March 6, 2018

230 years ago
1788

Australiana
The First Fleet arrived at Norfolk Island in order to found a convict settlement.

200 years ago
1818

Born on this date
William Claflin. U.S. politician. Mr. Claflin, an opponent of slavery, helpsed to found the Free Soil Party of Massachusetts before joining the Republican Party. He was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1866-1869 and Governor from 1869-1872, before representing the state's 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1877-1881. Mr. Clafton was Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1868-1872. He died on January 5, 1905 at the age of 86.

130 years ago
1888

Died on this date
Louisa May Alcott, 55. U.S. authoress. Miss Alcott was best known for the novel Little Women (1868). She died of a stroke after years of declining health, and just two days after the death of her father Amos Bronson Alcott.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Howard McGhee. U.S. musician. Mr. McGhee was a bebop jazz trumpeter who performed in bands led by such artists as Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Charlie Barnet, and Andy Kirk, hitting his peak in the late 1940s and early '50s. Drug problems derailed his career for much of the 1950s, but he made a comeback in the '60s. Mr. McGhee taught music in his later years, until his death at the age of 69 on July 17, 1987.

Politics and government
Liberal Party leader John Oliver was sworn in as Premier of British Columbia, five days after Harlan Brewster had died in office.

80 years ago
1938

Law
Stuart Taylor Wood, C.M.G., was appointed Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; he served until April 30, 1951.

75 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I've Heard that Song Before--Harry James and his Music Makers with Helen Forrest

Literature
Chinese leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek published his book China's Destiny, proposing a 10-year post-World War II economic development plan for the country.

War
Russian forces captured the German stronghold of Gzhatsk, 100 miles west of Moscow. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's reinforced German troops launched a dawn attack against British forces south of the Mareth Line in southeastern Tunisia. Two Japanese destroyers were sunk while trying to drive off a U.S. Navy bombardment force at Vila and Munda in the central Solomon Islands.

Politics and government
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet conferred the military title of Marshal of th Soviet Union upon Josef Stalin.

Art
Norman Rockwell's painting Freedom from Want was published in The Saturday Evening Post with a matching essay by Carlos Bulosan as part of the Four Freedoms series.

Journalism
U.S. Postmaster General Frank Walker barred the magazine The Militant from the mails on the grounds that it openly discouraged participation in World War II.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed a special commitee, including James Byrnes, Bernard Baruch, Admiral William Leahy, Harry Hopkins, and Samuel Rosenman to report on manpower.

70 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover--Art Mooney and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Now is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song)--Bing Crosby
--Gracie Fields
--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra
--Margaret Whiting
2 I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover--Art Mooney and his Orchestra
--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--The Three Suns
--Uptown String Band
3 Ballerina--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby with the Rhythmaires
--Buddy Clark
4 Serenade of the Bells--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Jo Stafford
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
5 Golden Earrings--Peggy Lee
6 How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro
--Jack Owens
--Dinah Shore
7 Manana (Is Soon Enough for Me)--Peggy Lee
8 I'll Dance at Your Wedding--Ray Noble and his Orchestra with Buddy Clark
--Peggy Lee
9 Beg Your Pardon--Francis Craig and his Orchestra
--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--Larry Green and his Orchestra
10 Pianissimo--Perry Como
--Buddy Clark

Singles entering the chart were How Lucky You Are by the Andrews Sisters (#32) and Love is So Terrific, with versions by Ernie Filice and his Quartet, and Vic Damone (#36). How Lucky You Are was the other side of Near You (charting at #23, with the versions by Francis Craig and his Orchestra; Larry Green and his Orchestra; Alvino Rey and his Orchestra; and Elliot Lawrence and his Orchestra).

Died on this date
Ross Lockridge, Jr., 33. U.S. author. Mr. Lockridge wrote the novel Raintree County, which took him 6 1/2 years to write, and was released on January 4, 1948 to positive reviews. In order to make the novel more commercially appealing and filmable, Mr. Lockridge was forced to cut 50,000 words, which aggravated his nervousness and depression. He committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Diplomacy
U.S., U.K., and French negotiators meeting in London reported progress toward an economic merger of the French and Anglo-American zones of Germany, and agreed that Germany should be given "a federal form of government."

Politics and government
Philippine President Manuel Roxas outlawed the Hukbalahap guerrillas of central Luzon, claiming they were Communists.

Medicine
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission announced the free distribution of certain radioactive isotopes for use in cancer treatment.

Horse racing
Salmagundi, with Johnny Longden up, won the Santa Anita Derby.

60 years ago
1958

War
North Korean gunners shot down a U.S. F-86 Sabrejet north of the demilitarized zone.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Premier Nikolai Bulganin, in a letter to U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, dropped his earlier demand that the West agree to attend a summit meeting on a specific date as a precondition to a preparatory foreign minister conference.

North Vietnam offered to open talks with South Vietnam on mutual troop reductions and trade.

Defense
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission member Willard Libby told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it woud be "very difficult" to set up a foolproof nuclear test detection system under proposals for a test-ban treaty.

Politics and government
U.A.R. President Gamal Nasser appointed his first cabinet, naming two Egyptians and two Syrians as vice presidents, but placing foreign affairs, defense, and other key ministries in Egyptian hands.

