February 23, 2016

250 years ago
1766

Died on this date
Stanisław I, 88. King of Poland, 1704-1709; 1733-1736. Stanisław I replaced the deposed Augustus II in 1704, but Augustus regained the throne in 1709. When Augustus II died in 1733, Stanisław was elected King by the Diet. Under Russian pressure, Stanisław I was deposed in 1736 and replaced by Augustus III. Stanisław served as Duke of Lorraine from 1737 until his death.

180 years ago
1836

War
Mexican forces under the command of General Santa Anna began the siege of the Alamo.

130 years ago
1886

Science
Charles Martin Hall, assisted by his older sister Julia Brainerd Hall, produced the first samples of man-made aluminum, after several years of intensive work.

120 years ago
1896

Popular culture
The Tootsie Roll was introduced by Leo Hirshfield in New York City.

110 years ago
1906

Boxing
Tommy Burns (30-2-7) of Hanover, Ontario, at just 5' 7" and 175 pounds, won a 20-round decision over defending champion Marvin Hart (23-4-3) at Pacific Athletic Club in Los Angeles to become the first Canadian to win the world heavyweight title.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
George Abel. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Abel, the older brother of Hockey Hall of Fame member Sid Abel, had a lengthy amateur career as a centre in his hometown of Melville, Saskatchewan. He joined the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys, who represented Canada in the 1952 Winter Olympic Games in Oslo, and scored the goal that enabled the Mercurys to win Canada's only gold medal of the games. Mr. Abel ran his family's cartage business in Melville until his retirement in 1971. He died on April 16, 1996 at the age of 80.

75 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Resident Patient

War
In a 45-minute radio broadcast, Italian Duce Benito Mussolini promised a spring offensive in Greece and predicted a German victory. Turkish Foreign Minister Shukru Saracoglu delcared that Turkey would oppose with force any and all aggression that might be directed against her territorial integrity.

Diplomacy
Herbert Claiborne Pell, recently named as U.S. Minister to Hungary, said that either the United States or Germany would lead the world during the next epoch of history.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!--Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra with Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Airplay--6th week at #1; Juke Box--3rd week at #1); Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Clyde Rogers (Honor Roll of Hits--8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Vladimir Potemkin, 71. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Potemkin was Soviet vice commissar for foreign affairs; Ambassador to France from 1934-1937; and a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Tomoyuki Yamashita, 60. Japanese military officer. General Yamashita was hanged at Los Baños, Laguna Prison Camp, southeast of Manila, for atrocities committed by troops under his command during the Japanese defense of the occupied Philippines in 1944. His defense argued that Gen. Yamashita was being tried for crimes committed by his troops wihout his approval or even knowledge, and some have characterized the trial's haste and verdict as a miscarriage of justice. Lieutenant Colonel Ohta and Takuma Higashiga were also hanged.

War
The U.S. Navy high command confirmed the court martial ruling that Captain Charles McVay III was guilty of negligence in the loss of the cruiser USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945, when the ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, and suffered the loss of 300 men. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz remitted Capt. McVay's sentence and restored him to active duty. Capt. McVay had earlier been acquitted on a charge of failing to give a timely "abandon ship" order.

Diplomacy
Records of the Nazi occupation of Czechoslvakia, found by U.S. combat engineers near Prague, were given to the Czech government after a Czech protest.

Politics and government
Tewfiq Suweidy formed a new cabinet in Iraq, with himself as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

Protest
The mutiny of Indian sailors in Bombay ended after British authorities promised that strikers would not be punished for pressing reasonable grievances.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): L'Homme et l'Enfant--Eddie & Tania Constantine (12th week at #1)

50 years ago
1966

At the movies
Harper, starring Paul Newman, opened in theatres.

World events
In Syria, Ba'ath Party member Salah Jadid led an intra-party military coup that replaced the previous government of General Amin al-Hafiz, also a Baathist.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Jump in My Car--Ted Mulry Gang (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun--Masato Shimon (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Para Que No Me Olvides--Lorenzo Santamaría (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Moviestar--Harpo (2nd week at #1)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys

#1 single in Switzerland: Jeanny--Falco (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan warned that he would cut off U.S. aid to the Philippines if Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos resorted to violence in attempting to hold on to power.

Labour
Eastern Airlines pilots agreed to a 20% pay cut and other concessions to help the financially-troubled airline.

