July 25, 2017

550 years ago
1467

War
Troops representing the republics of Florence and Venice fought to an indecisive conclusion in the Battle of Molinella, the first battle in Italy in which firearms were used extensively.

470 years ago
1547

Franciana
King Henri II was crowned at Reims Cathedral.

450 years ago
1567

South Americana
Don Diego de Losada founded the city of Santiago de Leon de Caracas--modern-day Caracas.

525 years ago
1492

Died on this date
Innocent VIII, 60 (?). Roman Catholic Pope, 1484-1492. Innocent VIII, born Giovanni Battista Cybo (or Cibo), was chosen as a compromise candidate to succeed Sixtus IV after a divisive conclave. Innocent VIII was known for his opposition to witchcraft; he confirmed Tomas de Torquemada as Grand Inquisitor of Spain, and issued a bull for the extermination of the Waldensians. Pope Innocent VIII died after a fever and was succeeded by Alexander VI.

375 years ago
1642

Born on this date
Luigi I. Prince of Monaco, 1662-1701. Luigi I acceded to the throne upon the death of his grandfather Onorato II. He took the oath to King Louis XIV of France in 1668, and went to Rome in 1699 as Louis XIV's ambassador extraordinary. Luigi I died in Rome on January 3, 1701 at the age of 58, and was succeeded by his son Antonio I.

225 years ago
1792

War
The Brunswick Manifesto was issued by Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, commander of the Allied Army (principally Austrian and Prussian), to the population of Paris during the War of the First Coalition, threatening that if the French royal family were harmed, then French civilians would be harmed.

220 years ago
1797

War
The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands concluded with Spanish forces repulsing the British assault, and Royal Navy Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson losing his right arm.

180 years ago
1837

Technology
The first commercial use of an electrical telegraph was successfully demonstrated in London by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone.

150 years ago
1867

War
The Candian War ended.

Politics and government
The Radical convention took place in Charleston, South Carolina.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Fritz Honegger. Swiss politician. Mr. Honegger was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1977-1982, and was President of the Confederation in 1982. He died on March 4, 1999 at the age of 81.

Economics and finance
Canadian Finance Minister Sir Thomas White introduced the "War Tax Upon Income" bill to the House of Commons, meeting as a committee of the whole; it was a proposal to levy the first national tax on personal income on Canadians--4% on all income of single men over $2,000. For others, the personal exemption was $3,000; for those Canadians with annual incomes of more than $6,000, the tax rate ranged from 2 to 25 per cent, supposedly as a temporary wartime measure only. The "War Tax Upon Income" act passed and the tax came into effect on September 17, 1917.

90 years ago
1927

Albertana
The Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park opened to the public. It was built between 1926-1927 by the Great Northern Railroad, and named for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII. The hotel was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jingle Jangle Jingle--Kay Kyser Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Fred Englehardt, 63. U.S. athlete. Mr. Englehardt won the silver medal in the triple jump competition at the 1904 Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis.

War
The Norwegian Manifesto was proclaimed, calling for nonviolent resistance to the German occupation. Germany claimed that Rostov was being cleared of scattered Russian troops. U.S. planes completed seven operations against Tobruk and Bengazi in Libya and Suda Bay in Crete, reportedly causing heavy damage to dock installations.

Abominations
Reports in London indicated that Germans were arresting and deporting Jews in occupied France and the Netherlands to Poland.

Horse racing
1942 Kentucky Derby winner Shut Out won the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Classic in Chicago in a record time of 2:01 2/5.

70 years ago
1947

Politics and government
Hungarian President Zoltan Tildy dissolved the National Assembly and set elections for August 31.

Defense
The U.S. Congress passed and sent to President Harry Truman the armed forces unification bill.

Law
U.S. President Truman signed a Senate joint resolution ending 60 wartime emergency laws.

Scandal
Former U.S. Congressman Andrew May and munitions manufacturers Murray and Henry Garsson were given prison sentences of eight months to two years for war contract bribery.

60 years ago
1957

Politics and government
A special session of the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly voted unanimously to depose Sidi Mohammed el-Amin Pasha, Bey of Tunis, and to proclaim the Republic of Tunisia, with Habib Bourguiba as President.

At the request of U.S. Interior Secretary Fred Seaton, Samuel King resigned as Governor of Hawaii effective July 31, after more than four years in office.

Crime
James Tierney, 52, mayor of the Detroit suburb of Garden City, was shot six times and seriously wounded at a city council meeting by longtime political foe Lester Elmhurst.

Football
CRU
IRFU-ORFU Pre-season
Kitchener-Waterloo (0-1) 7 @ Montreal (1-0) 39

WIFU
Pre-season
Winnipeg Blue Bombers intrasquad game
Blue 34 Gold 32

Gerry Apostolatos scored 2 touchdowns and Bill Tonegusso, Charlie Baillie, Hal Patterson, and Johnny Majors scored 1 each as the Alouettes routed the Dutchmen before 14,207 fans at Molson Stadium. Mr. Gilmour scored the K-W touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Bob Celeri in the 3rd quarter.

50 years ago
1967

Religion
Pope Paul VI arrived in Istanbul to begin a two-day peace pilgrimage to Turkey; he visited the Orthodox Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul--becoming the first Roman Catholic pontiff to enter an Eastern Orthodox cathedral since 1054--and exchanged vows of ecumenical unity with Patriarch Atheganoras I. Pope Paul also addressed greetings to President Cevdet Sunay and the government of Turkey; Armenian Patriarch Snork Kalustian; and the leaders of the local Muslim and Jewish communities.

