May 25, 2016

225 years ago
1791

Born on this date
Minh Mạng. Emperor of Vietnam, 1820-1839; Emperor of Đại Nam, 1839-1841. Minh Mạng, born Nguyễn Phúc Đảm, acceded to the throne of the Nguyễn dynasty upon the death of his father Gia Long. Minh Mạng's reign was characterized by an isolationist foreign policy and rigid Confucian orthodoxy; he opposed French involvement in Vietnam (renamed Đại Nam in 1839), and in 1825 banned foreign Roman Catholic missionaries from entering Vietnam. Emperor Minh Mạng died on January 20, 1841 at the age of 49, and was succeeded by his son Thiệu Trị.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Brian Dickson. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, 1984-1990. Justice Dickson, a native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, was a lawyer in Winnipeg before being named to the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in 1967. He subsequently was named to the Manitoba Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court of Canada as a puisne justice in 1973. Justice Dickson succeeded the retiring Bora Laskin as Chief Justice; he retired in 1990, and died on October 17, 1998 at the age of 82.

90 years ago
1926

Died on this date
Symon Petliura, 47. Chairman of the Directory of the People's Republic of Ukraine, 1919-1926. Mr. Petliura, a member of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Labour Party, was Secretary of Military Affairs before becoming Chairman of the Directory (Head of State). After the Bolsheviks had become the dominant political force in Ukraine, Mr. Petliura fled to Poland in 1920; he moved to several other major European cities before settling in Paris in 1924. As head of state in Ukraine, Mr. Petliura was accused of involvement in anti-Jewish pogroms; while walking in Paris, he was shot to death by Ukrainian-born Jewish anarchist Sholom Schwartzbard.

80 years ago
1936

Labour
Workers at the Remington Rand typewriter manufacturing plants in Illion, Syracuse, and Tonawanda, New York went on strike; workers at the Remington Rand factories in Ohio and Connecticut went on strike the next day.

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Bob Higgins, 54. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Higgins was a catcher with the Cleveland Naps (1909) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912), batting .143 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 13 games. His minor league career spanned the years 1908-1920 and 1924-1925.

War
German Kriegsmarine Grand Admiral Erich Rader was reported by a Japanese news agency to have stated that U.S. convoys or naval aid to Britain would be "a plain act of war and unprovoked aggression" which Germany would meet with force.

Disasters
An estimated 5,000 people drowned when a storm struck a large number of villages in the Ganges River Delta in India.

Baseball
Pete Reiser hit his only career major league grand slam and drove in another run with an outfield fly to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 8-4 before 12,941 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

Greek George singled home Bill Nicholson with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 18,663 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game was played in 1 hour 43 minutes.

Steve Mesner drove in 3 runs with a double and later scored as the St. Louis Cardinals scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 18,749 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Cardinals won the second game 4-3 to complete the sweep.

Ted Williams batted 4 for 5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 7-3 before 36,461 fans at Yankee Stadium. Lefty Grove pitched a 7-hit complete game victory, allowing 3 unearned runs on Charlie Keller's home run.

The Chicago White Sox scored all their runs in the 7th inning as they defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-3 before 20,520 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Washington Nationals 7-3 before 12,531 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Gypsy--The Ink Spots (Best Seller--1st week at #1); The Gypsy--Dinah Shore (Airplay--2nd week at #1); Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and His Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Juke Box--11th week at #1); The Gypsy--The Ink Spots; Dinah Shore (Honor Roll of Hits--1st week at #1)

Died on this date
Patty Hill, 78. U.S. teacher and songwriter. Miss Hill was a leader in the progressive education movement in the late 19th-early 20th century, and developed Patty Hill blocks--large blocks with which children could make giant constructions. She was best known for writing, with her sister Mildred, the song that became Happy Birthday to You.

Marcel Petiot, 49. French physician and criminal. Dr. Petiot was beheaded by the guillotine at La Santé Prison in Paris after being convicted of 26 counts of murder; the actual number of people he murdered during World War II may have been at least 60.