Hockey
NHL
Minnesota 4 Toronto 3

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Alle Børnene--2 X Kaj (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Wicked Game--Chris Isaak

#1 single in France (SNEP): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Do the Bartman--The Simpsons (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Crazy--Seal
2 Knockin' Boots--Candyman
3 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C&C Music Factory
4 Innuendo--Queen
5 Wicked Game--Chris Isaak
6 Can't Help Myself--2 Brothers On The 4th Floor & Da Smooth Baron MC
7 Love Let Love--Tony Scott
8 Liefde Voor Muziek--Raymond v/h Groenewoud
9 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B.
10 Go for It! (Heart and Fire)--Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare

Singles entering the chart were Do the Bartman by the Simpsons (#21); Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden by Lisa Boray & Louis De Vries (#29); Een Beetje Misselijk by Een Beetje Misselijk (#31); Dancehall Good To We by Papa San (#33); Down to Earth by Monie Love (#35); and Where Does My Heart Beat Now by Celine Dion (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
3 One More Try--Timmy -T-
4 Someday--Mariah Carey
5 Where Does My Heart Beat Now--Celine Dion
6 The First Time--Surface
7 Wicked Game--Chris Isaak
8 I'll Give All My Love to You--Keith Sweat
9 Disappear--INXS
10 I Saw Red--Warrant

Singles entering the chart were Baby Baby by Amy Grant (#75); Let's Chill by Guy (#81); Call it Poison by the Escape Club (#83); Stone Cold Gentleman by Ralph Tresvant (#85); All True Man by Alexander O'Neal (#89); I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) by Hi-Five (#90); and I Love You by Vanilla Ice (#94).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Wiliams
3 One More Try--Timmy -T-
4 Someday--Mariah Carey
5 Where Does My Heart Beat Now--Celine Dion
6 The First Time--Surface
7 Disappear--INXS
8 Show Me the Way--Styx
9 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
10 All This Time--Sting

Singles entering the chart were Call it Poison by Escape Club (#73); Baby Baby by Amy Grant (#82); Talk About It by Boom Crash Opera (#89); and That's Why by the Party (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Disappear--INXS (2nd week at #1)
2 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
3 Wicked Game--Chris Isaak
4 All This Time--Sting
5 Show Me the Way--Styx
6 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
7 I’m Not in Love--Will to Power
8 Waiting for Love--Alias
9 Someday--Mariah Carey
10 How Long Can a Man Be Strong--The Jeff Healey Band

Singles entering the chart were Bitter Tears by INXS (#64); Cry for Help by Rick Astley (#72); Good Together by Candi and the Backbeat (#75); No Sign of Rain by Keven Jordan (#80); Boomerang by Spunkadelic (#84); Everyone's a Winner by Bootsauce (#91); She Talks to Angels by the Black Crowes (#92); I Can't Tell You Why by Howard Hewett (#94); Love Makes Things Happen by Pebbles (#96); I Love Her Now by the Jitters (#97); and One More Try by Timmy -T- (#98).

War
Iraq failed to respond to the ultimatum delivered the previous day by U.S. President George Bush, and the allies began a ground war in Iraq at 6 P.M. Mountain Standard Time. Coalition tanks and 200,000 troops moved into Iraq and Kuwait, and thousands of Iraqi soldiers surrendered almost immediately. Two hours after the beginning of the ground war, Mr. Bush announced that he had directed forces to use all means necessary to remove Iraq from Kuwait.

World events
A bloodless military coup ousted the government of Premier Chatichai Choonhavan of Thailand. The new military regime was led by the armed forces’ supreme commander, General Sunthorn Kongsompong, who announced that Thailand would be ruled by a National Peace and Order-Keeping Party, consisting of the army, navy, air force, police, and civilians. It was also announced that the 1978 constitution had been abolished and that martial law would be imposed. Gen. Sunthorn stated that the armed forces had decided to depose Mr. Chatichai because he had protected the perpetrators of an alleged plot to topple the nation’s constitutional monarchy in 1982. The U.S. condemned the coup and announced the suspension of $16.4 million in development aid.

Politics and government
Bloc Quebecois leader Lucien Bouchard confirmed that the BQ would become a legal political party, with a founding conference to be held in June 1991. Mr. Bouchard said that official party status would help the BQ win seats in the next federal election, and it would coax more Quebec Progressive Conservatives to join the pro-Quebec independence party. The BQ said it intended to run candidates in each of Quebec’s 75 federal ridings and predicted it could win as many as 60 seats. The party had begun when eight PC members of the House of Commons had broken with the party after the collapse of the Meech Lake constitutional accord in 1990.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 3 @ Montreal 3
Chicago 3 @ Minnesota 3
Quebec 8 @ Calgary 10

Michel Goulet of the Blackhawks scored his 1,000th career point in the game against North Stars at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Don't Look Back in Anger--Oasis

War
Two days of talks concluded in Guatemala between the government and rebel leaders, raising hopes of an end to the country's 35-year civil war.

Politics and government
The Canadian Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples issued its first release of the preliminary report into Native Affairs, saying that First Nations people should be able to set up their own justice systems, appropriate to their own cultures.

Hockey
NHL
Hartford 4 @ Pittsburgh 5

Pittsburgh centre Mario Lemieux scored his 50th goal of the season in the game against the Whalers at Civic Arena.

10 years ago
2006

Olympics
The Canadian team won a bronze medal in women's curling by beating Norway 11-5 at the Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.