January 12, 2016

400 years ago
1616

Braziliana
The city of Belém in the state of Pará was founded by Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco.

300 years ago
1716

Born on this date
Antonio de Ulloa. Spanish scientist, military officer, and politician. Mr. Ulloa was a renowned scientist in various fields before serving as Governor of the Huancavelica region of Peru from 1758-1764, and the first Spanish Governor of West Louisiana from 1766-1768. He spent his later years as a naval officer, and was appointed lieutenant-general of Spain's naval forces in 1779. Mr. Ulloa died on July 3, 1795 at the age of 79.

150 years ago
1866

Aviation
The Royal Aeronautical Society was formed in London.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
David Wechsler. Romanian-born U.S. psychologist. Dr. Wechsler emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He was chief psychologist at Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital in New York City from 1932-1967, and was known for devising intelligence scales, especially the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Dr. Wechsler emphasized the importance of factors other than intellectual ability in intelligence, which he defined as "the global capacity to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with [one's] environment." Dr. Wechsler died on May 2, 1981 at the age of 85.

Technology
H. L. Smith took the first X-ray photograph; it was a hand with a bullet in it.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
P. W. Botha. Prime Minister of South Africa, 1978-1984; State President of South Africa, 1984-1989. Mr. Botha, a member of the National Party, was first elected to Parliament in 1948. He served as Minister for Defense from 1966-1980, and was the country's last Prime Minister before a new constitution abolished the office and replaced it with the position of State President, with Mr. Botha being the first to hold the office. While Mr. Botha upheld South Africa's racial policy of apartheid, he liberalized it somewhat. He retired following a stroke, and died on October 31, 2006 at the age of 90.

Died on this date
Georgios Theotokis, 71. Prime Minister of Greece, 1899-1901; June-July 1903; December 1903-December 1904; 1905-1909. Mr. Theotokis was a member of Neoteristikon Komma (NK) (New Party). In addition to his various terms as Prime Minister he held several other posts, and was credited with modernizing Greece's armed forces.

War
A new session of the Canadian Parliament opened, with an Order in Council of the cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Borden raising Canadian troop strength to 500,000.

German air aces Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann, for achieving eight aerial victories each over Allied aircraft, received the German Empire's highest military award, the Pour le Mérite as the first German aviators to earn it.

90 years ago
1926

On the radio
Sam 'n' Henry, on WGN

This was the first episode of the comedy series that starred Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, and was the forerunner of Amos 'n' Andy. After a dispute with the Chicago station WGN, Messrs. Gosden and Correll went to another Chicago station, WMAQ, in 1928, renaming their characters Amos 'n' Andy. WGN retained the rights to the names Sam 'n' Henry, but that program soon ended, while Amos 'n' Andy ran on American radio until November 1960.

At the movies
Currito de la Cruz, directed by Alejandro Pérez Lugín, and starring Jesús Tordesillas, Manuel González, and Elisa Ruiz Romero, opened in theatres in Spain.



Died on this date
Austin Chapman, 61. Australian politician. Sir Austin, a member of the Protectionist, Liberal, and Nationalist parties, was a member of the Australian Parliament from 1901-1926, and held several cabinet posts from 1903-1908 and 1923-1924. He died of cerebro-vascular disease.

75 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1

Diplomacy
Bulgarian Premier Bogdan Philov reaffirmed that his country would remain neutral. Hungarian Premier Count Paul Telleki declared that his country must prepare for anything, but would remain independent of the outside world.

Politics and government
Clarence A. Hathaway, former editor of the Daily Worker, was expelled from the Communist Party U.S.A. for failing to meet his responsibilities and "refusing to take steps to rehabilitate himself."

Economics and finance
Chilean Communist Party secretary Carlos Contreras said that U.S. purchases of copper and nitrate were bribes by American imperialism.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Clyde Rogers (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Airplay--1st week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--2nd week at #1); I Can't Begin to Tell You--Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro (Juke Box--3rd week at #1)

War
The Iranian government announced that the national gendarmerie had repulsed armed Iraqi nomads invading Khorramshahr under the Sheik of Khazal.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly chose six temporary members of the Security Council: Australia, Brazil, and Poland (two years each); Netherlands, Egypt, and Mexico (one year each).

Protest
The Korean National Mobilization Committee Against Trusteeship staged large demonstrations in Seoul, demanding immediate creation of a national government to direct the country "witout further outside interference."

Politics and government
Japanese Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara reorganized his cabinet for the fourth time since August 1945.

The Alabama Democratic Executive Committee voted to open party primaries to Negro voters for the first time.

U.S. President Harry Truman accepted the resignation of Abe Fortas as undersecretary of the Interior Department.

Labour
The Assembly of Argentine Industry, Commerce and Production announced a nationwide three-day lockout beginning January 14 to protest the government's wage-bonus decree of December 20, 1945.

A U.S. government fact-finding board recommended an 18% wage increase in the oil industry to settle a three-month dispute involving 141,147 workers.

