July 26, 2017

1,675 years ago
342

Died on this date
Cheng, 21 (?). Emperor of China, 325-342. Cheng, born Sima Yan, was the son of Ming, Emperor of the eastern Jin Dynasty, and succeeded his father on the throne at the age of 4. His administration was largely governed by a succession of regents until his death from an illness. Cheng was succeeded by his younger brother Emperor Kang.

170 years ago
1847

Africana
Joseph Jenkins Roberts declared Liberia, formerly a colony of the American Colonization Society, an independent republic.

150 years ago
1867

Died on this date
Otto, 52. King of Greece, 1832-1862. Otto was a Bavarian prince who became the first modern King of Greece under the Convention of London. While on a visit to the in 1862, he was deposed. Otto took refuge on a British warship and returned to Bavaria, where he died in exile.

Adventure
The raft Nonpareil, which had departed New York on June 4, arrived at Southampton, England after crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Diplomacy
French Emperor Napoleon III asked King Wilhelm I of Prussia to surrender the Danish districts of North Schleswig to Denmark.

130 years ago
1887

Literature
Unua Libro (First Book) by L.L. Zamenhof, was published in Russian in Warsaw. It was the first book to describe the language of Esperanto.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Sam Jones. U.S. baseball pitcher. "Sad Sam" played with the Cleveland Indians (1914-1915); Boston Red Sox (1916-1921); New York Yankees (1922-1926); St. Louis Browns (1927); Washington Nationals (1928-1931); and Chicago White Sox (1932-1935), compiling a record of 229-217 with an earned run average of 3.84 in 647 regular season games and 0-2 with a 2.05 ERA in 6 World Series games. He was 16-5 with the Red Sox when they won the World Series in 1918; won 23 games in helping the Yankees to their first American League pennant in 1921; and was 21-8 in helping the Yankees win their first World Series championship in 1923. Mr. Jones died on July 6, 1966, 20 days before his 74th birthday and 50th wedding anniversary.

Winnipegana
The first electric car ran on Main Street.

120 years ago
1897

War
During the Anglo-Afghan War, Pashtun fakir Saidullah led an army of more than 10,000 to begin a siege of the British garrison in the Malakand Agency of the North West Frontier Province of India.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Gerda Taro, 26. German photographer. Miss Taro, born Gerta Pohorylle, was a Jewess who left Germany after the Nazis came to power in 1933 and went to Paris in 1934. She met photographer and fellow Jew Endre Friedmann there, and the two fell in love and worked together, using the alias Robert Capa for their collective work. Eventually, Mr. Friedmann used the Robert Capa alias for himself, and Miss Pohorylle adopted the professional name Gerda Taro. She covered leftist political activities and the Spanish Civil War. While covering the Republican army retreat at the Battle of Brunete on July 25, 1937, Miss Taro hopped onto the running board of a car, but suffered critical injuries when a Republican tank accidentally crashed into the car's side; she died the next day, six days before her 27th birthday.

War
The Battle of Brunete in the Spanish Civil War ended with a Nationalist victory.

Crime
Haywood Patterson, convicted on January 23, 1937 of rape and sentenced to 75 years in prison as one of the "Scottsboro Boys"--Negro youths accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931--was sent to Atmore Prison Farm in Escambia County, while the other four convicted Scottsboro Boys were sent to Kilby Prison, near Montgomery.

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Roberto Arlt, 42. Argentine writer. Mr. Arlt wrote novels and plays, but was best known for his Aguafuertes (Etchings), his columns in the Buenos Aires daily newspaper El Mundo from 1928 until his death from a stroke.

War
U.K. Labour Minister Ernest Bevin warned against a second front creating a division in the country, while 50,000-60-000 demonstrators in London's Trafalgar Square demanded a second front. German forces crossed the Don River south and east of Rostov, while Romanian troops reached the Don west of Stalingrad.

Politics and government
Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho ordered the cancellation of the naturalization papers of all former Axis nationals "whose conduct casts doubt on their loyalty to Mexico."

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Peg o' My Heart--The Harmonicats (3rd week at #1)

Americana
The Library of Congress opened 18,350 papers of Abraham Lincoln for public use.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 into law, creating the Central Intelligence Agency; United States Department of Defense; United States Air Force; Joint Chiefs of Staff; and the United States National Security Council. President Truman nominated Navy Secretary James Forrestal as Defense Secretary.

Economics and finance
After a two-day debate, the French National Assembly approved French participation in the Marshall Plan.

Science
The International Congress for Microbiology in Stockholm condemned bacterial warfare and urged elimination of all secret research.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Bambino--Dalida (17th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): All Shook Up--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Big Beat, hosted by Alan Freed, on ABC

The third broadcast of a scheduled 13-week series showcasing rock and roll artists and others from 10:30-11:00 P.M. on Friday nights featured as guests Fats Domino; Clyde McPhatter; Dale Hawkins; Marvin Rainwater; Jimmy Newman; and Patsy Cline.

Died on this date
Carlos Castillo Armas, 42. 28th President of Guatemala, 1954-1957. Mr. Castillo Armas took power in a coup orchestrated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to topple President Jacobo Árbenz. Mr. Castillo Armas banned all political parties except the National Liberation Movement (MLN) and governed as a dictator until he was assassinated in his palace by Romeo Vásquez Sánchez, a member of the presidential guard with leftist sympathies who then reportedly fled to a nearby room and committed suicide. Mr. Castillo Armas was succeeded by acting President Luis Arturo González López.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. agreed to U.S. proposals for a radio-television exchange agreement provided it be made part of negotiations toward a general accord on the improvement of U.S.-Soviet cultural relations.

Politics and government
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower named attorney William Quinn as Governor of Hawaii, to take office on July 31 upon the resignation of Samuel King.

