July 1, 2017

775 years ago
1242

Died on this date
Chagatai Khan, 58. Khan of the Chagatai Khanate, 1226-1242. Chagatai Khan, a son of Genghis Khan, inherited most of what are now the five Central Asian states from his father. He succeeded in keeping order in his Khanate, and was succeeded on the throne by his grandson Qara Hülëgü.

180 years ago
1837

Britannica
A system of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths was established in England and Wales.

170 years ago
1847

Americana
The United States Post Office issued its first general issue postage stamps: a five-cent stamp honoring Benjamin Franklin, the first postmaster general under the Continental Congress, and a ten-cent stamp honoring George Washington.

150 years ago
1867

Born on this date
William A. Ashbrook. U.S. politician. Mr. Ashbrook founded the newspaper The Johnstown (Ohio) Independent in 1884. A Democrat, he represented Licking County in the Ohio House of Representatives (1906-1907), and represented Ohio's 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1907-1921, 1935-1940). Mr. Ashbrook died in office on January 1, 1940 at the age of 72; his son John, a Republican, held the same seat from 1961-1982, and also died in office.

Died on this date
Thomas Francis Meagher, 43. Irish-born U.S. military officer and politician. Mr. Meagher was a of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848, and was transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) after being convicted of sedition. He escaped to the United States in 1852 and became a lawyer and journalist in New York City. During the American Civil War, Mr. Meagher joined the Union Army, rising to the rank of brigadier general. He was acting Governor of Montana Territory from September 1865-October 3, 1866 and from December 1866 until his death, which occurred when he fell overboard from a riverboat at Fort Benton, Montana and drowned in the swift-running Missouri River. Conspiracy theories abound, although, since he was an Irishman, it's quite possible that he was drunk.

Politics and government
The British North America Act of 1867 took effect as the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia joined into confederation to create the Dominion of Canada. Sir John A. Macdonald was sworn in as the first Prime Minister. Lord Monck took office as Governor General of Canada, and Narcisse-Fortunat Belle as Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec.

Law
The Windsor Police Service was established in Windsor, Ontario.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
James M. Cain. U.S. writer. Mr. Cain was a journalist with several magazines and newspapers before beginning his career as an author of fiction. He was known for his "hardboiled" crime fiction, and his novels The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934); Mildred Pierce (1941); and Double Indemnity (1936/1943) were made into successful films noir. Mr. Cain died on October 27, 1977 at the age of 85.

Disasters
The Inman steamship City of Chicago was wrecked on the Irish coast, near Cork.

110 years ago
1907

Movies
The first Nickel Theatre opened in the Benevolent Irish Society's St. Patrick's Hall in St. John's; it was the first movie theatre in Newfoundland.

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway started its Soo-Pacific Train de Luxe passenger service on the Soo Line/Spokane International route from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Business
The Spokane Falls and Northern Railway dissolved and its assets were incorporated into the Great Northern Railway.

90 years ago
1927

On the radio
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King dedicated the Peace Tower Carillon in Ottawa in the first Trans-Canada radio network broadcast, a hookup over telephone and telegraph lines and 23 radio stations, celebrating the Diamond Jubilee (60th Anniversary) of Confederation. The program featured a 1,000-voice choir and the new Peace Tower carillon played by Percival Price. The bilingual broadcast, hosted by Andy Ryan and Jacques Cartier, consisted of three programs in the morning, afternoon and evening of Dominion Day.

Politics and government
For the first time, the governments of Canada and Britain communicated directly, bypassing the Governor-General.

Defense
The Esquimalt Graving Dock opened in Esquimalt, British Columbia.

Law
The Ontario Provincial Parliament passed a law requiring all drivers in Ontario to have a license.

75 years ago
1942

War
The First Battle of El Alamein began in Egypt between Axis forces commanded by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and Allied forces commanded by U.K. General Claude Auchinleck. Japanese troops in China completed occupation of the 403-mile Hangchow-Nanchang railroad, the last line in Chinese hands.

Politics and government
The Argentine Chamber of Deputies refused to approve President Ramon Castillo's state of siege proclamation.

