December 7, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Angelina Pratt!

230 years ago
1787

Americana
Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, as all 30 delegates to the Delaware Constitutional Convention voted in favour of ratification.

200 years ago
1817

Died on this date
William Bligh, 63. U.K. military officer and politician. Vice-Admiral Bligh was a commissioned lieutenant in the Royal Navy when he commanded HMAV Bounty on a voyage to the South Pacific Ocean to obtain breadfruit in 1789. A mutiny led by Master's Mate/Acting Lieutenant Fletcher Christian resulted in Lt. Bligh and 18 loyalists being put out to sea in a launch; they landed in the Dutch East Indies after a 47-day voyage. Lt. Bligh was acquitted of wrongdoing in a court-martial in 1790. He served as Governor of New South Wales from 1806-1810, but spent the last two years of his term in virtual imprisonment as the result of an illegal rebellion known as the Rum Rebellion.

180 years ago
1837

War
In the Upper Canada Rebellion, Anthony Van Egmond arrived at Montgomery's Tavern, 5 miles north of Toronto, to take command of the rebels; an experienced soldier, he was dismayed to find only 500 poorly trained men. Upper Canada Governor Francis Bond Head ordered Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon to march with Allan MacNab, 1,000 loyalist volunteers, and 500 militia to Montgomery's Tavern. At 1:00 P.M. they started to skirmish with rebels hidden in the woods, but dispersed them with a cannon; arriving at Montgomery's Tavern, they fired cannon shots at the building, and the rebels fled, leaving one dead, 11 wounded, of whom four died of their wounds. The troops searched the tavern, found William Lyon Mackenzie's papers, and burned the building to the ground. Mr. Van Egmond was captured later that day, while Mr. Mackenzie fled into exile in the United States, effectively ending the rebellion in Upper Canada. In the Lower Canada Rebellion, Colonel Charles Gore returned to Montréal with his British regulars after fighting Patriote rebels at St-Denis and St-Charles.

175 years ago
1842

Music
The New York Philharmonic Orchestra performed its first concert.

170 years ago
1847

Died on this date
Robert Liston, 53. U.K. physician. Dr. Liston, a native of Scotland, practiced in Edinburgh and London, and was known for his quickness in performing operations. On December 21, 1846, he performed the first operation in Europe under modern anaesthesia using ether, at University College Hospital in London. Dr. Liston invented several medical devices, including bulldog forceps. He died of an aneurysm.

150 years ago
1867

Economics and finance
Canadian Finance Minister John Rose tabled the first federal budget.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Wallace Samuel Bird. Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, 1968-1971. Mr. Bird, a native of Marysville, New Brunswick, was a construction executive before being appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick. He died in office on October 2, 1971 at the age of 53 and was succeeded by Hédard Robichaud.

War
The United States declared war on Austria-Hungary.

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Gustavus Myers, 70. U.S. journalist and historian. Mr. Myers was a socialist who wrote about the accumulation of wealth. His best-known book was History of the Great American Fortunes (1936).

Orland Loomis, 49. U.S. politician. Mr. Loomis, a member of the Progressive Party, held several offices in Wisconsin before being elected Governor in 1942. He died of a heart attack a month before he was to take office, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Walter Samuel Goodland, a Republican, who served the entire term as acting Governor.

War
Allied planes attacked Tunisian points, while Axis planes attacked Bone and Philippeville. in a broadcast from Tokyo, Japanese government spokesmen announced the nation's losses during the first year of war: 40 warships; 65 merchant ships; 556 aircraft lost, and 21,166 killed. U.S. Marine Major General Alexander Vandergrift said that about 6,640 Japanese had been killed on Guadalcanal since the Marines had landed on August 7. A Japanese naval force attempting to land reinforcements for the fifth time on New Guinea was routed by heavy Allied bombers. Allied planes shot down Japanese fighter planes attempting to attack Allied rear positions in the Buna-Gona area. Allied troops penetrated to the beach east of the village of Buna.

