April 25, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Suzie Martin!

675 years ago
1342

Died on this date
Benedict XII, 53-62 (?). Roman Catholic Pope, 1334-1342. Benedict XII, born Jacques Fournier in France, was the third of seven popes whose papacy was located in Avignon, France. He succeeded John XXII, and was known as a reformer who didn't follow the policies of his predecessor. Benedict XII was succeeded by Clement VI.

410 years ago
1607

War
The Dutch fleet destroyed the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar.

310 years ago
1707

War
A coalition of England, the Netherlands, and Portugal was defeated by a Franco-Spanish army in the Battle of Almansa, Spain in the War of the Spanish Succession.

225 years ago
1792

Died on this date
Nicolas Pelletier, 36 (?). French criminal. Mr. Pelletier, a highwayman, became the first person executed by guillotine. He was sentenced to death for an assault and robbery on October 14, 1791, in which the victim was killed. The crowd in Paris was reportedly dissatisfied with the rapidity of the method of execution.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Maud Hart Lovelace. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Lovelace was best known for her Betsy-Tacy series of children's books (1940-1955). She died on March 11, 1980 at the age of 87.

Died on this date
Karl von Ditmar, 69. German geologist and explorer. Mr. Ditmar was best known for contributing to the body of knowledge about Kamchatka.

Henri Duveyrier, 52. French explorer. Mr. Duveyrier explored the Sahara Desert, and contributed to the body of knowledge about the Tuareg people. He committed suicide in Sèvres.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Ella Fitzgerald. U.S. singer. Miss Fitzgerald, nicknamed the "First Lady of Song," was one of the most highly-regarded jazz singers in history, with achievements too numerous to mention here. She won 13 Grammy Awards and probably would have won more if the awards had been presented prior to 1958. Miss Fitzgerald suffered from diabetes in her later years and died on June 15, 1996 at the age of 79.

Religion
The Doukhobor Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, headed by Peter Verigin, was incorporated in Saskatchewan.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Moonlight Cocktail--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (9th week at #1)

War
U.K. Royal Air Force planes bombed the German Baltic port of Rostock for the second night in a row. British radio announced that General Henri Honore Giraud, 63, a French Army commander who had been captured in may 1940, had escaped from the fortress of Koenigstein. U.S. troops arrived at New Caledonia--about 800 miles east of Australia--to assist in defending the island. Japanese columns drove west and northeast of Taunggyi, Burma.

Politics and government
Paraguayan President Higinio Morinigio ordered the dissolution of the Liberal Party on charges of "high treason."

Economics and finance
The United States and Nicaragua reached an agreement whereby Nicaragua would get a $500,000 credit through the Import-Export Bank, and the U.S.A. would build the Nicaraguan portion of the Inter-American Highway and purchase Nicaragua's rubber.

70 years ago
1947

Politics and government
Major Peter Cashin led a delegation of the Newfoundland National Convention to London. On arrival, Secretary for the Dominions Lord Addison stated Westminster's position: if Newfoundland voted to return to responsible government, it could expect no further aid from Britain. Major Cashin argued that Britain was conspiring to sell Newfoundland to the Dominion of Canada, and violating the 1934 agreement to restore responsible government as soon as Newfoundland became self-supporting again.

Elections for the Japanese House of Representatives resulted in a victory for the Social Deomcrats, who won 142 of the chamber's 466 seats, although the conservative Liberal Party obrained the largest number of popular votes.

Diplomacy
The non-Zionist American Council for Judaism announced its opposition to the seating of special Jewish representatives in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session on Palestine.

Terrorism
The Greek government ordered the disarming and disbanding of royalist groups who were terrorizing the Laconia area of the Peloponnesus.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee formally approved President Harry Truman's Greek-Turkish aid bill, calling the measure "a positive move for the preservation of world peace."

60 years ago
1957

War
Nicaraguan troops invaded the newly-created Honduran state of Gracia a Dios on the Caribbean coast, claiming that some Nicaraguan territory had been used in the creation of the new state.

