July 17, 2020

810 years ago
1210

Died on this date
Sverker II, >43 (?). King of Sweden, 1195/1196-1208. Sverker II was a son of King Karl VII, who was assassinated in 1167, apparently by minions of Knut I, who succeeded him. Upon Knut I's death, Sverker II was chosen to succeed him on the throne. He had to fight off attempts by Knut I's sons to regain control of the country, and was eventually forced off the throne and into exile in Denmark after a decisive defeat in the Battle of Lena in January 1208. Sverker II mounted a military expedition to win back his throne, but was killed in the Battle of Gestilren.

War
Forces of King Erik X of Sweden defeated forces of exiled former King Sverker II in the Battle of Gestilren.

230 years ago
1790

Died on this date
Adam Smith, 67. U.K. economist and philosopher. Mr. Smith, a native of Scotland, has been called "The Father of Capitalism" and "The Father of Economics," and was best known for his books The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). He argued that rational self-interest and competition could lead to economic prosperity for society, but also supported limited government intervention in the economy. Mr. Smith died after a long illness.

175 years ago
1845

Died on this date
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, 81. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1830-1834. Earl Grey, a member of the Whig Party, backed significant reform of the British government and was Prime Minister when slavery was abolished in the British Empire. Earl Grey tea was named after him.

120 years ago
1900

Died on this date
Thomas McIlwraith, 65. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir Thomas, a native of Scotland, moved to Victoria in 1854, and eventually moved to Queensland. He represented various ridings in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1870-1896, serving three terms as Premier (1879-1883, June-November 1888, March-October 1893) and Treasurer (1879-1882, June-November 1888, 1890-1893). Sir Thomas was involved in financial scandal and losses in his later years, and moved to England in 1895. He was forced to resign from the Queensland Executive Council in 1897, and died in London.

Baseball
Christy Mathewson made his major league debut for the New York Giants, entering their game against the Brooklyn Superbas at Washington Park in Brooklyn in the 5th inning in relief of Ed Doheny. Mr. Mathewson gave up 6 runs, while hitting 3 batters and walking 2. The Superbas won 13-7, with Mr. Doheny being charged with the loss.

110 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Barbara O'Neil. U.S. actress. Miss O'Neil appeared in plays and in films such as Gone with the Wind (1939), in which she played Scarlett O'Hara's mother Ellen. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her supporting performance in All This, and Heaven Too (1940). Miss O'Neil died of a heart attack on September 3, 1980 at the age of 70.

James Coyne. Canadian banker. Mr. Coyne, a native of Winnipeg, was executive assistant to Bank of Canada Governor Graham Towers (1944-1949) and Deputy Governor (1950-1954) before succeeding Mr. Towers as Governor of the Bank of Canada on January 1, 1955. In 1961, he criticized the financial policies of the Canadian government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and Finance Minister Donald Fleming, arguing that the government's policies of big spending and heavy borrowing were creating a debt crisis. The government argued that an elected government had the right to direct monetary policy. When Mr. Coyne raised his own pension, the Progressive Conservative-dominated House of Commons passed a motion vacating his position, but the Liberal-dominated Senate defeated it. However, Mr. Coyne resigned the next day, July 13, 1961. He was cleared of any wrongdoing, and the Coyne crisis led to more independence for the Bank of Canada. Mr. Coyne died in Winnipeg on October 12, 2012 at the age of 102.

Protest
Politicians including Quebec nationalist Henri Bourassa and Conservative Member of Parliament Frederick Monk (Jacques Cartier) addressed a large rally in Saint-Eustache, Quebec to protest the recent passage of the Naval Service Act, providing for the construction of a Canadian fleet under the authority of the British Empire in the event of war.

100 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Gordon Gould. U.S. physicist. Professor Gould worked on the Manhattan Project from March 1944-January 1945, but was fired from the atomic bomb project for being a member of the Communist Party. He claimed credit for inventing the laser, but he had to fight a battle over patents for almost 30 years. Prof. Gould was eventually issued 48 patents, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1991. He died on September 16, 2005 at the age of 85.

Juan Antonio Samaranch y Torelló, 1st Marquess of Samaranch. Spanish politician, diplomat, and sports executive. Mr. Samaranch held various positions in the Spanish government of dictator Francisco Franco, including Delegate for Physical Education and Sport; he was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the U.S.S.R. and Mongolia in 1977. Mr. Samaranch was a longtime member of the Olympic movement, and served as President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980-2001, overseeing the financial rescue of the IOC. He was named Honourary President of the IOC after his retirement, and was elevated to the Spanish nobility in 1991. The Marquess of Samaranch died of cardio-respiratory failure on April 21, 2010 at the age of 89, after several years of declining health.

