February 11, 2019

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Maria Nastas!

1,775 years ago
244

Died on this date
Gordian III, 19. Roman Emperor, 238-244. Gordian III, the grandson of Gordian I and nephew of Gordian II, was proclaimed sole Caesar at the age of 13, following the murders of joint Caesars Pupienus and Balbinus by the Praetorian Guard. Aristocratic families controlled Rome through the Senate during Gordian III's reign. Emperor Gordian III died under uncertain circumstances, with accounts varying from death in battle to murder. He was succeeded as Emperor by Philip the Arab.

360 years ago
1659

War
The assault on Copenhagen by Swedish forces was beaten back with heavy losses.

225 years ago
1794

Politics and government
The first session of the United States Senate opened to the public.

200 years ago
1819

Born on this date
Samuel Parkman Tuckerman. U.S. composer. Mr. Tuckerman was an Episcopal Church organist who composed sacred music, dividing his time between the United States and England. He died on June 29, 1890 at the age of 71.

150 years ago
1869

Died on this date
Patrick James Whelan, 28 or 29. Irish-born Canadian assassin. Mr. Whelan moved to Canada in 1865 and worked as a tailor, while being suspected of Fenian sympathies. He was convicted, entirely on circumstantial evidence, of the April 7, 1868 murder in Ottawa of politician Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Mr. Whelan consistently denied his guilt, but was hanged in a snowstorm before a crowd of 5,000 people in the second-last public execution in Canada.

130 years ago
1889

Politics and government
The Meiji Constitution of Japan, creating the first parliamentary government in Asia, was promulgated by Emperor Meiji, but didn't come into effect until November 29, 1890.

120 years ago
1899

Hockey
CAHL
Ottawa (2-3) 0 @ Montreal Victorias (4-1) 16
Montreal Shamrocks (4-1) 3 @ Quebec (0-6) 2

110 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Max Baer. U.S. boxer. Mr. Baer, regarded as one of the hardest punchers in history, compiled a record of 68-13 in a professional career from 1929-1941, and was world heavyweight champion from 1934-1935, knocking out Prima Carnera to win the title, and losing the title on a decision to Jim Braddock. Mr. Baer was known for entertaining the crowds, but reportedly didn't really like boxing, and was as gentle outside the ring as he could be deadly inside it. He appeared in some movies--most notably The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)--and was in Los Angeles to do some television commercials, when he died of a heart attack in his hotel room on November 21, 1959 at the age of 50. Mr. Baer was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995. He was the brother of boxer Buddy Baer and the father of actor Max Baer, Jr.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz. U.S. movie director, writer, and producer. Mr. Mankiewicz won Academy Awards for his screenplay and as Best Director for A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950). His other films as director included 5 Fingers (1952); Julius Caesar (1953); Cleopatra (1963); and Sleuth (1972). Mr. Mankiewicz died on February 5, 1993, six days before his 84th birthday.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Eva Gabor. Hungarian-born U.S. actress. Miss Gabor, the younger sister of Zsa Zsa and Magda, was best known for co-starring in the television comedy series Green Acres (1965-1971). She died on July 4, 1995 at the age of 76.

Politics and government
Friedrich Ebert of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was elected President of Germany by the National Assembly, taking 73.1% of the vote to 12.9% for runner-up Arthur Graf von Posadowsky-Wehner of the German National People's Party (DNVP).

90 years ago
1929

Diplomacy
The Kingdom of Italy and the Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty, whereby Italy recognized Vatican City as an independent state, with the Italian government, led by Benito Mussolini as Prime Minister, agreeing to give the Roman Catholic Church financial compensation for the loss of the Papal States.

Energy
The Saskatchewan Power Commission began operation.

80 years ago
1939

Aviation
A Lockheed P-38 Lightning flew from California to New York in 7 hours and 2 minutes.

75 years ago
1944

War
Soviet Red Army troops captured Shepetovka, junction of the railways 25 miles east of the Polish border.

