May 24, 2017

410 years ago
1607

Americana
100 English settlers disembarked in Jamestown in what is now Virginia, the first English colony in America.

350 years ago
1667

War
The French Royal Army crossed the border into the Spanish Netherlands, beginning the War of Devolution, pitting France against the Spanish Empire and the Triple Alliance of the Dutch Republic, England, and Sweden.

225 years ago
1792

Died on this date
George Brydges Rodney, 74. U.K. military officer and politician. Baron Rodney was a naval commander during the Seven Years War and American War of Independence, and was Governor of Newfoundland from 1749-1751.

120 years ago
1897

Politics and government
Liberal Party leader Félix-Gabriel Marchand was sworn in as Premier of Québec, replacing Edmund Flynn.

110 years ago
1907

Montrealana
A Boer War Memorial was unveiled: an equestrian statue, unmounted, with the names of the battles on the base.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Ross Thatcher. Canadian politician. Mr. Thatcher, a native of Neville, Saskatchewan, was a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1942-1955, and was an alderman in Moose Jaw before representing Moose Jaw (1945-1953) and Moose Jaw-Lake Centre (1953-1957) in the Canadian House of Commons, serving the last two years as an independent politician after splitting with the CCF over the issue of corporate taxation. Mr. Thatcher was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the 1957 and 1958 federal elections, but became the leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in 1959, leading them to a narrow victory over the governing New Democratic Party (the renamed CCF) in 1964, and a slightly increased majority in 1967. He introduced an austerity program after the latter election that proved unpopular with voters, and the Liberals were narrowly defeated by the Allan Blakeney-led NDP in the June 1971 election. Mr. Thatcher died in his sleep in Regina on July 22, 1971 at the age of 54, just 22 days after leaving office, apparently a result of complications from diabetes and a heart condition. It was an open secret in Saskatchewan that Mr. Thatcher had neglected to take care of his diabetes, and insiders weren't surprised by his death. Mr. Thatcher's son Colin was a provincial cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative government of Grant Devine in the 1980s, but went to prison after murdering his ex-wife JoAnn.

75 years ago
1942

War
Germans encircled a large Russian force south of Kharkov. Japanese troops continued to advance in several columns in Chekiang Province, driving close to the provincial capital of Kinwha.

Protest
Resolutions demanding a second front against Germany were adopted at two mass meetings in London--one sponsored by the Communist Party, and the other by Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express.

Baseball
Michio Nishizawa of the Chunichi Dragons threw 311 pitches in pitching a complete game as the Dragons and Taiyō Whales played a 4-4 tie in a Japanese Baseball League game that was called after 28 innings at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Heartaches--Ted Weems and his Orchestra (11th week at #1)

At the movies
The Web, directed by Michael Gordon, and starring Edmond O'Brien, Ella Raines, William Bendix, and Vincent Price, received its premiere screening in Los Angeles.



Died on this date
Fred Bradley, 49. U.S. politician. Mr. Bradley, a Republican, represented Michigan's 11th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1939-1947, and was chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. He died of a heart attack.

Politics and government
Socialist leader Tetsu Katayama was installed as Prime Minister of Japan, following the Socialist victory in parliamentary elections in April.

Italian President Enrico de Nicola asked former Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi to form his fourth cabinet.

Protest
The Jamaican government declared a state of emergency, banning public meetings and parades, after a large opposition demonstration in Kingston.

Defense
The United States and Yemen signed an agreement granting the Arab kingdom a $1-million credit for the purchase of surplus U.S. Army equipment.

The U.S. Navy announced that it would buy the new twin-jet 600-miles-per-hour McDonnell Banshee, to be used as a carrier-based fighter.

Crime
Attacking the May 21 acquittal by an all-white jury in Greenville, South Carolina of 28 white men accused of the February 17 lynching of Willie Earle, S.C. Governor Tom Clark called the verdict an "outrage," and said he would ask the U.S. Supreme Court if federal lynching prosecutions were possible under the civil rights code.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Bambino--Dalida (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Butterfly--Andy Williams

War
A force of about 100 armed insurgents landed on the northern coast of the Cuban province of Oriente. The group had reportedly sailed from Miami and had no connection to the rebels led by Fidel Castro.

Diplomacy
11 Arab states protested to the United States against continued U.S. aid to France, which they charged with "outrageous acts of terror and atrocities" in Algeria.

Defense
The West German government said that it reserved its "legitimate right" to use nuclear weapons for defense in the U.S.S.R. continued to block disarmament and established nuclear warfare bases in eastern Europe.

