March 12, 2019

1,050 years ago
969

Died on this date
Muzong, 37. Emperor of China, 951-969. Muzong, whose personal name was Yelü Jing, acceded to the throne of the Liao Dynasty upon the assassination of his cousin Emperor Shizong. Emperor Muzong had to deal with plots and rebellions against him, and forcibly suppressed all but the least, in which he was murdered by his servants while on a hunting trip. Muzong was succeeded by Jingzong.

730 years ago
1289

Died on this date
Demetrius II, 29 or 30. King of Georgia, 1270-1289. Demetrius II acceded to the throne at the age of 11 upon the death of his father David VII. He ruled under a regency for some time, but distinguished himself in battle. In 1288, Mongol Emperor Arghun Khan suspected King Demetrius of involvement in a plot against him, and summoned him to the capital of Mokavan, or else he would invade Georgia. King Demetrius ignored his advisers, and went to Mokavan, where he was imprisoned, and finally beheaded. Demetrius II was succeeded on the throne by his cousin Vakhtang II.

520 years ago
1499

Exploration
King Henry VII wrote a letter to his lord chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury John Morton, ordering him to suspend a lawsuit facing Bristol shipping merchant William Weston until after Mr. Weston's return from North America. Mr. Weston had apparently sailed, with the king's approval, for the "new founde land" reached by John Cabot two years earlier.

330 years ago
1689

War
The Williamite War in Ireland between Jacobites (supporters of King James II, a Roman Catholic) and Williamites (supporters of King William III, a Protestant) began.

150 years ago
1869

Born on this date
George Forbes. Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1930-1935. Mr. Forbes, nicknamed "Honest George," who began his career as a Liberal, represented the riding of Hurunui in Parliament from 1908-1943. He won the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1925, which was renamed the National Party. The NP allied with Reform party dissidents to form the United Party in 1927, and when the UP formed the government after the 1928 election, Mr. Forbes became a cabinet minister, succeeding Joseph Ward as Prime Minister in 1930. Mr. Forbes had the misfortune to be Prime Minister during the Depression, and his government was defeated in the 1935 election, leaving Mr. Forbes as Leader of the Opposition. He briefly led a new United Party in 1936. Mr. Forbes died on May 17, 1947 at the age of 78.

130 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Idris I. King of Libya, 1951-1969. Idris of Libya was elected King of Libya by the National Congress, and took the throne when the United Kingdom of Libya was proclaimed as a sovereign state on December 24, 1951. While he was in Turkey for medical treatment, King Idris was deposed on September 1, 1969 by a military coup led by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Idris went into exile in Egypt, and died in Cairo on May 25, 1983 at the age of 94.

125 years ago
1894

Popular culture
Coca-Cola was bottled and sold for the first time in Vicksburg, Mississippi by local soda fountain operator Joseph Biedenharn.

110 years ago
1909

Hockey
ECHA
Exhibition @ St. Nicholas Rink, New York
Ottawa 6 Montreal Wanderers 4

This was the first of two exhibition games played between the top two teams in the Eastern Canadian Hockey Association. Ottawa Hockey Club had finished first to win the Stanley Cup from the defending champion Wanderers.

90 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Asa Candler, 77. U.S. businessman and politician. Mr. Candler founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892, and managed the company until 1917, when he took office as Mayor of Atlanta, serving until 1919. He died three years after suffering a stroke.

80 years ago
1939

Religion
Pope Pius XII was crowned at the Vatican.

75 years ago
1944

War
American troops took Wotho Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the fourth island in the group to be captured by U.S. forces. Pope Pius XII called on the two sides in World War II to avoid making Rome a battleground.

World events
For the first time since 1940, German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler did not speak at Heroes' Day ceremonies in Berlin.

Diplomacy
The British Home Office banned travel between the U.K. and Ireland effective the following day, except in rare emergencies and on official business.

