April 16, 2018

530 years ago
1488

Born on this date
Jungjong. King of Korea, 1506-1544. Jungjong, born Yi Yeok, acceded to the throne of the Joseon dynasty as a result of a coup that deposed his half-brother Yeonsangun. Jungjong was regarded as a weak king; the Confucian scholar Jo Gwang-jo was the major governing influence during the early years of his reign, and the later years were marked by struggles among various conservative factions. Jungjong died on November 29, 1544 at the age of 56, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Injong.

200 years ago
1818

Diplomacy
The United States Senate ratified the Rush–Bagot Treaty, establishing the border with Canada, providing for an unarmed U.S.-Canada border, and no naval vessels on the Great Lakes.

110 years ago
1908

Americana
Natural Bridges National Monument was established in Utah.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Spike Milligan. U.K. comedian. Terence Alan Milligan was best known as the chief writer one of the stars of the BBC radio program The Goon Show (1951-1960). He was also known for his frequent mental breakdowns, which didn't prevent him from having a long and varied career. He died on February 27, 2002 at the age of 83.

90 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Henry Birks, 87. Canadian businessman. Mr. Birks founded the jewellery firm that became Henry Birks and Sons in Montreal in 1879.

Americana
President Calvin Coolidge, speaking in Washington at the 1928 convention of Daughters of the American Revolution, said:

If the American Revolution had one note that was more dominant than another it was the principle that the people were competent to run their own business and manage their own government. That was the paean of emancipation that rang high and clear through the whole period. It was an appeal to the people to emerge from their weakness and rely on their own strength and courage to conquer for themselves a place of power and freedom."

Baseball
Boston Braves’ pitcher Charlie Robertson had his glove removed from the game by umpire George Moran after the Brooklyn Robins complained that the ball was acting strangely. Mr. Robertson allowed 1 run--earned--in 6 innings before he was relieved by Art Delaney, who was credited with the win as the Braves edged the Robins 3-2 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

Lou Gehrig led off the 2nd inning with a home run to open the scoring and the New York Yankees added 5 runs in the 3rd on their way to a 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox before 3,000 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. George Pipgras pitched a 5-hit complete game victory and added a double and a run of his own.

80 years ago
1938

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals traded pitcher Dizzy Dean to the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Curt Davis and Clyde Shoun, outfielder Tuck Stainback, and $185,000. In 1937 Mr. Dean had won 13 games and lost 10, with an earned run average of 2.70. He suffered a broken toe in the All-Star game when hit by a line drive off the bat of Earl Averill, and when he came back later in the season, he favoured the injury, and ended up hurting his pitching arm, which never recovered.

75 years ago
1943

Literature
The posthumous memoir The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig was published in English, a year after publication in the original German under the title Die Welt von Gestern: Erinnerungen eines Europäers in Stockholm. Mr. Zweig, an Austrian writer, had committed suicide at the age of 60 with his wife Lotte in Rio de Janeiro on February 22, 1942.

The Book of the Month Club revealed pressure by the Communist newspaper The Daily Worker and "fellow travellers" to suppress publication April 19 of the English translation of Mark Aldanov's Russian novel The Fifth Seal as "subtly and viciously anti-Soviet."

War
Russian troops repelled several German counterattacks in the Kuban-Novorossiisk area. The remaining ships of the Japanese convoy off Wewak, New Guinea fled under heavy Allied plane assaults. Spanish Foreign Minister Count Francisco Gomez de Jordana offered to mediate World War II along with the Vatican and other neutrals. The Polish government-in-exile in London asked the International Red Cross to investigate the disappearance of 15,000 Polish officers, soldiers, and civilians from three Soviet prison camps from 1939-1941. Martinique High Commissioner Admiral Georges Robert said that he would join the Allies if France were united under one head and the interests of the Antilles safeguarded.

Crime
Jacques Mornard, who had assassinated Soviet Communist leader Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1940, was sentenced in Mexico City to 20 years in prison.

Medicine
Dallas engineer David Pfeiffer described five methods--direct vacuum pump; steam jet; cold surface; chemical dessication; and physical absorbent--of drying liquid blood plasma to preserve its essential elements.

