May 8, 2019

1,430 years ago
589

Religion
Reccared I, Visigothic King of Hispania and Septimania, summoned the Third Council of Toledo.

700 years ago
1319

Died on this date
Haakon V, 49. King of Norway, 1299-1319. Haakon V succeeded his elder brother Eirik II on the throne. He concluded a peace with Denmark in 1309, ending a period of wars between the countries. King Haakon V died four weeks after his 49th birthday, and was succeeded by his grandson Magnus VII.

590 years ago
1429

War
Joan of Arc lifted the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the Hundred Years' War.

225 years ago
1794

Died on this date
Antoine Lavoisier, 50. French chemist. Mr. Lavoisier has been called the Father of modern chemistry," being credited with changing from a qualitative to a quantitative science; his achievements are too numerous to mention here. He was also a tax collector with the Ferme générale, and was branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror. Mr. Lavoisier was tried, convicted, and guillotined in one day in Paris.

200 years ago
1819

Died on this date
Kamehameha I. King of the Hawaiian Islands, 1782-1819. King Kamehameha "the Great" unified the Hawaiian Islands, and served as the first monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Kamehameha II.

190 years ago
1829

Born on this date
Louis Moreau Gottschalk. U.S. musician and composer. Mr. Gottschalk, one of this blogger's favourite composers, was born in New Orleans, and was influenced by music from various cultural traditions. He was a child piano prodigy who has been called America's "first rock star," touring widely throughout North, Central, and South America, performing his own works, which included The Dying Poet and Symphony No. 1: A Night in the Tropics. Mr. Gottschalk was on tour in Rio de Janeiro when he died at the age of 40 on December 18, 1869, possibly from an overdose of quinine.

180 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Adolphe-Basile Routhier. Canadian judge and songwriter. Sir Basile, a native of Saint-Benoît (now Saint-Placide), Lower Canada, sat on the Quebec Superior Court from 1873-1906, serving as Chief Justice from 1904-1906, while also serving on the Admiralty of the Exchequer Court of Canada from 1897-1906. Sir Basile wrote the original French lyrics for O Canada. He died on June 27, 1920 in Saint-Irénée-les-Bains, Quebec at the age of 81.

120 years ago
1899

Theatre
The Irish Literary Theatre in Dublin produced its first play: The Countess Cathleen by W. B. Yeats.

Born on this date
Fritz Henrich. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Henrich was an outfielder who batted .211 with no home runs and 4 runs batted in in 36 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924, and hit .301 with 4 home runs in 37 games with the Williamsport Grays of the Class B New York-Pennsylvania League that year. He died on May 1, 1959, a week before his 60th birthday.

Arthur Q. Bryan. U.S. actor. Mr. Bryan was best known as a voice actor, playing Dr. Gamble on the radio comedy program Fibber McGee & Molly in the 1940s, playing Major Hoople on the radio comedy program Our Boarding House (1942-1943), and originating the voice of the cartoon character Elmer Fudd, which he played from 1939 until his death from a heart attack at the age of 60 on November 18, 1959.

Friedrich von Hayek. Austrian-born U.K. economist. A champion of economic freedom, Dr. Hayek was best known for his book The Road to Serfdom (1944). He shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with Gunnar Myrdal of Sweden "for their pioneering work in the theory of money and economic fluctuations and for their penetrating analysis of the interdependence of economic, social and institutional phenomena." Dr. Hayek died on March 23, 1992 at the age of 92.

Baseball
Harry Wolverton's grand slam home run in the bottom of the 9th inning gave the Chicago Orphans an 8-7 win over the Cleveland Spiders at West Side Park in Chicago. It was the third and last major league game for Cleveland outfielder George Bristow.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Lex Barker. U.S. actor. Mr. Barker was best known for playing Tarzan of the Apes in five movies from 1949-1953. He died of a heart attack on May 11, 1973, three days after his 54th birthday.

Academia
Pope Benedict XV signed the rescript "Quum Illmi," establishing the independence of Université Laval de Montréal from Université Laval de Québec. Following this decision, the institution adopted the name of Université de Montréal.

