January 6, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherlock Holmes, Sheila Hellevang, and Johanna Wegner!

325 years ago
1693

Died on this date
Mehmed IV, 51. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1648-1687. Mehmed the Hunter took the Ottoman throne at the age of 6, but handed over most of his executive power to his Grand Vizier. He was deposed in 1687 and imprisoned in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

225 years ago
1793

Born on this date
James Madison Porter. U.S. politician. Mr. Porter, a Whig, was United States Secretary of War in the administration of President John Tyler from 1843-1844; he was a recess appointment, and was never confirmed by Congress. Mr. Porter sat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1849-1850, and founded Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania in the 1820s. He died on November 11, 2862 at the age of 69.

180 years ago
1838

Communications
Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail first demonstrated the telegraph in their laboratory in Morristown, New Jersey. Mr. Vail sent, and Mr. Morse, in another part of the building, received a message reading: "A patient waiter is no loser".

125 years ago
1893

Americana
The Washington National Cathedral was chartered by the United States Congress. U.S. President Benjamin Harrison signed the charter.

90 years ago
1928

At the movies
The Circus, produced, directed, written by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, received its premiere screening at the Strand Theatre in New York City.

Disasters
In London, thaw and a high tide caused the Thames River to flood the cellars of the Houses of Parliament and the Tate Gallery, many dwellings further east. 15 lives were lost. The peak of the flood was between Kew and Canning Town, where it burst through the embankment boundaries, foamed through neighbouring streets, swamped basements, and filled the first storeys of houses to the ceilings. In Westminster, 10 people died and thousands were driven from their homes.

Boxing
Tommy Loughran (81-14-8) retained his New York Athletic Commission world light heavyweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Leo Lomski (55-6-2) at Madison Square Garden in New York. On the undercard, Jim Braddock (28-2-4) won an 8-round decision over Paul Swiderski (5-4-1).

75 years ago
1943

World events
A threatened revolt against the Romanian government of Premier Ion Antonescu was crushed with the arrest Iron Guard leaders throughout the country.

Science
Drs. Walter Minder and Alice Leigh-Smith reported the discovery of a method of isolating small amounts of radioactive chemical element 85 (anglohelvetium), the last of the 92 primary components of matter to be identified.

Technology
G.A. Petzoldt, Sr. and G.A. Petzoldt, Jr. reported the development of a formula for fireproofing aviation uniforms, making them invulnerable to gasoline fires.

Agriculture
The Mexican government reported that increased production of farm products in 1942 made the nation self-sufficient in all major crops except wheat.

Scandal
A U.S. federal grand jury in New York indicted 29 corporations that produced 80% of the nation's anthracite coal for price-fixing.

Oil
The U.S. Office of Price Administration banned pleasure driving and ordered a 25% cut in fuel oil rations for heating non-dwelling buildings on the East Coast.

70 years ago
1948

War
The U.S. tribunal in Nuremberg began the war crimes trial of 21 Nazi diplomats and economic administrators, including Baron Ernst von Weiszaeker and former chief of the presidential chancellery Otto Meissner. Former Japanese Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo completed his testimony at the Tokyo war crimes trial, refusing to admit either personal or national guilt for acts committed during World War II.

The Nationalist Chinese government committed 1.25 million troops to battle Communists north of the Yangtze River.

Defense
Retiring U.S. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz issued his final report, claiming that the United States had complete mastery of the seas.

The U.S. aid mission to Greece reallocated $15 million from civilian needs to the Greek Army and national guard, whose manpower strength was to be increased.

Politics and government
Exiled Riff leader Abd el Krim proclaimed in Cairo a Committee for the Liberation of Northwest Africa.

Economics and finance
The French National Assembly passed an anti-inflation income tax measure designed to remove 125 billion francs from circulation.

U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Charles Eaton (Republican--New Jersey) introduced President Harry Truman's European Recovery Program, requesting $6.8 billion for the plan's first 15 months.

Labour
Haiti raised its daily minimum wage from 40c-70c.

German workers struck in Hamburg, Essen, Munich, and other western cities to protest continuing food shortages.

