October 16, 2020

1,330 years ago
690

Politics and government
Empress Wu Zetian ascended to the throne of the Tang dynasty and proclaimed herself ruler of the Chinese Empire.

590 years ago
1430

Born on this date
James II. King of Scotland, 1437-1460. James II acceded to the throne upon the assassination of his father James I, and lived under a regency until he came of age at the age of 19, when he married 15-year-old Mary of Guelders, daughter of the Duke of Gelderland. He had to fight against the Douglases to control his kingdom; he murdered William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas in 1452, and finally defeated them in the Battle of Arkinholm in 1455. James II was a popular king, socializing with commoners and encouraging learning. He initiated the siege of Roxburgh Castle, and was accidentally killed on August 3, 1460 at the age of 29 when he was standing near a cannon and it exploded, with a piece of it shattering his thigh. King James II was succeeded on the throne by his son James III.

330 years ago
1690

War
William Phips arrived at Quebec with 37 ships and 2,200 men, and asked for French forces to surrender; Count Frontenac, with a garrison of 3,000, refused.

240 years ago
1780

War
The British-led Royalton raid in the Vermont Republic became the last Native American raid on New England. The British troops, commanded by Lieutenant Richard Houghton, were aided by 300 Mohawk warriors from Kahnawake, Quebec. The raiders killed 4 Vermont settlers and took 26 prisoner, while suffering no casualties of their own.

Disasters
The Great Hurricane of 1780 finished after its sixth day, killing between 20,000-24,000 residents of the Lesser Antilles.

200 years ago
1820

Canadiana
Cape Breton Island officially rejoined Nova Scotia, after the proclamation of October 9; originally part of the colony of Nova Scotia in 1763, it became a separate colony for Loyalist refugees in 1784.

180 years ago
1840

Born on this date
Kuroda Kiyotaka. Prime Minister of Japan, 1888-1889. Count Kuroda held several cabinet posts before and after serving as Prime Minister. He died of a brain hemorrhage on August 23, 1900 at the age of 59.

130 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Maria Goretti. Italian Roman Catholic saint. Miss Goretti was murdered at the age of 11 on July 6, 1902 after refusing the sexual advances of Alessandro Serenelli, who lived in the same house. Mr. Serenelli eventually repented and became a lay brother in a monastery. Miss Goretti was canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 24, 1950.

Michael Collins. Irish politician. Mr. Collins was a leader of the Irish revolution for independence from the United Kingdom. He held various positions with the Irish Republican Army and government. He was Chairman of the Provisional Government from January 1922 until his assassination at the age of 31 in an ambush on August 22, 1922.

125 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Max Kögel. German war criminal. SS-Obersturmbannführer Kögel joined the Nazi Party in May 1932 and the Schutzstaffel (SS) a month later. He was deputy director of Lichtenburg concentration camp (1938-1939) and commandant of the concentration camps of Ravensbrück (1939-1942); Majdanek (August-November 1942); and Flossenbürg (1943-1945). SS-Obersturmbannführer Kögel escaped arrest by Allied authorities until June 1946; he committed suicide by hanging himself in his prison cell in Schwabach at the age of 50 on June 25, 1946, the day after his arrest.

120 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Goose Goslin. U.S. baseball player. Leon Allen Goslin was an outfielder with the Washington Nationals (1921-1930, 1933, 1938); St. Louis Browns (1930-1932); and Detroit Tigers (1934-1937), batting .316 with 248 home runs and 1,612 runs batted in in 2,287 games. He hit .379 to win the American League batting title in 1928--hitting a single in his final at bat to edge Heinie Manush of the Detroit Tigers for the crown--and had 11 seasons with at least 100 runs batted in, leading the AL in 1924 with 129. Mr. Goslin played with five pennant-winning teams and two World Series championship clubs (1924, 1935), batting .287 with 7 homers and 19 RBIs in 32 World Series games. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968, and died on May 15, 1971 at the age of 70, after a period of declining health.

100 years ago
1920

Died on this date
Alberto Nepomuceno, 56. Brazilian composer. Mr. Nepomuceno was a Brazilian nationalist in politics as well as music. He was perhaps best known for his operas and vocal works, but also composed instrumental and orchestral works.

90 years ago
1930

Football
NFL
Chicago Cardinals (1-3-2) 12 @ New York (4-1) 25

80 years ago
1940

Abominations
The Warsaw Ghetto was established.