Economics and finance
Sugar rationing went into effect in Canada.

The Australian Federal Government became the sole collector of income tax in Australia as State Income Tax was abolished.

Law
The U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Thomas Meaney as a federal district judge in New Jersey, after two days of hearings in which he had been accused of being a "pawn" of Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague.

Technology
Monsanto Chemical Corporation announced the development of a shatterproof window pane made of transparent cellulose acetate sheeting laminated with wire mesh.

70 years ago
1947

Defense
The Philippine Air Force was established.

U.K. Viceroy Viscount Mountbatten announced the immediate division of India's armed forces into Muslim and Hindu sections.

Economics and finance
The Hungarian National Assembly passed a three-year economic plan with provisions for nationalization of the country's industry and a $54-million capital levy.

Labour
The week-old strike of the Congress of Industrial Organizations Union of Marine and Ship Building Workers extended to eight more U.S. East Coast yards, bringing the number of striking workers to 60,000.

Michigan and Pennsylvania put into effect laws banning public utility strikes.

Oil
The U.S. Navy announced the discovery of oil near Point Barrow, Alaska.

Weather
Meteorologists H.C. Peterson and H.H. Thompson reported from a research station on Stonington Island, Antarctica that there was a definite correlation between low-pressure storms and Earth vibrations.

Disasters
The Mississippi River at St. Louis reached its highest crest in 104 years, causing $12 million damage in the area.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Love Letters in the Sand/Bernardine--Pat Boone (Best Seller--5th week at #1); Love Letters in the Sand--Pat Boone (Disc Jockey--4th week at #1; Top 100--4th week at #1)

Theatre
The first play at the new Stratford Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario was Artistic Director Michael Langham’s production of Hamlet.

Defense
South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) announced the appointment of Thai Ambassador to the United States Pote Sarasin as the organizations first permanent Secretary-General.

U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Felix Stump assumed command of U.S. armed forces in the Pacific, following deactivation of the Far East Command.

Egypt began shipping jet planes to Saudi Arabia.

Prime Ministers of 10 British Commonwealth nations, meeting in London, urged that the People's Republic of China, as a potential nuclear power, be asked to join in any disarmament agreement or nuclear test ban accord.

Law
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure permitting a federal trial judge to inspect government files demanded by the defense to determine which parts should be released.

Science
The International Geophysical Year began.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): This is My Song--Petula Clark (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France: A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): A chi--Fausto Leali (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Puppet on a String--Sandie Shaw (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Windy--The Association

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Windy--The Association
2 She'd Rather Be with Me--The Turtles
3 Groovin'--The Young Rascals
4 Little Bit o' Soul--The Music Explosion
5 Respect--Aretha Franklin
6 Can't Take My Eyes Off You--Frankie Valli
7 San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)--Scott McKenzie
8 Let's Live for Today--The Grass Roots
9 7 Rooms of Gloom--Four Tops
10 Don't Sleep in the Subway--Petula Clark

Singles entering the chart were There Goes My Everything by Englebert Humperdinck (#58); In the Chapel in the Moonlight by Dean Martin (#63); Joy by Mitch Ryder (#71); Your Unchanging Love by Marvin Gaye (#76); Show Business by Lou Rawls (#77); Mr. Pleasant by the Kinks (#82); Give Me Time (L’Amore Se Ne Va) by Dusty Springfield (#83); Let the Good Times Roll & Feel So Good by Bunny Sigler (#84); Washed Ashore (On a Lonely Island in the Sea) by the Platters (#86); The River is Wide by the Forum (#87); There Must Be a Way by Jimmy Roselli (#94); Pictures of Lily by the Who (#96); Take Me (Just as I Am) by Solomon Burke (#97); Four Walls (Three Windows and Two Doors) by J.J. Jackson (#98); Deep in the Heart of Harlem by Walter Jackson (#99); You Keep Me Hangin' On by the Vanilla Fudge (#100); and Out and About by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (also #100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 She'd Rather Be with Me--The Turtles (2nd week at #1)
2 Little Bit o' Soul--The Music Explosion
3 Let's Live for Today--The Grass Roots
4 Come on Down to My Boat--Every Mother's Son
5 Mirage--Tommy James and the Shondells
6 Can't Take My Eyes Off You--Frankie Valli
7 Sunday Will Never Be the Same--Spanky and Our Gang
8 Somebody to Love--Jefferson Airplane
9 Do it Again a Little Bit Slower--Jon & Robin and the In Crowd
10 Him or Me - What's it Gonna Be?--Paul Revere and the Raiders

