April 27, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Rod Crossley!

225 years ago
1791

Born on this date
Samuel Morse. U.S. artist and inventor. Mr. Morse was a portrait painter before he became famous for inventing the most widely-used version of the telegraph, and co-inventing the Morse code method of telegraphy. He died on April 2, 1872, 25 days before his 81st birthday.

175 years ago
1841

Politics and government
Sir William McBean George Colebrooke is appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, having previously been Lieutenant-Governor of the Leeward Islands and Antigua.

170 years ago
1846

Politics and government
John A. Macdonald (Conservative--Kingston) delivered his maiden speech in the Assembly of the Province of Canada, advocating a repeal of the usury laws.

150 years ago
1866

Born on this date
James Mitchell. Australian politician. Sir James, a Nationalist, entered Western Australian state politics in 1906, and directed the state's agriculture before serving two terms as Premier (1919-1924, 1930-1933). His government, like many others, had difficulty dealing with the Depression, and Sir James not only lost his government in 1933, but his seat. He then served as Lieutenant-Governor (1933-1948) and Governor (1948-1951) of Western Australia. Sir James retired on June 30, 1951, and died just 26 days later, on July 29, while on board a train during an overnight stop in southwestern W.A.

125 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Sergei Prokoviev. Russian composer. Mr. Prokofiev, who had to put up with interference and restrictions imposed by Mr. Stalin's regime, wrote seven symphonies, five piano concertos, nine piano sonatas, and other compositions such as Peter and the Wolf and the score for the movie Alexander Nevsky (1938). He died on March 5, 1953 at the age of 61.

Politics and government
Frederick Peters was sworn in as Premier of Prince Edward Island, replacing Neil McLeod.

120 years ago
1896

Politics and government
Sir Mackenzie Bowell resigned as Prime Minister of Canada due to cabinet infighting, calling his opponents in the Cabinet "a nest of traitors" when they withdrew support over his handling of the issue of allowing Roman Catholic schools in Manitoba. Sir Mackenzie was unable to deal with religious factions in the Conservative Party, and was succeeded as party leader and Prime Minister by Sir Charles Tupper, who had been recalled from his position as High Commissioner to Great Britain. John Costigan was appointed Minister of Marine; A. R. Angers as President of the Council; and L. O. Taillon as Postmaster-General.

110 years ago
1906

Politics and government
The State Duma of the Russian Empire met for the first time.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Enos Slaughter. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Slaughter played right field with the St. Louis Cardinals (1938-1942, 1946-1953); New York Yankees (1954-1955, 1956-1959); Kansas City Athletics (1955-1956); and Milwaukee Braves (1959), batting .300 with 169 home runs and 1,304 runs batted in in 2,380 games. He played on World Series championship teams in 1942, 1946, 1956, and 1958. Mr. Slaughter was known for his hustling style of play, and scored the winning run in the seventh game of the 1946 World Series from first base on a hit by Harry Walker, racing to home plate after Boston Red Sox' shortstop Johnny Pesky hesitated in throwing the ball. Mr. Slaughter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 and died on August 12, 2002 at the age of 86.

80 years ago
1936

Labour
The United Auto Workers (UAW) gained its autonomy from the American Federation of Labor.

75 years ago
1941

War
German troops entered Athens at 9:25 A.M. and hoisted the Nazi flag over the Acropolis; the last British Imperial forces defending the city had withdrawn from the Peloponnesus or evacuated to Egypt or Crete. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in a broadcast from London, hailed the extension of the U.S. neutrality patrol, declaring that now the "eventual defeat of Hitler and Mussolini is certain." He admitted the seriousness of the Allied defeat in Greece, and predicted a German attack on Russia or another country. U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana), adressing 9,000 people at an America First Committee rallly in Chicago, charged that U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was preparing the nation for a declaration of war.

Defense
Former U.S. Ambassador to France William C. Bullitt told a United China Relief rally that the United States should aid China and the United Kingdom even at the cost of war.

