February 23, 2017

600 years ago
1417

Born on this date
Paul II. Roman Catholic Pope, 1464-1471. Paul II, born Pietro Barbo, was the nephew of Pope Eugene IV, which enabled him to rise rapidly through the ranks of Roman Catholic clergy, succeeding Pius II on the papal throne. Pope Paul was known for his suspicious nature and secretiveness. Paul died of a heart attack on July 26, 1471 at the age of 54, although reports vary as to the cause; his detractors claimed that he died while being sodomized by a page boy. Pope Paul II was succeeded by Sixtus IV.

225 years ago
1792

Died on this date
Joshua Reynolds, 68. U.K. artist. Sir Joshua was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 18th century. He died after months of failing health.

170 years ago
1847

War
5,000 American troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor defeated 15,000 Mexican troops under General Antonio López de Santa Anna in the second day of the Battle of Buena Vista, in the Mexican state of Coahuila.

130 years ago
1887

Disasters
The French Riviera was hit by a large earthquake, killing around 2,000 people.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Kathleen Harrison. U.K. actress. Miss Harrison was a character actress who appeared in numerous plays, movies, and television programs in a career that spanned more than 60 years. She died on December 7, 1995 at the age of 103.

90 years ago
1927

Radio
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill by Congress establishing the Federal Radio Commission (later replaced by the Federal Communications Commission), which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States.

Science
German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg wrote a letter to fellow physicist Wolfgang Pauli, in which he described his uncertainty principle for the first time.

75 years ago
1942

War
The first Axis shelling of American soil took place near Santa Barbara, California, when Japanese submarines fired artillery shells at the coastline.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Hey There--Rosemary Clooney (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ich weiß was dir fehlt--Peter Alexander (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Young Love--Tab Hunter

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Too Much--Elvis Presley (Best Seller--3rd week at #1); Young Love--Tab Hunter (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1; Top 100--2nd week at #1); Don't Forbid Me--Pat Boone (Jukebox--1st week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Too Much--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)
2 Young Love--Tab Hunter
--Sonny James
3 Don't Forbid Me--Pat Boone
4 Banana Boat (Day-O)--Harry Belafonte
5 Marianne--Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders
--The Hilltoppers
6 The Banana Boat Song--The Tarriers
7 Love is Strange--Mickey and Sylvia
8 Blue Monday--Fats Domino
9 Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell
10 Moonlight Gambler--Frankie Laine

Singles entering the chart were Teen-Age Crush by Tommy Sands (#19); Round and Round by Perry Como (#25); Almost Paradise, with versions by Roger Williams; Lou Stein; and the Norman Petty Trio (#30); Gone by Ferlin Husky (#42); Come Go with Me by the Dell-Vikings (#46); and Shirley by the Schoolboys (#50).

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): This is My Song--Petula Clark (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Dragnet 1967, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Bank Examiner Swindle



Music
The Beatles were in studio two at Abbey Road in London, where they began recording the song Lovely Rita.

Politics and government
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the 25th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which had gone into effect on February 10.

Football
CFL
Senator Keith Davey, in his 54th day on the job, resigned as Commissioner of the Canadian Football League when, at a meeting of the league's governors in Toronto, there was no second to the motion to accept his report. Two hours after Sen. Davey's resignation, Allan McEachern, president of the British Columbia Lions and the Canadian Football League, was named acting Commissioner until a full-time Commissioner could be found.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): When I Need You--Leo Sayer

Hockey
WHA
Houston 2 @ Calgary 3

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles (2nd week at #1)

Space
Supernova 1987a was seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Justified & Ancient--The KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette) (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (5th week at #1)

Olympics
Men's hockey
Final
United Team (Commonwealth of Independent States) 3 Canada 1

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Don't Speak--No Doubt (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Discothèque--U2

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): When I Die--No Mercy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)--Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Tony Williams, 51. U.S. musician. Mr. Williams was one of the most influential jazz drummers in history. He initially gained fame in the band of Miles Davis, and later led his own band. Mr. Williams died of a heart attack after routine gall bladder surgery.

Soccer
NPSL
Buffalo 9 @ Edmonton 10

This blogger, with enjoyable female company, was in attendance at Skyreach Centre in Edmonton to see the Drillers edge the Blizzard. It was the only indoor soccer game I ever attended.

Basketball
NBA
Cleveland 91 @ Vancouver 84

10 years ago
2007

Disasters
A train derailed on an evening express service near Grayrigg, Cumbria, England, killing one person and injuring 88. This resulted in hundreds of points being checked throughout the U.K. after a few similar accidents.