December 12, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Robb Findlay!

260 years ago
1758

Disasters
The U.K. transport ship Violet, carrying Acadians from Ile St. Jean (now Prince Edward Island) to France, sank in a storm in the North Atlantic Ocean, with the loss of all 280-400 people aboard. Since the ship's departure on November 25, 90 passengers had already died because of the horrible conditions. Another transport ship, the Duke William, which witnessed the sinking of the Violet, sank the next day, with the loss of over 360 lives.

175 years ago
1843

Died on this date
Willem I, 71. King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 1815-1840. Willem I ruled two principalities before being forced into exile in 1795 after the Batavian Revolution. He returned and declared himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1815. King Willem I opposed a Belgian uprising in 1830, but was unsuccessful in preventing an independent state of Belgium from being proclaimed. Constitutional changes were initiated in 1840 that King Willem wasn't willing to live with, so he abdicated in favour of his son Willem II. King Willem I died in Berlin.

Canadiana
James Douglas renamed Fort Camosun, British Columbia, naming it Fort Victoria.

Politics and government
William Draper and Denis-Benjamin Viger formed the Draper-Viger Ministry to govern the Province of Canada with Dominick Daly, the only member of previous ministry not to resign.

160 years ago
1858

Died on this date
Jacques Viger, 71. Canadian archaeologist and politician. Mr. Viger, a native of Montréal, served as the city's first Mayor from 1833-1836. He had a great reputation as an archaeologist, and founded the Historical Society of Montreal.

Economics and finance
The Province of Canada released its first decimal 1¢, 5¢, 10¢ and 20¢ coins; only 421,000 cents, struck at the Royal Mint in England, were ready for circulation.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Edward G. Robinson. Romanian-born U.S. actor. Born Emmanuel Goldenberg in Bucharest, Mr. Robinson became one of the best-known actors in Hollywood history, starring in such movies as Little Caesar (1931); Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939); Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940); The Sea Wolf (1941); Double Indemnity (1944); The Woman in the Window (1944); Scarlet Street (1945); The Stranger (1946); The Red House (1947); Key Largo (1948); Mackenna's Gold (1969); and Soylent Green (1973). He never won an Academy Award for any particular performance, but he died on January 26, 1973 at the age of 79, just before he was about to be awarded an Oscar for lifetime achievement.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Joe Williams. U.S. musician. Mr. Williams, born Joseph Goreed, was a jazz pianist and singer who performed as a soloist and with bands such as those of Count Basie and Lionel Hampton in a performing career that spanned more than 60 years, until his death on March 29, 1999 at the age of 80. His best-know recording was Every Day I Have the Blues (1955), during his seven-year period (1954-1961) as lead singer with the Count Basie Orchestra.

Europeana
The Flag of Estonia was raised atop the Pikk Hermann in Tallinn for the first time.

Sport
The National Palestra of Canada's National Amateur Athletic Association, on Rue Cherrier in Montreal, opened its doors for the first time. The building housed the modern equipment needed to develop advanced athletes, with facilities for swimming, fencing, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, and other sports. The National Palestra was officially inaugurated on January 19, 1919.

80 years ago
1938

Politics and government
Camilien Houde was re-elected Mayor of Montréal.

Religion
Al Rashid Mosque, the first mosque in western Canada, opened in Edmonton.

75 years ago
1943

War
Soviet troops forced the first real German withdrawal in the area west of Kiev since the beginning of the German offensive a month earlier. Chinese troops captured Niupitan, a strategic point east of Changteh, seizing another 10 villages north of the city. An "advance reconnaissance party" of the Brazilian expeditionary force arrived in North Africa.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. and Czechoslovakia signed a 20-year friendship agreement in Moscow, pledging postwar collaboration and mutual assistance in the war against Germany.

Politics and government
Representative Eduardo Chibas of the Cuban Revolutionary Party introduced a motion in Congress to try President Fulgencio Batista for disbursing funds capriciously and usurping congressional power.

Football
NFL
New York (6-3-1) 31 @ Washington (6-3-1)

After beating the Redskins in New York a week earlier, the Giants beat them at Griffith Stadium to finish in a tie for the Eastern Conference lead, necessitating a sudden-death playoff in New York a week later.

70 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: London Tower

War
Chinese Communist forces drove on the Nationalist capital of Nanking, approaching within 50 miles of the city.

Abominations
During the Malayan Emergency, 14 members of the Scots Guards stationed in Batang Kali, Malaya allegedly massacred 24 unarmed civilians and set fire to the village. No charges were ever brought against the perpetrators, whose training hadn't involved the laws of war.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly accepted the recommendation of its Political Committee by voting to recognize South Korea as the legitimate Korean government, declaring that the May 1948 UN-observed election had been free and democratic.