90 years ago
1929

Baseball
Carl Hubbell pitched a no-hitter, walking just one batter, as the New York Giants routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0 before 8,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. The first two batters in the 9th inning reached base on errors before Mr. Hubbell started a game-ending double play. Chick Fullis started the scoring in the 2nd inning with his third home run in three days, and Mel Ott added 2 home runs to take the National League lead with 6.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 8 runs in the top of the 1st inning and coasted to a 10-2 win over the Boston Braves before 3,000 fans at Braves Field. Taylor Douthit and Chick Hafey each batted 4 for 5 with a run and a run batted in for the Cardinals. Lou Leggett made his major league debut with the Braves, flying out to center field as a pinch hitter leading off the 9th inning.

80 years ago
1939

Baseball
Pepper Martin's steal of home plate with 2 out in the top of the 6th inning was the only run of the game as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0 before 7,693 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Bob Weiland pitched the 6-hit shutout, while Red Evans allowed 3 hits and 2 earned run in 7 innings and took the loss.

The Chicago Cubs defeated the New York Giants 4-2 before 6,098 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York, but lost first baseman Phil Cavaretta for almost the entire season when he broke his right ankle sliding into second base in the 2nd inning. Bill Lee pitched a 9-hit complete game victory and hit a solo home run in the 4th inning to conclude the Chicago scoring.

Chuck Klein's bases-loaded pinch-hit triple off Jim Weaver was the big hit of a 5-run 8th inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 2,313 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. For Mr. Weaver, who allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in 1/3 inning, it was the 189th and last game of his 8-year major league career.

Bob Johnson hit a solo home run in the 8th inning to tie the score and Bill Nagel hit a solo homer in the 9th to break the 5-5 tie as the Philadelphia Athletics edged the Detroit Tigers 6-5 before 2,751 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The Cleveland Indians scored all their runs in the 7th inning as they beat the Washington Nationals 6-2 before 1,500 fans at League Park in Cleveland. Willis Hudlin pitched a 6-hit complete game victory; Walt Masterson, who pitched the 8th inning for Washington in relief of losing pitcher Ken Chase, allowed a hit and 2 bases on balls, but no runs in his major league debut.

75 years ago
1944

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Phantom Iceberg

Died on this date
Ethel Smyth, 86. U.K. composer. Dame Ethyl wrote six operas, as well as songs, orchestral, chamber, piano, and organ works. She was a prominent supporter of women's suffrage.

War
After an 18-day lull, Soviet forces smashed the main German defense belt around Sevastopol. British troops turned back a new Japanese offensive in the Manipur hills in India.

Diplomacy
U.S. and U.K. officials consented to the signing of a Soviet-Czech agreement, granting the U.S.S.R. supreme authority in a liberated Czechoslovakia, with Czech administrators assuming jurisdiction as the fighting ended.

Politics and government
Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez resigned as President of El Salvador as unrest swept the country because of a general strike.

Washington's 16 delegates and Delaware's 6 delegates endorsed New York Governor Tom Dewey as the Republican Party candidate for President of the United States in the November 1944 election.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied the request of Texas Attorney General Grove Sellers for a rehearing on the decision voiding the Texas "white primary."

Economics and finance
The United States Senate passed and sent to conference the Lend-Lease extension bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee approved a bill raising the public debt to $240 billion, $20 billion less than the Treasury's request.

Business
A U.S. federal court in Philadelphia ordered Pullman, Inc. to separate its railroad car building business from its sleeping car operation.

Medicine
The first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.

70 years ago
1949

On the radio
Pat Novak For Hire, starring Jack Webb, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Wendy Morris

Died on this date
William H. Luden, 90. U.S. confectioner. Mr. Luden originated the menthol candy cough drop in 1881, founding the company that still bears his name.

Literature
The New York Herald Tribune listed Point of No Return by John P. Marquand as the best-selling fiction book, and Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Carey as the best-selling non-fiction book.

Politics and government
The Parliamentary Council in Bonn adopted a "Basic Law" as the constitution of the new West German state, vesting power in a two-house parliament with a president as the nominal head of state.

Local elections in Sardinia resulted in drastic losses for the Christian Democrats, who nevertheless remained the island's strongest party.

Oil
The U.S. Bureau of Mines opened the nation's first factory for extracting oil and gasoline from coal in Louisiana, Missouri.

Labour
A one-week strike of 6,500 United Electrical Workers union members at 21 Philco plants in the Philadelphia area ended after the union dropped its demands for a 15c hourly raise and pension plan.