Football
AFL
Boston (3-1) 10 @ Buffalo (1-3) 0
Milwaukee (3-1) 3 @ Columbus (4-1) 7

75 years ago
1945

Agriculture
The first United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conference of 29 countries opened in Quebec City, meeting until November 1. About 100 delegates from 30 countries participated in the signing of the initial document, including Canadian Ambassador to the U.S.A. Lester Pearson, Quebec Lieutenant Governor Eugène Fiset, and Quebec Mayor Lucien Borne.

Football
Canadian university-junior
Exhibition
University of Alberta 19 (Edmonton) Canadian Athletic Club 5

Bob Freeze rushed 60 yards for a touchdown and Mickey Hajash rushed for a pair of TDs to help the Golden Bears defeat CAC.

70 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Thing Upstairs, starring Freddie Barholomew, Dayton Lummis, and Peggy Nelson

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals fired Eddie Dyer after 5 seasons as the team’s manager. He led them to a World Series championship in 1946, but the team finished 5th in the National League in 1950 with a record of 78-75.

60 years ago
1960

Football
CFL
EFC
Ottawa (8-4) 13 @ Toronto (9-3) 37

32,896 attended the game at CNE Stadium.

NFL
Washington (1-1-1) 24 @ New York (3-0-1) 24
Detroit (0-3) 10 @ Philadelphia (3-1) 28
St. Louis (1-3) 14 @ Pittsburgh (2-2) 27
Los Angeles (0-4) 17 @ Baltimore (3-1) 31
San Francisco (2-2) 10 @ Chicago (3-1) 27
Cleveland (3-0) 48 @ Dallas (0-4) 7

AFL
Buffalo (1-4) 13 @ New York (4-2) 17
Dallas (2-4) 10 @ Houston (4-1) 20
Boston (2-3) 14 @ Oakland (3-3) 27
Denver (3-2) 19 @ Los Angeles (3-3) 23

50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Lola--The Kinks (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Band of Gold--Freda Payne (3rd week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Burning Bridges--The Mike Curb Congregation
2 Mademoiselle Ninette--Michael Holm
3 Brown Eyes--Chris Andrews
4 I (Who Have Nothing)--Tom Jones
5 Lookin' Out My Back Door--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Lola--The Kinks
7 Neanderthal Man--Hotlegs
8 Push Mr. Pride Aside--Percy Sledge
9 Ain't Love a Funny Thing--Sam Evans
10 Poor Little Rich Girl--Dickie Loader

Singles entering the chart were All the Tears in the World by Dave Mills (#18); Like I Do by Barbara Ray and the 5th Association (#19); and Montego Bay by Bobby Bloom (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Lola--The Kinks
2 Look What They've Done to My Song Ma--The New Seekers
3 All Right Now--Free
4 We've Only Just Begun--Carpenters
5 It's Only Make Believe--Glen Campbell
6 El Condor Pasa--Simon & Garfunkel
7 Cracklin' Rosie--Neil Diamond
8 Groovy Situation--Gene Chandler
9 I'll Be There--The Jackson 5
10 God, Love and Rock & Roll (We Believe)--Teegarden & Van Winkle

Singles entering the chart were I Think I Love You by the Partridge Family (#25); Share the Land/Bus Rider by the Guess Who (#28); Heed the Call by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#29); and Lucretia MacEvil by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 We've Only Just Begun--Carpenters (2nd week at #1)
2 Lola--The Kinks
3 Look What They've Done to My Song Ma--The New Seekers
4 Out in the Country--Three Dog Night
5 Long Long Time--Linda Ronstadt
6 Fire and Rain--James Taylor
7 El Condor Pasa--Simon & Garfunkel
8 Green-Eyed Lady--Sugarloaf
9 It's Only Make Believe--Glen Campbell
10 My Home Town--The Seeds of Time

Singles entering the chart were Share the Land/Bus Rider by the Guess Who (#23); It's a Shame by the Spinners (#26); I Can Hear You Calling by Bush (#27); Deeper & Deeper by Freda Payne (#28); Heed the Call by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#29); and After Midnight by Eric Clapton (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Cracklin' Rosie--Neil Diamond (3rd week at #1)
2 Me and Bobby McGee--Gordon Lightfoot
3 El Condor Pasa--Simon & Garfunkel
4 Long Long Time--Linda Ronstadt
5 Lola--The Kinks
6 Sunday Morning Coming Down--Johnny Cash
7 God, Love and Rock & Roll (We Believe)--Teegarden & Van Winkle
8 Patches--Clarence Carter
9 Julie, Do Ya Love Me--Bobby Sherman
10 Montego Bay--Bobby Bloom

On television tonight
The Interns, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Eyes of the Beholder

Terrorism
After fruitless negotiations between the government of Canada and the Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) terrorists who had kidnapped British trade commissioner James Cross and Quebec Labour and Immigration Minister Pierre Laporte, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau mobilized troops and invoked the War Measures Act, giving police extraordinary powers and suspending many civil liberties.