Economics and finance
U.S. House of Representatives Republican party leader Joseph Martin announced the formation of a 25-member committee to make a study of the tax field and "prepare a postwar revenue program."

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 (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Cruising Down the River--Blue Barron and his Orchestra

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

Singles entering the chart were Blue Skirt Waltz by Frankie Yankovic and his Yanks with the Marlin Sisters (#22); Beautiful Eyes by Art Mooney and his Orchestra (#37); and Love Me! Love Me! Love Me! by Eddy Howard and his Orchestra (#39).

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

World events
The Berlin airlift completed its highest one-week total to date, with 45,683 tons of supplies flown in seven days.

Politics and government
The French National Assembly approved a government plan to establish a territorial government in Cochin China.

U.S. Senate supporters of President Harry Truman conceded defeat in their efforts to restrict filibusters, following a successful three-week Southern filibuster.

Economics and finance
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan General Douglas MacArthur ordered the Japanese government to work for greater productivity in the nation's coal mines without permitting any cost increases.

Labour
U.S. railroad unions and employers, meeting in Chicago, agreed to accept the recommendations of a presidential commission for a 7c hourly wage increase and an eight-hour reduction in the work week of non-operating railroad workers.

Basketball
Hamline College defeated St. Regis 57-46 in Kansas City to win the U.S. National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball title.

60 years ago
1959

Americana
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to President Dwight D. Eisenhower a bill making Hawaii the 50th state.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to President Eisenhower a bill continuing the peacetime draft for four more years.

Politics and government
The Catholic People's Party won a small margin over Socialists in general elections for the Dutch House of Representatives.

Northern Rhodesian Governor Sir Arthur Benson outlawed the Zambia African Nationan Congress, and held Kenneth Kaunda and other Congress leaders for deportation to tribal areas.

The Ceylonese Senate approved a new Public Security Act giving Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike sweeping powers to outlaw political strikes and suppress civil and racial disorders.

Labour
U.S. Labor Secretary James Mitchell, warning against "the risk of substantially curtailing employment and earning power in low-wage industries," told congressional leaders that the administration of President Eisenhower opposed any increase in the $1 hourly federal minimum wage.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?--Peter Sarstedt (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
2 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps--The Beatles
3 Edge of Reality/If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley
4 Lily the Pink--The Scaffold
5 I Started a Joke/Kilburn Towers--The Bee Gees
6 Star Crossed Lovers--Neil Sedaka
7 Eloise--Barry Ryan
8 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield
9 Fox on the Run--Manfred Mann
10 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat

Singles entering the chart were Games People Play by Joe South (#27); Monsieur Dupont by Sandie Shaw (#28); Crosstown Traffic by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (#38); and This Girl's in Love with You by Dionne Warwick (#40).

Married on this date
U.K. musician Paul McCartney of the rock group the Beatles and U.S. photographer Linda Eastman were married in a civil ceremony at Marylebone Register Office in London.

War
In a proposal sent to the foreign ministers of the six European Economic Community nations, Colonel Chuckwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, military leader of Biafra, asked a month's truce in Biafra's war to secede from Nigeria, asserting that the two belligerents could work out a permanent cease-fire in that period. The proposal, which asked the EEC countries to get the United Kingdom to stop arms shipments to Lagos, also urged a total arms embargo to both sides.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Le Freak-Chic (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)--Hideki Saijo

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart (2nd week at #1)

Protest
15,000 Iranian women marched through Tehran in continuing protests against the government's traditionalist Islamic policies toward women.

Defense
Resumption of a limited military draft was proposed in a Congressional debate over a solution to critical manpower shortages faced by the armed services.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut declared his candidacy for the 1980 Republican Party U.S. presidential nomination.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 3 Detroit 3

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Maurice Evans, 87. U.K. actor. Mr. Evans was known for his starring roles in plays by William Shakespeare on stage in the U.K. and U.S.A. from the 1930s through the 1950s, and on television in the United States in the 1950s.

