May 7, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gifty Boateng!

250 years ago
1766

Politics and government
Sir Guy Carleton was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Québec; he took office on September 24, 1766.

180 years ago
1836

Died on this date
Norbert Burgmüller, 26. German composer. Mr. Burgmüller wrote two symphonies and a piano concerto, as well as vocal, chamber, and piano works. He died when he suffered an epileptic seizure and drowned in a spring at Aachen.

175 years ago
1841

Born on this date
Gustave Le Bon. French polymath. Dr. Le Bon was a psychologist, sociologist, and anthropologist who was best known for his book Psychologie des Foules (The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind) (1895). He believed that crowds developed their own new psychological entity, the characteristics of which are determined by the "racial unconscious" of the crowd. Dr. Le Bon influenced people such as Theodore Roosevelt, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Lenin, and Sigmund Freud. He died on December 13, 1931 at the age of 90.

170 years ago
1846

Journalism
The Cambridge Chronicle, America's oldest surviving weekly newspaper, was published for the first time in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Disasters
A landslide obliterated the Ngāti Tūwharetoa village of Te Rapa on the south-west shore of Lake Taupō, killing 60 people in what remains New Zealand's worst landslide.

150 years ago
1866

Academia
St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia was chartered as an institution of higher education.

130 years ago
1886

Canadiana
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald adjusted the southwestern border of the District of Keewatin to conform to the boundaries of the new provisional districts of the North-West Territories created in 1882, returning some land to the North-West Territories.

120 years ago
1896

Died on this date
H.H. Holmes, 34. U.S. criminal. Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, whose real name was Herman Webster Mudgett, was a physician who was a con artist, trigamist, and most notably, a serial killer. He confessed to 27 murders from December 1891-November 1894, during and near the 1893 World's Fair: Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Dr. Holmes was convicted of only one murder--accomplice and business partner Benjamin Pitezel--and was hanged at Moyamensing Prison, nine days before his 35th birthday.

100 years ago
1916

War
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Robert Borden authorized the creation of an all-Negro battalion that became the No. 2 Construction Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
James George Frazer, 87. U.K. anthropologist. Sir James, one of the fathers of modern anthropology, specialized in the study of myth and religion. He was best known for his multi-volume work The Golden Bough (originally published in 1890), where he documented similarities among magical and religious beliefs throughout the world. Sir James posited that human belief progresses from primitive magic to religion, and finally to science. He and his wife Lily died within hours of each other.

War
General Henri Dentz, French High Commissioner in Syria, was reported to have received demands that German troops be permitted to pass through Syria in a drive on Suez.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the alien ship-seizure bill and sent it to the Senate. U.S. immigration officials, acting on orders of Attorney General Robert Jackson, began a roundup of mor than 200 German sailors in a dozen cities who had overstayed their leaves. U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox said that the Navy was "readier than ever," if called upon, to insure the delivery of war supplies to Britain.

Politics and government
A British House of Commons vote of non-confidence in the government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill was defeated 447-3.

Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded outfielder Lloyd Waner to the Boston Braves for pitcher Nick Strincevich. Mr. Waner, nicknamed "Little Poison" in contrast to his older brother, former Pittsburgh star Paul "Big Poison" Waner, was in his 15th season with the Pirates, but had appeared in just 3 games in 1941, batting .250 (1 for 4) with no home runs and 1 run batted in. Mr. Strincevich, in his second season with Boston, was 0-0 with a 12.00 earned run average in 3 games in 1941.

Detroit Tigers' left fielder Hank Greenberg was inducted into the United States Army, two days after playing his last game until 1945.

70 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Herbert Macaulay, 81. Nigerian politician and journalist. Mr. Macaulay was a man of many talents who is regarded by many as the founder of Nigerian nationalism. He worked for the British colonail service in the 1890s and 1900s, but eventually turned against the colonial government, and began advocating Nigerian nationalism. Mr. Macaulay was convicted by the colonial government once for fraud and once for sedition, making him ineligible for public office. He founded the Nigerian Daily News as a platform for his views, and founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923; the party won all the seats in the Lagos Legislative Council elections of 1923, 1928 and 1933. In 1944, Mr. Macaulay co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) and became its president.

Anton Mussert, 51. Dutch politician. Mr. Mussert was one of the founders of the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands (NSB) and its formal leader. He maintained his position during World War II, with German help, as German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's "leader of the Netherlands people." Mr. Mussert was arrested on May 7, 1945 and was convicted of high treason in November 1945; exactly a year after his arrest and four days before his 52nd birthday, he was executed by a firing squad on the Waalsdorpervlakte, a site near The Hague.

Diplomacy
The foreign ministers of the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., U.K., and France agreed in Paris on Balkan boundaries in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Russia.

Defense
The United Nations Security Council subcommittee investigating Spain asked the 51 member nations of the UN to submit evidence of the Spanish threat to world peace.

A British delegation in Cairo announced plans to withdraw all British forces from Egypt as part of a proposed Anglo-Egyptian military alliance.