Defense
The U.S. Navy reported that the battleship USS Oklahoma, capsized during the December 7, 1941 attack upon Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, had been repaired, modernized, and set afloat.

Politics and government
Three reported pro-Axis members of the Bolivian cabinet--Alberto Taborga, Augusto Cespedes, and Carlos Montenegro--were dismissed in La Paz.

Chicago Tribune publisher Robert McCormick withdrew his name from the Illinois Republican Party U.S. 1944 U.S. presidential primary, leaving only U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur on the ballot. Democratic Party committees in Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin announced that President Franklin D. Roosevelt would be entered as a candidate in those states' presidential primaries.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate voted to end most food subsidies to Europe as of June 30, 1944.

Labour
The Japanese government extended labour conscription to include males agd 12-60 years and unmarried females aged 12-40.

70 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Mummy's Foot, starring Herbert Anderson and J. Edward Bromberg

Died on this date
Axel Munthe, 91. Swedish psychiatrist. Dr. Munthe was the personal physician of Queen Victoria of Sweden, but was best known for his memoir The Story of San Michele (1929).

Defense
Norwegian Foreign Minister Halvard Lange completed six days of discussions in Washington on possible Norwegian participation in the North Atlantic security pact. Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent arrived in Washington to confer with U.S. President Harry Truman on the North Atlantic security pact, integration of U.S. and Canadian radar defenses, and the proposed St. Lawrence River waterway.

U.S. President Truman appointed General Dwight D. Eisenhower as temporary non-voting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Eisenhower would also serve as principal military adviser to President Truman and Defense Secretary James Forrestal.

Diplomacy
Accused Soviet spy Sam Carr and his wife were deported from the United States to Canada, where he was jailed in Ottawa.

World events
The United Kingdom completed the release of Jewish immigrants interned in Cyprus to Palestine.

Politics and government
Portuguese General Jose Norton de Mattos withdrew as an opposition candidate for President, charging that the government had not guaranteed a fair election.

Boxing
Willie Pep (137-2-1) regained the world featherweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Sandy Saddler (92-7-2) at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Saddler had knocked out Mr. Pep in 4 rounds the previous October 29 to win the title.

60 years ago
1959

At the movies
The Hanging Tree, directed by Delmer Daves, and starring Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, Ben Piazza, and George C. Scott, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Marshall Teague, 37. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Teague was mainly known as a stock car racer with the NASCAR circuit, but also participated in AAA and USAC races. He was AAA national stock car champion in 1952 and 1954, and drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1952, 1954, and 1957, with a best finish of seventh in 1957. On February 9, 1959, Mr. Teague drove a lap at Daytona International Speedway at 148 miles per hour, a record for an American track. He was attempting to break that record when his car flipped; he was thrown from the car and died almost instantly, 11 days before his 38th birthday, which was also the date of the first Daytona 500 race. Mr. Teague was inducted into the National Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1988.

War
Laos formally renounced the 1953 Geneva agreements ending the Indochinese war, in protest against the recent occupation of Laotian territory by North Vietnamese troops.

Diplomacy
Prime Ministers Constantine Karamanlis of Greece and Adnan Menderes of Turkey announced in Zurich that they had agreed on a compromise plan for Cypriot independence.

Defense
Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Karim el-Kassem, speaking in Baghdad, indicated that Iraq would no longer honour her non-Arab military alliances, particularly the Baghdad Pact.

Asiatica
Rulers of six Arab enclaves in West Aden signed a constitution establishing the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South as a protectorate of the United Kingdom. The Federation later became South Yemen.

Boxing
Joe Brown (89-20-11-1) retained his world lightweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Johnny Busso (35-8-1) at Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston. Mr. Busso had won a 10-round decision over Mr. Brown in a non-title bout three months earlier.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Kosaburo Eto, 22. Japanese nationalist activist. Mr. Eto, a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, committed suicide by self-immolation in front of the Houses of Parliament in Tokyo on National Foundation Day, leaving a note expressing alarm over the state of the nation.