Baseball
Pitchers Kid Nichols and Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mr. Nichols played with the Boston Beaneaters (1890-1901); St. Louis Cardinals (1904-1905); and Philadelphia Phillies, compiling a record of 362-208 with an earned run average of 2.96. Mr. Brown, who lost parts of two fingers on his right (throwing) hand in a childhood acccident, which had the effect of enabling him to throw a curveball. He played with six major league teams from 1903-1916, compiling a record of 239-130 with an earned run average of 2.06. Mr. Brown was best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs (1904-1912, 1916), winning 20 or more games for six straight seasons (1906-1911), helping them win three consecutive National League pennants from 1906-1908 and World Series championships in 1907-1908. He was 17-8 with the Chicago Whales when they won the Federal League pennant in 1915.

Trailing 3-2 going into the top of the 9th inning, the Cincinnati Reds scored 5 runs to take a 7-3 lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader before 17,707 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game, but the Reds scored 7 in the 12th to win 14-7. Bill Nicholson drove in 5 runs with a home run and a pair of singles as the Phillies won the second game 8-1, which was called after 6 innings because of a Sunday curfew.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning and coasted to an 8-3 win over the Boston Braves in the first game of a doubleheader before 27,211 fans at Braves Field. They scored 4 in top of the 1st inning in the 2nd game, but the Braves rallied for 4 in the bottom of the inning, and the Pirates needed to score 6 in the 8th to win 11-8 to complete the sweep. Johnny Beazley, the last of four Boston pitchers in the first game, pitched 2 perfect innings in the 76th and last game of his 6-year major league career.

The Brooklyn Dodgers came back from a 7-2 deficit with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and 4 in the 7th to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 before 26,350 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Rocky Nelson tripled to lead off the 9th, but Preacher Roe retired Tommy Glaviano on a ground out to shortstop, Hank Sauer on a line drive to first base, and Bill Baker on a fly ball to left field to end the game.

Tommy Byrne pitched a 3-hitter; Tommy Henrich batted 4 for 4 with a base on balls, double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in; and Yogi Berra batted 3 for 5 with a double, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs as the New York Yankees routed the Detroit Tigers 12-0 before 52,891 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Yankees scored 5 runs in the 7th inning and 3 in the 8th. Jimmy Outlaw struck out as a pinch hitter for the Tigers in the 7th inning; it was the 650th and last game of his 10-year major league career.

A hit batsman, a base on balls, and a wild pitch plated the last 3 runs of a 4-run 13th inning as the Boston Red Sox broke a 6-6 tie and defeated the St. Louis Browns 10-6 in the first game of a doubleheader before 8,223 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Dom DiMaggio singled home 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead in the second game, and the game was called because of darkness after the Browns were retired in order in the bottom of the inning. Dick Kokos hit a pair of solo home runs for St. Louis in the second game.

60 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): It Doesn't Matter Anymore--Buddy Holly (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Donald Quarles, 64. U.S. communications executive and politician. Mr. Quarles was an engineer and executive with Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1925-1948, later serving as an executive with Western Electric and Sandia Corporation. He was U.S. Secretary of the Air Force from 1955-1957 and Deputy Defense Secretary from 1957 until his death from a heart attack.

Diplomacy
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru stated that India would maintain friendly relations with Communist China and would not permit the Dalai Lama to campaign in India for Tibetan independence.

Defense
Ending a three-day visit to the United Kingdom, the Shah of Iran told the London Foreign Press Association that his country "will never grant military bases to any country."

U.S.S.R. delegate in Geneva Semyon Tsarapkin said that the U.S.S.R. was ready to cooperate in an international effort to launch satellites containing detection instruments to monitor any nuclear test-ban agreement.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (2nd week at #1)

War
The National Liberation Front presented a 10-point program for an "over-all solution" to the Vietnam war at the Paris peace talks. The program called for free elections to a constituent assembly that would draft a constitution, and ultimately a coalition government in Saigon. The entire process would follow a complete withdrawal of United States troops.

Israeli commandos raided Arab guerrilla bases on the east bank of the Jordan River. Israel then disclosed that its commandos had been raiding across the Jordan during the past year.

40 years ago
1979

Crime
The murder-conspiracy trial of former British Liberal party leader Jeremy Thorpe began in London, five days after Mr. Thorpe's defeat in the general election.

23 were killed in El Salvador when police fired on supporters of the Popular Revolutionary Bloc (BPR) outside San Salvador Cathedral, which the BPR had occupied since May 4.

