April 12, 2017

1,550 years ago
467

Politics and government
Anthemius was elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, succeeding Libius Severus.

850 years ago
1167

Died on this date
Charles VII, 37 (?). King of Sweden, 1161-1167. Charles VII was the son of King Sverker I, who was assassinated in 1156 and replaced by Eric IX, who in turn was murdered by followers of Magnus II, who was then killed in battle by Charles VII, who took the throne. Charles VII was assassinated by supporters of Knut Eriksson, who succeeded to the throne as King Knut I.

175 years ago
1742

Born on this date
Maurice Rouvier. Prime Minister of France, 1887, 1905-1906. Mr. Rouvier was a member of the Republican Union who was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1871, and held several cabinet posts, including Minister of Finance, in various governments, while serving as Prime Minister of two short-lived governments. His second government was noted for passing a law on the separation of the churches and the state in December 1905. Mr. Rouvier died on June 7, 1911 at the age of 69.

150 years ago
1867

War
Republican forces in Mexico began a siege of Mexico City.

Transportation
The British Parliament passed the Imperial Canada Railway Loan Act, which provided for a British guarantee of £3 million to begin construction of the Intercolonial Railway between Halifax and Québec.

140 years ago
1877

Britannica
The United Kingdom annexed the Transvaal.

Baseball
Harvard University catcher James Tyng wore a modified fencing mask behind the plate. It is believed that this was the first time a catcher's mask was used during a game.

125 years ago
1892

Disasters
A fire in Tokyo destroyed 6,000 houses.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Helen Forrest. U.S. singer. Miss Forrest, born Helen Fogel, was a vocalist with the big bands of Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Harry James in the late 1930s and early '40s before embarking on a solo career. She died on July 11, 1999 at the age of 82.

War
The Canadian Corps mopped up at Vimy Ridge in France, after capturing the stronghold April 9; a few dug-in Germans were rounded up from the Pimple, a large hill on the northern end of the Ridge, and from Hill 145, where the Vimy monument now stands. The battle came at a price, with 3,600 Canadians killed and another 7,000 wounded.

Abominations
The government of Ontario gave women the right to vote and to hold provincial office.

90 years ago
1927

World events
Nationalist Chinese leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek ordered Communist Party of China members executed in Shanghai, ending the First United Front.

Disasters
Rocksprings, Texas was hit by an F5 tornado that destroyed 235 of the 247 buildings in the town and killed 72 townspeople and injured 205; it was the third-deadliest tornado in Texas history.

80 years ago
1937

Aviation
Sir Frank Whittle ground-tested the W.U. (Whittle Unit)--the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft--at Rugby, England.

75 years ago
1942

War
German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel withdrew his column from on the southern flank of Libya, apparently to Mekili. Japanese troops in Burma, under strong air support, advanced on a wide front along the Irrawaddy River south of Magwe, 100 miles north of Prome. Japanese bombers attacked Corregidor 12 times but inflicted little damage because of stiff anti-aircraft fire.

Diplomacy
U.K. Lord Privy Seal Sir Stafford Cripps left New Delhi for London after the failure of his two-week mission to India. Sir Stafford had been sent to India by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Secretary of State for India Leo Amery to secure India's full cooperation in the war effort, but the proposal that he had presented for Indian independence from British rule had been rejected by Hindu and Muslim leaders.

Labour
The U.S. Committee on Fair Employment Practice ordered 10 industrial plants in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas to cease discrimination against Negroes and Jews.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 4 @ Detroit 3 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-1)

The Maple Leafs, facing elimination, trailed 2-0 in the 2nd period but rallied to win, with Nick Metz scoring with 7 minutes remaining in regulation time to break a 3-3 tie at Olympia Stadium. In the last minute, Detroit's Eddie Wares was assessed a misconduct and a $50 fine for arguing and refusing to leave the ice. Referee Mel Harwood dropped the puck while Mr. Wares was still on the ice, and promptly assessed the Red Wings a penalty for too many men on the ice, with Don Grosso as the extra man. Mr. Grosso then threw his stick and gloves onto the ice and was fined $25. At the end of the game, Detroit coach Jack Adams was so incensed at the penalties assessed to the Red Wings that he charged onto the ice after Mr. Harwood, and was promptly suspended indefinitely by National Hockey League President Frank Calder. Ebbie Goodfellow took over the Detroit coaching duties for the rest of the series.