Pope Pius XII bestowed his "affectionate blessing" on the Spanish government of Generalissimo Francisco Franco as he received Joaquin Ruiz Jimenez Cortes, the new Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican.

The Council of Scholars of Cairo's El Azhar University, the highest spiritual authority in the Muslim world, warned King Abdullah of Transjordan against taking control of Arab Palestine.

Communications
U.S.S.R. authorities allowed partial resumption of mail deliveries between West Berlin and Soviet-occupied Germany.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and Italy signed a one-year trade agreement providing for a $50-million exchange of goods, and Soviet confiscation of Italian property in Eastern Europe as part of Italy's World War II reparations debt to the U.S.S.R.

Business
The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union reported a record turnover of $70,000 for 1948, with a balance of $5,000. Stacks Tibbits was elected to succeed Jack Rowand as club president.

Sport
NCAA
The University of Michigan was admitted to the Western Collegiate Athletic Conference, which became the "Big 10."

Football
AAFC
East Division Playoff
Buffalo 28 @ Baltimore 17

The Bills and Colts had finished the regular season tied for first place in the East Division with records of 7-7, necessitating a playoff. 27,327 fans at Babe Ruth Stadium saw the Colts go into the 4th quarter with a 17-7 lead, but Buffalo quarterback George Ratterman completed a 66-yard touchdown pass to Bill Gompers early in the 4th quarter, with convert making the score 17-14. A few minutes later, Buffalo halfback Chet Mutryn took a few steps and fumbled after catching a pass and Baltimore recovered, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass, and Buffalo kept possession of the ball. Six plays later, Mr. Ratterman completed a 35-yard pass to Al Baldwin for what turned out to be the winning touchdown. The Bills won the right to go to Cleveland to meet the 14-0 Browns for the All-America Football Conference championship on December 19.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hoots Mon--Lord Rockingham's XI (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Albert Walsh, 58. Canadian politician and judge. Sir Albert represented Harbour Main in the Newfoundland House of Assembly (1928-1932), and served as Speaker of the House. After losing his seat in the 1932 election, he served as district magistrate for Grand Falls and Cornerbrook. Sir Albert was appointed Commissioner of Home Affairs and Education in 1944 and Justice of Defense in 1947. He was Newfoundland's first Lieutenant Governor upon the province's entry into Confederation, serving from April 1-September 15, 1949. Sir Albert resigned his vice-regal post to become Newfoundland's Chief Justice.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A., U.S.S.R., and U.K. approved a draft treaty article providing for the creation of a control commission, a detection system, and staff to oversee a nuclear test ban agreement.

The United Nations General Assembly approved a 37-nation resolution denouncing "the continued refusal" of the U.S.S.R. and Hungary to cooperate with the UN Special Commission on Hungary.

Politics and government
Economist Paul Delouvrier was named to replace General Raoul Salan as French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle's designate-general in Algeria, ending the French Army's military rule in the territory.

The Cuban government of President Fulgencio Batista again extended for 45 days the national state of emergency.

Bowling
Ed Lubanski of Detroit won the men's world championship in Chicago, with first prize money of $5,000.

50 years ago
1968

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Internal Affairs: DR-20



Died on this date
Tallulah Bankhead, 66. U.S. actress. After an unsuccessful attempt at a Broadway career, Miss Bankhead made a name for herself on the London stage in the 1920s. Returning to America in the early 1930s, she appeared in 13 Broadway productions between 1933-1949, including starring roles in Dark Victory (1934); Rain (1935); Antony and Cleopatra (1937); The Little Foxes (1939); Clash by Night (1941); and Private Lives (1948). Miss Bankhead's best known film role was in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944).

Politics and government
Ernest Manning officially retired as Premier of Alberta after 25 1/2 years as the best Premier the province ever had. He was succeeded by Municipal Affairs Minister Harry Strom, who had been elected leader of the Social Credit Party of Alberta at the party's leadership convention six days earlier.

Italian Prime Minister-designate Mariano Rumor, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, announced the formation of a 20-member centre-left coalition cabinet of Christian Democrats, Socialists, and Republicans, which, he said, would seek reforms to mitigate the student and worker unrest in the country. Mr. Rumor and his cabinet took office the next day.

Medicine
Dr. Henry K. Beecher of Harvard University Medical School asserted that the best definition of death was based on "irreversible brain death," describing it as "when the individual shows no responsiveness or awareness of any kind, no movement or spontaneous breathing and no reflex activity."

