February 24, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kavis Reed!

1,400 years ago
616

Died on this date
Æthelbert, 55 or 56. King of Kent, 589-616. Æthelbert succeeded his father Eormenric. Æthelbert was the third king to hold imperium over other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and was the first to convert to Roman Catholicism. He was succeeded by his son Eadbald.

230 years ago
1786

Born on this date
Wilhelm Grimm. German author. Mr. Grimm and his older brother Jacob wrote Grimms' Fairy Tales, first published in 1812. Wilhelm Grimm died on December 16, 1859 at the age of 73.

190 years ago
1826

War
The signing of the Treaty of Yandabo marked the end of the First Anglo-Burmese War.

150 years ago
1866

Born on this date
Hubert Van Innis. Belgian archer. Mr. Van Innis won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, and won four gold and two silver medals at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, when he was 54. He won the World Championship in 1933 at the age of 67, and died on November 25, 1961 at the age of 95.

140 years ago
1876

Died on this date
Joseph Jenkins Roberts, 66. 1st President of Liberia, 1848-1856; 7th President of Liberia, 1872-1876. Mr. Roberts, born a free Negro in Norfolk, Virginia, emigrated to Liberia in 1829, and won the first presidential election as the Republican Party candidate after Liberia obtained her independence in 1847. He won three more elections before being defeated in 1855. After years as a military officer and diplomat, Mr. Roberts returned to the presidency, and died less than two months after the expiration of his second term.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Richard Thorpe. U.S. movie director. Mr. Thorpe, born Rollo Thorpe, directed more than 180 movies in a career running from the early 1920s through 1967. His films included Night Must Fall (1937); The Thin Man Goes Home (1945); and Jailhouse Rock (1957). Mr. Thorpe died on May 1, 1991 at the age of 95.

100 years ago
1916

Health
Governor-General of Korea General Count Terauchi Masatake established a clinic called Jahyewon in Sorokdo to segregate Hansen's disease (leprosy) patients.

75 years ago
1941

War
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler warned of a gigantic spring offensive against British shipping with newly-trained crews and new submarines. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill reportedly had rejected Japanese mediation in the European war. The Thailand-Indochina armistice was extended for 10 days at Japan's request, since no agreement could be reached within the original time limit, expiring February 25, 1941.

Defense
U.S. administration leaders in the Senate abandoned plans to limit debate to speed passage of Lend-Lease after isolationists threatened a filibuster. The U.S. Office of Production Management invoked mandatory priorities for the first time in placing aluminum and machine tools on the priority list in order to ensure an adequate supply for the defense program.

Politics and government
Earl Browder announced that Robert Minor would become general secretary of the Communist Party USA.

Scandal
U.S. financial operator Robert Boltz received a 20-40 year prison term, six days after pleading guilty in Philadelphia to embezzlement and fraud.

Music
Violinist Efrem Zimbalist was named the new director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

70 years ago
1946

Literature
The New York Herald Tribune reported the best-selling books as The King's General by Daphne du Maurier (fiction) and The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald (non-fiction).

War
Chinese Communists opened a seven-pronged drive in Manchuria to cut the Nationalists' communications between Sinmin and Mukden.

Politics and government
Colonel Juan Perón, founder of the political movement that became known as Peronism, was elected to his first term as President of Argentina, taking 52.84% of the vote to 42.87% for centrist-liberal candidate Jose Tamborini. The election took place without major incidents.

Herbert Brownell told U.S. Republican Party leaders that he would resign as the party's national chairman because the party's success in the November 1946 congressional elections was assured.

Religion
The Provisional Committee of the World Council of Churches concluded its four-day conference in Geneva by establishing the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) to stimulate a "vigorous expression" of Christian demands for justice and world order. The conference was attended by representatives of nearly 100 Protestant and Orthodox church organizations from 32 countries.

Health
A committee of U.S., U.K., and French experts reported in Frankfurt, on the basis of a 10-day survey, that German workers were showing evidence of physical deterioration from lack of enough food.

