January 12, 2021

310 years ago
1711

Born on this date
Gaetano Latilla. Italian composer. Mr. Latilla wrote 49 operas, and was the most important Italian opera composer in the period immediately preceding his nephew Niccolò Piccinni. Mr. Latilla died on January 15, 1788, three days after his 77th birthday.

270 years ago
1751

Born on this date
Ferdinand I. King of the Two Sicilies, 1816-1825. Ferdinand I became King Ferdinand IV of Naples and King Ferdinand III of Sicily in 1759 when his father Charles VII of Naples/Charles V of Sicily abdicated his Neapolitan and Sicilian titles; King Ferdinand's minority ended in 1767. He was deposed briefly by the Parthenopaean Republic (1799-1800), and again by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1805. Ferdinand was restored in 1816 to the throne of the united Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, but was subservient to Austria until his death on January 4, 1825, eight days before his 74th birthday.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
David Wechsler. Romanian-born U.S. psychologist. Dr. Wechsler emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He was chief psychologist at Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital in New York City from 1932-1967, and was known for devising intelligence scales, especially the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Dr. Wechsler emphasized the importance of factors other than intellectual ability in intelligence, which he defined as "the global capacity to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with [one's] environment." Dr. Wechsler died on May 2, 1981 at the age of 85.

Technology
H. L. Smith took the first X-ray photograph; it was a hand with a bullet in it.

110 years ago
1911

Academia
The University of the Philippines College of Law was formally established; three future Philippine presidents were among the first enrollees.

90 years ago
1931

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Resident Patient

80 years ago
1941

On the radio

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1

Diplomacy
Bulgarian Premier Bogdan Philov reaffirmed that his country would remain neutral. Hungarian Premier Count Paul Telleki declared that his country must prepare for anything, but would remain independent of the outside world.

Politics and government
Clarence A. Hathaway, former editor of the Daily Worker, was expelled from the Communist Party U.S.A. for failing to meet his responsibilities and "refusing to take steps to rehabilitate himself."

Economics and finance
Chilean Communist Party secretary Carlos Contreras said that U.S. purchases of copper and nitrate were bribes by American imperialism.

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Clyde Rogers (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Airplay--1st week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--2nd week at #1); I Can't Begin to Tell You--Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro (Juke Box--3rd week at #1)

War
The Iranian government announced that the national gendarmerie had repulsed armed Iraqi nomads invading Khorramshahr under the Sheik of Khazal.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly chose six temporary members of the Security Council: Australia, Brazil, and Poland (two years each); Netherlands, Egypt, and Mexico (one year each).

Protest
The Korean National Mobilization Committee Against Trusteeship staged large demonstrations in Seoul, demanding immediate creation of a national government to direct the country "witout further outside interference."

Politics and government
Japanese Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara reorganized his cabinet for the fourth time since August 1945.

The Alabama Democratic Executive Committee voted to open party primaries to Negro voters for the first time.

U.S. President Harry Truman accepted the resignation of Abe Fortas as undersecretary of the Interior Department.

Labour
The Assembly of Argentine Industry, Commerce and Production announced a nationwide three-day lockout beginning January 14 to protest the government's wage-bonus decree of December 20, 1945.

A U.S. government fact-finding board recommended an 18% wage increase in the oil industry to settle a three-month dispute involving 141,147 workers.

Transportation
Pan American Airways announced daily service to France via Newfoundland, Ireland, and Portugal, with a one-way fare of $295.

Football
NFL
The Cleveland Rams franchise officially moved to Los Angeles; the Rams won the National Football League championship in 1945.

Baseball
The Navegantes del Magallanes defeated the Patriotas de Venezuela 5-2 at Cervecería Caracas Stadium in the first game of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Magellanes shortstop Luis Aparicio, Sr. led off the game with a single and scored the league's first run.

70 years ago
1951

On the radio
Hear it Now, hosted by Edward R. Murrow, on CBS

Tonight's program included news about the retreat of United Nations forces in Korea.

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Rush Limbaugh! The U.S. radio talk show host and Republican Party supporter was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Died on this date
Albert Guay, 32. Canadian criminal. Joseph-Albert Guay planted a dynamite time bomb aboard Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 108, a Douglas DC-3 flying from Montreal to Baie-Comeau, Quebec via Quebec City on September 8, 1949. Mr. Guay intended to kill his wife Rita, a passenger on the flight, who unwittingly brought the bomb aboard in her suitcase. The bomb exploded and killed all 23 people aboard. Mr. Guay was convicted of murder in February 1950, and was hanged at Bordeaux Prison in Montreal.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Genocide went into effect, 90 days after its 20th ratification.

Defense
The Canadian Legion began a campaign for compulsory military service and other mobilization measures.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission announced plans to test atomic weapons at an Air Force range in Nevada. They would be the first atomic weapons in the U.S. since the detonation of the first A-bomb at Alamagordo, New Mexico in 1945.