Disasters
A United States Air Force EB-57 bomber crashed at Whitehorse, killing its two-man crew. The plane was trying to penetrate radar systems to test their effectiveness.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Walk Right In--Dr. Hook (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Katte ni Shiyagare--Kenji Sawada (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Fiesta--Raffaella Carrá

On the radio
CBS Radio Mystery Theater
Tonight's episode: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, starring Kevin McCarthy and Court Benson

Diplomacy
Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti began a three-day visit to Washington, D.C. for talks with U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Disasters
Typhoon Thelma struck southern Taiwan, killing 28 people, injuring more than 200, and destroying 200,000 homes.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Who's That Girl--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Voyage, voyage--Desireless (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I Want Your Sex--George Michael

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Want Your Sex--George Michael (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Who's That Girl--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): It's a Sin--Pet Shop Boys (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Who's That Girl--Madonna

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

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Alone--Heart (2nd week at #1)
2 Shakedown--Bob Seger
3 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
4 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For--U2
5 I Want Your Sex--George Michael
6 Songbird--Kenny G
7 Point of No Return--Expose
8 Rhythm is Gonna Get You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
9 Heart and Soul--T'Pau
10 Something So Strong--Crowded House

Singles entering the chart were Touch of Grey by the Grateful Dead (#79); Jump Start by Natalie Cole (#85); U Got the Look by Prince (#89); and Back to Paradise by .38 Special (#90).

Canada’s Top 3 (The Record)
1 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)—Whitney Houston
2 Alone—Heart
3 Shakedown—Bob Seger

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
2 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
3 Always--Atlantic Starr
4 Shakedown--Bob Seger
5 Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros
6 Alone--Heart
7 Funkytown--Pseudo Echo
8 Heart and Soul--T'Pau
9 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For--U2
10 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde

Singles entering the chart were Doing it All for My Baby by Huey Lewis and the News (#87); Love Power by Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne (#91); Back to Paradise by .38 Special (#94); Twistin' the Night Away by Rod Stewart (#96); Ordinary People by the Box (#97); and I'd Still Say Yes by Klymaxx (#98).

Died on this date
Malcolm Baldrige, Jr., 64. U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1981-1987. Mr. Baldrige, an experienced horseman, was preparing for a rodeo in Walnut Creek, California, when the horse he was riding reared and fell on him.

Music
Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Rivers, and Smokey Robinson performed on the same bill in downtown Detroit.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (2-2) 1 @ British Columbia (4-0) 21

Roy Dewalt completed a 3-yard pass to Anthony Parker in the 2nd quarter for the game’s only touchdown and Lui Passaglia added a convert, 4 field goals, and 2 singles as the Lions coasted to victory over the Rough Riders before 33,771 fans at B.C. Place Stadium. Ken Clark’s 56-yard punt single in the 3rd quarter was the only Ottawa point. Ottawa offensive tackle Roger Cattelan, who had eaten breakfast with his team that morning, was nowhere to be seen at game time. The loss began a 13-game losing streak for the Rough Riders.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Hazard--Richard Marx

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kiss of Tears--Southern All Stars

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sensacion de Vivir--Xuxa (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Knockin' on Heaven's Door--Guns N' Roses (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le Chat--Pow woW (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I'll Be There--Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Ain't No Doubt--Jimmy Nail (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-A-Lot (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-A-Lot (2nd week at #1)
2 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey
3 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
4 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
5 Tennessee--Arrested Development
6 Wishing on a Star--Cover Girls
7 Baby-Baby-Baby--TLC
8 Life is a Highway--Tom Cochrane
9 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
10 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins

Singles entering the chart were End of the Road by Boyz II Men (#65); The (Elvis) Letter by Wayne Newton (#77); Money Can't Buy You Love by Ralph Tresvant (#87); and Another Minute by Cause and Effect (#91).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey (3rd week at #1)
2 Just Another Day--Jon Secada
3 America--Kim Mitchell
4 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
5 This Used to Be My Playground--Madonna
6 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
7 Too Funky--George Michael
8 The Best Things in Life are Free--Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
9 Hold on My Heart--Genesis
10 Take this Heart--Richard Marx

Singles entering the chart were Abba-Esque by Erasure (#52); All I Want by Toad the Wet Sprocket (#95); Stay by Giant (#97); Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-A-Lot (#99); and Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by Sonia (#100).

Economics and finance
Final talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement began with the government of Canada threatening to withdraw from negotiations unless a better deal on the manufacture of cars and clothing were offered.

Olympics
The summer Olympics opened in Barcelona with 169 nations participating, the first time in modern history that there were no nations boycotting or banned from the games.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Ben Hogan, 84. U.S. golfer. Mr. Hogan was one of the greatest golfers ever, winning 64 PGA tour events and nine major tournaments. He won the Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open in 1953, four years after a near-fatal car accident seemed to have ended his career. Mr. Hogan is viewed by many as the best ball striker in history.

Music
This blogger was in attendance as Kim Stockwood performed at the EdTel Stage at the Klondike Days exhibition grounds in Edmonton.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-4) 36 @ Winnipeg (1-4) 21

10 years ago
2007

Politics and government
Pratibha Patil was sworn in as India's first female President.