August 8, 2017

1,900 years ago
117

Died on this date
Trajan, 63. Roman Emperor, 98-117. Trajan succeeded Nerva, and presided over the greatest military expansion in Roman history, leading the empire to attain its maximum territorial extent by the time of his death from Edema. He was succeeded by Hadrian.

190 years ago
1827

Died on this date
George Canning, 57. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1827. Mr. Canning, a Tory, represented various constituencies in the House of Commons from 1793 until his death, holding numerous cabinet posts, including Foreign Secretary (1807-1809, 1822-1827). He was a brilliant orator and dominant personality, and achieved diplomatic success. When the Earl of Liverpool resigned as Prime Minister in 1827, Mr. Canning was chosen to succeed him, ahead of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel. They declined to serve under him, and the split in the Tory Party made it difficult for Mr. Canning to form a government. He took office as Prime Minister on April 12, 1827, but his health broke, and he died on August 8 after just 119 days in office; it was the shortest tenure as Prime Minister to date.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jingle Jangle Jingle--Kay Kyser Orchestra (4th week at #1)

War
Six of eight German saboteurs were executed in Washington, while U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the military commission's recommendation that Ernst Berger be sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor, and George Dasch to 30 years. German forces claimed the capture of Armavir on the Rostov-Baku oil pipeline. U.S. Marines improved their positions on Tulag, Florida, and Guadalcanal Islands, and captured the Japanese air base on Guadalcanal, renaming it Henderson Field. U.S. cruisers and destroyers silenced shore batteries and started fires in a surface raid on Japanese-held Kiska in the Aleutians.

Politics and government
The Quit India Movement was launched in India against British rule in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for swaraj, or complete independence.

Golf
Craig Wood won the Canadian Open at Mississauga Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ontario with a 13-under-par score of 275, 4-strokes ahead of Mike Turnesa. First prize money was $1,000.

70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
Anton Denikin, 74. Russian military officer. Lieutenant General Denikin served in the Imperial Russian Army from the early 1890s through the end of World War I, and was a leader of the White forces in the Russian Civil War (1918-1920). His forces led pogroms against Jews and committed thousands of mass executions. Lt. Gen. Denikin resigned in April 1920 and spent the rest of his life in exile in various countries, finally settling in the United States, where he died of a heart attack.

War
The Paraguayan Civil War, which had begun on March 7, continued despite government claims of victory, with both sides reporting heavy fighting north of Asuncion.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council's Committee on New Members ended debate on 11 membership applications, agreeing uanimously only to admit Yemen.

A subcommittee of the UN Palestine Inquiry Commission left Geneva for a tour of refugee camps in Germany and Austria.

Politics and government
South Africa rejected a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a trusteeship arrangement for South-West Africa, but promised not to annex the territory.

Economics and finance
Japan provided Allied headquarters in Tokyo with its first postwar list of goods available for export, including 26 million yards of silk fabrics.

60 years ago
1957

Married on this date
U.K. actors Laurence Harvey and Margaret Leighton were married on a boat off Gibraltar.

Defense
Columbia University reported that a Columbia research team working for the U.S. Air Force had scored a "major breakthrough" in advancing the range and effectiveness of radar.

Politics and government
Moscow dispatches reported that the Soviet government had eliminated the post of first deputy premier, formerly held by oppositional leader Vyacheslav Molotov.

Retiring U.S. Senator William Knowland (Republican--California) announced plans to run for Governor of California in 1958.

Economics and finance
United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold condemned the Arab economic boycott of Israel as a "burden" on UN efforts to achieve an Arab-Israeli settlement.

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board increased the discount rate of its Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Kansas City banks from 3%-3 1/2%.

Football
IRFU-WIFU
Pre-season
Saskatchewan (0-2) 7 @ Ottawa (2-0) 14

Gary Schreider converted his own touchdown and another by quarterback Tom Dimitroff to help the Rough Riders defeat the Roughriders before 9,000 fans at Lansdowne Park. Sam Wesley scored the Saskatchewan touchdown on a pass from quarterback Frank Tripucka in the 3rd quarter.