Asiatica
Transjordan became a kingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Emir Abdullah I. He offered his throne as a "rallying point" for an Arab federation to include Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Politics and government
Indonesian Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir called the latest proposal of Dutch administrator Hubertus Van Mook a "definite step backward" from earlier Dutch willingness to recognize Indonesian control over Sumatra.

Labour
U.S. President Harry Truman, in an address to Congress, asked for the right to use court injunctions against labour leaders who urged workers to stay away from their jobs after the government had taken over an industry. During his address, he was handed a note stating that leaders of the striking Railroad Trainmen and Locomotive Engineers Brotherhoods had settled with railroad operators for an 18½c hourly wage increase.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): No Other Love--Ronnie Hilton (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
James Olsted, 70. U.S. physiologist. Dr. Olsted worked at the University of California, and aided in the discovery of insulin.

William T. Granahan, 60. U.S. politician. Mr. Granahan, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 2nd District in the United States House of Representatives from 1945-1947 and 1949 until his death, when he was succeeded by his wife Kathryn.

50 years ago
1966

Space
The United States launched the satellite Explorer 32, whose mission was to study the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada, in a judgment written by Justice Emmett Hall, overruled Justice Jack Sissons of the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories, and ruled that natives did not have the right to contravene game laws passed by the government of the Northwest Territories. The case involved an Eskimo named Sigeareak from Whale Cove, who killed three caribou in 1964, took only some of the body parts, and abandoned the rest, in violation of N.W.T. game laws. His lawyer, Ted Williams, argued that the 1763 Royal Proclamation gave natives unfettered hunting rights, and Judge Sissons had upheld that view and acquitted Sigeareak.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Baretta's Theme--Sammy Davis, Jr.

Politics and government
Leaders of social democratic parties from Latin America and Europe concluded their three-day conference in Caracas to discuss "transatlantic cooperation" on economic, political, and social issues.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Finals
Houston 3 @ Winnipeg 6 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 3-0)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Midnight Lady--Chris Norman (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Chester Bowles, 85. U.S. politician and diplomat. Mr. Bowles had a successful career in advertising, co-founding the firm Benton & Bowles in 1929. A Democrat, he was Governor of Connecticut from 1949-1951; represented Connecticut's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1959-1961; and served as U.S. Under Secretary of State from January-December 1961 and U.S. Ambassador to India from 1951-1953 and 1963-1969.

Terrorism
Terrorists in Vancouver, British Columbia attempted to assassinate Malkiat Singh Sidhu, a cabinet minister in the Indian state of Punjab.

Society
In Hands Across America, 6.5 million Americans held hands in a human chain across the United States in an exercise to raise money to help those in poverty.

Auto racing
The Indianapolis 500 was postponed because of rain; it was eventually run the following Saturday, May 31.



25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Horses--Daryl Braithwaite (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): De Sku' Ha' No'En Bank--Brian Igen-Igen

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Losing My Religion--R.E.M.

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 One More Try--Timmy T (2nd week at #1)
2 Wind of Change--Scorpions
3 Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)--De La Soul
4 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
5 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
6 Future Love Paradise--Seal
7 Just a Groove--Nomad
8 You--Ten Sharp
9 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
10 Last Train To Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent)--The KLF

Singles entering the chart were Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman) by Zucchero & Paul Young (#28); I Left My Wallet In El Segundo - Norman Cook Remix by A Tribe Called Quest (#32); True Love by Pat Benatar (#33); Somebody Told Me by Hessel (#34); and Dikkertje Dap - Live by V.O.F. de Kunst (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
2 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
3 More than Words--Extreme
4 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
5 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
8 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd
9 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
10 Silent Lucidity--Queensryche