Diplomacy
French Delegate General General Georges Catroux said in London that Admiral Jean-Francois Darlan, chief of state in French North Africa, was a menace to the Allies, and urged the United States to sever ties with him.

Defense
The U.S. Navy battleship New Jersey, aircraft carrier Bunker Hill, and 14 other Navy ships were launched throughout the nation.

Politics and government
The U.S. Republican National Committee elected Harrison Spangler as its chairman, replacing Joseph Martin, who had resigned.

Art
American painters, sculptors, and printmakers received $52,000 in prizes at the opening of the Artists for Victory exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

70 years ago
1947

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Professor Moriarty and the Diamond Jubilee

Died on this date
Nicholas Murray Butler, 85. U.S. academic. Dr. Butler was President of Columbia University from 1902-1945. He was President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 1925-1945, and was awarded a share of the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize "[For his promotion] of the Briand-Kellogg pact" and for his work as the "leader of the more establishment-oriented part of the American peace movement." Dr. Butler was a Republican, and became the party's candidate for Vice President of the United States during the final days of the 1912 election campaign after incumbent Vice President James S. Sherman died suddenly. Dr,. Butler unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party presidential nomination in 1920 and 1928.

Politics and business
Local elections in Wuerttemberg-Baden resulted in a victory for the Christian Democrats, who took 39% of the vote to 32% for the Social Democrats and 10% for the Communists.

Labour
18 U.S. railroad brotherhoods set up a Railway Labor Political League in Washington to cooperate with the American Federation of Labor in political action.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Around the World--Bing Crosby; Nat "King" Cole (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Siebenmal in der Woche--Vico Torriani (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Mary's Boy Child--Harry Belafonte (3rd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 You Send Me--Sam Cooke (2nd week at #1)
--Teresa Brewer
2 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
3 Silhouettes--The Rays
4 Raunchy--Bill Justis and his Orchestra
--Ernie Freeman
5 April Love--Pat Boone
6 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis
7 Wake Up Little Susie--The Everly Brothers
8 My Special Angel--Bobby Helms
9 Little Bitty Pretty One--Thurston Harris
--Bobby Day and the Satellites
10 Peggy Sue--Buddy Holly

Singles entering the chart were the version of You Send Me by Teresa Brewer; Buzz-Buzz-Buzz by Rusty Draper (#28, charting with the version by the Hollywood Flames); Tear Drops by Lee Andrews and the Hearts (#54); Sail Along Silvery Moon by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (#55); and St. Louis Blues by LaVern Baker (#58).

Canada's top 25 (150 Listening Posts Coast-to-Coast)
1 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
2 April Love--Pat Boone
3 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
4 All the Way--Frank Sinatra
5 Silhouettes--The Rays
6 Kisses Sweeter than Wine--Jimmie Rodgers
7 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis
8 My Special Angel--Bobby Helms
9 Wake Up Little Susie--The Everly Brothers
10 You Send Me--Teresa Brewer
11 Raunchy--Bill Justis and his Orchestra
12 Little Bitty Pretty One--Thurston Harris
13 Melodie d'Amour (Melody of Love)--The Ames Brothers
14 Be-Bop Baby--Ricky Nelson
15 I'm Available--Margie Rayburn
16 Silhouettes--The Diamonds
17 Just Born--Perry Como
18 Liechtensteiner Polka--Will Glahe and his orchestra
19 Peggy Sue--Buddy Holly
20 The Story of My Life--Marty Robbins
21 The Twelfth of Never--Johnny Mathis
22 The Joker (That's What They Call Me)--The Hilltoppers
23 Raunchy--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
24 Till--Roger Williams
25 I'll Remember Today--Patti Page

Montreal's top 10 (Clovis Dumont--CJMS)
1 Silhouettes--The Rays
2 Wake Up Little Susie--The Everly Brothers
3 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
4 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis
5 Melodie d'Amour (Melody of Love)--The Ames Brothers
6 All the Way--Frank Sinatra
7 Treat Me Nice--Elvis Presley
8 I'll Remember Today--Patti Page
9 Deep Purple--Billy Ward and his Dominoes
10 Till--Roger Williams