50 years ago
1967

Diplomacy
Three days of talks in Bangkok culminated in the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Go to Rio--Peter Allen

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Katte ni Shiyagare--Kenji Sawada (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Linda--Miguel Bosé (7th week at #1)

Oil
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau approved the Foothills Pipe Lines (Yukon) Ltd. plan for an Alaska Highway pipeline, pending outcome of negotiations with the U.S.A.

Disasters
The U.S. Interagency Fire Center said that it had flown 4,000 firefighters into western fire areas in the preceding week. Millions of acres of timber, parched by drought and ignited by unusual lightning storms, burned out of control in every state west of the Rocky Mountains, with 90% of the fires located in central and northern California.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Who's That Girl--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Voyage, voyage--Desireless (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Who's That Girl--Madonna

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Who's That Girl--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): La Bamba--Los Lobos (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): La Bamba--Los Lobos

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): La Bamba--Los Lobos (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For--U2

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For--U2
2 Shakedown--Bob Seger
3 I Want Your Sex--George Michael
4 Heart and Soul--T'Pau
5 Rhythm is Gonna Get You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
6 Luka--Suzanne Vega
7 Who's That Girl--Madonna
8 Cross My Broken Heart--The Jets
9 Alone--Heart
10 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston

Singles entering the chart were I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson (with Siedah Garrett) (#23); I Need Love by L.L. Cool J (#46); Never Let Me Down by David Bowie (#84); Be There by the Pointer Sisters (#85); Holiday by the Other Ones (#87); and Running in the Family by Level 42 (#89).

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

Singles entering the chart were Making Love in the Rain by Herb Alpert (#91); I Heard a Rumour by Bananarama (#93); Happy by Surface (#95); and Last of the Red Hot Fools by the Jitters (#97).

Died on this date
Ron Rogerson, 44. U.S. football coach. Mr. Rogerson was head coach at the University of Maine from 1981-1984 and Princeton University from 1985 until his death, compiling a record of 26-36-1. He died of a heart attack while jogging as he was preparing for a third season as head coach of the Tigers.

War
Chadian forces drove Libyan forces out of the Aozou Strip, the northernmost section of Chad, which Libya had occupied in 1973 on the basis of an unratified treaty from 1935. The area was believed to be rich in uranium and phosphates. Libya still controlled a large air base on the border between the countries.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan offered cautious support for the previous day’s peace accord signed by the presidents of Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, although the pact included a provision that would end U.S. aid to the anti-government Contras in Nicaragua and prevent the Americans from using their bases in Costa Rica and Honduras.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (4-2) 22 @ Winnipeg (5-1) 30

Tyrone Jones returned a fumble 92 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter and Tom Clements completed a 73-yard touchdown pass to Perry Tuttle later in the quarter to lead the Blue Bombers past the Lions before 29,296 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Mr. Clements also completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Boyd in the 4th quarter. B.C.’s only touchdown came with just 1:27 remaining in regulation time on a 21-yard pass from backup quarterback Greg Vavra to Jim Sandusky. Winnipeg’s Willard Reaves rushed 22 times for 115 yards. Mr. Sandusky led all receivers with 137 yards on 6 receptions.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Hazard--Richard Marx (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kiss of Tears--Southern All Stars (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sensacion de Vivir--Xuxa (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Knockin' on Heaven's Door--Guns N' Roses (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le Chat--Pow woW (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): It's My Life--Dr. Alban

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap!