Energy
California Governor Jerry Brown signed an emergency gas-rationing law, strictly limiting auto fuel consumption and mandating odd-even gas supply days throughout California.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 2 @ Boston 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
New York Islanders 1 @ New York Rangers 2 (Rangers won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Stan Jonathan scored 3 goals for the Bruins as they beat the Canadiens at Boston Garden.

Don Murdoch and Ron Greschner scored in the 2nd period for the Rangers as they overcame a 1-0 deficit to edge the Islanders at Madison Square Garden and advance to the finals for the first time since 1972.

Baseball
Roy Smalley, Craig Kusick, and Ken Landreaux hit home runs for the Minnesota Twins off Balor Moore in the 7th inning of the Twins' 16-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 3,126 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Messrs. Smalley and Kusick each hit 2 homers in the game, while Mr. Landreaux added a double and 2 singles, driving in a total of 5 runs. Tom Murphy, the last of five Toronto pitchers, allowed 1 hit, 1 run--earned--with 1 base on balls and 1 strikeout in 1 1/3 innings in the 443rd and last game of his 12-year major league career.

Eddie Murray, Gary Roenicke, and Lee May hit consecutive home runs for the Baltimore Orioles in the 6th inning of their 8-2 win over the Oakland Athletics before 7,126 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

The Detroit Tigers scored 10 runs on 8 hits and 8 bases on balls as they defeated the Chicago White Sox 10-8 before 13,769 fans at Tiger Stadium. The White Sox had 15 hits and drew 7 walks.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 7 runs in the 5th inning and withstood a 5-run 8th inning rally to defeat the Cleveland Indians 9-5 before 12,959 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

The Kansas City Royals lost 8-7 to the Texas Rangers before 14,400 fans at Arlington Stadium, and lost right fielder Al Cowens (broken jaw) and second baseman Frank White (broken hand) for extended periods when they were hit by pitches from Ed Farmer.

Scott Sanderson pitched a 1-hitter for the Montreal Expos as they shut out the San Francisco Giants 4-0 before 7,513 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Terry Whitfield singled with 1 out in the 1st inning for the only hit off Mr. Sanderson. Darrell Evans drew a base on balls with 1 out in the 5th, and no other San Francisco batters reached base. Larry Parrish hit a 3-run home run in the 9th to provide insurance runs.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 2 runs in each of the 8th and 9th innings to tie the score, and Pete Rose doubled home 2 runs with 2 out in the top of the 12th to break the 7-7 tie as the Phillies held on to edge the San Diego Padres 9-8 before 12,288 fans at San Diego Stadium.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Like a Prayer--Madonna (9th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Like a Prayer--Madonna
2 The Look--Roxette
3 Girl You Know it's True--Milli Vanilli
4 Second Chance--Thirty Eight Special
5 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
6 Heaven Help Me--Deon Estus (with George Michael)
7 Diamond Mine--Blue Rodeo
8 Walk the Dinosaur--Was (Not Was)
9 Love Makes No Promises--Candi
10 I'll Be There for You--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Victory Day by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (#78); Rooms on Fire by Stevie Nicks (#82); This Time I Know it's for Real by Donna Summer (#83); Don't Feel Your Touch by Bruce Cockburn (#87); Romance by Paul Carrack & Terri Nunn (#89); Be with You by the Bangles (#91); All is Forgiven by Siren (#94); Talk to Me by Dalbello (#96); Lead Me Into Love by Anita Baker (#98); and If You Don't Know Me by Now by Simply Red (#99). Romance was from the movie Sing (1989).

Space
U.S. space shuttle Atlantis concluded the four-day mission STS-30 and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Politics and government
Leopold Belliveau was elected as Moncton, New Brunswick's first Acadian mayor.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Hungary agreed to convene a party conference to deal with political reform.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Calgary 2 @ Chicago 1 (OT) (Calgary led best-of-seven series 3-1)

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Sign--Ace of Base (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Without You--Mariah Carey

#1 single in Switzerland: Without You--Mariah Carey (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Inside--Stiltskin

Died on this date
George Peppard, 65. U.S. actor. Mr. Peppard starred in movies such as The Strange One (1957); Home from the Hill (1960); Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); The Carpetbaggers (1964); Operation Crossbow (1965); The Blue Max (1966); and What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968), and in the television series Banacek (1972-1974); Doctors' Hospital (1975-1976); and The A-Team (1983-1987). He was a heavy smoker for much of his life, and died of lung cancer.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton said that Haitian refugees intercepted in international waters while en route to the United States would be given asylum interviews and would be granted asylum if they could demonstrate that they faced the prospect of political persecution in Haiti.