World events
King Hussein of Jordan decreed martial law throughout the country, imposing total curfews on Amman, Jerusalem, Ramaliah, Nablus, and Irbid after abolishing all of Jordan's political parties.

Defense
Acting to assure the survival of Jordan's King Hussein against leftist and nationalist opponents, the United States ordered the Navy's 6th Fleet from French and Italian ports to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Politics and government
Finnish Prime Minister Karl August Fagerholm and his cabinet resigned, following Mr. Fagerholm's defeat by Vaino Tanner for the presidency of the Social Democratic Party.

Oil
U.S. Defense Mobilization Agency director Gordon Gray released an exchange of correspondence in which President Dwight Eisenhower agreed that "there is reason for the belief" that crude oil imports had risen to the point where they endangered U.S. security.

Environment
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission member Willard Libby wrote, in a letter to Dr. Albert Schweitzer, that the current level of strontium-90 in the atmsphere is "less than 1% of the maximum permissible concentration."

50 years ago
1967

Politics and government
The British protectorate of Swaziland was granted self-government, with Prince Makhosini Diamini as Prime Minister.

Defense
The Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-243, "The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act," unifying the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force into one service, the Canadian Armed Forces, with common uniform and rank designations, to come into effect February 1, 1968.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 2 @ Toronto 3 (3 OT) (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Bob Pulford scored 8:26 into the 3rd overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Canadiens at Maple Leaf Gardens. Johnny Bower made 60 saves as he won an outstanding goaltending duel over Rogie Vachon.



40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Carmen '77--Pink Lady (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gavilán o Paloma--Pablo Abraira

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Indianapolis 3 @ Quebec 8 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 2-0)

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever--Nick Kamen

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sailing Home--Piet Veerman

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Sailing Home--Piet Veerman (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Irish Rover--The Pogues and the Dubliners (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): La Isla Bonita--Madonna

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): La Isla Bonita--Madonna

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael
2 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship
3 Don't Dream it's Over--Crowded House
4 Sign 'o' the Times--Prince
5 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
6 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
7 The Finer Things--Steve Winwood
8 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
9 Walking Down Your Street--Bangles
10 With or Without You--U2

Singles entering the chart were In Too Deep by Genesis (#54); Jammin' Me by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#84); Why Can't this Night Go on Forever by Journey (#85); Back and Forth by Cameo (#86); Soul City by the Partland Brothers (#88); Weatherman Says by Jack Wagner (#89); and Sweet Sixteen by Billy Idol (#90).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 Lean on Me--Club Nouveau (3rd week at #1)
2 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship
3 Don't Dream it's Over--Crowded House
4 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael
5 Somewhere Out There--Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
6 With or Without You--U2
7 Wild Horses--Gino Vannelli
8 Heat of the Night--Bryan Adams
9 Holiday Rap--M.C. Miker G. & DJ Sven
10 Sign 'o' the Times--Prince

Singles entering the chart were Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You by Glenn Medeiros (#92); Walkin' a Fine Line by Johansen (#94); Get that Love by Thompson Twins (#96); Right on Track by Breakfast Club (#97); and Just to See Her by Smokey Robinson (#98).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Toronto 2 @ Detroit 4 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Edmonton 5 @ Winnipeg 2 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-0)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Love Song--Chage & Aska

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Why--Annie Lennox (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Quimica--Chimo Bayo (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers

#1 single in France (SNEP): Joy--François Feldman

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): To Be with You--Mr. Big

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Deeply Dippy--Right Said Fred (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jump--Kris Kross

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton
2 Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams
3 Make it Happen--Mariah Carey
4 Masterpiece--Atlantic Starr
5 Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen
6 Everything Changes--Kathy Troccoli
7 Hazard--Richard Marx
8 Jump--Kris Kross
9 Beauty and the Beast--Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
10 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue

Singles entering the chart were Just Take My Heart by Mr. Big (#69); Damn I Wish I was Your Lover by Sophie B. Hawkins (#72); Don't Talk Just Kiss by Right Said Fred (#84); What You Give by Tesla (#89); This is the Last Time by Laura Enea (#91); Anything at All by Mitch Malloy (#92); No Sunshine by Kid Frost (#94); Lift Me Up by Howard Jones (#96); and If You Could See Me Now by Devonsquare (#99). Bohemian Rhapsody had been a major hit in Great Britain in 1975 and in North America in 1976, and had been reissued as a single, presumably because it had been featured in the movie Wayne's World (1992).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven--Bryan Adams
2 Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton
3 Human Touch--Bruce Springsteen
4 Hazard--Richard Marx
5 Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams
6 One--U2
7 Make it Happen--Mariah Carey
8 To Be with You--Mr. Big
9 Ain't it Heavy--Melissa Etheridge
10 Sinking Like a Sunset--Tom Cochrane

Singles entering the chart were Why by Annie Lennox (#77); A Horse in the Country by Cowboy Junkies (#81); Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers (#89); Goodbye by World on Edge (#91); River of Life by Stan Meissner (#93); It's Over Now by L.A. Guns (#97); Take Time by Chris Walker (#98); and Damn I Wish I was Your Lover by Sophie B. Hawkins (#99).

Died on this date
Bob Hazle, 61. U.S. baseball player. "Hurricane" Hazle was an outfielder with the Cincinnati Redlegs (1955); Milwaukee Braves (1957-1958); and Detroit Tigers (1958), batting .310 with 9 home runs and 37 runs batted in in 110 games. He was best known for helping the Braves win the National League pennant in 1957, when he was called up from the Wichita Braves of the American Association in August, and batted .403 with 7 homers and 27 RBIs in 41 games. Mr. Hazle batted .154 (2 for 13) in 4 games in that year's World Series, getting both of his hits in the seventh game as the Braves defeated the New York Yankees 5-0 to win the Series 4 games to 3. In 9 years in the minor leagues from 1950-1960, Mr. Hazle batted .287 with 79 home runs in 1,033 games.

Brian MacLeod, 39. Canadian musician. Mr. MacLeod was a member of the rock groups Chilliwack and Headpins in the 1980s.

Yutaka Ozaki, 26. Japanese musician. Mr. Ozaki was a pianist, guitarist, and singer-songwriter who was one of Japan's most popular recording artists from 1983 until his death, which occurred shortly after being found naked, drunk and unconscious in a Tokyo alleyway. Conspiracy theories abound.

World events
Islamic forces took over most of Kabul after the previously Soviet-controlled Afghan government collapsed.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Montreal 1 @ Hartford 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Boston 5 @ Buffalo 4 (OT) (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-1)
New York Rangers 3 @ New Jersey 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Washington 7 @ Pittsburgh 2 (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Warum?--Tic Tac Toe (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio

At the movies
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, starring Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, and Janeane Garofalo, opened in theatres.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Ottawa 4 @ Buffalo 1 (Ottawa led best-of-seven series 3-2)
New York Rangers 3 @ Florida 2 (OT) (New York won best-of-seven series 4-1)
St. Louis 2 @ Detroit 5 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Edmonton 1 @ Dallas 0 (2 OT) (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-2)

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Bobby Pickett, 69. U.S. singer. Mr. Pickett, who recorded as Bobby (Boris) Pickett, was known for his imitation of the voice of actor Boris Karloff on the hit single Monster Mash, which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1962, and became a perennial Halloween favourite. Mr. Pickett died of leukemia.

Religion
The funeral of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin was the first to be sanctioned by the Russian Orthodox Church for a head of state since the funeral of Emperor Alexander III in 1894.

Business
The oil company Shell Canada was delisted after 45 years on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Royal Dutch Shell bought out the minority shareholders for $8.7-billion, and folded Shell Canada.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ Buffalo 5 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Vancouver 1 @ Anaheim 5 (Anaheim led best-of-seven series 1-0)