Protest
Italian troops were sent into Reggio di Calabria following an outbreak of violence while protesting the choice of the rival city of Cantanzaro as capital of the newly-formed region of Calabria.

A special grand jury in Portage County in Ohio investigating the May 4 fatal shootings of four students by Ohio National Guardsmen at Kent State University indicted 25 people, but cleared the National Guardsmen. The panel accused the KSU administration of "over-indulgence and permissiveness," faculty members of an "over-emphasis" on the right to dissent, and students of "obscene" language.

Boxing
Chucho Castillo (40-10-2) scored a technical knockout over fellow Mexican Ruben Olivares (61-1-1) in the 14th round at The Forum in Ingelwood, California to win the world bantamweight title. Mr. Olivares, who had won the title 14 months earlier and had defeated Mr. Castillo at the same venue by a unanimous decision on April 18, suffered his first loss when referee Dick Young stopped the fight because of a bad cut over the champion's left eye. Mr. Castillo was ahead 7 rounds to 6 on Mr. Young's scorecard, while the two judges had scored the fight even.



40 years ago
1980

Environment
The Furbish Lousewort, a perennial herb only found growing along the banks of the upper Saint John River, became the first plant to be protected under New Brunswick’s Endangered Species Act.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that industrial production at U.S. factories and mines had increased 1% in September, the largest increase in 17 months.

30 years ago
1990

Died on this date
Douglas Campbell, 94. U.S. military aviator. Captain Campbell served with the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I, recording six combat victories and becoming the first American flier to earn the title of ace. He suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his back in 1918, and the war ended before he could return to combat. Mr. Campbell became Vice-President of Pan American Airways in 1939, and general manager in 1948.

Art Blakey, 71. U.S. musician. Mr. Blakey was a jazz drummer who became known for his work with the big bands of Fletcher Henderson and Billy Eckstine before leading his own band known as the Jazz Messengers. He became a Muslim and eventually changed his name to Abdullah Ibn Buhaina. Mr. Blakey was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1982. He died of lung cancer five days after his 71st birthday.

Economics and finance
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev presented his proposals for economic reforms to the Duma. The proposals included the selling of state property to private individuals; the lifting of price controls; and the transfer of many economic decisions to the 15 republics. Some sectors, including transportation, communications, defense industries, energy, banking, and foreign trade would remain under the control of the central government. Mr. Gorbachev dropped the 500-day timetable for accomplishing the goals of the plan.

Baseball
World Series
Oakland Athletics 0 @ Cincinnati Reds 7 (Cincinnati led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Eric Davis hit a 2-run home run off Dave Stewart in the bottom of the 1st inning, and that proved to be enough as the Reds shocked the Athletics before 55,830 fans at Riverfront Stadium. The Reds scored 2 more runs off Mr. Stewart (0-1) in the 3rd inning and added 3 runs in the 5th. Winning pitcher Jose Rijo (1-0) pitched 7 innings, relieved by Rob Dibble and Randy Myers.



25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Shut Up (and Sleep with Me)--Sin With Sebastian (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V.

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Sie ist Weg--Die Fantastischen Vier (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Until I Hear it from You--Gin Blossoms (4th week at #1)
2 I Wish You Well--Tom Cochrane
3 Only Wanna Be with You--Hootie & the Blowfish
4 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
5 This--Rod Stewart
6 You Oughta Know--Alanis Morissette
7 Roll to Me--Del Amitri
8 Not Enough--Van Halen
9 Saviour--Colin James
10 I Will Remember You--Sarah McLachlan

Singles entering the chart were A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins (#97); My Friends by Red Hot Chili Peppers (#98); If I were You by k.d. lang (#99); and Cry Love by John Hiatt (#100).

