February 26, 2019

225 years ago
1794

Disasters
The first Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, the Danish royal residence, burned down.

190 years ago
1829

Born on this date
Levi Strauss. German-born U.S. clothing magnate. Mr. Strauss, born Löb Strauß in Bavaria, moved with his family to New York City at the age of 18. He founded Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco in 1847. The company, originally a dry goods business, became the first company to manufacture blue jeans. Mr. Strauss died on September 26, 1902 at the age of 73, leaving an estate of about $125 million (more than $3 billion today).

140 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Frank Bridge. U.K. composer. Mr. Bridge was a violist in string quartets who composed chamber and choral works, as well as works for piano and organ. He died on January 10, 1941 at the age of 61.

130 years ago
1889

Died on this date
Karl Davydov, 50. Russian musician and composer. Mr. Davydov was nicknamed the "czar of cellists" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and composed several dozen works, mainly for cello. He died 17 days before his 51st birthday.

120 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Max Petitpierre. President of the Swiss Confederation, 1950, 1955, 1960. Mr. Petitpierre, a member of the Free Democratic Party, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1944-1961, heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during that period. He died on March 25, 1994, 27 days after his 95th birthday.

110 years ago
1909

Movies
Kinemacolor, the first successful colour motion picture process, was first shown to the general public, at the Palace Theatre in London.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Mason Adams. U.S. actor. Mr. Adams was a prolific actor in radio programs and as the voice-over on television commercials, but was perhaps best known for portraying managing editor Charlie Hume in the television series Lou Grant (1977-1982). He died on April 26, 2005 at the age of 86.

Environment
The United States Congress passed An Act to Establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona, and An Act to Establish the Lafayette National Park at Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine.

90 years ago
1929

Environment
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed an executive order establishing the 96,000-acre Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

75 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)--Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra with Eugenie Baird (Best Seller--5th week at #1); Shoo-Shoo Baby--The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Jukebox--7th week at #1)

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the War Manpower Commission and Selective Service Commission to review the draft deferments of five million registrants.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's son Randolph was reported to be in Yugoslavia meeting with Yugoslavian leader Marshal Tito in an attempt to further British efforts to effect closer cooperation between Marshal Tito and Yugoslavia's King Peter II in exile.

London diplomatic quarters reported that Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco had assured Allied governments that Spain would follow a course of "honourable neutrality."

Labour
Congress of Industrial Oganizations-United Auto Workers President R.J. Thomas announced that local unions responsible for unatuthorized work stoppages would be disciplined.

Track and field
Gid Dodds won the mile in a time of 4:07.4 in the Amateur Athletic Union meet at Madison Square Garden in New York. The New York Athletic Club won the team title, with the University of Michigan finishing second and Dartmouth College third.

70 years ago
1949

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Buttons and Bows--Dinah Shore and the Happy Valley Boys; Gene Autry (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): A Little Bird Told Me--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Little Bird Told Me--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters (4th week at #1)
--Paula Watson
2 Far Away Places--Bing Crosby
--Perry Como
--Margaret Whiting and the Crew Chiefs
3 Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
4 Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
5 I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm--Les Brown and his Orchestra
--The Mills Brothers
6 Red Roses for a Blue Lady--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
7 So Tired--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
8 Galway Bay--Bing Crosby
9 The Pussy Cat Song (Nyow! Nyot Nyow!)--Patty Andrews and Bob Crosby
--Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters
10 Down by the Station--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians

Singles entering the chart were You, You are the One, with versions by the Ames Brothers; and Russ Morgan and his Orchestra (#20); Sunflower by Russ Morgan and his Orchestra (#36); Bewildered by Billy Eckstine (#37); You Was by Doris Day and Buddy Clark (#39); and Careless Hands, with versions by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra; and Mel Torme (#40).

On the radio
Tales of Fatima, starring Basil Rathbone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Invisible Caballero

Asiatica
Pakistan incorporated Baluchistan, a territory bordering on Iran and Afghanistan, as the country's fifth province.

Diplomacy
The Dutch government promised to release all interned Indonesian Republic leaders, and called a conference of Indonesian political groups in The Hague.

