associates in the genocide of Jews during World War II. He committed sucide shortly after being arrested by the U.S. Army.

War
British Royal Air Force planes destroyed the Javanese village of Chibadak, where a convoy had been ambushed by Indonesians the previous night, killing 20 people and wounding 65. The Chinese government in Chungking reported that 120,000 Communists had been attacking Linchang on the Tientsin-Pukow railway for 13 days. At the hearings of the United States Senate committee on the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, General George Marshall gave evidence of Japanese troop movement via ships into the South China Sea at the end of November 1941.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman named six American members to the British-American committee of inquiry on Palestine, while the U.K. government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced six British members.

Politics and government
Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi and his six-party cabinet were sworn in, the sixth for Italy since the Allied invasion.

Allied Supreme Commander in the Pacific General Douglas MacArthur ordered the Japanese government to submit a land reform plan before March 15, 1946.

U.S. Representatives May and Fred Vinson introduced bills to create a separate Air Force with a cabinet-level secretary and a U.S. Aviation Academy.

Economics and finance
The Allied Control Council allotted 26 industrial plants in western Germany (value of $92 million) to 19 Allied nations as reparations.

Labour
United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis criticized U.S. President Truman's proposal for government fact-finding commissions in important labour disputes, calling it "the first step" toward an "absolute state to regulate the liberties of all citizens."

United Auto Workers offered Ford Motor Company a no-strike, no lockout "security" plan.

Journalism
An Argentine appeals court upheld the dismissal of a government suit against New York Times correspondent Arnaldo Cortesi, with charged him with writing insulting articles about Argentine President Juan Peron.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Ballad of Davy Crockett--"Tennessee" Ernie Ford; Fess Parker

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Der Mond hält seine Wacht--Peter Alexander (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets (5th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sixteen Tons--"Tennessee" Ernie Ford (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1; Top 100--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Sixteen Tons--"Tennessee" Ernie Ford (3rd week at #1)
2 Autumn Leaves--Roger Williams
3 Only You (And You Alone)--The Platters
--The Hilltoppers
4 I Hear You Knocking--Gale Storm
5 Moments to Remember--The Four Lads
6 He--Al Hibbler
--The McGuire Sisters
7 Memories are Made of This--Dean Martin
8 Love is a Many-Splendored Thing--The Four Aces
9 Love and Marriage--Frank Sinatra
10 It's Almost Tomorrow--The Dream Weavers

Singles entering the chart were Pat-a-Cake/Three Blind Mice/Jingle Bells by the Singing Dogs (#38); Teen Age Prayer by Gloria Mann (#39); Are You Satisfied?, with versions by Rusty Draper and Sheb Wooley (#41); Angels in the Sky by the Crew-Cuts (#43); The Japanese Farewell Song by Kay Cee Jones (#44); My Believing Heart by Joni James (#46); Nuttin' for Christmas, with versions by Art Mooney and his Orchestra with Barry Gordon and Ricky Zahnd and the Blue Jeaners (#48); The Great Pretender by the Platters (#49); and (Love Is) The Tender Trap by Frank Sinatra (#50). (Love Is) The Tender Trap was the B-side of Love and Marriage.

On television tonight
The Honeymooners, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Deciding Vote

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Over and Over--The Dave Clark Five
2 One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)--Barry Young
3 Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones
4 Flowers on the Wall--The Statler Brothers
5 1-2-3--Len Barry
6 England Swings--Roger Miller
7 Puppet on a String--Elvis Presley
8 Taste of Honey--Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
9 The Sounds of Silence--Simon & Garfunkel
10 Day Tripper--The Beatles
Pick hit of the week: It's Good News Week--Hedgehoppers Anonymous
New this week: My Generation--The Who
Spanish Eyes--Al Martino
I'll Remember You--Andy Williams
Snow Flake--Jim Reeves
I Won't Love You Anymore (Sorry)--Lesley Gore

At the movies
A Patch of Blue, starring Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Hartman, and Shelley Winters, opened in theatres.



Music
The Grateful Dead performed in San Jose, California at one of author Ken Kesey's "acid tests;" it was their first performance since changing their name from the Warlocks.

Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded veteran pitcher Bob Friend to the New York Yankees for pitcher Pete Mikkelsen and cash. Mr. Friend had compiled a record of 191-218 in 15 seasons with the Pirates, and was 8-12 with an earned run average of 3.24 in 34 games in 1965. Mr. Mikkelsen was 4-9 with a 3.29 ERA and 1 save in 41 games with New York in 1965.