Politics and government
Bill Smith, who had suffered a narrow defeat in 1992, won the Edmonton mayoral election, unseating incumbent Jan Reimer, who had been in office since 1989. The result wasn't confirmed until the wee hours of the following day. Another high-profile candidate, businessman Jack Ramsey, finished a distant third. 18-year-old Brad Checknita captured 4.75% of the vote, more than that of alderman Lance White.

Protest
At least 400,000 Negro men gathered in Washington for the "Million Man March" led by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. At the same time, Negro women organized a National Day of Absence for those who were unable to attend the event in Washington.

Transportation
The Skye Bridge opened in Scotland, connecting the Isle of Skye to the island of Eilean Bàn.

Football
CFL
The Edmonton Eskimos signed running back Gerry Collins, several weeks after he had been released by the Ottawa Rough Riders. Mr. Collins rushed for 526 yards in 9 games with Ottawa in 1994, including a 123-yard game in Edmonton. In 6 games with the Rough Riders in 1995, Mr. Collins rushed for 123 yards, caught 11 passes for 80 yards, and returned 14 kickoffs for 251 yards.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Rick Jason, 77. U.S. actor. Mr. Jason, born Richard Jacobson, appeared in plays, films, and television programs, but was best known for his co-starring role in the television series Combat! (1962-1967). A week after attending a Combat! reunion with fellow cast members in Las Vegas, Mr. Jason committed suicide by shooting himself, reportedly despondent over "unspecified personal matters."

Mel Carnahan, 66. U.S. politician. Mr. Carnahan, a Democrat, held various state offices in Missouri, including Treasurer (1981-1985) and Lieutenant Governor (1989-1993). He took office as Governor in January 1993 and was still in office when he won the Democratic Party nomination for a United States Senate seat, running against incumbent Republican Senator John Ashcroft. Mr. Carnahan was killed in a plane crash while travelling to a campaign rally in New Madrid, Missouri. The plane was piloted by his son Randy, who was also killed, along with the plane's other passenger, campaign adviser Chris Sifford. Mr. Carnahan’s name remained on the ballot; acting Governor Roger Wilson announced that Mr. Carnahan’s widow Jean would serve until the general election of 2002 if Mr. Carnahan won. He did, and she did.

Diplomacy
A summit was hastily convened in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt to deal with the latest outbreak of violence in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories. Those present included Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak; Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat; United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan; U.S. President Bill Clinton; Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak; and Jordan’s King Abdullah.

Terrorism
The government of Yemen, which said that it had questioned 1,500 people in connection with the October 12 bombing of the American warship USS Cole, which had temporarily stopped at the Yemeni port of Aden, denounced the attack as "a premeditated criminal act."

Politics and government
Beaton Tulk took office as Premier of Newfoundland, succeeding Brian Tobin, who announced that he was stepping down in order to run for the Liberal Party in the next federal election.

Business
Chevron Corporation announced that it would buy Texaco Incorporated, a merger that would create the world’s fourth-largest oil company. The plan included the reduction of the company’s workforce by 4,000.

Baseball
National League Championship Series
St. Louis 0 @ New York 7 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Mike Hampton pitched a 3-hitter for his second win of the Series and the Mets scored 3 runs in the 1st inning as they blanked the Cardinals at Shea Stadium. Todd Zeile drove in 3 runs with a double.



10 years ago
2010

Died on this date
Barbara Billingsley, 94. U.S. actress. Mrs. Billingsley, born Barbara Combes, was best known for playing June Cleaver in the television comedy series Leave it to Beaver (1957-1963).

Football
CFL
Edmonton (5-10) 31 @ British Columbia (5-10) 28 (OT)



CIS
Regina (5-1) 41 @ Manitoba (1-5) 19
British Columbia (2-4) 32 @ Alberta (2-4) 28

Adrian Charles rushed for 222 yards to help the Rams overcome an 18-0 deficit after the 1st quarter to defeat the Bisons at University Stadium in Winnipeg. Regina outscored Manitoba 31-1 in the 2nd half.

The Thunderbirds scored 2 touchdowns in the last few minutes of the game, with Perry Harder's 32-yard touchdown rush with 10 seconds remaining giving them their win over the Godlen Bears at Foote Field in Edmonton.

Baseball
American League Championship Series
New York 2 @ Texas 7 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)



National League Championship Series
San Francisco 4 @ Philadelphia 3 (San Francisco led best-of-seven series 1-0)