Singles entering the chart were White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (#51); For Your Love by Peaches and Herb (#72); Jackson (#82)/You Only Live Twice (#93) by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra; Soul Dance Number Three by Wilson Pickett (#87); A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum (#90); Black Sheep by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (#92); Don't Go Out Into the Rain (You're Going to Melt) by Herman's Hermits (#95); There Goes My Everything by Englebert Humperdinck (#96); I Stand Accused (Of Loving You) by the Glories (#97); Lonely Drifter by Pieces of Eight (#98); My World Fell Down by Sagitarrius (#99); and Who's Lovin' You by Brenda and the Tabulations (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)--Scott McKenzie
2 Windy--The Association
3 A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum
4 Don't Sleep in the Subway--Petula Clark
5 Little Bit o' Soul--The Music Explosion
6 Let's Live for Today--The Grass Roots
7 Come on Down to My Boat--Every Mother's Son
8 She'd Rather Be with Me--The Turtles
9 Round Round--Jonathan King
10 Ding! Dong! The Witch is Dead--The Fifth Estate

Singles entering the chart were White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (#41); My World Fell Down by Sagittarius (#46); City of Windows by Steve Monahan (#47); Carrie-Anne by the Hollies (#48); and Pictures of Lily by the Who (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum
2 San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)--Scott McKenzie
3 The Flower Children--Marcia Strassman
4 Let's Live for Today--The Grass Roots
5 Little Bit o' Soul--The Music Explosion
6 Don't Sleep in the Subway--Petula Clark
7 Sound of Love--The Five Americans
8 Windy--The Association
9 Do it Again a Little Bit Slower--Jon & Robin and the In Crowd
10 Come on Down to My Boat--Every Mother's Son

Singles entering the chart were Light My Fire by the Doors (#21); White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (#24); Soul Dance Number Three by Wilson Pickett (#28); Carrie-Anne by the Hollies (#29); and Pictures of Lily by the Who (#30).

Music
The Monkees performed two shows at Empire Pool, Wembley, London.

Canadiana
Queen Elizabeth II addressed the Canadian Parliament on Dominion Day, the 100th anniversary of Confederation, and installed Governor General Roland Michener as the first Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada.

World events
Former Congolese Prime Minister Moise Tshombe's plane was hijacked over the Mediterranean Sea and forced to land in Algiers, where he was imprisoned.

Politics and government
Park Chung Hee was inaugurated into his second term as President of South Korea; he had been re-elected in May.

Fidel Sanchez Hernandez was inaugurated as President of El Salvador; he had been elected on March 5 to a five-year term.

Abominations
The European Community was formally created with the merger of the Common Market, the European Coal and Steel Community, and the European Atomic Energy Commission.

Protest
Five days of race riots concluded in Buffalo, New York.

Academia
United College became the University of Winnipeg.

Boxing
Carlos Ortiz (50-5-1) retained his world lightweight title with a technical knockout of Sugar Ramos (50-4-3) at 1:18 of the 4th round at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Ortiz had scored a 5-round technical knockout of Mr. Ramos on October 22, 1966.



40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Ain't that Just the Way--Barbi Benton (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Yes Sir, I Can Boogie--Baccara

#1 single in France: Rockollection--Laurent Voulzy (3rd week at #1)

On the radio
The Canadian all-news network CKO began broadcasting, with stations in Ottawa (106.9 FM) and Toronto (99.1 FM).

Politics and government
General Carlos Humberto Romero was inaugurated into a five-year term as President of El Salvador.