Economics and finance
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan General Douglas MacArthur limited Japan's 1946 exports to 25% of the 1934-1939 average.

Labour
The U.S. Labor Department named five representatives each from the Congress of Industrial Organizations and American Federation of Labor to a Labor Education Advisory Committee to help plan a long-range program for industrial peace.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Memories are Made of This--Dean Martin (2nd week at #1)

Canadiana
Queen Elizabeth II authorized the coats-of-arms of the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Boxing
Ingemar Johansson (13-0) won an 8-round decision over Joe Bygraves (30-8) in a heavyweight bout at Masshallen in Gothenburg, Sweden.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): These Boots are Made for Walkin'--Nancy Sinatra (2nd week at #1)

World events
Kwame Nkrumah, who had been President of Ghana since the country's independence from Britain in 1957, was deposed while in Asia on a Vietnam peace mission. Colonel Emmanuel Kotoka led an attack by army and police units on the main government buildings in Accra, with the only resistance coming from President Nkrumah's special guard and other security forces. Col. Kotoka announced on the government radio station that the rebels had suspended the constitution; dismissed Mr. Nkrumah and all his ministers; dissolved parliament; and abolished Mr. Nkrumah's dominant Convention People's Party. Col. Kotoka contended that Pres. Nkrumah's dictatorial reign had brought Ghana close to economic disaster. Major General J.A. Ankrah became commander of the army and head of the National Liberation Council, and pledged a future return to civilian rule.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin concluded three days of talks in Moscow about Vietnam and other issues.

40 years ago
1976

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger concluded his eight day tour of Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala to discuss trade and other matters.

Law
The current constitution of Cuba was formally proclaimed.

The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau tabled new criminal legislation, including abolition of capital punishment; increased minimum sentences for murder; stricter gun control; and greater wire-tapping power for police.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A Good Heart--Feargal Sharkey (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Say You, Say Me--Lionel Richie

Died on this date
Tommy Douglas, 81. U.K.-born Canadian politician. Mr. Douglas, a Baptist minister, led the Saskatchewan Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, and formed the first officially socialist government in Canada when he led the CCF to victory in the 1944 provincial election. Mr. Douglas's most notable achievement as Premier was the introduction of North America's first socialized health care plan. Mr. Douglas served as Premier until 1961, when he entered federal politics, winning the leadership of the newly-formed New Democratic Party. The NDP had limited success in four federal elections under Mr. Douglas's leadership before he retired as leader in 1971.

World events
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of emergency, while Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, who, along with armed forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos, had seized control of the defense ministry headquarters two days earlier, formed a provisional government led by Corazon Aquino, who had challenged Mr. Marcos in the disputed February 7 presidential election.

Diplomacy
U.S. negotiators at the Geneva arms talks presented U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s proposal to eliminate U.S. and Soviet medium-range missiles within three years. Mr. Reagan tied the total elimination of nuclear weapons to a reduction in Warsaw Pact conventional forces; full Soviet compliance with treaties; and the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers

#1 single in Switzerland: Sadeness Part I--Enigma (11th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (4th week at #1)
2 Hello Afrika--Dr. Alban featuring Leila K.
3 Keep on Running--Milli Vanilli
4 Fantasy--Black Box
5 Sadeness Part I--Enigma
6 Kränk di net--Jazz Gitti & her Disco Killers
7 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville
8 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice
9 I'll Be Your Baby Tonight--Robert Palmer and UB40
10 Don't Worry--Kim Appleby

Singles entering the chart were In the Ghetto by Midwork (#28); and Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C&C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams (#30).

Died on this date
John Daly, 77. S.A.-born U.S. broadcaster. Mr. Daly, a native of Johannesburg who moved to Boston with his mother after his father died, was a news correspndent for NBC and CBS radio before moving to television, where he hosted the quiz show What's My Line? from 1950-1967. Mr. Daly died of cardiac arrest four days after his 77th birthday.

George Gobel, 71. U.S. actor and comedian. Mr. Gobel starred in the television program The George Gobel Show (1954-1960), where his homespun style of humour made him an instant star. He made many guest appearances in television programs in later years.

