May 2, 2019

825 years ago
1194

Britannica
King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first Royal Charter.

800 years ago
1219

Died on this date
Leo I, 68 or 69. Lord of Armenian Cilicia, 1187-1198; King of Armenian Cilicia, 1198/1199-1219. Leo "the Magnificent" succeeded his elder brother Roupen III as Lord of Armenian Cilicia, before becoming Cilicia's first Armenian king, ending Cilicia's connection to the Byzantine Empire and beginning an era of ecclesiastical cooperation with the West. He presided over an era of increased commerce, and successfully concluded a war against rivals for the throne. Leo I died of an illness and was succeeded on the throne by his wife Isabella I.

500 years ago
1519

Died on this date
Leonardo da Vinci, 67. Italian polymath. Leonardo was an artist, scientist, and inventor, and one of the most brilliant people in history, exemplifying the "Renaissance Man," with achievements too numerous to be mentioned here. He died 17 days after his 67th birthday, reportedly of a recurrent stroke.

460 years ago
1559

Religion
John Knox returned to Scotland from 10 years of exile to become the leader of the nascent Scottish Reformation.

290 years ago
1729

Born on this date
Catherine II. Czarina of Russia, 1762-1796. Catherine the Great , born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, married the future Czar Peter III in 1745, and became czarina consort when he acceded to the throne in January 1762. Six months later, she overthrew her husband in a coup, and he was assassinated several days later. Czarina Catherine acquired her nickname by presiding over an era regarded as the Golden Age of Russia. She died of a stroke on November 17, 1796 at the age of 67, and was succeeded on the throne by her son Paul I, despite her efforts to exclude him from the succession.

200 years ago
1819

Died on this date
Mary Moser, 74. U.K. artist. Miss Moser was known for her portraits and paintings of flowers, and was one of the most celebrated British female artists of the 18th century. She was one of two female founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768.

190 years ago
1829

Australiana
After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger declared the Swan River Colony.

160 years ago
1859

Born on this date
Jerome K. Jerome. U.K. author. Mr. Jerome was known for his humourous writings, especially his travelogue Three Men in a Boat (1889). He died on June 14, 1927 at the age of 68, two weeks after suffering a stroke and cerebral hemorrhage.

150 years ago
1869

Popular culture
The Folies Bergère opened in Paris as the Folies Trévise, with light entertainment including operettas, comic opera, popular songs, and gymnastics.

140 years ago
1879

Politics and government
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party was founded in Madrid by Pablo Iglesias.

130 years ago
1889

Diplomacy
Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II signed a treaty of amity with Italy, giving Italy control over Eritrea.

125 years ago
1894

Born on this date
Norma Talmadge. U.S. actress. Miss Talmadge was one of the biggest stars of the silent movie era, in films such as Smilin' Through (1922); Secrets (1924); and The Lady (1925). She retired from acting in 1930, having accumulated and inherited enough wealth to be comfortable for the rest of her life, which ended on December 24, 1957 at the age of 64 as a result of pneumonia after a series of strokes.

110 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Teddy Stauffer. Swiss-born German musician. Mr. Stauffer was a jazz violinist and saxophonist who became known as Germany's "swing-king" in the 1930s as the leader of the Original Teddies-Band. His fondness for swing music ran afoul of the Nazi authorities, and he fled Germany in 1941, leaving the band in the hands of others. Mr. Stauffer died in Acapulco on August 27, 1991 at the age of 82.

90 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Segundo de Chomَn y Ruiz, 57. Spanish director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. Mr. Chomَn wrote, directed, and phtographed numerous short films in France and then in Italy in the first two decades of the 20th century, using camera tricks and optical illusions that invited comparison to the French film pioneer Georges Méliès.

Charalambos Tseroulis, 49. Greek military officer and politician. Lieutenant General Tseroulis served in the Balkan Wars and subsequent conflicts. He was Minister for Military Affairs in the dictatorial government of Prime Minister and President Theodoros Pangalos from April 21, 1926 until the regime was overthrown on August 22, 1926. Lt. Gen. Tseroulis died 30 days before his 50th birthday.

80 years ago
1939

Movies
The National Film Act created the National Film Board of Canada as a public production agency, headed by Scottish-born filmmaker John Grierson.

