June 7, 2017

525 years ago
1492

Died on this date
Casimir IV, 64. King of Poland, 1447-1492. Casimir IV succeeded Sigismund Kestutian as Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1440, and succeeded his brother Władysław III as King of Poland. King Casimir supported the strengthening of the Parliament and Senate, and his reign included the promotion of education and culture, as well as bringing Prussia under Polish rule. Casimir IV was succeeded as King of Poland by his third son John I, and as Grand Duke of Lithuania by his fourth son Alexander I.

325 years ago
1692

Disasters
1,600 people were killed and 3,000 seriously injured in just three minutes as Port Royal, Jamaica was hit by an earthquake.

150 years ago
1867

Politics and government
Five days after being removed from office by U.S. Army General Philip Sheridan, military governor of the Fifth Military District (Texas and Louisiana), former Louisiana Governor James M. Wells was forcibly ejected.

140 years ago
1877

Born on this date
John Uhrich. Canadian physician and politician. Dr. Uhrich, a native of Formosa, Ontario, began a medical practice in Hague, Saskatchewan in 1909. A Liberal, he represented Rosthern in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly (1921-1944), and held several cabinet posts, most notably Minister of Public Health (1923-1929, 1934-1944), overseeing increased government operation of hospitals and immunization programs. Dr. Uhrich retired from electoral politics in 1944; he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan in 1948, and died in office on June 15, 1951, eight days after his 74th birthday. Dr. Uhrich was succeeded as Lieutenant Governor by William John Patterson.

130 years ago
1887

Politics and government
The Liberal Party of Canada convention in Ottawa confirmed the June 3 choice of the parliamentary caucus of Wilfrid Laurier as party leader, replacing Edward Blake.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Kevin O'Higgins. Irish politician. Mr. O'Higgins, a member of Sinn Féin from 1918-1923 before joining Cumann na nGaedheal, was Minister from Justice and Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 until his assassination at the age of 35 on July 10, 1927 by three members of the Irish Republican Army in retaliation for his part in the executions of IRA men during the Irish Civil War.

Leo Reise. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Reise was a defenceman with the Hamilton Tigers (1920-23); Saskatoon Sheiks (1923-26); New York Americans (1926-30); and New York Rangers (1929-30), scoring 70 points on 39 goals and 31 assists in 223 National Hockey League regular season games and no points in 6 Stanley Cup games, and 14 goals and 15 assists in 76 regular season Western Canada Hockey League/Western Hockey League games. His son Leo, Jr. also played in the NHL. Leo Reise, Sr. died on July 8, 1975 at the age of 83.

Society
Homer Plessy, an octoroon, was arrested for sitting in a car reserved for white people only on a commuter train in Louisiana. The incident led to the U.S. Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson ruling in 1896 upholding "separate but equal" state laws requiring reacial segregation.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Dean Martin. U.S. singer and actor. Mr. Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti and nicknamed the "King of Cool," was one of the most popular entertainers in the United States from the 1950s through the 1970s. He first became prominent as the straight man in a comedy duo with Jerry Lewis in the late 1940s, and Martin and Lewis became the most popular comedy team of the early 1950s, splitting up in 1956. Mr. Martin achieved success in movies such as The Young Lions (1958); Some Came Running (1958); Rio Bravo (1959); The Sons of Katie Elder (1965); and The Silencers (1966), in addition to several films he co-starred in as part of the Hollywood "Rat Pack." Mr. Martin hosted The Dean Martin Show, a comedy-variety program that had a successful run on NBC from 1965-1974. While he was performing with Mr. Lewis and acting in movies and television, Mr. Martin had a successful career as a recording artist, with hit singles such as That's Amore (1953); Memories are Made of This (1955); and Everybody Loves Somebody (1964). He died on December 25, 1995 at the age of 78.

War
British Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig launched an assault in Flanders to take German pressure off his French allies. Allied soldiers detonated a series of mines underneath German trenches at Messines Ridge near Ypres, Belgium, killing 10,000 German troops.