Webb Pierce, 69. U.S. musician. Mr. Pierce was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was one of the major figures of the "honky-tonk" style of country music from 1951 to the mid-1960s. He had 51 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard country chart, reaching #1 13 times. Mr. Pierce's biggest hit was In the Jailhouse Now, which spent 21 weeks at number one. He became known in later years for his lavish lifestyle, which reportedly included heavy drinking. Mr. Pierce died of pancreatic cancer, 10 years before his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

War
200,000 allied troops participated in the ground offensive against Iraq, which began at about dawn. The attacks began across a 300-mile area west from the Persian Gulf. U.S. Marines and Army airborne and armoured units were joined by units from the U.K., France, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries. Some allied forces struck directly into Kuwait, but others crossed from Saudi Arabia into Iraq far to the west, beyond the Iraqi defensive lines. U.S. and U.K. armoured units moved first north, then northeast, and outflanked elite Iraqi Republican Guard forces dug in north of Kuwait. U.S. Marines and Arab forces striking directly into Kuwait achieved a quick breakthrough, and were joined in Kuwait by allied armoured forces entering from the west. Meanwhile, Canadian warplanes saw their first bombing missions since World War II.

Hockey
NHL
Quebec 3 @ Edmonton 6

This blogger was in attendance at Edmonton Coliseum to see Guy Lafleur play with the Nordiques.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Boombastic--Shaggy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V. (13th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Dieu m'a donné la foi--Ophélie Winter

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): 15 miljoen mensen--Fluitsma & Van Tijn (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 One Sweet Day--Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men (13th week at #1)
2 Not Gon' Cry--Mary J. Blige
3 Missing--Everything But the Girl
4 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
5 Sittin' Up in My Room--Brandy
6 Be My Lover--La Bouche
7 Jesus to a Child--George Michael
8 Exhale (Shoop Shoop)--Whitney Houston
9 One of Us--Joan Osborne
10 Hey Lover--LL Cool J

Singles entering the chart were Jesus to a Child; Lucky Love by Ace of Base (#66); and Take a Look by J'Son (#94).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Missing--Everything But the Girl
2 One Sweet Day--Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
3 Not Gon' Cry--Mary J. Blige
4 Sittin' Up in My Room--Brandy
5 Be My Lover--La Bouche
6 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
7 Exhale (Shoop Shoop)--Whitney Houston
8 Til I Hear it from You/Follow You Down--Gin Blossoms
9 Wonderwall--Oasis
10 Tonite's Tha Night--Kris Kross

Singles entering the chart were Lady by D'Angelo (#40); Can't Be Wasting My Time by Mona Lisa featuring Lost Boyz (#60); Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) by R. Kelly (featuring Ronald Isley and Ernie Isley) (#61); Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty) by Sophie B. Hawkins (#62); Microphone Master by Das EFX featuring Mobb Deep (#84); and Insensitive by Jann Arden (#89).

War
Two Cuban fighter planes shot down two civilian aircraft from the United States, claiming that they had violated Cuban air space.

Protest
An indefinite nationwide strike began in Bangladesh in an attempt to oust Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her unpopular Bangladesh Nationalist Party government.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Dennis Weaver, 81. U.S. actor. Mr. Weaver was best known for playing deputy marshal Chester Goode on the television Western series Gunsmoke (1955-1964) and starring as the title character in the police series McCloud (1970-1977). He won an Emmy Award in 1959. Mr. Weaver was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1973-1975.

Don Knotts, 81. U.S. actor. Mr. Knotts was best known for playing Barney Fyfe, deputy sheriff of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1965), winning five Emmy Awards.

World events
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Proclamation 1017, placing the country in a state of emergency in attempt to subdue a possible military coup.

Law
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper nominated Marshall Rothstein to the Supreme Court of Canada; Mr. Rothstein would be the first Supreme Court nominee to face an all-party committee hearing in Parliament before his appointment was confirmed.

Society
South Dakota lawmakers approved a ban on nearly all abortions.