Montreal's top 10 (Real Giguere--CKAC)
1 April Love--Pat Boone
2 Silhouettes--The Rays
3 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
4 My Special Angel--Bobby Helms
5 Raunchy--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
6 Melodie d'Amour (Melody of Love)--The Ames Brothers
7 Kisses Sweeter than Wine--Jimmie Rodgers
8 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis
9 Alone--The Shepherd Sisters
10 Wake Up Little Susie--The Everly Brothers

Montreal's top 10 (Leon Lachance--CKVL)
1 Kisses Sweeter than Wine--Jimmie Rodgers
2 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
3 All the Way--Frank Sinatra
4 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
5 April Love--Pat Boone
6 Alone--The Shepherd Sisters
7 Till--Dinah Shore
8 St. Louis Blues--LaVern Baker
9 Little Bitty Pretty One--Bobby Day and the Satellites
10 Raunchy--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra

Montreal's top 10 (Hal Wardell--CKVL)
1 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
2 Raunchy--Ernie Freeman
3 Silhouettes--The Rays
4 My Special Angel--Bobby Helms
5 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis
6 April Love--Pat Boone
7 Wake Up Little Susie--The Everly Brothers
8 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
9 Peggy Sue--Jackie Walker
10 At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors

Montreal's top 10 (Steve Woodman--CFCF)
1 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
2 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
3 Wake Up Little Susie--The Everly Brothers
4 Silhouettes--The Rays
5 April Love--Pat Boone
6 My Special Angel--Bobby Helms
7 Raunchy--Bill Justis and his Orchestra
8 Peggy Sue--Buddy Holly
9 At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors
10 Great Balls of Fire--Jerry Lee Lewis

Montreal's top 10 (Gerry Herbert--CFCF)
1 Silhouettes--The Rays
2 You Send Me--Teresa Brewer
3 April Love--Pat Boone
4 All the Way--Frank Sinatra
5 Love Me Forever--Eydie Gorme
6 Just Born--Perry Como
7 Melodie d'Amour (Melody of Love)--The Ames Brothers
8 Pretend You Don't See Her--Jerry Vale
9 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis
10 Kisses Sweeter than Wine--Jimmie Rodgers

World events
British troops arrived in the British Honduran capital of Belize to guard against a possible outbreak of violence in the wake of charges by Governor Colin Thornley that People's Limited Party leader George Price had discussed breaking from the United Kingdom and uniting with Guatemala.

Politics and government
The Yugoslavian Communist Party Central Committee approved the rejection of the Moscow declaration of Soviet bloc Communist Parties on the grounds that it contained "incorrect" conclusions.

Education
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that American workers' schooling averaged 11.8 years, with 9% completing college.

Boxing
Pascual Perez (46-0-1) retained his world flyweight title with a knockout of Young Martin (54-11-3) at 2:05 of the 3rd round at Club Atletico Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.