Radio
General Electric Company announced that 1941-42 radio models would be virtually frozen and that the company's resources for research and development would be turned over to defense production.

Politics and government
The Communist Party of Slovenia, the Slovene Christian Socialists, the left-wing Slovene Sokols (also known as "National Democrats") and a group of progressive intellectuals established the Liberation Front of the Slovene Nation.

Baseball
Stockholders of the Boston Bees agreed to change the team's name back to Braves, the name it had had prior to 1936.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm a Big Girl Now--Sammy Kaye & his “Swing And Sway” Orchestra with Betty Barclay (Best Seller--1st week at #1); Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and His Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Airplay--6th week at #1; Juke Box--7th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--8th week at #1)

The #2 single was Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy; #3 was One-zy, Two-zy (I Love You-zy).

Defense
The foreign ministers of the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., U.K., and France agreed at their conference in Paris on a strict limitation of the Italian fleet, with the U.K., U.S.S.R., U.S., Yugoslavia, and Greece sharing in the division of ships exceeding the limit. Icelandic Prime Minister Olafur Thors rejected an American bid for long-term leases of military bases there.

The U.S. Army Air Forces revealed the XB-35 flying wing bomber, with no fuselage, a wing span of 172 feet, and a range of over 10,000 miles.

Politics and government
Italy's strongest party, the Christian Democrats, voted at their congress in Rome in favour of a republic for Italy instead of a monarchy.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Poor People of Paris--Winifred Atwell (3rd week at #1)

Boxing
World heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano announced his retirement at the age of 31 in order to spend more time with his family. Mr. Marciano began his professional career in 1947 and won the title by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott in 13 rounds on September 23, 1952; he retired with a record of 49-0.

40 years ago
1976

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delivered a major policy address in Lusaka, Zambia, opposing white minority rule in Rhodesia and apartheid in South Africa.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Islanders 2 @ Montreal 3 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Boston 4 @ Philadelphia 2 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

WHA
Avco World Trophy
U.S. Championship Quarter-Finals
Indianapolis 5 @ New England 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Houston 2 @ San Diego 3 (Houston led best-of-seven series 3-1)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones

#1 single in Switzerland: Adesso tu--Eros Ramazzotti

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 0 @ Hartford 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Washington 1 @ New York Rangers 2 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-2)

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Joyride--Roxette (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Joyride--Roxette (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Joyride--Roxette (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The One and Only--Chesney Hawkes (5th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
2 Joyride--Roxette
3 One More Try--Timmy T
4 You--Ten Sharp
5 Unfinished Sympathy--Massive
6 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
7 Let There Be Love--Simple Minds
8 Mega Mix--Snap!
9 Always on the Run--Lenny Kravitz
10 Highwire--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Cowboys and Angels by George Michael (#26); How to Dance by Bingoboys featuring Princessa (#31); Wind of Change by the Scorpions (#33); Vergeet M'n Naam by Corry Konings (#34); Grease: The Dream Mix by Frankie Valli, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (#37); and Se Stiamo Insieme by Riccardo Cocciante (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
2 Joyride--Roxette
3 You're in Love--Wilson Phillips
4 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
5 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
6 I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
7 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
8 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
9 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
10 Hold You Tight--Tara Kemp

Singles entering the chart were Playground by Another Bad Creation (#66); New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) by Ice-T (#78); Never Gonna Let You Down by Surface (#88); I Don't Want to Lose Your Love by B Angie B (#91); Good Heart by Starship (#93); and Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore? by Kane Roberts (#95). New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) was from the movie New Jack City (1991).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Baby Baby--Amy Grant (2nd week at #1)
2 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
3 Joyride--Roxette
4 Hold You Tight--Tara Kemp
5 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips
6 Sadeness (Part 1)--Enigma
7 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
8 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
9 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
10 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were Couple Days Off by Huey Lewis and the News (#48) and Power of Love/Love Power by Luther Vandross (#75); Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore? by Kane Roberts (#88); and Backyard by Pebbles (with Salt-N-Pepa) (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
2 Joyride--Roxette
3 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips
4 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
5 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
6 Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You--Robert Palmer
7 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
8 Coming Out of the Dark--Gloria Estefan
9 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
10 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.