Academia
200 Canadian and West Indian student demonstrators used axes to destroy a $1.4-million computer and set fire to a data centre at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, after occupying the centre since January 29, protesting the alleged racism of a professor. 97 persons were charged with conspiracy to commit mischief and arson Among the vandals was Anne Cools, who later became a Liberal (later Conservative) Canadian Senator.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Le Freak--Chic (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Y.M.C.A.--Village People (4th week at #1)

World events
Prime Minister Shahpur Bakhtiar resigned as head of the government of Iran after the army declared its neutrality in the current political crisis. Over 200 died in fighting between supporters of the government and supporters of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, with the supporters of the Ayatollah appearing to be in control of Tehran.

Defense
U.S. Defense Secretary Harold Brown told Saudi Arabian leaders that the United States would send more arms to Yemen and Sudan to help stabilize the military balance of power in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.

Hockey
NHL-U.S.S.R.
Challenge Cup @ Madison Square Garden, New York
Game 3
U.S.S.R. 6 NHL 0 (U.S.S.R. won three-game series 2-1)

Vladimir Myshkin, replacing usual starter Vladislav Tretiak in goal, made 24 saves to earn a shutout, while six different players scored as the U.S.S.R. embarrassed the NHL before 17,545 fans. Boris Mikhailov opened the scoring at 5:47 of the 2nd period, and Viktor Zhluktov scored 1:57 later on a powerplay to give the Soviets a 2-0 lead after 2 periods. Helmut Balderis, Vladimir Kovin, Sergei Makarov, and Aleksandr Golikov scored in the 3rd. Gerry Cheevers of the Boston Bruins played the entire game in goal for the NHL, stopping only 13 of 19 shots. The result of the first and only Challenge Cup was such an embarrassment to the National Hockey League that it was never played again, and in 1980 the NHL resumed its tradition of an annual All-Star Game of its own players.



30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): 051/222525--Fabio Concato

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pour toi Arménie--Charles Aznavour and various artists

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Tonight - Live--Tina Turner (Duet with David Bowie) (3rd week at #1)
2 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
3 Bring Me Edelweiss--Edelweiss
4 Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
5 You Got It--Roy Orbison
6 Especially for You--Kylie and Jason
7 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
8 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond
9 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
10 We Cheer You Up (Join the Pin-Up Club)--Barbarella

Singles entering the chart were It's Only Love by Simply Red (#20); Tracie by Level 42 (#29); Freebaby: Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird by Will to Power (#31); and I Only Wanna Be with You by Samantha Fox (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
2 When I'm with You--Sheriff
3 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 When the Children Cry--White Lion
6 All This Time--Tiffany
7 The Lover in Me--Sheena Easton
8 I Wanna Have Some Fun--Samantha Fox
9 She Wants to Dance with Me--Rick Astley
10 Walking Away--Information Society

Singles entering the chart were The Look by Roxette (#50); Second Chance by Thirty Eight Special (#78); Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition (#82); End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (#83); A Shoulder to Cry On by Tommy Page (#91); and Imagine by Tracie Spencer (#96).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
2 When I'm with You--Sheriff
3 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
4 When the Children Cry--White Lion
5 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
6 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
7 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
8 All This Time--Tiffany
9 The Lover in Me--Sheena Easton
10 She Wants to Dance with Me--Rick Astley

Singles entering the chart were The Look by Roxette (#67); Thinking of You by Sa-Fire (#73); Fading Away by Will to Power (#80); Your Mama Don't Dance by Poison (#84); and Sincerely Yours by Sweet Sensation (#86).

Died on this date
George O'Hanlon, 76. U.S. actor. Mr. O'Hanlon played the title character in the Joe McDoakes series of short comedy films (1942-1956), and provided the voice for George Jetson in the animated television series The Jetsons (1962-1963, 1985-1987). He died after a series of strokes, and while recording dialogue for Jetsons: The Movie (1990).