Baseball
After playing 2,130 consecutive games since 1925, New York Yankees' first baseman Lou Gehrig removed himself from the lineup as the team was preparing to open a series against the Tigers in Detroit, and never played again. After appearing tired during spring training, The Iron Horse was hitting just .143 through the team's first 8 games of 1939. His muscle weakness was diagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare and fatal disease that ended up being popularly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease." Mr. Gehrig remained the Yankees' captain for the rest of the 1939 season, and remained on the active roster, even for the World Series. The Yankees showed no immediate effects of Mr. Gehrig's absence from the lineup, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning and 9 in the 7th as they routed the Tigers 22-2 before 11,379 fans at Briggs Stadium. Every man in the New York lineup scored at least 1 run, and everyone except Tommy Henrich, who hit a 2-run home run, had at least 2 hits. Mr. Dahlgren hit a 2-run homer and added a double in 5 at bats, scoring 2 runs. Red Ruffing pitched a 7-hitter to improve his 1939 record to 3-0, and batted 2 for 6 with a run and 3 runs batted in. Fred Hutchinson made his major league debut as the fourth of five Detroit pitchers, allowing 4 hits, 5 bases on balls, and 8 runs--all earned--in 2/3 inning. Appropriately, the game was played in 2 hours 22 minutes.

Charlie Gelbert batted 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in, and Rick Ferrell was 2 for 4 with a double and 3 RBIs to help the Washington Nationals outlast the St. Louis Browns 9-7 before 1,431 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. St. Louis left fielder Mike Mazzera was 4 for 5 with a double, a run, and 3 RBIs.

Mel Ott's 3-run home run off Junior Thompson with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning gave the New York Giants an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 9,078 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 3-2 before 9,269 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Bob Klinger pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Freddie Fitzsimmons, who allowed 13 hits in pitching a complete game.

Don Gutteridge scored on a sacrifice fly by Terry Moore in the top of the 9th inning to break a 1-1 tie as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Boston Bees 2-1 before 2,155 fans at National League Park in Boston. Winning pitcher Bob Bowman, who allowed 6 hits, was relieved by Lon Warneke with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, a 3-2 count on Johnny Cooney, and Al Lopez on third base. Mr. Warneke struck out Mr. Cooney to end the game. Losing pitcher Danny MacFayden pitched a 5-hit complete game.

75 years ago
1944

War
The Soviet Red Army ended a three-week lull on the Romanian front by opening an offensive along the middle Siret River.

Scandal
Indictments charging conspiracy to sell whiskey above U.S. Office of Price Administration ceiling prices were returned against Schenley Distillers Corporation; Benjamin F. Pross, an official with the American Federation of Labor Wine, Liquor and Distillery Workers Union; and 16 others.

Economics and finance
A U.S. technical mission headed by James M. Landis arrived in Addis Ababa to study postwar economic possibilities in Ethiopia.

Labour
U.S. delegates to the International Labour Organization conference submitted a program calling for agreement by the United Nations on postwar Labour and production problems.

The U.S. National War Labor Board ordered an election to determine whether 6,000 employees of Montgomery Ward in Chicago wanted to be represented by a Congress of Industrial Organizations union.

Education
Egyptian Minister of Education Naguib el Hilaly Pasha said tha postwar plans for sending students to the United States had been developed.

70 years ago
1949

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

Music
Columbia University awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music to Virgil Thomson for his score to the film Louisiana Story; it remains the only Pulitzer Prize awarded for a film score.

Literature
Columbia University awarded Pulitzer Prizes for Drama (Arthur Miller--Death of a Salesman); Biography (Robert Sherwood--Roosevelt and Hopkins); American History (Roy Nichols--The Disruption of American Democracy); and Poetry (Peter Viereck--Terror and Decorum).

World events
Nationalist Chinese President Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek fled from Shanghai to Taiwan.

The Bolivian government declared a state of siege because of disorders arising from the previous day's elections, which had resulted in a slight majority in the National Congress for the governing Republican Socialist Unity Party.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene in the cases of Germans convicted of war crimes by U.S. military tribunals in Nuremberg.

