January 11, 2017

230 years ago
1787

Space
William Herschel, who had discovered Uranus in 1781, discovered Oberon and Titania, two of Uranus's moons.

150 years ago
1867

Died on this date
Stuart Donaldson, 54. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir Stuart moved to Australia in 1835. He served as the first Premier of New South Wales from June 6-August 25, 1856, and resigned after his government lost a vote. Sir Stuart returned to England a few years later, and was unsuccessful in attempting to win a seat in the House of Commons.

110 years ago
1907

Died on this date
Anton Urspruch, 56. German composer. Mr. Urspruch was a composer of the late Romantic period who taught piano and composition in Frankfurt. His works included a symphony, a piano concerto, and other works for piano.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
John Robarts. Canadian politician. Mr. Robarts, a native of Banff, Alberta, moved to London, Ontario as a youth. A Progressive Conservative, he served in the Provincial Parliament from 1955-1971, and as Premier of Ontario from 1961-1971. Mr. Robarts retired from politics in 1971, and served as Chancellor of the University of Western Ontario from 1971-1976, and Chancellor of York University from 1977-1982. After a series of strokes, Mr. Robarts committed suicide on October 18, 1982 at the age of 65.

Terrorism
An explosion suspected of being caused by sabotage took place at a munitions factory in Kingsland (now Lyndhurst), New Jersey. Thanks to the work of telephone operator Tessie McNamara, who warned everyone to get out, none of the 1,400 workers were killed.

90 years ago
1927

Movies
Louis B. Mayer, head of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), announced the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

75 years ago
1942

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Haunted Bagpipes

War
Japanese forces captured Kuala Lumpur and attacked Tarakan in Borneo.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Old Lamp-Lighter--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Eva Tanguay, 68. Canadian-born U.S. singer. Miss Tanguay, a native of Marbleton, Quebec, moved to the United States at an early age, and became one of the most popular stars in vaudeville in the 1910s and '20s.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Será, Será)--Doris Day

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Singing the Blues--Tommy Steele

At the movies
Four Boys and a Gun, directed by William Berke, and starring Frank Sutton, Tarry Green, James Franciscus, William Hinnant, and Otto Hulett, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Robert Garran, 89. Australian politician. Sir Robert was associated with the Australian Federation movement, which sought to unite the British colonies in Australia (and, in early proposals, New Zealand) into one federated country. He served as the first Solicitor-General of Australia from 1916-1932.

Politics and government
The African Convention was founded in Dakar, French West Africa.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set):
1 Ooh La La--Normie Rowe (3rd week at #1)
2 Friday on My Mind--The Easybeats
3 Good Vibrations--The Beach Boys
4 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones
5 Let it Be Me (EP)--Johnny Young
6 No Milk Today--Herman's Hermits
7 Mellow Yellow--Donovan
8 It's Not Easy--Normie Rowe
9 Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band
10 Sorry--The Easybeats

Singles entering the chart were Summer Wine/Sugar Town by Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra (#29); Oh Monah by the Cherokees (#33): and Communication Breakdown by Roy Orbison (#40).

Space
The United States launched the communications satellite Intelsat II F-2, also known as Lani Bird, from Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Boxing
Jerry Quarry (21-1-3) knocked out Al Jones (3-9-2) at 3:08 of the 5th round of their heavyweight bout at San Francisco Civic Auditorium.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Daddy Cool--Boney M. (7th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Lovers and Strangers

Abominations
France set off an international uproar by releasing Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich.

Hockey
WHA
Indianapolis 4 @ Calgary 3 (OT)

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Walk This Way--Run DMC featuring Aerosmith (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel & Kim

#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Albert Ferber, 75. Swiss-born U.K. musician. Mr. Ferber, who moved to England in 1937, was a concert pianist whose career spanned four decades.

Football
NFL
NFC Championship
Washington 0 @ New York Giants 17

The Giants blanked the Redskins before 76,633 fans at Giants Stadium to advance to the NFL championship game for the first time since the pre-Super Bowl year of 1963.

AFC Championship
Denver 23 @ Cleveland 20 (OT)

The Browns led the Broncos 20-13 with 5:34 remaining in the 4th quarter, with the Broncos in possession of the ball at their own 2-yard line. Denver quarterback John Elway marched the team 98 yards to the tying touchdown and convert with 37 seconds remaining, and the Broncos won in overtime before 79,915 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Black or White--Michael Jackson (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Sore ga daiji--MAN Brothers Band

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives--Queen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): No Son of Mine--Genesis (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
Algerian President Chadli Benjedid resigned and was replaced by a ruling council dominated by the army.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): One and One--Robert Miles and Maria Nayler (8th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Freed from Desire--Gala (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Freed from Desire--Gala

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Freed from Desire--Gala (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (6th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Colorado 3 @ Toronto 2

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Robert Anton Wilson, 74. U.S. philosopher. Dr. Wilson, whose doctorate was in psychology, helped to populate Discordianism, and was a pothead who described himself as a "model agnostic" whose goal was "to try to get people into a state of generalized agnosticism, not agnosticism about God alone but agnosticism about everything." Dr. Wilson's best-known books were The Illuminatus! Trilogy (1975); he died a week before his 75th birthday.

Solveig Dommartin, 45. French actress. Miss Dommartin was known for appearing in movies directed by Wim Wenders, including Wings of Desire (1987) and Until the End of the World (1991), which they co-wrote. She died of a heart attack.

Soccer
English star David Beckham announced a five-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. Mr. Beckham had played with Manchester United from 1992-2003, and with Real Madrid since 2003.