Politics and government
Hermann Dietrich was appointed food commissioner by the minister-presidents of the three states in the American zone of Germany.

Communications
The U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development revealed that wartime researchers in Germany and Japan had developed telephones of limited range which sent signals on beams of infrared light.

Business
Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later renamed Sony) was founded with about 20 employees.

60 years ago
1956

Health
U.K. Health Minister R.H. Turton rejected calls for a government campaign against smoking, saying that no ill-effects had been proven.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Nowhere Man/Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Le Cinéma--Sheila (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Michelle--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): These Boots are Made for Walkin'--Nancy Sinatra (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Dedicated Follower of Fashion--The Kinks (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Pretty Flamingo--Manfred Mann

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Monday, Monday--The Mamas and the Papas

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Monday, Monday--The Mamas and the Papas
2 Good Lovin'--The Young Rascals
3 Kicks--Paul Revere and the Raiders
4 (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration--The Righteous Brothers
5 Sloop John B--The Beach Boys
6 Rainy Day Women #12 & 35--Bob Dylan
7 Gloria--Shadows of Knight
8 Leaning on the Lamp Post--Herman's Hermits
9 Secret Agent Man--Johnny Rivers
10 Time Won't Let Me--The Outsiders

Singles entering the chart were Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? by the Lovin' Spoonful (#62); Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra (#66); Come Running Back by Dean Martin (#67); Green Grass by Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#69); There's No Living Without Your Loving by Peter and Gordon (#77); Sweet Talkin' Guy by the Chiffons (#81); Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long by Barbra Streisand (#82); Bad Eye by Willie Mitchell (#84); So Much Love by Ben E. King (#85); Love Takes a Long Time Growing by Deon Jackson (#87); So Much Love by Steve Alaimo (#89); The Last Word in Lonesome is Me by Eddy Arnold (#90); Headline News by Edwin Starr (#92); Please Don't Sell My Daddy No More Wine by the Greenwoods (#95); Better Man Than I by Terry Knight and the Pack (#96); Mame by Louis Armstrong (#97); Better Use Your Head by Little Anthony and the Imperials (#100); Downtown by Mrs. Miller (also #100); I'll Love You Forever by the Holidays (also #100); and Elvira by Dallas Frazier (also #100).

Died on this date
Bing Miller, 71. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Miller was an outfielder with the Washington Nationals (1921); Philadelphia Athletics (1922-1926, 1928-1934); St. Louis Browns (1926-1927); and Boston Red Sox (1935-1936), batting .311 with 116 home runs and 992 runs batted in in 1,820 games. He was with the Athletics when they won three straight American League pennants from 1929-1931 and World Series championships in 1929 and 1930. Mr. Miller ended the 1929 World Series when he doubled home Al Simmons with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Athletics rallied from a 2-0 deficit to score 3 runs and win the game 3-2, and the series 4 games to 1. Mr. Miller was a coach in the major leagues for 17 years after his playing career ended, with the final four seasons being with the Athletics (1950-1953). He died six hours after being injured in a car accident while driving home from Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, where he had watched the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Economics and finance
Algeria nationalized 11 foreign-owned mines, and also claimed title to French factories, farms, and homes abandoned in 1962.

Education
The Parent Royal Commission on Education in Québec recommended non-denominational education and local school reorganization.

Health
The headquarters of the World Health Organization were dedicated in Geneva, Switzerland. The $14.5 million building was a gift from the Geneva state government.

Horse racing
Kauai King, with Don Brumfield up, won the 92nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:02. Advocator placed second and Blue Skyer finished third in the 15-horse field.



Baseball
The New York Yankees fired manager Johnny Keane, who was in his second season with the team after leading the St. Louis Cardinals to victory over the Yankees in the 1964 World Series. The Yankees had slipped to seventh place in the American League in 1965 with a 77-85 record, and were tenth and last after 20 games in 1966, with a 4-16 record, 12 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians. General manager Ralph Houk, who had managed the Yankees from 1961-1963--winning the AL pennant each year and the World Series in his first 2 seasons--replaced Mr. Keane. The Yankees responded with a 3-1 win over the California Angels before 42,851 fans at Anaheim Stadium, as Fritz Peterson pitched a 4-hitter and scored the deciding run in the 5th inning when Mickey Mantle drew a base on balls with the bases loaded. Mr. Mantle drove in all 3 New York runs.

The California Angels released catcher Ed Bailey, ending his 14-year major league career. Mr. Bailey was in his first year with California, and was batting 0 for 3 with a base on balls in 5 games in 1966. He left the major leagues with a .256 career batting percentage, with 155 home runs and 540 runs batted in in 1,212 games.

The Cleveland Indians scored all their runs in the top of the 9th inning as they came from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 before 9,953 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The final 3 runs came on a home run by pinch hitter Duke Sims.

Tommy John pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Joe Sparma as the Chicago White Sox edged the Detroit Tigers 1-0 before 6,929 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The only run was scored with 2 out in the bottom of the 6th inning when J.C. Martin singled home Danny Cater. Mr. Sparma allowed 9 hits and 1 earned run in 6 innings. The Tigers had blanked the White Sox 1-0 the previous day.