Scandal
U.S. District Court Judge John Sirica convicted Teamsters union Vice President Frank Brewster in Washington on 31 counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions or produce subpoenaed records as demanded by the Senate Permanent Investigations subcommittee.

Boxing
Alex Miteff (11-0) scored a technical knockout of Julio Mederos (21-17-3) when Mr. Mederos was unable to come out for the start of the 7th round of their heavyweight bout at Capitol Arena in Washington.

Baseball
International League President Frank Shaughnessy was quoted in the New York World Telegram & Sun as saying that there was a possibility that the IL could put a franchise in Jersey City, with Brooklyn as the next goal, and ultimately gaining major league status for the league.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): All You Need is Love--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum (3rd week at #1)
2 San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)--Scott McKenzie
3 Silence is Golden--The Tremeloes
4 Waterloo Sunset--The Kinks
5 This is My Song--Petula Clark
6 Groovin'--The Young Rascals
7 Puppet on a String--Sandie Shaw
8 Ding! Dong! The Witch is Dead--The Fifth Estate
9 All You Need is Love/Baby, You're a Rich Man--The Beatles
10 Carrie-Anne--The Hollies

Singles entering the chart were All You Need is Love/Baby, You're a Rich Man; I Take it Back by Sandy Posey (#25); Up-Up and Away by the 5th Dimension (#34); Lady/Good Evening Girl by Johnny Young (#38); Come on Down to My Boat by Every Mother's Son (#39); and Woman You're Breaking Me by the Groop (#40).

At the movies
The Love-Ins, directed by Arthur Dreifuss and starring Richard Todd, James MacArthur, Susan Oliver, Mark Goddard, and Joe Pyne, opened in theatres.





Diplomacy
French President Charles de Gaulle ended his controversial Canadian tour and flew home to France, after a rebuke from Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson for his "Vive le Québec libre!" statement in Montreal two days earlier.

Religion
Pope Paul VI concluded his two-day peace pilgrimage to Turkey by celebrating eucharist at the Church of St Anthony in Istanbul before visiting Ephesus and Smyrna.
He addressed messages to Roman Catholic and Orthodox believers in Ephesus, and visited the Cathedral of St. John in Smyrna.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-2) 14 @ Hamilton (0-3) 8
Ottawa (0-2-1) 18 @ British Columbia (2-0-1) 18

Dave Raimey rushed 83 yards for a touchdown in the 1st quarter and Phil Minnick returned a fumble for a TD 28 seconds into the 3rd quarter as the Blue Bombers defeated the Tiger-Cats at Civic Stadium. Willie Bethea scored the Hamilton touchdown in the 4th quarter on a 24-yard pass from Joe Zuger.

Ted Gerela's 34-yard field goal on the last play of the game gave the Lions their tie against the Rough Riders at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Jim Young and Sonny Homer scored B.C. touchdowns, while Rick Black and Ron Stewart scored Ottawa TDs.

40 years ago
1977

Died on this date
Gena Branscombe, 95. Canadian-born U.S. composer. Miss Branscombe, a native of Picton, Ontario, was best known for her vocal and choral works, including Pilgrims of Destiny (1919).

Politics and government
The National Assembly of Quebec imposed the use of French as the official language of the provincial government.

Disasters
A brush fire destroyed more than 185 homes--each valued at upward of more than $100,000--in Santa Barbara, California. The fire started in the affluent residential community of Montecito when a box kite became entangled in high-voltage power lines.

Hockey
NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs named Roger Neilson as their new head coach, replacing Red Kelly.

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-2) 6 @ Montreal (3-0) 17
Saskatchewan (1-2) 24 @ British Columbia (2-1) 5

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Respectable--Mel and Kim

#1 single in Switzerland: It's a Sin--Pet Shop Boys

#1 single in France: La Isla Bonita--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Jim Bishop, 79. U.S. journalist and author. Mr. Bishop was known for books such as The Day Lincoln was Shot (1955); The Day Christ Died (1957); A Day in the Life of President Kennedy (1964); The Day Kennedy was Shot (1968); and FDR's Last Year: April 1944-April 1945 (1974).

World events
The government of Panama shut down three newspapers.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (2-3) 28 @ Saskatchewan (1-2-1) 25

Alvin Bailey returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter and Jim Rockford returned a fumble 69 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter as the Tiger-Cats edged the Roughriders before 24,830 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Earl Winfield scored the other Hamilton touchdown on a 71-yard punt return with 1:13 remaining in the 1st half. The Rough Riders also scored a defensive touchdown, as defensive end Nick Hebeler returned a fumble 47 yards in the 3rd quarter. Walter Bender rushed for 2 Saskatchewan TDs, the second coming with 2:47 remaining in regulation time. Mr. Winfield led all receivers with 99 yards on 7 receptions.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I'll Be There--Mariah Carey featuring Trey Lorenz (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): ABBA-esque--Erasure

#1 single in Switzerland: Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Mary Wells, 49. U.S. singer. Miss Wells was the first of the Motown corporation's female artists to achieve success. Her biggest hit was My Guy, which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1964, and reached #5 in the U.K. A contract dispute soon led to her departure from Motown, and personal and professional hardship followed. She died after battling cancer for several years.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Everybody (Backstreet's Back)--Backstreet Boys

#1 single in France (SNEP): Alane--Wes (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): MMMBop--Hanson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Alane--Wes (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (7th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-4) 19 @ Saskatchewan (3-2) 21

NFL
New York Giants' owner Wellington Mara, whose father invested $500 to buy the team in 1925, and Don Shula, who coached the Miami Dolphins to a perfect season in 1972 and won a record 328 regular-season NFL games with the Baltimore Colts and Miami, were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

10 years ago
2007

Football
CFL
Montreal (2-3) 26 @ Toronto (2-3) 13