Scandal
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 1947 convictions of Harvey Stemmer and David Krakower on charges of trying to bribe New York Giants' quarterback Frank Filchock and fullback Merle Hapes prior to the 1946 National Football League championship game, which the Giants had lost 24-14 to the Chicago Bears. The players had refused the bribes, but had been permanently suspended by the NFL for not immediately reporting the incident.

Business
Packard announced price cuts of 4.5%-8.5% on its new model cars.

Labour
Singer Manufacturing Company experienced its first strike when 7,000 United Electrical Workers members stopped work at the sewing machine plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey in a dispute over wages, hours, and work standards.

60 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Venus--Frankie Avalon

#1 single in Italy: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Die Gitarre und das Meer--Freddy Quinn (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I/I Need Your Love Tonight--Elvis Presley

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Come Softly to Me--The Fleetwoods (4th week at #1)
2 (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I--Elvis Presley
3 Pink Shoe Laces--Dodie Stevens
4 Venus--Frankie Avalon
5 The Happy Organ--Dave "Baby" Cortez
6 Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)--The Impalas
7 Since I Don't Have You--The Skyliners
8 I Need Your Love Tonight--Elvis Presley
9 Turn Me Loose--Fabian
10 Guitar Boogie Shuffle--The Virtues

Singles entering the chart were I Can't Get You Out of My Heart by Al Martino (#83); So Close by Brook Benton (#84); Personality by Lloyd Price (#86); Gidget by Jimmy Darren (#88); You're So Fine by the Falcons (#91); Goodnight Irene by Billy Williams (#92); Crossfire by Johnny and the Hurricanes (#94); Carefree Wanderer by Bill Parsons (#96); When I'm Not with You by Conway Twitty (#98); and Lights Out by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (#100).

War
Indonesian Army chief of staff Lieutenant General Abdul Haris Nasution disclosed that contact had been made with rebel leaders for talks on ending the insurrection in Sumatra and the Celebes.

Horse racing
Tomy Lee, with Bill Shoemaker up, won the 85th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:02 1/5, a nose ahead of Sword Dancer, with First Landing third in the 17-horse field.



Soccer
English FA Cup
Final @ Wembley Stadium, London
Nottingham Forest 2 Luton Town 1





50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Hair--The Cowsills (2nd week at #1)
2 Sweet Cherry Wine--Tommy James and the Shondells
3 Get Back/Don't Let Me Down--The Beatles with Billy Preston
4 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
5 Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show--Neil Diamond
6 What Can the Matter Be--The Poppy Family
7 Morning Girl--Neon Philharmonic
8 First of May--The Bee Gees
9 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
10 Playgirl--Thee Prophets

Singles entering the chart were Day is Done by Peter, Paul and Mary (#22); Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkins Singers (#24); Heather Honey by Tommy Roe (#26); Happy Heart by Andy Williams (#27); The Composer by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#28); Where's the Playground Susie by Glen Campbell (#29); and It's Only Love by B.J. Thomas (#30).

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
2 Hair--The Cowsills
3 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
4 Galveston--Glen Campbell
5 Long Green--The Fireballs
6 The Letter--The Arbors
7 Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'--Crazy Elephant
8 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
9 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
10 Mendocino--Sir Douglas Quintet

Died on this date
Franz von Papen, 89. Chancellor of Germany, 1932. Mr. Papen, a member of the Zentrum (Centre Party) from 1918-1932 and a Nazi from 1938-1945, was Chancellor from June 1-December 2, 1932 and Vice Chancellor under Adolf Hitler from 1933-1934. On June 17, 1934, he delivered a speech at the University of Marburg in which he called for the restoration of some freedoms, demanded an end for calls for a "second revolution," and called for an end to SA violence in the streets. Mr. Papen left the cabinet after the Night of the Long Knives (June 30-July 2, 1934), in which many of his colleagues were murdered. Mr. Papen accepted the post of Ambassador to Austria; he served in this position until February 1938, then as Ambassador to Turkey from 1939-1944. He was acquitted at the Nuremberg war crimes trials, as it was held that he was guilty only of "political immoralities."

War
U.S. Command in Vietnam reported no significant enemy shellings, and issued the shortest casualty list in nearly four months, with 163 Americans killed the previous week. Enemy losses remained high, with an estimated 3,662 killed, compared to 3,449 the week before. The drop in American casualties was attributed to a slackening of the enemy offensive as B-52 bombers carried out some of the heaviest raids of the war, hitting enemy positions near the Cambodian border and around Saigon.