Curling
The Alberta rink of Pat Ryan defeated British Columbia 3-2 to win the Brier.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles 6 Edmonton 3

CIAU
Canada West Finals
Calgary 1 @ Alberta 3 (Alberta won best-of-three series 2-1)

The Golden Bears scored 2 goals in a 5-second span as they defeated the Dinosaurs at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. Peter Fry was the unfortunate goalie for Calgary.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): It's Alright--East 17 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: The Rhythm of the Night--Corona (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Right in the Night--Jam & Spoon (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): La solitudine--Laura Pausini (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Je danse le Mia--IAM

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Move on Baby--Cappella

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Without You--Mariah Carey (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Sign--Ace of Base
2 The Power of Love--Celine Dion
3 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
4 Without You/Never Forget You--Mariah Carey
5 So Much in Love--All-4-One
6 Bump n' Grind--R. Kelly
7 Breathe Again--Toni Braxton
8 Now and Forever--Richard Marx
9 Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)--Us3
10 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting

Singles entering the chart were I'm Ready by Tevin Campbell (#66); Just Another Day by Queen Latifah (#68); Feenin' by Jodeci (#82); I Like to Move It by Reel 2 Reel featuring the Mad Stuntman (#89); Love Sneakin' Up on You by Bonnie Raitt (#90); March of the Pigs by Nine Inch Nails (#91); Born to Roll by Masta Ace Incorporated (#94); C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) by the Wu-Tang Clan (#96); and Comin' On Strong by Sudden Change (#97).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): The Power of Love--Celine Dion (3rd week at #1)

Music
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, with guest conductor Kenneth Jean, performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Clarinetist Sharon Kam was the guest soloist in a concert that featured so much coughing by members of the audience that it was a wonder Mr. Jean didn't turn around and start conducting the audience.

Abominations
32 female deacons gathered at the Bristol Cathedral in London for the laying on of hands by the Bishop, Rev. Barry Rogerson, making them the first female priests in the 460-year history of the Church of England. The ceremony culminated a debate that had begun when the General Synod of the Anglican Church had decided in 1975 that the ordination of women was theologically unobjectionable. Opposition to the move remained strong, and at least 700 Church of England priests, some of them retired, showed their displeasure by announcing their intention to convert to Roman Catholicism. 35 priests had announced their resignations. There were 10,200 priests in the Church of England.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher met in Beijing with Chinese Premier Li Peng.

Politics and government
Lucas Mangope, President of the South African "homeland" of Bophuthatswana, changed his mind yet again, and refused to participate in South Africa's first universal-suffrage election, scheduled for late April. On March 7, Mr. Mangope had said that Bophuthatswana would refuse to participate in the election, and his government had collapsed on March 10. On March 11 he had announced that Bophuthatswana would participate in the election.

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Yehudi Menuhin, 82. U.S.-born U.K. musician. Mr. Menuhin was one of the most renowned violinists of the 20th century, with a performing career of more than 75 years. He had the longest recording career on record, spanning 1929-1999, all with the British company EMI.

Marcus Lockman, 77. U.S. boxer. Mr. Lockman was a welterweight and middleweight who compiled a record of 31-12-3 in a professional career from 1941-1946. He lost a 10-round decision to future middleweight champion Jake LaMotta on March 29, 1946. Just over two months later, on June 5, Mr. Lockman was knocked down twice and out by Sam Baroudi in the 6th round, was hospitalized, and had his license revoked in Massachusetts. He had one more fight three months later, losing by technical knockout in the 6th round to Danny Williams.

Defense
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland--all former Iron Curtain countries--formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The foreign ministers of the three countries attended a ceremony with United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Independence, Missouri. NATO planned to commit considerable resources to upgrading the military forces of the three nations.

10 years ago
2009

Scandal
Disgraced U.S. financier Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty in New York to pulling off perhaps the biggest swindle in Wall Street history, stealing $18 billion.