Cuban President Fulgencio Batista appointed a new cabinet to preside over June 1 elections.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board authorized Federal Reserve banks of New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago to reduce their discout rates from 2 3/4% to 2 1/4%.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Cinderella Rockefella--Esther and Abi Ofarim (2nd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
2 Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)--Johnny Farnham
3 Bottle of Wine--The Fireballs
4 Tin Soldier/I Feel Much Better--Small Faces
5 The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde--Georgie Fame
6 Love is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu)--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra
7 You Only Live Twice/Oh Lonesome Me--Nancy Sinatra/Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
8 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
9 Am I that Easy to Forget--Engelbert Humperdinck
10 Different Drum--Stone Poneys

Singles entering the chart were Simon Says by the 1910 Fruitgum Company (#19); Lapland by the Baltimore & Ohio Marching Band (#32); The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo) by Manfred Mann (#36); Soothe Me by the Groove (#37); Bend Me, Shape Me by the American Breed (#38); Sunshine of Your Love by Cream (#39); and Elevator Driver by Masters Apprentices (#40).

At the movies
Psych-Out, co-produced by Dick Clark, directed by Richard Rush, and starring Susan Strasberg, Dean Stockwell, Jack Nicholson, and Bruce Dern, opened in theatres.





World events
Three Negro rebels who had been convicted of murder were hanged in Rhodesia, four days after Queen Elizabeth II had commuted their sentences. The executions were the first since Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965, prompting international condemnation.

Politics and government
Cyrus R. Smith took office as Secretary of Commerce in the administration of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, succeeding Alexander Trowbridge.

Curling
At the Brier in Kelowna, British Columbia, the Alberta rink, skipped by Ron Northcott of Calgary, extended their record to 5-0 with a 17-6 rout over Saskatchewan, skipped by Bob Pickering of Milestone. The loss was Saskatchewan's first after three wins.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): It's a Heartache--Bonnie Tyler (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Canada Kara no Tegami--Masaaki Hirao & Yōko Hatanaka (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Te Amo--Umberto Tozzi (2nd week at #1)

Canadiana
Julie Simoneau of Quebec City was named Miss Teen Canada 1978 at the annual pageant in Toronto, which was televised on CTV. The runner-ups, in order, were: Geneviève Moineau (Ottawa-Hull); Andrée Morrison (Cape Breton Island); and Dawn Rutherford (Saskatoon). The remaining semi-finalists were: Sylvie Hétu (Montréal); Naomi Gotts (Regina); Ginette Rivet (Sudbury); and Brenda Kulik (Winnipeg). Yellowknife was represented by Tracy Stangier, a former classmate of this blogger.

Crime
Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, in Lawrenceville, Georgia to testify in his own defense on charges of distributing obscene material, was shot by an unknown assailant. Unfortunately, Mr. Flynt survived, although he was paralyzed from the waist down. The judge declared a mistrial--not the last time that the legal system worked in Mr. Flynt's favour. Ruth Carter Stapleton, evangelist sister of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, flew to Mr. Flynt's bedside to pray for his recovery. Mr. Flynt had credited Mrs. Stapleton with his becoming a born-again Christian. Ultimately, the conversion of both of them turned out to be fraudulent. Mr. Flynt continued to publish his pornography and eventually ended up in the atheist camp. Mrs. Stapleton died of pancreatic cancer in 1983 at the age of 54 as a dedicated New Ager who thought she could visualize her cancer away; she was mistaken.

Labour
The day after 160,000 soft-coal miners in the United States had rejected by a margin of more than 2-1 a settlement urged upon them by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and United Mine Workers of America President Arnold Miller, President Carter invoked the mandatory back-to-work provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act in order to end the 91-day strike, saying "The law will be enforced."

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: House Arrest--Krush

War
U.S. reconnaissance helicopters were fired on from Iranian boats and an oil platform, while an Iranian mob attacked the Soviet embassy in Tehran.

Terrorism
In the conclusion of Operation Flavius, U.K. Special Air Service forces killed three Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers in Gibraltar in order to prevent an IRA bomb attack.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): You Don't Treat Me No Good--Sonia Dada (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Mistero--Enrico Ruggeri

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): No Limit--2 Unlimited

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): It's OK, All Right--Def Dames Dope

#1 single in France (SNEP): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No Limit--2 Unlimited

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): No Limit--2 Unlimited (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)--Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (14th week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Ordinary World--Duran Duran
2 Bed of Roses--Bon Jovi
3 No Mistakes--Patty Smyth
4 I'm Every Woman--Whitney Houston
5 Man on the Moon--R.E.M.
6 Steam--Peter Gabriel
7 Little Bird--Annie Lennox
8 If I Ever Lose My Faith in You--Sting
9 A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)--Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
10 Harvest Moon--Neil Young

Singles entering the chart were Lost in Your Eyes by the Jeff Healey Band (#80); Here We Go Again by Portrait (#83); Passionate Kisses by Mary Chapin Carpenter (#84); You Don't Get Away (That Easy) by 54-40 (#87); Water from the Moon by Celine Dion (#90); and Kiss of Life by Sade (#91).

War
More than 350 people were killed in a battle between Unita rebels and the Angolan government in the city of Huambo.

Football
CFL
The Canadian Football League held its annual Canadian College Draft in Calgary; it was the first time the draft had been held in a Western Division city since 1971 in Winnipeg. The British Columbia Lions had the first overall choice, and selected defensive back Patrick Burke of Fresno College.

10 years ago
2008

Law
A judge in Brampton, Ontario rejected a human rights challenge to an Ontario ruling that motorcyclists must wear helmets while riding, because safety concerns outweigh religious rights.

Curling
The Brier opened in Saskatoon, continuing to March 14.