Baseball
The New York Yankees whipped the Chicago White Sox 20-5 before 30,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York, led by Aaron Ward’s home run, double, and 2 singles. Winning pitcher Carl Mays (13-7) allowed 15 hits and 3 earned runs in a complete game, batting 2 for 5 with 2 runs. Eddie Cicotte (11-6) allowed 9 hits and 8 runs--5 earned--in 5 innings to take the loss.

Casey Stengel drew a base on balls to lead off the 9th inning and scored on a ground out by Russ Wrightstone for the game's only run as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. St. Louis shortstop Doc Lavan was beaned in the 4th inning, and was ejected by home plate umpire Bill Klem in the 6th after throwing his bat at Philadelphia pitcher George Smith, resulting in a brawl. Philadelphia manager Gavy Cravath and shortstop Art Fletcher were ejected by Mr. Klem just one batter later for arguing balls and strikes, and Mr. Smith was ejected for arguing with Mr. Klem when he was called out on strikes for the last out of the top of the 9th. Mr. Smith (8-7) allowed 8 hits in 8 innings, and he was relieved by Eppa Rixey, who retired the Cardinals in order in the bottom of the 9th. St. Louis pitcher Ferdie Schupp (10-5) allowed 6 hits and 1 earned run.

80 years ago
1940

War
The British government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill named Sir Roger Keyes as director of combined operations to plan and execute commando raids.

Diplomacy
Japan promised an attempt to reach a peace settlement with Nationalist Chinese leader Chaing Kai-shek in return for a British promise to close the Burma Road to war supplies for three months starting immediately.

German chemist Dr. Emil Wolff was held in the Panama Canal Zone on charges of failing to register as a German agent.

Politics and government
The Democratic National Convention in Chicago nominated by acclamation President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the Democratic Party candidate to run for a third term as President of the United States. The party platform called for non-intervention in foreign wars.

Defense
U.S. Army General George Marshall said that two million men were needed for the adequate defense of the United States.

Transportation
Baghdad Railway was inaugurated when the first train left the Iraqi capital for Haidar Pasha on the Bosphorus opposite Istanbul.

75 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Ernst Busch, 60. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall Busch was highly decorated for bravery in both world wars and took part in the siege of Leningrad during World War II, but was sacked by Fuehrer Adolf Hitler in July 1944 and replaced by Feldmarschall Walter Model. Generalfeldmarschall Busch surrendered to British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and died of heart failure in a prisoner of war camp in Aldershot, England.

War
The U.S. Office of Defense Transportation ordered all railway coaches, combination passenger and baggage cars, and express cars pooled for military purposes.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry S. Truman, U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill began talks at Potsdam, Germany in the final Allied summit of World War II.

Politics and government
Irish Prime Minister Eamon de Valera told Parliament that Eire had achieved status as a republic on December 29, 1937 when the Constitution had become operative, but that Eire was still "associated as a matter of our external policy with the British Commonwealth."

The Belgian Chamber of Deputies voted to continue Prince Charles' regency and to bar King Leopold III from returning without Parliament's permission.

Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco indicated that he expected his regime to be succeeded eventually by a traditional monarchy.

Track and field
Gunder Haegg set a record in the mile of 4:01.4 in Malmo, Sweden.

70 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Devil to Pay, starring Jonathan Harris, Grace Kelly, and Theo Marcuse

This was a restaging of a story originally broadcast on January 23, 1950.

Died on this date
Evangeline Booth, 84. U.K.-born U.S. religious leader. Miss Booth, the seventh of eight children of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth, moved to New York in 1896 and served as the fourth General of The Salvation Army--and the first female General--from 1934-1939.

Antonie Nedošinská, 65. Czech actress. Mrs. Nedošinská appeared in 89 films from 1916-1947. She died 22 days after her 65th birthday.