Protest
13 Americans were injured in the sacking of the U.S. embassy in Taipei by 3,000 Taiwanese who were protesting the killing by a U.S. soldier of a Chinese man. Another crowd raided the U.S. Information Service office in Taipei.

Labour
United Steel Workers of America President David McDonald charged that a secret school financed by employers was training "agitators" to serve as "professional union busters."

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Somethin' Stupid--Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra (3rd week at #1)
2 This is My Song--Petula Clark
3 Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever--The Beatles
4 When I was Young--Eric Burdon & the Animals
5 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You--The Monkees
6 Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)--Engelbert Humperdinck
7 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Mamas and the Papas
8 Ciao Baby--Lynne Randell
9 There's a Kind of Hush--Herman's Hermits
10 Going Home/I Don't Care--Normie Rowe

Singles entering the chart were The Happening by the Supremes (#27); The Girls in Paris by Lee Hazlewood (#30); Western Union by the Strangers (#31); You Made Me What I Am by Cheryl Gray (#35); and Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear by the Alan Price Set (#39).

Space
The United States launched the satellite Explorer 34--also known as Interplanetary Monitoring Platform--F from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Canadiana
The Voyageur canoe race, with teams from eight provinces and the two territories, began with the departure from Rocky Mountain House Alberta. The canoeists arrived at Expo 67 in Montreal on September 4.

Sir John A. Macdonald's Kingston, Ontario home, Bellevue House, was opened as a museum by Parks Canada.

War
Egypt imposed a blockade and siege of the Red Sea coast of Israel.

Protest
Security guards locked the Centre Block doors for first time as over 10,000 Ontario and Québec dairy farmers demonstrated on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for higher milk prices.

40 years ago
1977

Politics and government
U.S.S.R. President Nikolai Podgorny, 74, was dropped from the Communist Party Politburo in a vote at a plenary session of the party's Central Committee. The move was generally interpreted as ending Mr. Podgorny's career.

The governing Liberal Party won five of six Canadian federal by-elections, gaining one seat.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Finals
Quebec 3 @ Winnipeg 12 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

The Jets set a World Hockey Association playoff record for goals in a game as they routed the Nordiques at Winnipeg Arena.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Lean on Me--Club Nouveau (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Let it Be--Ferry Aid (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison--License IV (7th week at #1)

Auto racing
Al Unser, Sr., who was without a ride at the beginning of May, won the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth time, tying a record held by A.J. Foyt. Mr. Unser had won in 1970, 1971, and 1978, but didn’t have an opportunity to participate in the 1987 race until Danny Ongais was injured in a practice crash, and Mr. Unser was hired as his replacement.



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

Wayne Gretzky had 3 assists as the Oilers beat the Flyers at the Spectrum.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): To Be with You--Mr. Big (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: To Be with You--Mr. Big (4th week at #1)

World events
The ethnic cleansing in Kozarac, Bosnia,and Herzegovina began when Serbian militia and police forces entered the town.

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced that Canada was withdrawing her Ambassador to Belgrade and expelling Yugoslavian diplomats as part of international effort to force Serbs to agree to a cease-fire in Bosnia.

Politics and government
General Suchinda Kraprayoon resigned as Premier of Thailand in the face of widespread protest against his regime and in favour of democratic reform. Five parties had withdrawn their support for Gen. Kraprayoon, and Thailand’s major political parties had agreed in principle on May 9 to constitutional amendments requiring that the country’s premier be an elected member of the legislature, and curtailing military power. Gen. Kraprayoon had seized power in a coup in 1991 and had become Premier in April 1992.

Auto racing
Al Unser, Jr. held off Scott Goodyear to win the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in the closest finish in the race’s history to date. Cold weather helped contribute to the slowest Indianapolis 500 since 1958, including a crash on the pace lap when Roberto Guerrero, driving from the pole position, spun out on cold tires and crashed into a wall, putting him out of the race before it officially started. Mr. Goodyear started 33rd and last in the field, but gradually worked his way to the front, where he just failed to overtake Mr. Unser at the finish line. It was the 35th and last Indianapolis 500 for four-time winner A.J. Foyt.



20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Around the World--Daft Punk

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Blood on the Dance Floor--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Maria--Ricky Martin (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Fired Up--Funky Green Dogs (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): María--Ricky Martin (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye)--Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): You're Not Alone--Olive (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): MMMBop--Hanson

Died on this date
Edward Mulhare, 74. Irish-born U.S. actor. Mr. Mulhare was best known for his starring roles in the television series The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1968-1970) and Knight Rider (1982-1986). He died of lung cancer.