Edmontonia
Danielle Piche was named Miss Teen Edmonton in the pageant that was held in the afternoon at Edmonton Centre.

Abominations
The Boston diocese of the Episcopal Church U.S.A. consecrated Barbara Harris as the church's first woman bishop.

Hockey
NHL
New Jersey 4 @ Montreal 5

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Return To Innocence--Enigma

Died on this date
William Conrad, 73. U.S. actor. Born John William Cann, Jr., Mr. Conrad was a familiar voice as a character actor on American radio programs in the 1940s and 1950s. He served as host and frequent actor in the CBS series Escape (1947-1954) and achieved greater stardom as Marshal Matt Dillon in the western series Gunsmoke (1952-1961). Mr. Conrad was passed over for the role of Matt Dillon--probably because of his heavyset physique--when Gunsmoke became a television series in 1955. In the 1960s, Mr. Conrad narrated the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons (1959-1964) and the dramatic series The Fugitive (1963-1967). He achieved television stardom with the detective series Cannon (1971-1976); Nero Wolfe (1981); and Jake and the Fatman (1987-1992). Mr. Conrad was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997.

Sorrell Booke, 64. U.S. actor. Mr. Booke was best known for playing the character "Boss" Hogg in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985). Among his many other projects, he narrated To the Moon (1969), released by Time-Life as a 6-record album and companion book.

Neil Bonnett, 47. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Bonnett was a stock car driver on the NASCAR circuit, winning 18 races in an 18-year career. He was killed when his car crashed during the first practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500.

Music
Bryan Adams joined Sting and Australian stars in a benefit concert at Sydney's Football Stadium to aid victims of bush fires; the show raised about $600,000.

Politics and government
This blogger attended question period in Canada's House of Commons in Ottawa, during which Edmonton Strathcona MP Hugh Hanrahan (Reform) asked a question from an ordinary Canadian.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Bill Clinton, at a joint news conference in Washington with Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, announced that trade talks between the countries had failed to reach an agreement. The U.S. had wanted Japan to set target domestic market shares for foreign products, but Japan had rejected that approach as "managed trade" involving inappropriate intervention b the government.

The United States Labor Department reported that the index of prices charged by producers for finished goods had risen 0.2% in January.

Scandal
The trial of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Republican--Texas) on charges of misusing state funds and employees for political purposes while serving as Texas state treasurer began and ended in Fort Worth. Mrs. Hutchison's attorneys argued that any evidence from documents seized in a raid on her office in 1993 was inadmissible because investigators had not had a search warrant. Before the trial, Judge John Onion had refused to rule on the admissibility of the evidence, but after Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle refused to open his case, Judge Onion directed the jury to acquit Mrs. Hutchison, and the jury did so.

20 years ago
1999

Space
Pluto crossed Neptune's orbit, ending a nearly 20-year period (since 1979) when it was closer to the Sun than Neptune. Pluto is not expected to interact with Neptune's orbit for another 228 years.

Weather
A record 57 inches (145 centimetres) of snow fell in a 24-hour period at Tahtsa Lake, British Columbia, a remote area west of Prince George. The largest one-day snowfall measured in Canada beat the previous record of 46 inches (118 cm) set at Lakelse Lake on January 17, 1974.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Estelle Bennett, 67. U.S. singer. Miss Bennett was a member of the singing group the Ronettes, with her sister Ronnie and cousin Nedra Talley. The Ronettes had a string of hit singles from 1963-1966, but broke up in 1966. Miss Bennett released one single as a solo performer, but soon quit the music business. Her later years were plagued by anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, and homelessness; she died of colon cancer.

Politics and government
President Robert Mugabe swore in longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe's Prime Minister.

John Dingell (Democrat--Michigan) became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, with more than 53 years of service.

Baseball
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inducted former Montreal Expos' outfielder Larry Walker and former Toronto Blue Jays' catcher Ernie Whitt.