U.S. President Harry Truman signed a measure setting up a Federal Civil Defense Administration and authorizing a $3.1-billion, three-year civil defense program. Responding to Republican Party criticism of his foreign policy, Mr. Truman said that he had the full legal power to send American troops anywhere in the world and would reinforce U.S. units in Europe after he got General Dwight D. Eisenhower's report.

Religion
Paul-Emile Leger, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Montréal, was appointed to the College of Cardinals.

Medicine
Dr. John Merrill of Peter Brigham Hospital in Boston revealed the use of an artificial kidney to save lives of victims of extreme post-operative shock.

Boxing
World heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles (67-5-1) retained his title with a technical knockout of Lee Oma (64-28-3) at 1:19 of the 10th round at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Mr. Oma's last fight.



60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Save the Last Dance for Me--The Drifters (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Poetry in Motion--Johnny Tillotson

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Big Train: Part 2

Politics and government
Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his final State of the Union address to Congress as President of the United States. He said, "We have been through a lengthy period in which the control over the executive and legislative branches of government have been divided between our two great political parties. Differences, of course, we have had, particularly in domestic affairs. But in a united determination to keep this nation strong and free and to utilize our vast resources for the advancement of all mankind, we have carried America to unprecedented heights." Reviewing the record of his eight-year administration, President Eisenhower said that Communist imperialism had been held in check while "the United States has forged ahead under a constructive foreign policy" with the continuing goal of peace, liberty and well-being for all peoples. He said the U.S. "for the first time in our nation’s history" had "consistently maintained in peacetime military forces of a magnitude sufficient to deter and if need be to destroy predatory forces in the world." Mr. Eisenhower said that American output of goods and services had increased nearly 25% and wages of factory workers had risen 20% since 1952, but he added that high unemployment totals left "little room for complacency." He described the U.S. as "pre-eminent today in space exploration for the betterment of mankind," and that more houses had been built in the previous eight years--over 9 million--than during any previous eight years in American history.

The third Canadian federal-provincial constitutional conference ended with an agreement on a possible modification of the British North America Act.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council met at the request of the U.S.S.R. to consider Soviet charges that Belgium had committed aggression by permitting Congolese troops to pass through the Belgian-administered UN trust territory of Ruanda-Urundi to suppress anti-government movements in the Congolese province of Kivu. Seven affirmative votes were required to approve a resolution sponsored by Ceylon, Liberia, and the United Arab Republic to rebuke Belgium for its alleged aggression. Only the sponsoring nations and the U.S.S.R. supported the resolution, while the other seven nations--U.S.A.; U.K.; France; Nationalist China; Chile; Ecuador; and Turkey--abstained, and the resolution failed of approval. Soviet delegate Valerian Zorin said he would submit the complaint to the UN General Assembly.

Academia
After hundreds of rioting students at the University of Georgia campus in Athens laid siege to the dormitory in which 18-year-old Charlayne Hunter lived, the university suspended her and 19-year-old Hamilton Holmes--who had become the first Negroes admitted to the university two days earlier as the result of U.S. Federal District Court orders--for "their personal safety."

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Cracklin' Rosie--Neil Diamond (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): San Bernadino--Christie (6th week at #1)

On television tonight
All in the Family, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Meet the Bunkers

This was the first episode of the series. Two pilots had previously been recorded for ABC in 1968 and 1969, but not broadcast.



Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 390, the first of 60 Cosmos satellites launched in 1971.

Crime
Rev. Philip Berrigan, 47, serving a six-year term in a U.S. federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut on charges of destroying draft records, was indicted along with five others by a grand jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on charges of conspiring to kidnap presidential adviser Henry Kissinger and of plotting to blow up the heating tunnels of federal buildings. Six others, including Rev. Daniel Berrigan, Philip’s brother and also imprisoned for destroying draft records, were named co-conspirators, but were not indicted. Among those indicted with Rev. Philip Berrigan were Rev. Joseph Wenderoth, 35; Rev. Neil McLaughlin, 30; Anthony Scoblick, 30, a former priest; Eqbal Ahmad, 40, a fellow of the Adlai Stevenson Institute of Public Affairs; and Sister Elizabeth McAlister, 31, of Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York.

Terrorism
Two bombs exploded at the Hertfordshire home of British Employment Secretary Robert Carr, causing serious damage.

Disasters
The day after eight members of the crew of the Panamanian-registered tanker Texaco Caribbean had died after the tanker had collided with a Peruvian ship in the English Channel, split in two and sunk, seven members of the crew of the West German tanker Brandenburg were killed and 14 were missing after their ship hit the submerged wreckage of the Texaco Caribbean and quickly sank.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Sneaker Blues--Masahiko Kondō (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Woman in Love--Barbra Streisand (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Super Trouper--ABBA

Terrorism
Nine U.S. military jet fighters were destroyed and two more damaged at Muniz Air National Guard Base near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Macheteros, a Puerto Rican separatist terrorist group, claimed responsibility for setting the time bombs that did the damage and also claimed credit for ambushing a U.S. Navy bus on December 3, 1979, killing three sailors and wounding 10. The attack on the planes was the worst ever made on a military installation in Puerto Rico. No one was injured, but damage was estimated at $45 million.