Science
Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann accidentally discovered the hallucinogenic effects of the research drug LSD. He intentionally took the drug three days later.

Scandal
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested eight Baltimore shipyard workers for doing faulty welding to earn money faster. Two others were seized later.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate approved and sent to the House of Representatives the Wagner bill, extending the $2-billion currency stabilization fund for two years, but eliminating the right of the President to devalue the dollar.

70 years ago
1948

On television today
The Chicago superstation WGN televised a major league baseball game for the first time. With Jack Brickhouse calling the play-by-play, the White Sox beat the Cubs 4-1 in the first game of the Windy City Classic at Wrigley Field.

At the movies
Ruthless, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starring Zachary Scott, Louis Hayward, Diana Lynn, and Sydney Greenstreet, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Dick Kauffman, 59. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Kauffman was a first baseman and outfielder with the St. Louis Browns (1914-1915), batting .259 with no home runs and 16 runs batted in in 44 games. He played in the minor leagues from 1911-1921--mostly in the Class A Southern Association--and batted .279 with at least 21 homers in 1,217 games.

Radio
The George Foster Peabody awards were presented to CBS View of the Press for news; Theater Guild of the Air for drama; ABC's Boston Symphony Orchestra series for music; CBS is There for education; and Washington station WQQW's The Children's Hour for children's programming.

War
Prosecution and defense attorneys ended their arguments in the Tokyo war crimes trials.

The Greek Army began its spring offensive with attacks on guerrilla forces in central Greece.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly began a special session devoted to the Palestine problem, electing Jose Arce of Argentina to preside over the conference.

World events
A court in Sofia sentenced Bulgarian Peasant Party leader Dimiter Gichev to life imprisonment on charges of inciting peasants to sabotage and destruction of food supplies.

Economics and finance
17 European states, including Allied representatives for western Germany, signed an agreement establishing the Organization for European Economic Cooperation. Belgian Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak was chosen chairman of the organization, with a headquarters to be located in Paris.

Labour
The Colombian Confederation of Labor called off its general strike.

60 years ago
1958

Died on this date
W. Kerr Scott, 61. U.S. politician. Mr. Scott, a Democrat, was Governor of North Carolina from 1949-1953 and represented North Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 until his death from a heart attack the day before his 62nd birthday. He was regarded as a moderate on racial issues during his time as Governor, but as a Senator became more opposed to civil rights for Negroes.

Rosalind Franklin, 37. U.K. chemist. Dr. Franklin was an X-ray crystallographer who contributed to the understanding of of the molecular structures of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), viruses, coal, and graphite. Her contributions to research on DNA weren't largely recognized during her lifetime, which is probably why she never received a Nobel Prize. Dr. Franklin died after a two-year battle with gynaecological cancer.

Diplomacy
The U.K., U.S.A., and France, in a joint note to the U.S.S.R., indicated their willingness to send delegates to Moscow to begin discussions with the Soviet Foreign Ministry on preparations for an East-West summit conference.

Defense
The Indian Parliament approved a $640-million defense budget presented by Defense Minister Krishna Menon.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent Congress a draft bill to unify and modernize the defese establishment, with the goal of obtaining "maximum strength at minimum cost."

Politics and government
French Prime Minister Felix Gaillard resigned, following a 321-255 vote of non-confidence by the National Assembly on the North African situation.

The National Party, led by Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom, retained its majority in the House of Assembly in the South African general election, taking 103 of 163 seats. The National Party's total was an increase of 9 from its total before the election. The United Party, led by De Villiers Graff, won 53 seats, a decrease of 4. The remaining seats consisted of 4 coloured representatives--all members of the United Party--elected on April 3, 1958, and 3 native representatives--2 Liberals and an independent--who had sat since 1954 and whose terms were due to expire in 1960.

Jack Pain of the white supremacist opposition Dominion Party defeated Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister Sir Edgar Whitehead in a by-election for the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly. Sir Edgar had been serving as Minister for Rhodesia & Nyasaland Affairs to the United States since 1957, but had been recalled to replace Garfield Todd as Prime Minister early in 1958 when a cabinet revolt forced Mr. Todd to resign.