Byron Browne's 3-run home run in the top of the 6th inning was the difference as the Chicago Cubs edged the New York Mets 3-2 before 16,221 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Ernie Broglio pitched a 6-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Tug McGraw.

Johnny Briggs led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a home run and Jim Bunning pitched a 9-hit complete game and scored 2 runs as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 before 7,006 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia cause was aided by 4 Pittsburgh errors--2 by right fielder Roberto Clemente in the 7th inning--and Pittsburgh catcher Jesse Gonder allowed 2 passed balls during the same at bat in the 3rd inning, leading to 2 unearned runs.

Lou Johnson hit a 3-run home run and Jim Lefebvre followed him with another homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored 4 runs in the 1st inning and 3 in the 2nd on their way to a 14-2 rout of the Cincinnati Reds before 5,950 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Don Drysdale allowed 3 hits and 2 earned runs in 7 innings to get the win, and homered for the first run of the 2nd inning. Mr. Lefebvre added a second home run in the 4th inning, and Al Ferrara homered for the Dodgers in the 6th. Even relief pitcher Ron Perranoski got into the act, doubling home Wes Parker for the final Los Angeles run in the 9th. Art Shamsky hit a 2-run homer for the Reds in the 5th.

The San Francisco Giants erupted for 13 runs in the 3rd inning--4 on a grand slam by Orlando Cepeda--as they routed the St. Louis Cardinals 15-2 before 15,369 fans in one of the last games played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Dennis Aust made his major league debut on the mound for St. Louis, relieving starter Art Mahaffey with 1 out in the 3rd inning; Mr. Aust faced 6 batters, getting 1 out, but allowing 4 hits, a base on balls, and 5 earned runs. Mr. Cepeda's homer was his 3rd of the season and 224th and last in his 9-year career with the Giants; he was traded to the Cardinals the next day for pitcher Ray Sadecki.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Mississippi--Pussycat (8th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Rocky--Frank Farian (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Fernando--ABBA (6th week at #1)

Environment
The United Nations Law of the Sea Conference adjourned its fourth session in New York City without reaching agreement between industrialized and backward nations on how to share the oceans' mineral wealth.

Society
Saskatchewan's Change of Name Act was amended to allow married women to legally keep their own surnames.

Transportation
The Honda Accord was officially launched.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
U.S. Championship Semi-Finals
New England 2 @ Houston 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Dover-Calais--Style (4th week at #1)

Adventure
Patrick Morrow, a native of Invermere, British Columbia (and no relation to this blogger), became the first person to climb each of the Seven Summits (Carstenz-Version).

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Montreal 0 @ New York Rangers 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Baseball
Garry Maddox, 36, retired from the Philadelphia Phillies. He joined the San Francisco Giants in 1972 and was traded to the Phillies for first baseman Willie Montanez early in the 1975 season. Mr. Maddox won 8 Gold Gloves as the Phillies’ center fielder, prompting the saying that "70% of the earth is covered by water and the rest by Garry Maddox." In 1,749 regular season games Mr. Maddox batted .285 with 117 home runs and 754 runs batted in. A knee injury had restricted him to 6 games in 1986, with 3 hits in 7 at bats for a .429 batting percentage.

25 years ago
1991

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Boston 1 @ Pittsburgh 4 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Baseball
Marquis Grissom hit a solo home run off Trevor Wilson with 1 out in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Montreal Expos a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants before 10,197 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The Giants scored a run in the top of the 12th to take a 2-1 lead, but Nelson Santovenia doubled home Larry Walker with 2 out in the bottom of the 12th to tie the score.

Pete O'Brien's 2-run home run off Doug Jones with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning climaxed a 5-run 9th-inning rally and gave the Seattle Mariners a 7-6 win over the Cleveland Indians before 9,511 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle. Cleveland led 6-1 after 7½ innings.

Harold Baines hit 3 home runs and a double in 4 at bats and drove in 7 runs, while Mike Moore improved his record for the season to 5-0 as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Baltimore Orioles 11-3 before 22,908 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

20 years ago
1996

Politics and government
Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning suspended MPs Bob Ringma and Dave Chatters from caucus for remarks they had made on a proposed amendment to a sodomite rights law; MP Jan Brown was suspended for criticizing her colleagues.

Economics and finance
The Ontario government of Premier Mike Harris cut provincial income taxes by 30.2%--a 7% reduction on July 1, 1996, and a further 8.5% reduction on January 1, 1997.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 3 @ Florida 1 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Pittsburgh 3 @ New York Rangers 2 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 2-1)

10 years ago
2006

Abominations
The British Columbia legislature formally apologized to the Japanese-Canadian community for the internment of over 22,000 people during World War II--even though they were interned on the orders of the federal government, not the provincial government.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Semi-Finals
Edmonton 1 @ San Jose 2 (San Jose led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Colorado 0 @ Anaheim 3 (Aanaheim led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Basketball
NBA
Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns was named the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.