Politics and government
Canadian Justice Minister Jean Chrétien rewrote the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the proposed constitutional package, giving the provinces more power.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Attenti al Lupo--Lucio Dalla (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Alle Børnene--2 X Kaj (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Petit Frank--François Feldman (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter--Iron Maiden (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (4th week at #1)
2 Sadeness Part I--Enigma
3 Pray--MC Hammer
4 Mary Had a Little Boy--Snap!
5 Justify My Love--Madonna
6 Don't Worry--Kim Appleby
7 Maar Vanavond Heb Ik Hoofdpijn--Hanny
8 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville
9 Disappear--INXS
10 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers

Singles entering the chart were All Together Now by the Farm (#24); I Wanna Get with You by Guy (#32); Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C&C Music Factory (featuring Freedom Williams) (#34); and The Love of the Year by Rene Froger (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Justify My Love--Madonna (2nd week at #1)
2 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
3 High Enough--Damn Yankees
4 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
5 From a Distance--Bette Midler
6 Tom's Diner--DNA featuring Suzanne Vega
7 The First Time--Surface
8 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
9 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
10 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams

Singles entering the chart were Iesha by Another Bad Creation (#78); I'll Do 4 U by Father M.C. (#87); and Something in My Heart by Michel'le (#92).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box)
: Justify My Love--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

War
The United States House of Representatives voted 250-183 and the Senate voted 52-47 to authorize President George Bush to use military power to expel Iraq from Kuwait.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Miami 34 @ Buffalo 44

Jim Kelly passed for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Bills jumped to a 20-3 lead in the 2nd quarter and held on to defeat the Dolphins before 77,087 fans at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.



NFC Divisional Playoff
Washington 10 @ San Francisco 28

Joe Montana threw touchdown passes to Jerry Rice and Mike Sherrard, and handed off to Tom Rathman for another TD as the 49ers overcame an early 7-0 deficit to take a 21-10 halftime lead and coast to victory over the Redskins before 65,292 fans at Candlestick Park.



25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio feauring L.V. (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Jesus to a Child--George Michael

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
William Reddington Hewlett, 87. U.S. electrical engineer. Mr. Hewlett, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, co-founded the Hewlett-Packard Company with David Packard in 1939.

Luiz Bonfá, 78. Brazilian musician. Mr. Bonfá was a bossa nova guitarist, singer, and composer who was best known for writing the music for the film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) (1959). He died of prostate cancer.

Barry Boyd, 70. Canadian radio personality. Mr. "Oldies but Goodies" grew up in Vancouver, and eventually made his way to Edmonton, spending several years as a disc jockey at CJCA before moving to San Diego at the end of 1963. While at CJCA, he helped to publicize some artists who were little-known in this area of the world, most notably the New Mexico group The Fireballs, who were always grateful to Mr. Boyd. In addition to his work as a disc jockey, Mr. Boyd also tried his hand as a recording artist. Goin’ Home to Memphis (billed as Barry Boyd with the Frantiks) was a sizeable hit in 1960, and Wishing, recorded with Rick Nelson’s band, hit #3 in Edmonton early in 1963. After more than a dozen years in San Diego, Mr. Boyd returned to Edmonton, this time with CFRN, where he served briefly as morning man before moving into sales. In 1980 he began hosting a Sunday morning "oldies but goodies" show, which is where those of us of a younger generation know him from. I had the privilege of working with Mr. Boyd in the press box at Renfrew Park in 1981, when I was employed by the Edmonton Trappers baseball club as sound an, and he was one of the public address announcers who worked the games. I often phoned him while he was on the air, and occasionally paid him a visit at the Fantasyland Hotel, where he played the oldies on weekends in his later years. He was still active in this capacity when he took ill with a sudden infection around his heart. He remains greatly missed by this blogger.

Science
This date’s issue of Science magazine reported the birth of the first genetically-engineered primate. The birth of the rhesus monkey was accomplished by scientists at Oregon Health Sciences University who had inserted a jellyfish gene in 224 monkey ova. Six of these ova developed into fetuses, three of which were born alive. However, only one live monkey had the gene. While the gene caused jellyfish to glow, the live monkey did not glow, but one of the stillborn monkeys showed evidence of fluorescent green fingernails and hair. Scientists hoped to use the breakthrough to find cures by creating monkeys with human diseases.

Crime
The guardians of an eight-year-old girl who died in England after being tortured were both sentenced to life in prison for murder.

10 years ago
2011

War
Canada handed over command of Kandahar's Provincial Reconstruction Team to the United States in the first of a series of withdrawals as Canada wound up its combat mission in Afghanistan.