Following a meeting with the American Federation of Labor League for Political Education, AFL President William Green denounced former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace's third-party U.S. presidential candidacy.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Top 100--1st week at #1); April Love--Pat Boone (Disc Jockey--4th week at #1)

Married on this date
U.S. actor Edward G. Robinson and dress designer Jane Adler were married in Arlington, Virginia.

Politics and government
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Peter Thorneycroft resigned after telling Prime Minister Harold Macmillan that he was "not prepared to approve" budget estimates $140 million than the previous year's.

Defense
U.S. Senate Armed Forces Preparedness subcommittee chairman Lyndon Johnson (Democrat--Texas) attributed General James Gavin's retirement from the service to disagreement with President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration's fiscal 1959 military budget.

Protest
25 people were injured and 26 arrested when mobs in Madras, protesting the replacement of English by Hindi as India's official language, rioted during a visit by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Crime
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a state court's conviction of Alphonse Bartkus on charges of robbing a federally-insured bank in Cairo, Illinois, a crime for which a federal jury had previously acquitted him.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Hello Goodbye/I Am the Walrus--The Beatles

#1 single in France: San Francisco--Johnny Hallyday (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): L'ora dell'amore--I Camaleonti (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): (The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts--The Bee Gees (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (4th week at #1)
2 World--The Bee Gees
3 Magical Mystery Tour (EP)--The Beatles
4 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
5 2000 Light Years from Home/She's a Rainbow--The Rolling Stones
6 Zabadak!--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
7 Everybody Knows--The Dave Clark Five
8 De Bostella--Johnny + Rijk
9 A Walk in the Sky--Flower Pot Men
10 Holiday--The Bee Gees

Singles entering the chart were Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues (#36); We Will Be There After Tea by After Tea (#38); Tea is Famous (In the Whole Wide World) by the Tee-Set (#39); and Tin Cup by Small Faces (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
3 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Gladys Knight & the Pips
4 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
5 Chain of Fools--Aretha Franklin
6 Bend Me, Shape Me--The American Breed
7 I Second that Emotion--Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
8 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
9 Skinny Legs and All--Joe Tex
10 Boogaloo Down Broadway--Fantastic Johnny C

Singles entering the chart were I Wish it Would Rain by the Temptations (#77); You by Marvin Gaye (#78); Money by the Lovin' Spoonful (#79); New Orleans by Neil Diamond (#80); Some Velvet Morning by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood (#85); Carmen by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (#87); Bottle of Wine by the Fireballs (#89); To Each his Own by Frankie Laine (#94); Up-Up and Away by Hugh Masakela (#97); Sunshine of Your Love by Cream (#99); and A Working Man's Prayer by Arthur Prysock (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
3 Next Plane to London--The Rose Garden
4 Chain of Fools--Aretha Franklin
5 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
6 Itchycoo Park--Small Faces
7 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Gladys Knight & the Pips
8 It's Wonderful--The Young Rascals
9 Summer Rain--Johnny Rivers
10 Wear Your Love Like Heaven--Donovan

Singles entering the chart were Explosion in My Soul by the Soul Survivors (#60); She's a Rainbow by the Rolling Stones (#71); Zabadak! by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (#76); Little Becky's Christmas Wish by Becky Lamb (#77); Just as Much as Ever by Bobby Vinton (#78); I'm Coming Home by Tom Jones (#81); Spooky by the Classics IV (#82); Love is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu) by Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (#84); To Give (The Reason I Live) by Frankie Valli (#86); Sunday Mornin' by Spanky and Our Gang (#88); Lost by Jerry Butler (#91); Break My Mind by Bobby Wood (#93); Tomorrow by Strawberry Alarm Clock (#96); Pick Up the Pieces by Carla Thomas (#97); Up Tight Good Man by Laura Lee (#98); I was Made to Love Her by King Curtis and the Kingpins (#99); and Money by the Lovin' Spoonful (#100). The B-side of Sunday Mornin', titled Echoes, is the Fred Neil composition that became a huge hit for Harry Nilsson under the title Everybody's Talkin'. Nilsson's version was originally released in the late summer of 1968, but didn't become a big hit until a year later, after it was used in the movie Midnight Cowboy.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
2 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
3 Bend Me, Shape Me--The American Breed
4 She's a Rainbow--The Rolling Stones
5 Wear Your Love Like Heaven--Donovan
6 Who Will Answer?--Ed Ames
7 Love of the Common People--Wayne Newton
8 Home from the Forest--Ronnie Hawkins
9 What's it Gonna Be--Dusty Springfield
10 Different Drum--Stone Poneys