Politics and government
Dissident members of the Colorado Party in Paraguay removed provisional President Raimundo Rolon in favour of former Education Minister Felipe Molas Lopez.

Track and field
NCAA
James Sholtz of the United States Military Academy set a world record in the shot put of 60 feet 7 3/4 inches at the intercollegiate 4-A indoor championships in New York. Michigan State University won the overall title.

60 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife, 67. U.K. Royal Family member. Princess Alexandra, a granddaughter of King Edward VII, was the daughter of Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife, who had married Princess Louise of Wales, daughter of the future King Edward VII. Princess Alexandra married Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1913.

World events
Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister Sir Edgar Whitehead proclaimed a state of emergency and outlawed all African nationalist groups.

Defense
The British House of Commons rejected a Labour Party resolution criticizing the Conservative government's defense policy for excessive reliance on nuclear weapons.

Agriculture
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson designated three methods of rendering livestock unconscious before slaughter under a new humane-slaughtering law.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and the People's Republic of China signed a short-term trade agreement in Moscow providing for the exchange of $1.75 billion worth of Soviet industrial equipment for Chinese goods.

Football
NFL
In one of the biggest trades in National Football League history, Los Angeles Rams' general manager Pete Rozelle dealt eight players and a draft choice to the Chicago Cardinals for star running back Ollie Matson, who had been with the Cardinals since 1952. In 1958, Mr. Matson had rushed for 505 yards on 129 carries with 5 touchdowns; caught 33 passes for 465 yards and 3 touchdowns; completed 1 of 2 passes for 4 yards; and returned 14 kickoffs for 497 yards and 2 touchdowns.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?--Peter Sarstedt

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Lily the Pink--The Scaffold (3rd week at #1)
2 Eloise--Barry Ryan
3 I Started a Joke/Kilburn Towers--The Bee Gees
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Edge of Reality/If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley
6 Star Crossed Lovers--Neil Sedaka
7 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield
8 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat
9 Lily the Pink/Mrs. Cardinal's Board House--The Irish Rovers
10 Scarborough Fair--Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66

Singles entering the chart were Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells (#27); Something's Happening/It's Nice to Be Out by Herman's Hermits (#33); Touch Me by the Doors (#35); Stand by Your Man by Tammy Wynette (#36); This Magic Moment by Jay and the Americans (#39); and Adios Amor by Jose Feliciano (#40).

Died on this date
Karl Jaspers, 86. German-born Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher. Dr. Jaspers practiced as a psychiatrist before turning to philosophy in 1921, remaining in Germany--often under threat from arrest by the Nazis--until moving to Switzerland in 1948. He wrote the book General Psychopathology (1913), advocating the diagnosis of symptoms of mental illness by their form rather than by their content. As a philosopher, Dr. Jaspers was associated with existentialism, although he rejected the label. He drew on the work of Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, and wrote on themes of individual freedom, arguing that as individuals question reality, they reach a point that the scientific method cannot transcend, and therefore make a leap of faith toward transcendence, experiencing authentic "Existenz." Dr. Jaspers died three days after his 86th birthday.

Levi Eshkol, 73. Prime Minister of Israel, 1963-1969. A native of Russia, Mr. Eshkol replaced David Ben-Gurion as Israel's Prime Minister in June 1963. He was Prime Minister during Israel's tremendous victory in the Six Day War in June 1967, although he was regarded at the time as being hesitant in his leadership. Mr. Eshkol's health gradually failed, and he became the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.

Space
The weather satellite ESSA-9, operated by the Environmental Science Services Administration, was launched by the United States from Cape Kennedy, Florida as the last in the TIROS Operational Satellite Series.

War
Heavy fighting broke out at two major military installations near Saigon as North Vietnamese and Viet Cong artillery attacks continued.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon arrived in Bonn, where he was welcomed by West German Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger. Mr. Nixon allayed West German fears about U.S. troop redeployment, indicating that he had no plans to reduce the estimated 225,000 stationed there; he also addressed the Bundestag. During a half day spent in West Berlin, where radical students unfurled banners inscribed "Black Power," and threw eggs, paint, and rocks at his limousine, Mr. Nixon restated the American pledge to defend the city.