Baseball
PCL
Hal Turpin of the Seattle Rainiers came within one pitch of a perfect game but still pitched a no-hitter as the Rainiers blanked the San Diego Padres 2-0. The perfect game ended with 2 out in the 9th inning when Cedric Durst drew a bases on balls on a 3-2 count.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Heartaches--Ted Weems and his Orchestra (5th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The Moscow conference of foreign ministers agreed that land reform and redistribution of large estates should be completed in all zones of Germany by the end of 1947.

Politics and government
Haitian President Dumarsais Estime swore in a new cabinet.

Labour
Spurred by the telephone strike, the U.S. House of Representatives Labor Committee passed an anti-union bill banning the closed shop, Communist union leadership, and most industry-wide collective bargaining, and authorized government injunctions against critical strikes.

United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis authorized all soft coal miners to return to work on April 14, ending a two-week protest against mine safety hazards.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 2 @ Toronto 4 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-1)

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Bambino--Dalida (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Cumberland Gap--Lonnie Donegan

Diplomacy
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Abba Eban met with UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold to press demands that the UN obtain a formal declaration from Egyptian President Gamal Nasser on whether he would continue to base his policy toward Israel on the existence of a state of belligerency between the countries.

Defense
U.S. disarmament adviser Harold Stassen submitted an American plan for diverting world production of fissionable materials from weapons use to peaceful purposes.

18 leading West German nuclear physicists, including Nobel Prize winners Otto Hahn and Werner Heisenberg, issued a statement indicating that they would refuse to aid in the "production, testing or even use" of atomic weapons by the West German Army.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced that U.S. missiles would be included in the "American mutual aid program" for NATO member states in 1957.

Politics and government
The Chilean cabinet voted to give President Carlos Ibanez emergency powers to impose censorship, forbid meetings, and make arrests without warrants.

Argentine police rounded up 380 Communists throughout the country and closed 56 party centres and newspapers.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee voted to begin a broad study of the U.S. money and credit systems.

Health
Dr. Ernest Wynder, cancer researcher at Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York, said that the main cancer-causing element in tobacco was a wax-like coating on tobacco leaves and stems that could be easily removed with various solvents.

Disasters
96 passengers aboard an overloaded ferry drowned when it struck a reef and sand off Onomichi, Japan.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever--The Beatles
2 Georgy Girl--The Seekers
3 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen
4 Ruby Tuesday/Let's Spend the Night Together--The Rolling Stones
5 I'm a Believer--The Monkees
6 The Return of the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen
7 Pamela Pamela--Wayne Fontana
8 What's Wrong with the Way I Live--The Twilights
9 Peek-A-Boo--The New Vaudeville Band
10 Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)--Engelbert Humperdinck

Singles entering the chart were All My Loving (EP) by Johnny Young (#20); Something About You by the Vibrants (#32); There's a Kind of Hush by the New Vaudeville Band (#34); Come on Over to Our Place by Bev Harrell (#36); and Summer Wine/Sugar Town by Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra (#40).

Canadiana
The House of Commons recommended making Calixa Lavallée's song O Canada the national anthem, with God Save the Queen to be the Royal Anthem in Canada. O Canada wasn't proclaimed Canada's national anthem until July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880.

Diplomacy
The Organization of American States presidents conference opened in Punta del Este, Uruguay. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson was among those in attendance.