40 years ago
1978

On television tonight
The Paper Chase, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Bell's in Love

Died on this date
Fay Compton, 84. U.K. actress. Miss Compton, born Virginia Lilian Emmeline Compton-Mackenzie, was a member of a large acting family. She was best known as a stage actress, especially in plays by J.M. Barrie, including the first London production of Mary Rose (1920). Miss Compton's films included Odd Man Out (1947) and Othello (1952).

Protest
Two days of demonstrations against Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi in Isfahan, Iran's second-largest city, concluded with at least 50 people killed and 500 injured.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros (4th week at #1)

Business
The Canadian Football League approved the sale of the Toronto Argonauts from Carling O'Keefe breweries to Harry Ornest. The CFL extended its television broadcasting agreement with the Canadian Football Network through 1990.

Disasters
35 people were killed and 100 injured in the collision of three trains at Clapham Junction, south London.

Football
CFL
Roy McMurtry was appointed Chairman-Chief Executive Officer and Bill Baker President-Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Football League. CFL game rosters were to consist of 20 non-imports, 14 imports and 2 quarterbacks.

NCAA
Army 20 Navy 15 @ Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)--Bitty McLean (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Stay (Faraway, So Close!)--U2 (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
József Antall, 61. Prime Minister of Hungary, 1990-1993. Mr. Antall was a librarian and historian who became leader of the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) in 1989, and led his party to victory in the 1990 general election, becoming the first Hungarian Prime Minister after the fall of Communism. The country was beset by socioeconomic difficulties in adjusting from Communism, and Mr. Antall was criticized, but he didn't live to contest the next election, dying in office of cancer. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Interior Minister Péter Boross, and as MDF leader by Lajos Für.

Movies
The Genie Awards for 1993, recognizing achievements in Canadian cinema, were presented at Société Radio-Canada Studio 42 in Montreal. Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould won four Genies, including the awards for picture and direction (François Girard).

Politics and government
In the Russian general election, the Liberal Democratic Party, led by nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, captured 64 seats and 23% of the party preference vote for the 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of the new Parliament. Russia's Choice, the reform party led by President Boris Yeltsin, won 64 seats and about 15.5% of the vote, and the Communists 42 seats and about 12.4%. Half the seats were to be distributed on the basis of party preference, and half to the winners of single-constituency contests. Voters also approved, by about a 4-3 margin, the new draft constitution supported by President Yeltsin.

Diplomacy
Talks in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on the future of Somalia broke up without any agreement among the 15 factions represented.

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Mo Udall, 76. U.S. politician. Mr. Udall, a Democrat, represented Arizona's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961-1991; he was initially elected to replace his older brother Stewart, who had resigned to accept the position of U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Mo Udall was Chairman of the House Interior Committee from 1977-1991, and was known for his support for conserving the environment. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination in 1976. Mr. Udall developed Parkinson's disease in 1980, and its increasing effects eventually led him to retire.

Politics and government
The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee approved a fourth article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton and submitted the case to the full House.

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Van Johnson, 92. U.S. actor. Mr. Johnson was one of the most popular actors of the 1940s and 1950s, appearing in movies such as The Human Comedy (1943); A Guy Named Joe (1943); Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944); Battleground (1949); and The Caine Mutiny (1954). He suffered serious injuries in a car accident in 1943; his scalp was almost sheared off, and he was left with a visible scar.

Tassos Papadopoulos, 74. 5th President of Cyprus, 2003-2008. Mr. Papadopoulos had a long career in Cypriot politics, holding several cabinet posts in the administration of Archbishop Makarios. Mr. Papadopoulos co-founded the Eniaion Komma (United Party) and was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1970, but soon left the party. He was briefly imprisoned following the Cypriot coup d'état in 1974, and served as President of the House from July-September 1976, winning re-election in September 1976 as an independent candidate. Mr. Papadopoulos eventually joined the Democratic Party (DIKO), serving as the party's president from 2000-2006. He was elected, with support from other parties, to a five-year term as President of Cyprus, but was defeated in a bid for re-election. Mr. Papadopoulos was a heavy smoker who died of lung cancer.

Business
The governments of Canada and Ontario reached agreement on a $3.4-billion package for Canadian subsidiaries of the Detroit auto makers, conditional upon a U.S. industry bailout.

Hockey
Don Sanderson, a 21-year-old defenceman with the Ontario Hockey Association's Whitby Dunlops, struck his unprotected head on the ice during a fight in Whitby with Corey Fulton of the Brantford Blast, and laid in a coma in hospital for three weeks before dying on January 2, 2009.