Transportation
U.S. President Eisenhower signed "with serious misgivings" a $1.8-billion federal highway act.

Baseball
Dick Gray and Johnny Roseboro each had 3 hits to help the Los Angeles Dodgers rout the San Francisco Giants 13-1 before 22,735 fans at Seals Stadium in San Francisco for their first win since moving from Brooklyn. Johnny Podres pitched a 9-hit complete game victory and batted 1 for 5 with a run.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Lady Madonna--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Edna Ferber, 82. U.S. authoress. Miss Ferber was a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and spent part of her childhood in Ottumwa, Iowa before settling in Appleton, Wisconsin. She eventually moved to New York, where she became part of the Algonquin Round Table, the circle of wits who met over drinks every day at the Algonquin Hotel. Her novels usually featured a strong female protagonist and a secondary character who had been a victim of discrimination. Miss Ferber’s first novel, Dawn O’Hara, was published in 1911. So Big, published in 1924, won the Pulitzer Prize. She wrote several plays with George S. Kaufman, including Dinner at Eight (1932) and Stage Door (1936). In addition to several of those mentioned above, a number of Miss Ferber’s works were made into movies and plays (including musicals). These include Show Boat (1926); Cimarron (1929); Saratoga Trunk (1941); Giant (1952); and Ice Palace (1958). Her last novel, A Kind of Magic, was published in 1963.

Fay Bainter, 74. U.S. actress. Miss Bainter appeared in numerous Broadway productions, beginning with The Rose of Panama in 1912. In 1934 she appeared in Dodsworth, and made her movie debut the same year in This Side of Heaven. In 1938 Miss Bainter became the first actress to be nominated for Academy Awards as Actress (White Banners) and Supporting Actress (Jezebel) in the same year; she won for Jezebel. Among other movies to feature Miss Bainter were Our Town (1940); The Human Comedy (1943); and State Fair (1945). Her final film appearance, for which she was nominated for a supporting actress Oscar, was The Children’s Hour, in 1961. Miss Bainter’s final Broadway appearance was in Gayden, which had a brief run in May 1949. Since Miss Bainter’s husband, Reginald Venable, was a military officer, she’s buried alongside him in Arlington National Cemetery.

Boxing
Curtis Cokes (50-9-3) retained his world welterweight title with a technical knockout of Willie Ludick (28-3) 34 seconds into the 5th round at Memorial Auditorium in Dallas.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
New York 1 @ Chicago 4 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Philadelphia 2 @ St. Louis 1 (2OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Los Angeles 3 @ Minnesota 4 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Don Blackburn scored at 11:18 of the 2nd overtime period to give the Flyers their win over the Blues at St. Louis Arena.

Milan Marcetta scored at 9:11 of the 1st overtime period to give the North Stars their win over the Kings at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Tania--John Rowles (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
F.W. Davis, 91. U.S. inventor. Mr. Davis invented the power steering unit for automobiles.

Lucius D. Clay, 80. U.S. military officer. The youngest Brigadier General in the U.S. Army during World War II, Gen. Clay succeeded Dwight Eisenhower as Military Governor of Germany on March 15, 1947. When the Soviets began the blockade of Berlin in 1948, Gen. Clay directed the Berlin airlift, and retired in May 1949, days after the blockade was lifted.

Politics and government
South African Foreign Minister Roelof Botha, meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Owen, gave strong backing to the Anglo-American plan for transition to black rule in Rhodesia.

Disasters
The Messina area of Italy was hit by a severe earthquake.

Golf
A week after winning the Masters, Gary Player won the Tournament of Champions in Carlsbad, California with a score of 281. First prize money was $45,000.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
Edmonton 1 @ New England 4 (New England led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Quebec 3 @ Houston 4 (Houston led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Birmingham 3 @ Winnipeg 8 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
New York 90 @ Philadelphia 130 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Washington 103 @ San Antonio 114 (San Antonio led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Conference
First Round
Los Angeles 102 @ Seattle 111 (Seattle won best-of-three series 2-1)

Baseball
Bob Forsch pitched a no-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals as they shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 before 11,495 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.