Protest
Randall Robinson, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist on African and Caribbean issues, ended a fast that he had begun as a protest against the U.S. practice of turning back all Haitian refugees attempting to enter the United States.

Hockey
IIHF World Men's Championships @ Milan
Bronze Medal
Sweden 7 U.S.A. 2

Gold Medal
Canada 2 Finland 1 (SO)

Luc Robitaille scored the winning goal in the second round of a shootout to give Canada its first world championship in 33 years.

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Toronto 8 @ San Jose 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Dallas 1 @ Vancouver 2 (OT) (Vancouver led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Soeman Hs, 95. Indonesian author and educator. Mr. Hs, whose full name was Soeman Hasibuan, wrote in Malay, and was a pioneer in detective fiction in his country, writing five novels and numerous short stories from the 1920s to the 1940s. In 1949, he was appointed head of the Department of Education and Culture in the province of Riau, building schools and promoting Islamic education.

Dirk Bogarde, 78. U.K. actor. Sir Dirk, born Derek van den Bogaerde, was a popular leading man in British films from the 1950s through the '70s, perhaps best known for starring in the series of comedies beginning with Doctor in the House (1954). He was nominated for five BAFTA Awards, winning for his starring performances in The Servant (1963) and Darling (1965). Sir Dirk died of a pulmonary embolism, several years after suffering a stroke.

Ed Gilbert, 67. U.S. actor and entomologist. Mr. Gilbert, whose real name was Edmund Giesbert, appeared in various television programs, and did voice work in cartoons. Under his real name, he pursued the study of coleoptera, and described a number of beetle species and genera. Mr. Gilbert died of lung cancer.

Dana Plato, 34. U.S. actress. Miss Plato, born Dana Strain, was known for playing Kimberly Drummond on the television comedy series Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986). She had substance abuse problems during her time on the show, and the problems continued in later years, when she found roles hard to come by. Miss Plato died of an overdose of the painkiller Lortab and the muscle-relaxant Soma; her death was ruled a suicide.

Defense
The Citadel in South Carolina graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Mace.

Baseball
Third baseman John Mabry collected 4 singles and a double for the Seattle Mariners in their 14-5 win over the New York Yankees before 41,786 fans at Yankee Stadium. Brian Hunter, David Bell, and Ken Griffey, Jr., the first three men in the Seattle batting order, each drove in 3 runs, as did Tom Lampkin, eighth in the order.

The Montreal Expos scored all their runs in the 2nd inning as they held on to defeat the Houston Astros 6-5 before 33,216 fans at the Astrodome. Shane Andrews' 3-run home run with nobody out began the Montreal scoring.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Dom DiMaggio, 92. U.S. baseball player. Mr. DiMaggio, the younger brother of major league center fielders Vince and Joe DiMaggio, played center field with the Boston Red Sox (1940-1942, 1946-1953), batting .298 with 87 home runs and 618 runs batted in in 1,399 games. His best season was probably 1950, when he tied for the American League lead in runs (131) and led in triples (11) and stolen bases (15). Mr. DiMaggio was one of the few players of his era to wear glasses on the field, and, like his brothers, was an outstanding defensive center fielder, and was selected to play in seven major league All-Star Games. He retired early in the 1953 season, and became a successful businessman. Mr. DiMaggio died of pneumonia.

Bud Shrake, 77. U.S. writer. Edwin A. Shrake, Jr. wrote fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays, often about his native Texas. He worked for Sports Illustrated in the 1960s and '70s, and later wrote highly-acclaimed novels about Texas, as well as screenplays for movies such as Songwriter (1984). Mr. Shrake lived a hard-partying lifestyle of drinking and smoking until the mid-1980s, quitting after warnings from his doctor. He died after a long battle with prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Medicine
Doctors at the Hospital for Sick Children and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto became the first in Canada to perform a procedure on a fetus inside the womb to reverse heart failure before delivery.

Health
Canada's first death from swine-flu (H1N1 influenza A virus) was recorded; the victim, a woman in northern Alberta, had pre-existing medical conditions.