World events
The Syrian Army. under the command of Defense Minister Lieutenant General Hafez al-Assad, seized control of the government to force greater cooperation with Iraq and the U.A.R. against Israel.

Politics and government
A few hours after the death of Levi Eshkol, the Israeli cabinet named Yigal Allon acting Prime Minister.

The White House announced that Representative Rogers Morton of Maryland would be the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, succeeding Ray Bliss. Mr. Morton's brother, Sen. Thurston B. Morton of Kentucky, had also been the national party chairman.

Academia
The University of Chicago's faculty council called for the use of police to keep campus order, and the expulsion of disruptive students.

Disasters
20 were reported killed after an earthquake and tidal waves razed Madjene on Celebes Island, Indonesia.

Boxing
Leotis Martin (28-5) won a 10-round split decision over Alvin "Blue" Lewis (19-3) in a heavyweight bout at Olympia Stadium in Detroit. Exactly three months earlier, Mr. Martin had scored a 9-round technical knockout over Mr. Lewis.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Le Freak-Chic

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Hero (Hero ni Naru Toki, Sore wa Ima)--Kai Band

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I was Made for Dancin'--Leif Garrett

Died on this date
Urban Henry, 43. U.S. football player. Mr. Henry played tackle at Georgia Institute of Technology (1955-1957), and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League in 1958. He went to the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League instead, and played with the Lions from 1958-1960, making the Western Interprovincial Football Union All-Star team at defensive tackle in each of his last two seasons. Mr. Henry played with the Rams (1961); Green Bay Packers (1963); and Pittsburgh Steelers (1964). Longtime B.C. Lions' executive Bobby Ackles, in his autobiography The Water Boy (2007), wrote about his friendship with Mr. Henry, and reported that Mr. Henry was a skilled painter, mainly of landscapes. Mr. Henry died of a heart attack.

Space
There was a total eclipse of the sun, visible from the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean; Central America; North America (except for western Alaska); the arctic regions; Greenland; Iceland; the north Atlantic Ocean; and western Europe. It was too cloudy in Calgary that morning to notice much of an effect.

Politics and government
In the United States, the Republican Party caucus at the National Governors Association meeting called for a balanced federal budget, and asked Congress to study proposals for a constitutional amendment to limit spending.

Transportation
The Superliner railcar entered revenue service with Amtrak.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Kiss--The Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones

#1 single in Switzerland: First Time--Robin Beck (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Roy Eldridge, 78. U.S. musician. Mr. Eldridge was a jazz trumpeter and occasional singer with a number of bands, including those led by Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa, and Artie Shaw. Dizzy Gillespie was one of the musicians who cited Mr. Eldridge as a musical influence.

Diplomacy
Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini told Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze that the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan cleared the way for closer Soviet-Iranian ties.

U.S. President George Bush met with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in Beijing.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Give It Up--Cut 'N' Move (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: The Rhythm of the Night--Corona (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Right in the Night--Jam & Spoon (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): La solitudine--Laura Pausini (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Happy Nation--Ace of Base (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Ik wil niet dat je liegt/Waarheen waarvoor--Paul de Leeuw (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Without You--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Power of Love--Celine Dion (3rd week at #1)
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
4 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting
5 Breathe Again--Toni Braxton
6 Without You/Never Forget You--Mariah Carey
7 Hero--Mariah Carey
8 So Much in Love--All-4-One
9 Understanding--Xscape
10 Now and Forever--Richard Marx

Singles entering the chart were I'm Outstanding by Shaquille O'Neal (#66); Baby I Love Your Way by Big Mountain (#78); Sweet Lullaby by Deep Forest (#85); Player's Ball by OutKast (#86); You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) by Dawn Penn (#87); Tryin' to Get Over You by Vince Gill (#88); Ain't Seen Love Like That by Mr. Big (#91); Come to My Window by Melissa Etheridge (#92); and My Love by Little Texas (#95). Baby I Love Your Way was from the movie Reality Bites (1994).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Power of Love--Celine Dion
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting
4 Without You--Mariah Carey
5 Shoop--Salt-N-Pepa
6 Breathe Again--Toni Braxton
7 Understanding--Xscape
8 Hero--Mariah Carey
9 Because the Night--10,000 Maniacs
10 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue

Singles entering the chart were Without You; Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through by Meat Loaf (#17); Gin and Juice by Snoop Doggy Dogg (#23); Bump n' Grind by R. Kelly (#26); Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies (#32); It's All Good by Hammer (#36); Everyday by Phil Collins (#41); I Swear by John Michael Montgomery (#43); Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen (#51); Loser by Beck (#62); and God by Tori Amos (#77).

