February 7, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Meisy!

175 years ago
1842

War
Ras Ali Alula, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia, defeated warlord Wube Haile Maryam of Semien in the Battle of Debre Tabor in Ethiopia.

150 years ago
1867

Born on this date
Laura Ingalls Wilder. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Wilder was known for the Little House on the Prairie series of memoirs (1932-1943). She died on February 10, 1957, three days after her 90th birthday.

125 years ago
1892

Disasters
28 people were killed in a fire at the Hotel Royal in New York City.

120 years ago
1897

War
The Greek expeditionary force in Crete defeated a 4,000-strong Ottoman force in the Battle of Livadeia, the first full-scale battle of the Greco-Turkish War.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Elihu Root, 91. U.S. politician. Mr. Root, a Republican, was United States Secretary of War under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt (1899-1904) and Secretary of State under President Roosevelt from 1905-1909. He then represented New York in the United States Senate from 1909-1915. Mr. Root was awarded the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize "[F]or his strong interest in international arbitration and for his plan for a world court." He died eight days before his 92nd birthday.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A String of Pearls--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

50 years ago
1967

On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: There Goes the Ball Game, with guest stars Gabriel Dell, Lynda Day, Martin Balsam, and Vincent Gardenia



The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Genesis



40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Way You Do It--Pussyfoot (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Seishun Jidai--Koichi Morita and the Top Gallants (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Don't Go Breaking My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee (2nd week at #1)

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Final Countdown--Europe (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Final Countdown--Europe (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)--George Michael and Aretha Franklin

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)--George Michael and Aretha Franklin

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)--George Michael and Aretha Franklin

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Open Your Heart--Madonna

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Open Your Heart--Madonna
2 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
5 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
6 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
7 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
8 Someday--Glass Tiger
9 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
10 Keep Your Hands to Yourself--Georgia Satellites

Singles entering the chart were What You Get is What You See by Tina Turner (#70); My Baby by the Pretenders (#85); The Finer Things by Steve Winwood (#86); Have You Ever Loved Somebody by Freddie Jackson (#87); Make it Mean Something by Rob Jungklas (#88); Hold Me by Sheila E. (#89); and Summertime, Summertime by Nocera (#90).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
2 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
5 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
6 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
7 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
8 You Give Love a Bad Name--Bon Jovi
9 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
10 Land of Confusion--Genesis

Singles entering the chart were Don't Need a Gun by Billy Idol (#90); Let's Wait Awhile by Janet Jackson (#93); Make a Move on Me by Veronique (#94); One More Time by Tom Cochrane (#95); and Just One Night by the Trumps (#97).

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Das Boot--U96 (3rd week at #1)

Abominations
European Community members signed the Maastricht Treaty, which led to creation of the euro and the European Union.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Time to Say Goodbye--Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (4th week at #1)

Business
NeXT merged with Apple Computer.