Singles entering the chart were Couple Days Off by Huey Lewis and the News (#68); Love is a Wonderful Thing by Michael Bolton (#70); Miracle by Whitney Houston (#76); Payin’ the Cost to Be the Boss by Pat Benatar (#81); Unbelievable by EMF (#85); I Touch Myself by Divinyls (#92); and Laying Down the Law by the Law (#94).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Boston 2 @ Montreal 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): How Bizarre--OMC (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Con te partirò--Andrea Bocelli (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Soirée disco--Boris (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Children--Robert Miles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Hava Naquila--Party Animals

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Return of the Mack--Mark Morrison (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion (6th week at #1)
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
4 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
5 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
6 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly featuring Ronald Isley
7 You're the One--SWV
8 Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check/Everything Remains Raw--Busta Rhymes
9 Count on Me--Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
10 Sittin' Up in My Room--Brandy

Singles entering the chart were Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven) by Hootie & the Blowfish (#28); Tres Delinquentes by Delinquent Habits (#76); Feel the Music by Planet Soul featuring Brenda Dee (#78); Scarred by Luke (#80); Live and Die for Hip Hop by Kris Kross (#82); Mr. Ice Cream Man by Master P (#90); No More Games by Skin Deep featuring Li'l Kim of Junior M.A.F.I.A. (#92); and My Maria by Brooks & Dunn (#96). Scarred was from the movie Eddie (1996).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion (2nd week at #1)
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
4 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly (featuring Ronald Isley and Ernie Isley)
5 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
6 Doin' It--LL Cool J
7 Woo-Hah!! (Got You All in Check)--Busta Rhymes
8 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
9 You're the One--SWV
10 Count on Me--Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans

Singles entering the chart were You're the One; Chains by Tina Arena (#47); Kissin' You by Total (#48); and I Don't Wanna Be Alone by Shai (#72).

Died on this date
Gilles Grangier, 84. French film director and screenwriter. Mr. Grangier directed 55 movies and several television series from 1943-1985. He died eight days before his 85th birthday.

William Colby, 76. U.S. intelligence officer. Mr. Colby was Director of Central Intelligence from 1973-1976. He was Director during a perios of relative openness and reform of the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Colby was replaced by future President George H.W. Bush on January 30, 1976, and retired to a private law practice. He died while on a solo canoe trip near his Maryland home; his body was found face-down on a sandbar on May 6. The death was ruled accidental, with the coroner ruling that Mr. Colby was a good candidate for a heart attack, but there were suspicions of foul play or suicide.

War
Operation Grapes of Wrath, the campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces in Lebanon against Hezbollah terrorists, ended after 16 days.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Philadelphia 6 @ Tampa Bay 1 (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Boston 3 @ Florida 4 (Florida won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Toronto 1 @ St. Louis 2 (St. Louis won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Colorado 3 @ Vancouver 2 (Colorado won best-of-seven series 4-2)

10 years ago
2006

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada, in a 4-3 decision, voted to uphold key provisions of the national DNA databank that stores genetic profiles of sexual and dangerous offenders.

Economics and finance
Canada and the United States reached a seven-year agreement on softwood lumber to protect American jobs; Canada would return US$4 billion of the $5 billion in duties collected from Canadian firms.

Americana
Construction began on the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower (later renamed One World Trade Center) on the site of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Ottawa 5 @ Tampa Bay 2 (Ottawa led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Detroit 4 @ Edmonton 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Calgary 2 @ Anaheim 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Nashville 4 @ San Jose 5 (San Jose led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Sean O'Donnell scored 1:36 into the 1st overtime period to give the Mighty Ducks their win over the Flames at Arrowhead Pond; Jarome Inginla scored both Calgary goals early in the 3rd period.

Patrick Marleau scored 3 goals for the Sharks as they withstood a late rally by the Predators at HP Pavilion.