Singles entering the chart were Money by the Lovin' Spoonful (#24); I was Made to Love Her by King Curtis and the Kingpins (#26); I Can Take or Leave Your Lovin' by Herman's Hermits (#27); and If I Could Build My Whole World Around You by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (#30).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles
2 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
3 (Alone) In My Room--Willie & the Walkers
4 Neon Rainbow--The Box Tops
5 Next Plane to London--The Rose Garden
6 Jezebel--The Witness Inc.
7 Love of the Common People--Wayne Newton
8 Beautiful People--Kenny O'Dell
9 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
10 The Rain, the Park and Other Things--The Cowsills
Pick hit of the week: Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band

Disasters
13 people were killed and 50 injured when a Manchester-London express train hit a truck near Hixon.

Eight people were killed in a head-on auto crash near Harrisonburg, Virginia.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood--Santa Esmeralda (8th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Singin' in the Rain Part 1--Sheila and Black Devotion (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Burt Munro, 78. N.Z. motorcycle racing driver. Mr. Munro became a legendary figure at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah n the 1960s by setting world speed records with a modified 1920 Indian Scout. On August 26, 1967, he set an under-1,000 cc record that still stands. A fictionalized account of Mr. Munro's experiences was told in the movie The World's Fastest Indian (2005).

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter returned to Washington after a 9-day, 16,000 mile tour that saw him visit Poland, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, and Belgium. Before leaving France, Mr. Carter met with French Socialist leader Francois Mitterand and expressed to him his concerns about the possibility of a renewed Socialist-Communist alliance. Back in Washington, Mr. Carter said that he favoured a referendum for Palestinians but that an independent state was not an option.

At a formal ceremony in Budapest, U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance returned to Hungary the Crown of St. Stephen--symbol of the Hungarian nation since 1000--which had been in U.S. custody since the end of World War II. Hungarian National Assembly President Antal Apro formally accepted the crown, claiming that the return of the "invaluable national relic" had demonstrated an improvement in U.S.-Hungarian relations. Laszlo Cardinal Lekai, Roman Catholic Primate of Hungary, and leaders of the Protestant and Jewish communities attended the ceremony. Anti-Communist Hungarians in the United States had protested the return, and Representative Mary Roase Oaker (Democrat--Ohio), whose Cleveland constituency contained the largest concentration of Hungarians in the U.S., had tried to block the crown's return.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board raised the discount rate from 6%-6 1/2%, because of "the recent disorder in foreign exchange markets."

Hockey
NHL
Super Series '78
Spartak 2 @ Montreal 5

The Canadiens defeated the Soviet club Spartak at the Montreal Forum to end the exhibition series.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Tänd ett ljus--Triad

Business
The Quebec firm Bombardier signed a contract to deliver 50 locomotives to Nigeria.

25 years ago
1993

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: New Years

Died on this date
Dizzy Gillespie, 75. U.S. musician. Mr. Gillespie was one of the world's most famous jazz trumpeters and was one of the founders of the genre of jazz known as bebop.

Rudolf Nureyev, 54. Russian-born dancer. Mr. Nureyev became one of the world's best-known ballet dancers with the Kirov Ballet. He defected to France in 1961, and eventually became an Austrian citizen.

World events
Indian Border Security Force units killed 55 Kashmiri civilians in Sopore, Jammu, and Kashmir in reprisal after a BSF patrol had been ambushed.

20 years ago
1998

Scandal
Former National Hockey League Players Association President Alan Eagleson pled guilty in Boston to fraud, and was fined $1 million; a day later, in Toronto, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police apologized to former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney for identifying him as a criminal suspect in an alleged Airbus kickback scheme.

Labour
National Football League owners consented to a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that granted players unrestricted free agency, while owners were alowed to impose team salary caps.

10 years ago
2008

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
New York Giants 24 @ Tampa Bay 14



AFC Wild Card Playoff
Tennessee 6 @ San Diego 17