Football
CRU
Shrine Game @ Molson Stadium, Montreal
East 20 West 2

Gerry McDougall of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats scored 2 touchdowns and Hamilton teammate Cookie Gilchrist added another as the IRFU All-Stars easily beat the WIFU All-Stars on a muddy field before 6,000 fans on a rainy day. Mr. McDougall opened the scoring on a 34-yard rush in the 1st quarter. Steve Oneschuk of the Tiger-Cats missed the convert attempt, but Hamilton teammate Cam Fraser punted for a single to give the East a 7-0 lead after 1 quarter. Mr. Gilchrist rushed 15 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter; Mr. Oneschuk again missed the convert, and the East led 13-0 at halftime. Mr. McDougall scored in the 3rd quarter on a 33-yard pass from Sam Etcheverry of the Montreal Alouettes; Montreal's Bill Bewley converted to make the score 20-0. Vic Chapman of the British Columbia Lions punted for singles in the 3rd and 4th quarters to get the West on the scoreboard. The West came close to scoring a touchdown in the 4th quarter, but Bobby Marlow of the Saskatchewan Roughriders fumbled on the East's 3-yard line, and Hamilton's Vince Scott recovered. The East amassed 332 yards net offense to just 155 yards for the West. Mr. Etcheverry completed 12 of 19 passes for 185 yards, while Frank Tripucka of the Roughriders completed just 5 of 20 passes for 95 yards and 3 interceptions. Offensive end and defensive back Bob Simpson of the Ottawa Rough Riders was awarded the Gordon Sturtridge Memorial Trophy as the game's most valuable player. It was supposed to be a friendly game with proceeds going to support Shriners' hospitals for crippled children, but late in the game, guard Dave Suminski of the Tiger-Cats was ejected by referee Seymour Wilson for slugging a Western player, and Wayne Robinson of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, assistant to Winnipeg's Bud Grant as WIFU coach, got into a heated argument with IRFU head coach Jim Trimble of the Tiger-Cats. Mr. Robinson claimed that Mr. Trimble was violating an agreement not to blitz the quarterbacks, and the two had to be separated by Shrine committee co-chairman Bill Wray. According to the Montreal Gazette, the West blitzed more than the East, and Mr. Tripucka had a relatively clean uniform. Mr. Robinson had previously played under Mr. Trimble when the latter was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. It was also reported that the Molson Stadium timekeeper seemed to have trouble keeping time during the 2nd half, as the 3rd quarter went 30 minutes, while the 4th quarter was cut short, lasting just 15 minutes in real time, with no stopping of the clock.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Love You Tokyo--Los Primos (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Dragnet 1968, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Phony Police Racket



Music
Otis Redding was at Stax Studios in Memphis, where he performed his final session for the song (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay. Mr. Redding and four members of his band, the Bar-Kays, were killed in a plane crash in Wisconsin three days later. (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay was released as a single a month later and became Mr. Redding's biggest hit.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk and French Ambassador to the United States Charles Lucet exchanged texts of a new consular treaty in Washington. The new treaty between the countries replaced one that had been in effect for 100 years.

Society
Canadian Safe Driving Week for 1967 concluded with a record-high 81 driving-related fatalities.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Peter Goldmark, 71. Hungarian-born U.S. engineer. Mr. Goldmark was best known for developing the long-playing record, introduced in 1948, while he was working at Columbia Records. He also developed field-sequential colour technology for television in 1940, but his system was incompatible with current television technology. Mr. Goldmark developed the Electroinic Video Recorder (EVR), which was introduced in 1967. He was killed in a car accident, five days after his 71st birthday and just 15 days after being presented the National Medal of Science by U.S. President Jimmy Carter "For contributions to the development of the communication sciences for education, entertainment, culture and human service."

Crime
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation released 200 volumes containing 40,000 pages of files from its investigation of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The files contained a memorandum from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover dated December 12, 1963, stating his belief that Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin, but possibly not the only one.

Hockey
NHL
Vancouver 2 @ Atlanta 2

WHA
Gordie Howe of the New England Whalers scored his 1,000th career professional goal in a game against the Birmingham Bulls at the Hartford Civic Center.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Washington to begin a summit with U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Crime
Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771, a British Aerospace 146-200A, crashed near Paso Robles, California, killing all 43 on board, after disgruntled passenger David Burke, 45, a former employee of Pacific Southwest parent company USAir, shot his ex-boss Ray Thomson, who was travelling on the flight, then shot both pilots and himself.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Simo Goes Poing!--KCD (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Richard J. Hughes, 83. U.S. politician. Mr. Hughes, a Democrat, was Governor of New Jersey from 1962-1970 and Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973-1979. he died of congestive heart failure.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Tubthumping--Chumbawamba

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): As Long as You Love Me--Backstreet Boys

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997--Elton John (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Barbie Girl--Aqua (2nd week at #1)

10 years ago
2007

Environment
An oil spill began in South Korea after a crane barge that had broken free from a tug collides with the Hong Kong-registered crude carrier Hebei Spirit.