Politics and government
The governing Liberals of Premier Arthur Sifton were re-elected with a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly in the Alberta provincial election. The Liberals captured 34 of 58 seats, down from 39 seats before the election. The Conservatives, led by Edward Michener, won 19 seats; the Socialists, led by Charles O'Brien, won 3 seats; Non-Partisan League candidates James Weir (Nanton) and Louise McKinney (Claresholm) were elected); Labour Representation candidate William Irvine was elected in South Calgary; and soldiers serving overseas elected two members at large. 11 MLAs were re-elected by acclamation because they had enlisted for service in World War I. It was the first provincial election in which women were allowed to vote, and Mrs. McKinney became the first woman in the British Empire to be elected to a provincial legislature. It was the Liberals' fourth straight electoral win in Alberta--and their last to date.

90 years ago
1927

Died on this date
Edmund James Flynn, 79. Canadian politician. Mr. Flynn was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as a Liberal in 1878, representing the riding of Gaspé. He crossed the floor and joined the Conservative Party a year later, and held his seat until losing it in the 1890 provincial election. Mr. Flynn regained the seat in 1892 and held it until 1900, when he was elected in the riding of Nicolet, holding the seat until his retirement in 1904. He became Conservative Party leader and succeeded Louis-Olivier Taillon as Premier of Quebec in May 1896. The Conservatives were defeated by the Liberals in the provincial election a year later, and Mr. Flynn served as Leader of the Opposition until leaving politics in 1904. He was a judge on the Superior Court of Quebec from 1914-1920, and on the Court of King's Bench from 1920 until his death.

Abominations
The Ku Klux Klan held a large rally in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the largest ever held in Canada.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Jean Harlow, 26. U.S. actress. Miss Harlow, born Harlean Harlow Carpenter, was one of the biggest stars of the 1930s, in movies such as Hell's Angels (1930); Platinum Blonde (1931); and Dinner at Eight (1933). She was most of the way through the filming of Saratoga (1937) when she collapsed on the set, and died of kidney failure nine days later.

75 years ago
1942

War
The Battle of Midway concluded after three days of fighting. The United States lost one aircraft carrier (the Yorktown); 150 planes; and 307 men. Japan lost 4 aircraft carriers; 253 planes; and 3,500 men (3,057 killed). Japanese soldiers began occupying the American islands of Attu and Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. The U.S. merchant marine ship Coast Trader was torpedoed by Japanese Navy submarine I-26 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, inside Canadian waters; the vessel had set off from Port Angeles, Washington, bound for San Francisco with a cargo of 1,250 tons of newsprint in its hold. Soviet forces repelled German assaults on Sevastopol for the third day in a row.

Society
The U.S. Wartime Civil Control Administration announced that virtually the entire Japanese-American population of the West Coast had been relocated inland.

Religion
The New York Times reported that Roman Catholic Bishops in Germany had charged the Nazi government with systematicall oppressing the Church in an effort to destroy Christianity.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mam'selle--Art Lund

Politics and government
The Hungarian government released an alleged confession of Peasant Party Secretary Bela Kovacs, admitting to plotting with former Premier Imre Nagy and others to establish a fascist regime. Premier Lajos Dinnyes renewed his pledge of close cooperation with the U.S.S.R.

Disasters
Tornadoes caused five deaths in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and extensive damage in Youngstown, Ohio.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Bambino--Dalida (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Yes Tonight, Josephine--Johnnie Ray

Medicine
Rose Ichelson, research director at Children's Medical Center in Philadelphia, reported that she had isolated and cultivated the multiple sclerosis-causing microorganism, spirochaeta myelophthora.

Economics and finance
U.S. and Polish officials signed a $95-million loan agreement providing for an initial Polish purchase of $48.9 million in U.S. machinery and surplus farm goods.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a $3.64-billion foreign aid authorization for fiscal 1958, including a $25-million aid program for Latin America which U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower had not requested.

Boxing
The National Boxing Association suspended Archie Moore as world light heavyweight champion when he failed to appear for a scheduled title defense in Detroit against contender Tony Anthony.