Singles entering the chart were Nights Like This by After 7 (#78); You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo by Yo-Yo featuring Ice Cube (#87); Kissing You by Keith Washington (#88); Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) by Pet Shop Boys (#90); I'll Be There by the Escape Club (#91); Ooh La La by David Hallyday (#92); and Someone by the Rembrandts (#94). Nights Like This was from the movie The Five Heartbeats (1991).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
2 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
3 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
4 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 More than Words--Extreme
8 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
9 You Don’t Have to Go Home Tonight--The Triplets
10 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--High-Five

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be There by Escape Club (#74); Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) by Crystal Waters (#80); Higher than Hope by Daryl Braithwaite (#82); Dangerous by the Doobie Brothers (#83); Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) by Pet Shop Boys (#86); When He’s Gone by the Bee Gees (#87); Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp (#88); Someone by the Rembrandts (#89); and Mother's Eyes by Enuff Z'Nuff (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
2 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
3 Joyride--Roxette
4 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
5 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
6 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
7 More than Words--Extreme
8 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
9 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
10 See the Lights--Simple Minds

Singles entering the chart were A Better Love by Londonbeat (#71); Sideways by Men Without Hats (#74); Crazy by Seal (#78); Highway 5 by the Blessing (#82); Obvious Song by Joe Jackson (#85); Three Pistols by the Tragically Hip (#87); Black, White and Blood Red by BoDeans (#89); Superman’s Song by Crash Test Dummies (#92); Ludi by the Dream Warriors (#93); and Raw by the Alarm (#95).

Personal
This blogger made his last (so far) visit to London, Ontario, spending the afternoon in the enjoyable company of a lovely lady.

World events
Israel’s Operation Solomon--a 22-hour mission to airlift 14,087 Jews from Ethiopia to Tel Aviv--was completed. 35 planes made a total of 40 flights, and the Israeli government paid the Ethiopian government--now under acting President Lieutenant General Tesfaye Gebre-Kidan after the ouster three days earlier of Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam--U.S.$35 million to free the Jews.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Pittsburgh 8 @ Minnesota 0 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-2)



20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Fastlove--George Michael (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Lift U up--2 Fabiola (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Soirée disco--Boris (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Children--Robert Miles (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Drill Instructor--Captain Jack (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit--Gina G

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (2nd week at #1)
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
4 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
5 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
6 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
7 You're the One--SWV
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
9 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
10 Follow You Down/Til I Hear it from You--Gin Blossoms

Singles entering the chart were The Only Thing that Looks Good on Me is You by Bryan Adams (#90); and I'll Never Stop Loving You by J'Son (#91).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 You're the One--SWV
4 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
5 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
6 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
7 Old Man and Me (When I Get to Heaven)--Hootie & the Blowfish
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
9 Keep On, Keepin' On--MC Lyte featuring Xscape
10 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project

Singles entering the chart were Please Don't Go by Immature (#36); Theme from Mission: Impossible by Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen, Jr. (#60); You Still Touch Me by Sting (#81); and Scary Kisses by Voice of the Beehive (#90).

Died on this date
Renzo De Felice, 67. Italian historian. Mr. De Felice was a Communist and then a Socialist who taught jurisprudence at the University of Rome. He specialized in the Fascist era, and his best-known work was a four-volume biography of Benito Mussolini (1965-1997), in which he argued that Mr. Mussolini was a revolutionary modernizer in domestic issues but a pragmatist in foreign policy. Mr. De Felice died of cancer.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals
Detroit 2 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 3-1)

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Desmond Dekker, 64. Jamaican-born U.K. musician. Mr. Dekker, born Desmond Dacres, was a ska and reggae singer-songwriter who had a number of hit singles in Jamaica in the 1960s before moving to England in 1969. He and his band, the Aces, were best known for the single Israelites, which reached #1 in the U.K. and #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. Mr. Dekker died of a heart attack.

Scandal
Former Enron Corporation chiefs Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling were convicted in Houston of conspiracy and fraud for the company's downfall.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals
Anaheim 6 @ Edmonton 3 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-1)