Academia
Student protesters at Columbia and Stanford Universities were among those abandoning sit-ins amidst threats of arrest.

The United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare told Antioch College that it could operate an all-Negro black studies section as long as non-Negroes were not excluded for reasons of race, colour, or national origin. However, white students could be excluded on the ground that their background was not "relevant" to the course.

Transportation
The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 embarked on her maiden voyage, departing Southampton, England for New York.

Communications
The government of Canada and Trans-Canada Telephone Systems formed Telesat Canada, to develop communications satellites.

Disasters
27 people were poisoned, 6 fatally, at a meal following a Buddhist funeral near Buenos Aires.

Basketball
ABA
Finals
Indiana 150 @ Oakland 122 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Roger Brown scored 39 points, Bob Netolicky scored 36, and Freddie Lewis added 35 for the Pacers as they beat the Oaks before 4,171 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. Warren Jabali led the Oaks with 31 points. Indiana led 33-32 after the 1st quarter, but outscored Oakland 40-18 in the 2nd quarter to take a 73-50 halftime lead.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Giulio Natta, 76. Italian chemist. Professor Natta and Karl Ziegler shared the 1963 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for their discoveries in the field of the chemistry and technology of high polymers." Prof. Natta died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

World events
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, on the 31st anniversary of Israel's independence, affirmed his government's stance that Israel would make no further withdrawals from occupied Arab territory in exchange for an overall Middle East peace settlement.

War
China reported that losses during their four-week was against Vietnam included 20,000 Chinese and 50,000 Vietnamese killed or wounded. U.S. estimates set Chinese casualties as much higher.

30 years ago
1989

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Square Dance

World events
Hungary began dismantling its 150-mile-long border fence with Austria, which allowed a number of East Germans to defect. The fence had been in place since 1969.

Environment
Representatives of 80 nations meeting in Helsinki agreed by consensus to support a ban on production of chemicals endangering the ozone layer, calling for chlorofluorocarbons to be phased out by no later than 2000.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Chicago 0 @ Calgary 3 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Mike Vernon posted the shutout in goal for the Flames as they blanked the Blackhawks at Olympic Saddledome.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Streets of Philadelphia--Bruce Springsteen (4th week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Love Sneakin' Up on You--Bonnie Raitt (2nd week at #1)
2 Mr. Jones--Counting Crows
3 Streets of Philadelphia--Bruce Springsteen
4 The Sign--Ace of Base
5 Return to Innocence--Enigma
6 Baby I Love Your Way--Big Mountain
7 Loser--Beck
8 I'll Remember--Madonna
9 Swimming in Your Ocean--Crash Test Dummies
10 Hasn't Hit Me Yet--Blue Rodeo

Singles entering the chart were Here Comes a Man by Traffic (#57); I Want You by Juliet Roberts (#63); Ride it Out by Hemingway Corner (#84); Night in My Veins by the Pretenders (#85); Don't Turn Around by Ace of Base (#87); Until I Fade Away by Gin Blossoms (#88); Some Change by Boz Scaggs (#89); Brown Eyed Girl by Freddy Curci (#90); and Neon Moonlight by Roscoe Martinez (#91).

Abominations
A jury in Wayne County, Michigan acquitted "Dr." Jack Kevorkian of violating a state law forbidding assisted suicide. "Dr." Kevorkian had been present at the deaths of Thomas Hyde, who was terminally ill. Mr. Hyde inhaled a lethal dose of carbon monoxide gas. Several jurors said they believed that "Dr." Kevorkian was only trying to alleviate Mr. Hyde's suffering.

Politics and government
African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela claimed victory for the ANC in South Africa’s first general-suffrage election, voting in which had taken place from April 26-29.

Diplomacy
The United States pledged $15 million in humanitarian aid for Rwanda.