Gene Fullmer (41-4), in his first bout since losing the world middleweight title to Sugar Ray Robinson a month earlier, won a 10-round unanimous decision over Ralph "Tiger" Jones (44-18-4) at Chicago Stadium. On the undercard, Mr. Fullmer's younger brother Jay (4-0) scored a technical knockout over Eddie Ford (3-9) in the 1st round of a welterweight bout. This blogger's parents were in attendance.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 This is My Song--Petula Clark
2 When I was Young--Eric Burdon & the Animals
3 Somethin' Stupid--Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
4 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You--The Monkees
5 Puppet on a String--Sandie Shaw
6 Ciao Baby--Lynne Randell
7 Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever--The Beatles
8 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Mamas and the Papas
9 Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)--Engelbert Humperdinck
10 The Girls in Paris--Lee Hazlewood

Singles entering the chart were Pictures of Lily by the Who (#32); Groovin' by the Young Rascals (#36); Creeque Alley by the Mamas and the Papas (#38); and Alberta by Brian Davies (#40).

Died on this date
Dorothy Parker, 73. U.S. writer. Mrs. Parker was nominated for Academy Awards for co-writing the screenplays of A Star is Born (1937) and Smash Up, The Story of a Woman (1947), but was best known for her acerbic wit as a member of the Algonquin Round Table literary social club. She died of a heart attack.

War
Israeli soldiers entered Jerusalem on the third day of the Six-Day War.

40 years ago
1977

Britannica
More than one million people lined the streets of London to help Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her Silver Jubilee.

Society
Voters in Dade County, Florida, by more than a 2-1 margin, voted to repeal a county ordinance that prohibited discrimination on the grounds of sexual preference in employment, housing, and public accommodation.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Lean on Me--Club Nouveau (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Let it Be--Ferry Aid (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison--License IV (9th week at #1)

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 103 @ Boston 109 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Larry Bird scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Dennis Johnson scored 26 points, and Kevin McHale added 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Celtics defeat the Lakers before 14,890 fans at Boston Garden. Magic Johnson led the Lakers with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Rhythm Is a Dancer--Snap! (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: To Be with You--Mr. Big (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bill France Sr., 82. U.S. auto racing driver and executive. Mr. France drove stock cars in the 1930s, but was best known for co-founding the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) in 1948, and building Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. He died of Alzheimer's disease, two years after being inducted as a member of the charter class of the Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Chicago 94 @ Portland 84 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Michael Jordan scored 26 points and Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant each added 18 as the Bulls beat the Trail Blazers before 12,888 fans at Memorial Coliseum. Portland's Clyde Drexler led all scorers with 32 points.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Around the World--Daft Punk (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Blood on the Dance Floor--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Maria--Ricky Martin (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen--Jantje Smit (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): María--Ricky Martin (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye)--Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): MMMBop--Hanson

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): MMMBop--Hanson (3rd week at #1)

Horse racing
Touch Gold, with Chris McCarron up, won the 129th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, New York in a time of 2:28.82, finishing 3/4 length ahead of Silver Charm and spoiling Silver Charm's attempt at winning the Triple Crown.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Philadelphia 1 @ Detroit 2 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Darren McCarty's goal in the 2nd period proved to be the winner as the Red Wings edged the Flyers at Joe Louis Arena to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years. Eric Lindros broke up Mike Vernon's bid for a shutout with 15 seconds remaining in regulation time. The Detroit goalie was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Calgary (1-0) 24 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 20

10 years ago
2007

Politics and government
Former secretary general of the Quebec National Assembly Pierre Duchesne was installed as Quebec’s Lieutenant-governor, succeeding Lise Thibault.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Cleveland 76 @ San Antonio 85 (San Antonio led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Tony Parker scored 27 points and added 7 assists, while Tim Duncan contributed 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots as the Spurs defeated the Cavaliers before 18,797 fans at AT&T Center in the Cavaliers' first Finals game in their 37-year history. Cleveland forward LeBron James was limited to 14 points, making just 4 of 16 field goal attempts.