Hockey
CPHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Omaha 7 @ Memphis 4 (Omaha won best-of-seven series 4-3)

40 years ago
1977

Died on this date
Philip K. Wrigley, 82. U.S. businessman and baseball executive. Mr. Wrigley was the son of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. and upon his father's death in 1932, succeeded to the presidency of the gum company and of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. P.K. Wrigley handed the presidency of the gum company to his son William Wrigley III in 1961, but retained control of the Cubs until his death. The Cubs never won a World Series during Mr. Wrigley's ownership and didn't win a National League pennant after 1945, but were one of the first major league teams to have their game broadcast on radio, and later, television. Mr. Wrigley founded the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which existed from 1943-1954.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
New England 3 @ Quebec 7 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Indianapolis 7 @ Cincinnati 2 (Indianapolis led best-of-seven series 2-0)
San Diego 1 @ Winnipeg 4 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 2-0)

CHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Fort Worth 3 @ Kansas City 4 (2 OT) (Fort Worth led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Dave Kelly scored at 3:10 of the 2nd overtime period to give the Blues their win over the Texans at Kemper Memorial Arena. Fort Worth goalie Bill Hughes made 51 saves, including 13 in the scoreless 1st overtime period.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Funkytown--Pseudo Echo (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Respectable--Mel & Kim (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison--Licence IV

Business
Texaco, Inc. filed for bankruptcy, becoming the largest American company to do so. Texaco had been ordered by a Texas court to pay Pennzoil Co. $8.53 billion for having wrongfully interfered with a merger agreement between Pennzoil and Getty Oil Company. Texaco had also been required to post a $12 billion bond while appealing the original judgment.

Religion
Pope John Paul II climaxed a week-long visit to Buenos Aires by conducting a Palm Sunday mass for 500,000 people.

Golf
Larry Mize chipped in from 140 feet on the second hole of a three-way sudden-death playoff for a birdie to defeat Greg Norman and win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Severiano Ballasteros had been eliminated on the previous hole. The three had been tied after four rounds with 3-under-par totals of 285. First prize money was $162,000.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Montreal 4 @ Boston 2 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Hartford 1 @ Quebec 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Philadelphia 3 @ New York Rangers 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Washington 4 @ New York Islanders 1 (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-1)
St. Louis 1 @ Toronto 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Detroit 3 @ Chicago 1 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Calgary 3 @ Winnipeg 4 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Edmonton 6 @ Los Angeles 3 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Brett Hull, son of the legendary Bobby Hull, played his first National Hockey League game for the Flames in their loss to the Jets at Winnipeg Arena.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): To Be with You--Mr. Big (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Das Boot--U 96 (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Das Boot--U 96 (6th week at #1)

Music
This blogger was in attendance at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium as Victor Borge made his last appearance in Edmonton. I spent $20 for my ticket and got my money’s worth.

Popular culture
The Euro Disney Resort officially opened with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name were subsequently changed to Disneyland Paris.

Golf
Fred Couples won the Masters tournament at August National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia with a 13-under-par total score of 275, 2 strokes ahead of Ray Floyd. First prize money was $270,000.

Baseball
Matt Young pitched 8 hitless innings and a complete game for the Boston Red Sox, but was the losing pitcher as the Cleveland Indians edged the Red Sox 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 20,480 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Mr. Young walked 7 batters, two of whom came around to score. Winning pitcher Charles Nagy allowed 8 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings, striking out 10. John Flaherty made his major league debut as the Red Sox' catcher, batting 1 for 3 with a double and making 6 putouts. In the second game, Roger Clemens pitched a 2-hitter and struck out 12 to win the pitchers' duel over Scott Scudder as the Red Sox won 3-0.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): My Love For You--Blackwood

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Your Woman--White Town (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Maria--Ricky Martin

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Let a Boy Cry--Gala (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Let a Boy Cry--Gala (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Encore Une Fois--Sash!

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I Believe I Can Fly--R. Kelly

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Can't Nobody Hold Me Down--Puff Daddy featuring Mase (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
George Wald, 90. U.S. neurologist. Dr. Wald shared the 1967 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Ragnar Granit and Haldan Hartline for their discoveries concerning the primary physiological and chemical visual processes in the eye."

Religion
Pope John Paul II arrived in Sarajevo to begin a two-day visit, hours after police there had discovered at least 20 anti-tank mines under a bridge on the road between the airport and the city--the route planned for the Pope and his entourage.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 Calgary 1

10 years ago
2007

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
New York Islanders 1 @ Buffalo 4 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Tampa Bay 3 @ New Jersey 5 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Rangers 4 @ Atlanta 3 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Calgary 1 @ Detroit 4 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 1-0)