Disasters
A bus crash in Gdańsk, Poland killed 32 people.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
San Jose 3 @ Toronto 2 (San Jose led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Douglas Harkness, 96. Canadian politician. Mr. Harkness, a native of Toronto, moved to Calgary in 1929, and was a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Canadian Artillery who earned the George Award for gallantry in organizing the abandonment of a troop ship during World War II. A Progressive Conservative, he represented Calgary East (1945-1953); Calgary North (1953-1968); and Calgary Centre (1968-1972) in the House of Commons, and held three posts in the cabinet of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, most notably as Minister of National Defence (1960-1963). He resigned from the cabinet in February 1963 when Mr. Diefenbaker refused to station American nuclear warheads in Canada.

Oliver Reed, 61. U.K. actor. Mr. Reed starred in movies such as Oliver! (1968); Women in Love (1969); and The Three Musketeers (1973), but was better known for his hard-drinking lifestyle, which likely contributed to his death from a heart attack during the filming of Gladiator (2000).

War
Three American soldiers who had been captured on March 31 by Serbian forces were released, one day after Rev. Jesse Jackson had met with Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic.

Politics and government
Mireya Elisa Moscoso, widow of former Panamanian President Arnulfo Arias, became the first woman to be elected President of Panama, when she won 44.81% of the vote in a three-way contest. As candidate of the centre-right Union for Panama (UPP) alliance, she defeated centre-left New Nation Alliance (ANN) candidate Martin Torrijos, who took 37.81% of the vote, and Opposition Action Alliance (AAO) candidate Alberto Vallarino, who took 17.38% of the vote. In elections for the Legislative Assembly, NNA won 41 of 71 seats, with UPP taking 24 and AAO 6.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Toronto 1 Philadelphia 0 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-2)
St. Louis 5 Phoenix 3

Football
NFL
John Elway, who led the Denver Broncos to Super Bowl victories in his last two seasons, announced his retirement from professional football after 16 seasons, all with Denver. He was the National Football League's winningest starting quarterback, and at the time of his retirement ranked behind only Dan Marino in career passing yards and completions, and was third in touchdown passes.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Jack Kemp, 83. U.S. football player and politician. Mr. Kemp played quarterback and other positions at Occidental College (1953-1956). He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1957, but failed to make the team, playing briefly that year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was on the taxi squads of the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in 1958, and was with the Calgary Stampeders at the beginning of the 1959 season. The formation of the American Football League gave Mr. Kemp an opportunity to play, and he led the Los Angeles Chargers to the Western Division title, repeating the feat in 1961 after the team moved to San Diego. Mr. Kemp broke his finger early in the 1962 season, and was claimed by the Buffalo Bills when the Chargers attempted to hide him on waivers. He led the Bills to Eastern Division titles from 1963-1966 and to consecutive AFL championships in 1964-1965. Mr. Kemp played with the Bills through 1969, missing the entire 1968 season with an injury, and retiring after the 1970 AFL All-Star Game in order to enter politics. A Republican, he represented New York's 39th District (1971-1973); 38th District (1973-1983); and 31st District (1983-1989) in the U.S. House of Representatives, chairing the House Republican Conference from 1981-1987. Mr. Kemp served in the administration of President George Bush as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1989-1993, where he was known as an independent thinker and a supporter of free enterprise. He was Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate Bob Dole's vice presidential running mate in 1996, but they lost to the incumbent Democratic ticket of President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. Mr. Kemp died of cancer. His sons Jeff and Jimmy also became professional football quarterbacks, and Jimmy founded the Jack Kemp Foundation to continue his father's legacy.

Kiyoshiro Imawano, 58. Japanese musician. Mr. Imawano was known as "Japan's King of Rock," pioneering the adoption of linguistic characteristics of the Japanese language into his songs. He formed the group RC Succession in 1968, and had success with the group and as a solo artist, often using pseudonyms. Mr. Imawano died after a long battle with cancer.

Politics and government
Michael Ignatieff was acclaimed as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada at the party's leadership convention at the Vancouver Convention Centre, succeeding Stéphane Dion. Mr. Ignatieff had been acting leader since December 10, 2008, and two challengers withdrew from the contest before the convention.

Horse racing
Mine That Bird, a 50-1 longshot, with Calvin Borel up, came from last place before the final turn to win the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby before 153,563 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:02.66, 6 3/4 lengths ahead of Pioneerof the Nile, with Musket Man finishing third in the 19-horse field. Mine That Bird's winning margin was the greatest in 63 years; he paid $103.20 to win as the longest-odds horse to win the Derby in 96 years.