Fred Blanding, 62. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Blanding played with the Cleveland Naps (1910-1914), compiling a record of 46-46 with an earned run average of 3.13 in 144 games, batting .216 with 1 home run and 24 runs batted in in 146 games. He jumped to the Kansas City Packers of the Federal League in 1914, but jumped back to the Naps when they countered with a better offer. A legal battle ensued, resulting in the reserve clause being invoked to decide that Mr. Blanding still belonged to Cleveland. He retired after the 1914 season and ran car dealerships in Lansing, Michigan and Roanoake, Virginia. Mr. Blanding died of a heart attack.

Crime
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested former Army Signal Corps engineer Julius Rosenberg, 32, in New York on a charge of atomic espionage for the U.S.S.R.

Defense
The U.S. Navy unveiled its first jet night fighter, the Douglas F3D Skynifght, with two engines and a top speed of 600 miles per hour.

Society
A University of Michigan library survey showed that nearly half of the American population did not read books.

Health
Delegates to the fifth International Cancer Conference said that long-term cigarette smokers seemed more susceptible to lung cancer than pipe or cigar users or non-smokers.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee voted to investigate "unreasonable" price increases of food and other commodities since the beginning of the Korean War.

Baseball
The New York Yankees edged the Chicago White Sox 4-3 before 24,218 fans at Yankee Stadium as Whitey Ford (1-0), with relief help from Tom Ferrick, picked up his first major league win. Del Wight (7-9) allowed 7 hits in a complete game loss.

The Boston Braves scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th inning as they came back from a 6-2 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6 before 21,450 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Bill Pierro made his major league debut as Pittsburgh's starting pitcher, carrying a 6-3 lead into the 9th before the Boston rally. He allowed 8 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 8+ innings, walking 6 batters, striking out 5, throwing 2 wild pitches, and batting 2 for 4 with a run.

50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Star Crossed Lovers--Craig Scott

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry (2nd week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Yellow River--Christie
2 Working on a Good Thing--Outlet
3 Come Softly to Me--Percy Sledge
4 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
5 Cottonfields--The Beach Boys
6 Which Way You Goin' Billy?--The Poppy Family
7 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival
8 I Don't Believe in If Anymore--Roger Whittaker
9 Little Green Bag--George Baker Selection
10 Daughter of Darkness--Tom Jones

Singles entering the chart were Question by the Moody Blues (#13); I'll Walk with You by Sean Rennie (#19); and Why Can't it Rain by McCully Workshop (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Hitchin' a Ride--Vanity Fare (2nd week at #1)
2 (They Long to Be) Close to You--Carpenters
3 Are You Ready?--Pacific Gas & Electric
4 Ride Captain Ride--Blues Image
5 Band of Gold--Freda Payne
6 Teach Your Children--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
7 Gimme Dat Ding--The Pipkins
8 Mama Told Me (Not to Come)--Three Dog Night
9 Tighter, Tighter--Alive and Kicking
10 Make it with You--Bread

Singles entering the chart were In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry (#24); Hand Me Down World by the Guess Who (#26); As the Years Go By by Mashmakhan (#27); Indiana Wants Me by R. Dean Taylor (#29); and Tell it All Brother by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Spill the Wine--Eric Burdon and War
2 Are You Ready?--Pacific Gas & Electric
3 Your Own Back Yard--Dion
4 Hitchin' a Ride--Vanity Fare
5 Teach Your Children--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Ohio--Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
6 Question--The Moody Blues
7 Crazy Jane--Tom Northcott
8 Cinnamon Girl--Neil Young with Crazy Horse
9 (They Long to Be) Close to You--Carpenters
10 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry

Singles entering the chart were Summertime Blues by the Who (#19); Hand Me Down World by the Guess Who (#26); Tell it All Brother by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#27); Superman by the Ides of March (#28); Wigwam/Copper Kettle by Bob Dylan (#29); and Have You Seen the Saucers by Jefferson Airplane (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Gimme Dat Ding--The Pipkins (3rd week at #1)
2 A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)--Miguel Rios
3 Mama Told Me (Not to Come)--Three Dog Night
4 The Long and Winding Road--The Beatles
5 A Little Bit of Soap--Paul Davis
6 Canned Ham--Norman Greenbaum
7 Crazy Jane--Tom Northcott
8 Band of Gold--Freda Payne
9 Come to Me--Tommy James and the Shondells
10 Hitchin' a Ride--Vanity Fare

War
The battle for Kiri Rom in Cambodia ended after six days with Lon Nol’s Cambodian government troops defeating the Communists. While 17,500 Cambodian troops were continuing the Cambodian campaign, Americans were abandoning a fire support base near the Laotian border after three weeks of heavy fighting, and South Vietnamese troops engaged Communist forces in fierce fighting near the eastern end of the demilitarized zone.