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): This Used to Be My Playground--Madonna

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-A-Lot (4th week at #1)
2 This Used to Be My Playground--Madonna
3 Baby-Baby-Baby--TLC
4 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
5 November Rain--Guns N' Roses
6 Just Another Day--Jon Secada
7 Life is a Highway--Tom Cochrane
8 Wishing on a Star--Cover Girls
9 Giving Him Something He Can Feel--En Vogue
10 End of the Road--Boyz II Men

Singles entering the chart were Always the Last to Know by Del Amitri (#78); When I Look Into Your Eyes by Firehouse (#82); Humpin' Around by Bobby Brown (#85); California Here I Come by Sophie B. Hawkins (#87); Constant Craving by k.d. lang (#88); Divine Thing by the Soup Dragons (#90); The Hitman by AB Logic (#92); and Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough by Patty Smyth with Don Henley (#94).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey (5th week at #1)
2 Just Another Day--Jon Secada
3 This Used to Be My Playground--Madonna
4 The One--Elton John
5 Take this Heart--Richard Marx
6 Too Funky--George Michael
7 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
8 America--Kim Mitchell
9 Lost Together--Blue Rodeo
10 Even Better than the Real Thing--U2

Singles entering the chart were Nothing Broken But My Heart by Celine Dion (#37); Slowly by Stacy Early (#73); What Kind of Love by Rodney Crowell (#78); Enid by Barenaked Ladies (#79); California Here I Come by Sophie B. Hawkins (#81); Jesus He Knows Me by Genesis (#83); Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha by James Taylor (#84); Alright Tonight by Paula Abdul (#87); and Somebody Touched Me by Bruce Cockburn (#90).

Died on this date
John Kordic, 27. Canadian hockey player. A native of Edmonton, Mr. Kordic was a forward who played 244 regular season games in 7 NHL seasons from 1985-1992 with the Montreal Canadiens (1985-88), Toronto Maple Leafs (1988-90), Washington Capitals (1990-91), and Quebec Nordiques (1991-92), scoring 17 goals and 18 assists and amassing 997 minutes in penalties. In 41 playoff games he scored 4 goals and 3 assists and amassed 131 minutes in penalties. He was a member of the Canadiens when they won the Stanley Cup in 1986. Mr. Kordic possessed some hockey ability, but was usually limited to the role of "enforcer," which mainly involved fighting with players on the opposing team playing the same role. A particularly memorable fight occurred in 1987 when he was with the Canadiens, and he fought Wendel Clark of the Maple Leafs at the Montreal Forum in a game that was nationally televised on Hockey Night in Canada. Mr. Kordic was reportedly a cocaine addict, a user of anabolic steroids, and a heavy drinker, and he died of apparent heart failure while being subdued by police after behaving erratically at a motel.

Protest
Heavy metal fans went on a rampage, smashing windows in Olympic Stadium in Montreal and throwing rock and bottles at police after Metallica had to end their performance when lead singer James Hetfield was burned by an exploding stage prop, and Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose stopped his concert due to a sore throat. Damage was estimated at about $300,000, eight police officers were slightly injured, and a dozen people arrested. In 1995, Metallica sued promoter Donald K. Donald for $254,000, claiming they were never paid for the show; Mr. Donald paid $300,000 as an out-of-court settlement to spectators to the aborted show.

Olympics
The U.S.A.'s "dream team" routed Croatia 117-85 to win the gold medal in the men's basketball competition in Barcelona.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 (5th week at #1)

At the movies
Conspiracy Theory, directed and co-produced by Richard Donner, and starring Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, and Patrick Stewart, opened in theatres.



Politics and government
Four Liberal and four Conservative members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan came together to found the Saskatchewan Party.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (4-3) 30 @ Hamilton (1-6) 20

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Melville Shavelson, 90. U.S. screenwriter and director. Mr. Shavelson was best known for his work on movies that starred Bob Hope. Mr. Shavelson's films included The Princess and the Pirate (1944); The Great Lover (1949); and The Seven Little Foys (1955).

Disasters
An EF2 tornado touched down in Kings County and Richmond County, New York, the most powerful tornado in New York to date and the first in Brooklyn since 1889.