Tennis
With Queen Elizabeth II watching from the Royal Box at Wimbledon, Virginia Wade of the United Kingdom completed a stirring come-from-behind victory in the women's singles finals over Bette Stove of the Netherlands, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (2-2) 19 @ Edmonton (2-1) 8

Lui Passaglia kicked 6 field goals for the Lions as they beat the Eskimos at Clarke Stadium in a game interrupted by a hailstorm. Former San Diego Charger Jesse Freitas played the 1st half at quarterback for the Eskimos.

Baseball
Mike Davis had 4 singles in as many at bats with a base on balls, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in to help the Medicine Hat Athletics defeat the Calgary Cardinals 9-5 before 776 fans, including this blogger, in the first of two Pioneer League games at Foothills Park in Calgary. The teams combined for 11 errors, 14 bases on balls, and 7 unearned runs.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

Radio
WFAN in New York City was launched as the first all-sports station in the United States.

Personal
This blogger enjoyed the holiday formerly known as Dominion Day, which, this year, was on a Wednesday, providing a welcome break in the middle of the week. I was one of many people experiencing a warm summer night in Harris Park in downtown London, Ontario.

Politics and government
South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan announced that the next president would be chosen by direct popular vote and that he would step down on February 25, 1988. Mr. Chun acknowledged the public’s “ardent desire” for direct democracy in place of the indirect system that virtually ensured continued rule by his Democratic Justice Party.

Scandal
Geoffrey Collier, former head of securities at the U.K. investment house Morgan Grenfell, became the first person convicted of insider dealing since the practice had been made illegal in Britain in 1980.

Law
U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced that District of Columbia Court of Appeals Judge Robert Bork was his choice to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court created by the retirement of Justice Lewis Powell. Mr. Bork had been U.S. Solicitor General from 1973-1977, and had been appointed to his current position by Mr. Reagan in 1982. President Reagan called Judge Bork a “prominent and intellectually powerful advocate of judicial restraint.” U.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Joe Biden (Democrat—Delaware) predicted that the fight over Judge Bork’s nomination would be contentious, while U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (Democrat—Massachusetts) attacked Judge Bork as an extremist.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (2-0) 40 @ Calgary (1-2) 15

B.C. linebacker Kevin Konar recovered 2 fumbles—1 in the Calgary end zone for a touchdown—and forced a third fumble, which was recovered for a touchdown in the Calgary end zone by teammate John Ulmer. The Stampeders turned the ball over 7 times, losing 3 fumbles, 4 interceptions, and 2 turnovers on downs. Terry Irvin, who had been a star defensive back with the Stampeders from 1977-1983 before playing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes, returned to the Calgary lineup for what turned out to be his last CFL game. He ended his career with 62 interceptions, second in league history to that time behind Larry Highbaugh’s 66. Because the CFL schedule had been reworked after the June 24 folding of the Alouettes, the Stampeders were playing their third game in 11 days.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Abba-esque (EP)--Erasure (2nd week at #1)

Canadiana
Queen Elizabeth II paid a brief visit to Canada to help celebrate the holiday formerly known as Dominion Day, speaking to crowd of 50,000 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and presiding over a Privy Council ceremony.

War
The Canadian Army's 22ème Regiment (Vandoos) peacekeepers launched a successful operation to secure control of Sarajevo's airport.

Economics and finance
Provincial personal income tax rates rose 1% in British Columbia; 1.5% in Ontario; and 2.5% in Newfoundland.

20 years ago
1997

Died on this date
Charles Werner, 88. U.S. cartoonist. Mr. Werner was an editorial cartoonist who worked at the Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman (1935-1941); Chicago Sun (1941-1947); and Indianapolis Star (1947-1994). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1939. Mr. Werner died of cancer.

Robert Mitchum, 79. U.S. actor. Mr. Mitchum was a major star of film noir in movies such as Out of the Past (1947) and Crossfire (1947). His other films included The Night of the Hunter (1955); Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957); Thunder Road (1958); and Cape Fear (1962). Mr. Mitchum was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer and emphysema, about five weeks before his 80th birthday.

Abominations
Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese authorities, ending 156 years of British control of the colony.

10 years ago
2007

Society
Smoking was banned in all indoor places in England.