Defense
Reliable Washington sources said that for at least two years, the United States had assumed that Israel possessed atomic capability, and that U.S. policy toward the Middle East had been conducted on that assumption.

Disasters
All 719 people aboard the Norwegian cruise ship Fulvia, swept by fire halfway between the Canary Islands and Madeira, were rescued by the French liner Ancerville in a 4½-hour operation.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (1-1) 27 @ Saskatchewan (2-1) 15

40 years ago
1980

Hit parade
Edmonton’s Top 20 (CHED)
1 It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel
2 Tired of Toein’ the Line--Rocky Burnette
3 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
4 Magic--Olivia Newton-John
5 Little Jeannie--Elton John
6 She’s Out of My Life--Michael Jackson
7 Even the Score--Toronto
8 Echo Beach--Martha & the Muffins
9 Empire Strikes Back (Medley)--Meco
10 Fine State of Affairs--Burton Cummings
11 Misunderstanding--Genesis
12 Young and Restless--Prism
13 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney
14 The Rose--Bette Midler
15 Let Me Love You Tonight--Pure Prairie League
16 Let My Love Open the Door--Pete Townshend
17 All Night Long--Joe Walsh
18 Emotional Rescue--The Rolling Stones
19 Shining Star--Manhattans
20 Cupid/I’ve Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners

Died on this date
Don "Red" Barry, 68. U.S. actor. Donald Barry de Acosta played supporting roles in numerous Western movies, but was best known for starring in the 12-chapter movie serial The Adventures of Red Ryder (1940). He was estranged from his second wife and fatally shot himself in the head shortly after police had come to his home to investigate a domestic dispute.

World events
Bolivia’s armed forces seized control of the government to prevent leftist Herman Siles Zuazo from being chosen President by the Congress. The military uprising began in the city of Trinidad and quickly spread to La Paz, where the government palace was seized and the interim chief of state, President Lydia Gueler Tejada, was captured. Ms. Gueler resigned, turning power over to a junta consisting of the chiefs of the three armed services. The junta ordered the disbanding of Congress, which was to have met on August 4 to choose a new president among the top vote-getters in the June 29 election. Mr. Siles Zuazo had won a plurality in the elections and was expected to win the Congressional election with the votes of his left-wing coalition in the legislature. The junta broadcast a statement that it had taken over the country "for the dignity of Bolivia, to reject the results of the general elections and to declare the Congress and its actions unconstitutional."

Politics and government
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan, officially nominated the previous night as the Republican Party's 1980 U.S. presidential candidate, delivered his acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Former Republican National Convention Chairman George Bush was officially nominated as the party's vice presidential candidate.



Scandal
U.S. President Jimmy Carter said that he had not known the details of his brother Billy’s services on behalf of the government of Libya until "just a few days ago," but Carter administration officials admitted that in 1978 a foreign policy specialist on the staff of the National Security Council had briefed Billy Carter on U.S.-Libyan relations prior to his first trip to that country.

Protest
Three days of race riots concluded in Miami, Florida.

30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Whose Law (Is it Anyway?)--Guru Josh (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
In Paris, East and West Germany and the four allied powers of World War II approved a plan to guarantee Poland’s border with a united Germany. Poland had sought assurances that Germany would not seek to reclaim former German territory awarded to Poland after World War II.

Oil
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, in a televised address, charged that some rulers of Persian Gulf states had been "inspired by America" to keep oil prices low through overproduction.

Economics and finance
For the second straight day, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at the record high figure of 2,999.75 after topping 3,000 during the course of the day.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had widened to $7.73 billion in May.

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins became the first team in major league history to complete 2 triple plays in the same game--both started by third baseman Gary Gaetti--but still lost 1-0 to the Boston Red Sox before 34,113 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Bo Jackson hit 3 straight home runs--the third his 100th career major league homer--to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 10-7 win over the New York Yankees before 26,777 fans at Yankee Stadium. In the 6th inning, Mr. Jackson separated his shoulder attempting to field a fly ball hit by Deion Sanders, who made it around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Mel Stottlemyre, Jr., son of the former Yankees’ ace pitcher, made his major league debut, pitching an inning of relief for the Royals against his father’s old team. Oscar Azocar made his major league debut with the Yankees, singling as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning.