Crime
11 members of the Branch Davidian cult who had survived attacks on their Waco, Texas compound by U.S. federal agents in 1993 were acquitted of murder and conspiracy charges arising from the initial attack in February 1993 that had resulted in the deaths of four U.S. federal agents. Five of the 11 defendants found guilty of aiding and abetting the voluntary manslaughter of federal officials, and two were found guilty of weapons charges. The final attack on the compound had taken place on April 19, 1993, resulting in the deaths of about 80 members of the cult, including women and children, as well as cult leader David Koresh.

Olympics
Vreni Schneider of Switzerland won the women's slalom at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway; with her two gold medals in 1988, she became the first woman to win three gold medals in alpine skiing.

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Michael Avallone, 74. U.S. author. Mr. Avallone, using his own name and various pseudonyms, wrote at least 223 novels (he claimed over 1,000). He was best known for mystery and secret agent novels, as well as novelizations of movies and television programs.

War
The United Nations Security Council, reversing a January decision, voted to pull its peacekeeping force out of Angola.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator John Kerry (Democrat--Massachusetts) withdrew from the contest for his party's U.S. presidential nomination for 2000.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Johnny Kerr, 76. U.S. basketball player, coach, and broadcaster. "Red" Kerr was a center and forward with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini from 1951-54, and was selected in the first round (6th overall) of the 1954 National Basketball Association draft by the Syracuse Nationals. He helped the Nationals win the NBA championship in his rookie season, and remained with the team through 1965, two years after they moved to Philadelphia to become the 76ers. Mr. Kerr ended his playing career with the Baltimore Bullets in 1965-66, finishing with career totals of 12,480 points and 10,092 rebounds, while setting an NBA record, since broken, of 844 consecutive games played. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1966 expansion draft, but retired to become the team's coach. Mr. Kerr coached the Bulls to losing records in their first two seasons, but they won enough games to make the playoffs in both years, and he was named the NBA's Coach of the Year for 1966-67. Mr. Kerr was then hired to coach the Phoenix Suns when they entered the NBA in 1968, but achieved limited success, resigning midway through the 1969-70 season. He served as a colour commentator on broadcasts of Suns' games for the remainder of the 1969-70 season, but didn't return to the broadcasting booth until 1975, serving as a colour commentator on broadcasts of Bulls' games through the 2007-08 season. Mr. Kerr was honoured by the Bulls at a halftime ceremony, 16 days before his death from prostate cancer.

Wendy Richard, 65. U.K. actress. Miss Richard, born Wendy Emerton, was mainly known for playing Miss Brahms in the televsion comedy series Are You Being Served? (1972-1985) and Pauline Fowler in the soap opera EastEnders (1985-2006). She died of breast cancer.

Norm Van Lier, 61. U.S. basketball player and broadcaster. Mr. Van Lier was a point guard at Saint Francis University (1966-69), and was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the third round (34th overall) of the NBA draft in 1969, but was promptly traded to the Cincinnati Royals. He played with the Royals (1969-71); Bulls (1971-78); and Milwaukee Bucks (1978-79), scoring 8,770 points, with 3,596 rebounds and 5,217 assists. Mr. Van Lier set an NBA record, since broken, with an 84-foot field goal, but was primarily known as an outstanding defensive player, making the First or Second All-Defensive Team eight times in ten years. Like Red Kerr, Mr. Van Lier provided colour commentary on broadcasts of Bulls' games, first on radio (1980-82) and then on television (1992-2009). He was found dead at his home of an apparent heart attack, hours before the death of Mr. Kerr.