40 years ago
1975

Died on this date
Al Brosch, 64. U.S. golfer. Mr. Brosch played professionally from the early 1930s through the early '60s, primarily as a club pro. He won 25 tournaments, including the Long Island Open ten times, the Long Island PGA nine times, and the Metropolitan PGA six times.

Baseball
The California Angels traded pitcher Bill Singer to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Jim Spencer and cash estimated at $100,000. Mr. Singer was 7-15 with an earned run average of 4.98 in 29 games with the Angels in 1975, while Mr. Spencer batted .266 with 11 home runs and 47 runs batted in in 132 games with the Rangers.

The Chicago White Sox traded pitcher Jim Kaat and shortstop Mike Buskey to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitchers Dick Ruthven and Roy Thomas and outfielder Alan Bannister. Mr. Kaat, 38, was 20-14 with an earned run average of 3.11 in 43 games with the White Sox in 1975, his 17th season in the major leagues. Mr. Buskey spent the 1975 season with the Denver Bears of the AAA American Association, batting .243 with 2 home runs and 43 runs batted in in 133 games; he was assigned to the AA's Oklahoma City 89ers. Mr. Ruthven was 2-2 with a 4.17 ERA in 11 games with the Phillies in 1975, and 10-12 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 games with the Toledo Mud Hens of the AAA International League. Mr. Thomas was 4-9 with an ERA of 4.01 in 19 games with Toledo in 1975, and 6-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 10 games with the Reading Phillies of the AA Eastern League. Mr. Bannister batted .262 with no home runs or runs batted in in 24 games with Philadelphia in 1975, and .221 with 5 homers and 27 RBIs in 101 games wit Toledo.

30 years ago
1985

Space
Steve MacLean was named Canada's second astronaut.

Politics and government
The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the firing of public servant Neil Fraser for criticizing the federal government's metric conversion policies.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Armand Hammer, 92. U.S. businessman. Mr. Hammer, the son of a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant known for socialist and Communist activities, was best known as president and chief executive officer of Occidental Petroleum from 1957 until his death, and for his ties with political leaders in the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. Mr. Hammer's private "citizen diplomacy" led to suspicions and accusations that he was, in the words of biographer Edward Jay Epstein, a "virtual spy" for the Soviet Union.

World events
100 British hostages who had been held in the Persian Gulf since August arrived home after their release by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Politics and government
Canadian Liberal Party leader Jean Chretien was elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in the New Brunswick riding of Beausejour, a riding vacated by Fernand Robichaud. Mr. Chretien took 52% of the vote to 39% for New Democratic Party candidate Guy Cormier.

Economics and finance
Nine days after the U.S.S.R. had initiated food rationing in Leningrad and three other cities, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze appealed to the United States for food.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V. (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Knockin'--Double Vision (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Earth Song--Michael Jackson

Died on this date
Darren Robinson, 28. U.S. rapper. Mr. Robinson recorded under various names, but was best known as a member of the Fat Boys. He reportedly weighed 450 pounds at the time of his death from a heart attack.

War
The Israeli army withdrew from the West Bank city of Nablus pursuant to the terms of the Oslo Accord.

Business
Calgary-based Alberta Energy Company (AEC) acquired Conwest Exploration in a $1-billion deal that created one of Canada's largest oil and gas producers.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Mary Jackson, 95. U.S. actress. Miss Jackson was a character actress who was best known for playing Emily Baldwin in the television series The Waltons (1972-1981). She died 18 days after her 95th birthday.

Eugene McCarthy, 89. U.S. politician. Mr. McCarthy, a Democrat, represented Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives from 1949-1959 and in the Senate from 1959-1971. He was best known for his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1968. Campaigning against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, Sen. McCarthy captured 42% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary to 49% for President Lyndon Johnson, leading to Mr. Johnson's decision to withdraw from the campaign several weeks later. Sen. McCarthy's campaign lost momentum when Senator Robert F. Kennedy decided to enter the race shortly after, and he never did get the nomination in several attempts in later years.

Richard Pryor, 65. U.S. comic and actor. Mr. Pryor had a lengthy and successful career as a standup comic, and was one of the first to use profanity as part of his routine. He worked his personal troubles--including near-fatal burns suffered in 1980 while freebasing cocaine--into his act. Mr. Pryor also achieved success acting in movies such as Car Wash (1976) and Stir Crazy (1980). He developed multiple sclerosis in the 1980s, and died of a heart attack nine days after his 65th birthday.

Environment
Over 150 nations at a conference in Montreal agreed to launch formal talks on mandatory post-2012 reductions in greenhouse gases; the talks would exclude the unwilling United States.