The Boston Red Sox scored 4 runs in the 3rd inning on their way to an 8-6 win over the Texas Rangers before 22,168 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The game is best remembered for a wild pitch thrown by Texas reliever Len Barker in the bottom of the 7th inning that went on top of the backstop netting.



30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): L'Amore Rubato--Luca Barbarossa

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Gimme Hope Jo'anna--Eddy Grant

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Gimme Hope Jo'anna--Eddy Grant (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Heart--Pet Shop Boys (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Heart--Pet Shop Boys

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Heart--Pet Shop Boys (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
2 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
3 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
4 Devil Inside--INXS
5 Wishing Well--Terence Trent D'Arby
6 Where Do Broken Hearts Go--Whitney Houston
7 Girlfriend--Pebbles
8 Rocket 2 U--The Jets
9 Some Kind of Lover--Jody Watley
10 Angel--Aerosmith

Singles entering the chart were One More Try by George Michael (#39); Everything Your Heart Desires by Daryl Hall John Oates (#47); Together Forever by Rick Astley (#67); Circle in the Sand by Belinda Carlisle (#72); Like a Child by Noel (#82); Should I Say Yes? by Nu Shooz (#85); Englishman in New York by Sting (#86); and Dreamin' of Love by Stevie B (#88).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean (2nd week at #1)
2 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
3 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
4 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
5 I Saw Him Standing There--Tiffany
6 Devil Inside--INXS
7 Wishing Well--Terence Trent D'Arby
8 Push It--Salt-N-Pepa
9 Father Figure--George Michael
10 Check it Out--John Cougar Mellencamp

Singles entering the chart were Englishman in New York by Sting (#83); Everything Your Heart Desires by Daryl Hall John Oates (#85); Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) by Samantha Fox (#87); Carmelia by Dan Hill (#89); One Good Reason by Paul Carrack (#94); One Day in Your Life by 54-40 (#96); Underneath the Radar by Underworld (#97); and Gimme Some Kinda Sign by the Satellites (#98).

Canada's top 10 (The Record)
1 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
2 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
3 Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S
4 Wishing Well--Terence Trent D'Arby
5 I Saw Him Standing There--Tiffany
6 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
7 Push It--Salt-N-Pepa
8 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
9 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
10 Father Figure--George Michael

Died on this date
Khalil al-Wazir, 53. Palestinian terrorist. In Tunis, nine masked attackers killed two bodyguards and a driver before breaking into the home of Palestine Liberation Organization military chief Khalil al-Wazir and killing him. Subsequent reports said that altogether, 30 to 40 raiders had been put ashore in Tunis from an Israeli missile boat, and that the operation had been carried out by Israeli intelligence agents, and naval and army units. Mr. al-Wazir, who went by the name Abu Jihad, had been co-ordinating the Palestinian uprising in the territories occupied by Israel, which regarded him as being responsible for terrorist raids against Israel. On hearing of the assassination, Palestinians in the territories rioted, and 14 were shot to death by Israeli soldiers in the bloodiest day since the beginning of the current unrest.

Politics and government
Michael Dukakis won the Arizona caucus in the contest for the 1988 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 4 @ Washington 5 (OT) (Washington won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Dale Hunter's second goal of the game, at 5:57 of the 1st overtime period, completed a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in games and a 3-0 deficit on the scoreboard in this game as the Capitals eliminated the Flyers at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland.

Curling
Pat Ryan of Canada defeated Switzerland 4-2 in a semi-final game to advance to the final of the world men’s championship in Lausanne, Switzerland.

25 years ago
1993

Music
This blogger was in attendance at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton as the Edmonton Symphony Orcehstra performed under guest conductor Steven Sloane, with violinist Gil Shaham as the featured soloist.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council voted to create a safe haven for Bosnian Muslims under siege in the town of Srebrenica.

10 years ago
2008

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Quarter-Finals
Pittsburgh 3 @ Ottawa 1 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-0)
New Jersey 3 @ New York Rangers 5 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Western Conference
Quarter-Finals
Detroit 2 @ Nashville 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)