Transportation
Pan American Airways announced daily service to France via Newfoundland, Ireland, and Portugal, with a one-way fare of $295.

Football
NFL
The Cleveland Rams franchise officially moved to Los Angeles; the Rams won the National Football League championship in 1945.

Baseball
The Navegantes del Magallanes defeated the Patriotas de Venezuela 5-2 at Cervecería Caracas Stadium in the first game of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Magellanes shortstop Luis Aparicio, Sr. led off the game with a single and scored the league's first run.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): L'Homme et l'Enfant--Eddie & Tania Constantine (6th week at #1)

50 years ago
1966

On television tonight
Batman, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Hi Diddle Riddle, with special guest villain Frank Gorshin as the Riddler

This was the first episode of the series.

Protest
Visiting British Labour Party MPs Christopher Rowland, Jeremy Bray, and David Ennals were attacked by 400 supporters of Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith at a rowdy meeting in Salisbury.

War
In his annual State of the Union address, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson stated that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there was ended.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): S O S--ABBA

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun--Masato Shimon (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Amor, amor--Lolita (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Agatha Christie, 85. U.K. authoress. Dame Agatha is the bestselling novelist in history, mainly known for mysteries involving the detectives Hercule Poirot or Jane Marple. And Then There were None, originally published as Ten Little Niggers (1939), is the bestselling novel in history. Dame Agatha's play The Mousetrap has been running in the West End of London since its opening in 1952.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council voted 11–1 to allow the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in a Security Council debate as though it were a member, although without voting rights. Israel boycotted the session.

Politics and government
Norwegian Prime Minister Odvar Nordli appointed his cabinet and took office following the office of Trygve Bratteli.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Say You, Say Me--Lionel Richie

Space
After seven delays, the U.S. space shuttle Columbia lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin the six-day mission STS-61-C. The crew included U.S. Congressman Bill Nelson (Democrat--Florida). The flight, the 24th for Columbia, was the first of 15 shuttle flights scheduled for 1986.



Football
NFL
NFC Championship
Los Angeles Rams 0 @ Chicago 24

The Chicago defense limited the Los Angeles offense to 130 yards as the Bears shut out the Rams before 66,030 fans at Soldier Field. Quarterback Jim McMahon's 16-yard touchdown run in the 1st quarter opened the scoring and provided all the points needed. Los Angeles quarterback Dieter Brock completed just 10 of 31 passes for 66 yards in what turned out to be the last game of his 13-year professional career, the first 11 seasons of which were in the Canadian Football League.



AFC Championship
New England 31 @ Miami 14

The Patriots rushed for 255 yards and scored 24 points off 6 turnovers as they beat the Dolphins before 75,662 fans at the Orange Bowl to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in their history.





25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Sneaker Blues--Masahiko Kondō (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Attenti al Lupo--Lucio Dalla (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Alle Børnene--2 X Kaj (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Petit Frank--François Feldman (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter--Iron Maiden (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (4th week at #1)
2 Sadeness Part I--Enigma
3 Pray--MC Hammer
4 Mary Had a Little Boy--Snap!
5 Justify My Love--Madonna
6 Don't Worry--Kim Appleby
7 Maar Vanavond Heb Ik Hoofdpijn--Hanny
8 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville
9 Disappear--INXS
10 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers

Singles entering the chart were All Together Now by the Farm (#24); I Wanna Get with You by Guy (#32); Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C&C Music Factory (featuring Freedom Williams) (#34); and The Love of the Year by Rene Froger (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Justify My Love--Madonna (2nd week at #1)
2 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
3 High Enough--Damn Yankees
4 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
5 From a Distance--Bette Midler
6 Tom's Diner--DNA featuring Suzanne Vega
7 The First Time--Surface
8 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
9 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
10 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams

Singles entering the chart were Iesha by Another Bad Creation (#78); I'll Do 4 U by Father M.C. (#87); and Something in My Heart by Michel'le (#92).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box)
: Justify My Love--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

War
The United States House of Representatives voted 250-183 and the Senate voted 52-47 to authorize President George Bush to use military power to expel Iraq from Kuwait.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Miami 34 @ Buffalo 44

Jim Kelly passed for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Bills jumped to a 20-3 lead in the 2nd quarter and held on to defeat the Dolphins before 77,087 fans at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.



NFC Divisional Playoff
Washington 10 @ San Francisco 28

Joe Montana threw touchdown passes to Jerry Rice and Mike Sherrard, and handed off to Tom Rathman for another TD as the 49ers overcame an early 7-0 deficit to take a 21-10 halftime lead and coast to victory over the Redskins before 65,292 fans at Candlestick Park.



20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio feauring L.V. (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Jesus to a Child--George Michael

10 years ago
2006

World events
The French warship Clemenceau reached Egypt and was barred access to the Suez Canal; Greenpeace activists boarded the ship.

Disasters
A stampede during the Stoning of the Devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia killed at least 362 Muslim pilgrims.