25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Colour Inside--Ti.Pi.Cal. (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Scatman's World--Scatman John (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): '74–'75--The Connells (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wish You were Here--Rednex (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I'll Be There for You--The Rembrandts
2 Leave Virginia Alone--Rod Stewart
3 This Ain't a Love Song--Bon Jovi
4 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
5 Misery--Soul Asylum
6 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
7 December--Collective Soul
8 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me--U2
9 Genuine--Mae Moore
10 Wonderful--Adam Ant

Singles entering the chart were Roll to Me by Del Amitri (#83); I Can Love You Like That by All-4-One (#84); All I Need to Know by Foreigner (#88); Tryin' to Tell Ya by Andru Donalds (#89); It's Too Late by Gloria Estefan (#90); and A Higher Place by Tom Petty (#91).

Died on this date
Juan Manuel Fangio, 84. Argentine auto racing driver. Mr. Fangio drove in the Formula One circuit from 1950-1958, winning the World Drivers' Championship five times (1951, 1954-1957). He won 24 of 52 Formula One races in which he competed, and his victory percentage of 46.15 remains the record.

Law
Christine Silverberg, 45, was appointed chief of the Calgary Police Service, becoming the first female police chief of a major Canadian city.

Weather
A six-day heat wave in the midwestern and northeastern United States had killed more than 800 people, including 536 in Chicago.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 4,736.29, a record high.

Football
CFL
Shreveport (0-3) 7 @ Edmonton (3-0) 37

Jim Sandusky, Lucius Floyd, and Willie Pless scored touchdowns for the Eskimos as they routed the Pirates before 29,463 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Sean Fleming added 3 converts, 5 field goals, and a single. Kerwin Bell and Chris Vargas shared the Edmonton quarterbacking duties, with Mr. Vargas completing a 62-yard touchdown pass to Mr. Pless, normally a linebacker, who had entered the game on offense. The Pirates broke up the shutout with just 1:14 remaining in the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Mike Johnson to Wayne Walker.

20 years ago
2000

World events
The German government and German businesses signed an agreement to contribute equally to a $5 billion fund to pay reparations to people who had been forced into labour by the Nazi regime during World War II. Negotiations on the agreement had lasted two years. The United States had agreed in June to dismiss and block relevant litigation in U.S. courts. Surviving slave labourers from concentration camps, mostly Jews, would receive $7,000 each, and survivors of forced labour, mostly Gentiles, would receive $2,500 each.

Politics and government
In his inaugural speech as President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad said that regaining the Golan Heights from Israel was a top priority, and that he would support "positive criticism" of the Syrian government.

Society
The British supermarket chain Tesco responded to public pressure and announced that it was reviving imperial measurements in its stores regardless of fascistic European Union legislation mandating use of the metric system.

Disasters
During approach to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport at Delhi, Alliance Air Flight 7412, a Boeing 737 jetliner, suddenly crashed into a residential neighborhood in Patna, killing 60 people.

Baseball
Outfielder Chris Richard hit a home run on the first major league pitch he faced, opening the scoring to lead off the 2nd inning as his St. Louis Cardinals beat the Minnesota Twins 8-3 in an interleague game before 20,171 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Mr. Richard finished 1 for 4 with a base on balls, making 2 putouts in left field.

The Oakland Athletics scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings and withstood a 2-run 9th inning rally to defeat the Colorado Rockies 11-10 before 40,120 fans in the first of two interleague games at Coors Field in Denver. Marcus Jones started on the mound for Oakland and allowed 5 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 2.1 innings, walking 3 batters and striking out 1, batting 0 for 2 in his only major league game. In the second game, Jeff Cirillo singled and scored the tying run in the bottom of the 9th, and then singled home Tom Goodwin with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th to give the Rockies a 10-9 win before 40,276 fans.

10 years ago
2010

Died on this date
Larry Keith, 79. U.S. actor. Mr. Keith, born Lawrence Korn, played restaurateur Nick Davis in the television soap opera All My Children (1970-1978), and was the first American actor to play Henry Higgins in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady, playing the role about 50 times as an understudy to Michael Allinson. Mr. Keith was one of the founders of TACT (The Actors Company Theatre) in 1992, dedicated to presenting "neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit." He died of complications from lung cancer.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (0-3) 20 @ Saskatchewan (3-0) 24