February 2, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sandy Ting and Simon O’Byrne!

880 years ago
1141

War
Angevin forces, loyal to former Holy Roman Empress Matilda, defeated the Blesevins, the forces of King Stephen, in the Battle of Lincoln. King Stephen was captured and taken to Bristol, where he was imprisoned.

560 years ago
1461

Died on this date
Owen Tudor, 60-61 (?). Welsh-born English nobleman. Sir Owen was the second husband of Catherine of Valois, the widow of King Henry V of England, and the grandfather of King Henry VII. He was killed leading Lancastrian troops in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.

War
Yorkist forces defeated Lancastrian forces in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross at Kingsland, Hertfordshire in the Wars of the Roses.

370 years ago
1651

Born on this date
William Phips. American politician. Sir William, a native of Maine, moved to Boston in 1673, and was a treasure hunter in the 1680s, recovering a large treasure from a sunken Spanish galleon off the island of Hispaniola in 1686. He led successful naval campaigns against New France in 1690, and was appointed Governor of Massachusetts Bay in 1692. Sir William signed the order creating the court that heard the Salem witch trials in 1692, but became dissatisfied, and disbanded the court after five months. He was recalled to London in 1694 to face charges of conspiring to withhold customs monies, but fell ill with a fever and died on February 18, 1695, 16 days after his 44th birthday, before the charges could be heard.

160 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Solomon Guggenheim, 88. U.S. businessman and philanthropist. Mr. Guggenheim worked in his family's mining business, eventually retiring to pursue a full-time avocation as an art collector. He established the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and died on November 3, 1949 at the age of 88.

140 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Orval Overall. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Overall played with the Cincinnati Reds (1905-1906) and Chicago Cubs (1906-1910, 1913), compiling a record of 108-71 with an earned run average of 2.23 in 218 games. His best season was 1907, when he was 23-7 with a 1.68 ERA, leading the National League with 8 shutouts, helping the Cubs to their first World Series championship. Mr. Overall won a game in the 1907 World Series and 2 in the 1908 World Series, including the fifth and final game as the Cubs repeated as champions. Mr. Overall was a successful banker after his baseball career ended, and died on July 14, 1947 at the age of 66.

Died on this date
Henry Parker, 72. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir Henry joined the British East India Company as a young man, and settled in Sydney in 1838. He was nominated to the Legislative Council in 1846, and served as chairman of committees until the coming of responsible government in 1856. Sir Henry took office as Premier of New South Wales in October 1856, but resigned in September 1857 after his government was defeated on an electoral bill. He returned to England in 1858, and apparently never again visited Australia.

120 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Jascha Heifetz. Lithuanian-born U.S. musician. Mr. Heifetz was considered one of the greatest violinists in history from his public debut at the age of 7 in his native Lithuania until a shoulder operation forced his retirement in 1972. He died on December 10, 1987 at the age of 86.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Jack Pizzey. Australian politician. Mr. Pizzey, a member of the Country Party, represented Isis in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1950-1968, and held various cabinet posts before taking office as Premier of Queensland on January 17, 1968. He died of a heart attack on July 31, 1968 at the age of 57 after just 6½ months as Premier, and was succeeded by Deputy Premier Gordon Chalk for a week until Joh Bjelke-Petersen was chosen as the Country Party's new leader.

90 years ago
1931

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

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 4

War
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced that Canada would double her overseas armed forces.

Protest
Peace was restored in Johannesburg after three days of rioting between soldiers and anti-British civilians.

Labour
American Federation of Labor President William Green claimed that the majority of workers at the Ford Motor Company plants in River Rouge and Lincoln wanted to join the AFL. The Congress of Industrial Organizations disputed the claim, and appealed to the National Labor Relations Board.

Sport
Ken Bartholomew won the 1941 North American men's speed skating championship.

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!--Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra with Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Airplay--3rd week at #1); I Can't Begin to Tell You--Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro (Juke Box--6th week at #1); Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Clyde Rogers (Honor Roll of Hits--5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Rondo Hatton, 51. U.S. actor. Mr. Hatton was a handsome teenager who became afflicted with acromegaly as a young man, leading to severe pain and facial disfigurement. He was working as a newspaper reporter in Tampa, Florida when he was discovered, and accepted the invitation to move to Hollywood, California, where he was cast in bit parts in movies. Mr. Hatton played "The Creeper" in the Sherlock Holmes movie The Pearl of Death (1944), in which his face wasn't seen until near the end of the movie, in a scene that this blogger considers the scariest he's ever seen. Mr. Hatton signed a contract with Universal Studios to star in more "Creeper" movies, but died of a heart attack after completing The Spider Woman Strikes Back (1946); House of Horrors (1946); and The Brute Man (1946), all of which were then sold by Universal to a "poverty row" studio for release after his death.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly installed Trygve Lie of Norway as the UN's first Secretary-General. The UN site subcommittee chose the North Stamford-North Greenwich area comprising 42 square miles in Westchester County, New York and Fairfield County, Connecticut as its first choice for the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.

Politics and government
The Venezuelan government granted all political parties the right to hold public meetings, and announced that a constitutional assembly would soon be called to draw up new election laws.

The Republican Party chairmen of 14 Midwestern states issued a 14-point "declaration of principles" to be included in the party platform, calling for a drastic change in the foreign and domestic policies of U.S. President Harry Truman.

Economics and finance
The Allied Control Council ordered the elimination of nine key German industries, including aluminum; synthetic gasoline; rubber; magnesium; and heavy machine tools.

Defense
German physicists Otto Hahn and Werner Heisenberg claimed that they had completed an "atomic energy machine" in Leipzig at the end of 1941, but had been unable to produce a bomb because of a lack of money and facilities.

Communications
A magnetic storm on the Sun covering 3.5 billion square miles disrupted shortwave communications between the United States and Europe.

70 years ago
1951

On the radio
Hear it Now, hosted by Douglas Edwards and Charles Collingwood, on CBS

Tonight's program included reports on Supreme Commander of NATO--Europe General Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit to Europe, and a special report on Detroit. Messrs. Edwards and Collingwood substituted for Edward R. Murrow, who was suffering from laryngitis.

At the movies
Víctimas del Pecado, directed by Emilio Fernández, and starring Ninón Sevilla and Tito Junco, opened in theatres in Mexico.



War
U.S. forces in Korea began a "kill Communists" offensive, probing Chinese defenses around Seoul.

Defense
In an address broadcast throughout the United States on radio and television, General Eisenhower urged "unity in spirit and action" to enable the West to build a "wall of security" against the U.S.S.R.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, in Operation Ranger, set off the fourth in a series of atomic explosions at an Air Force testing range in Nevada.

Crime
Seven Negroes were executed in Martinsville, Virginia for the rape two years earlier of Ruby Stroud Floyd, a white woman. The executions took place despite over 10,000 protests from all over the world.

Health
The British Health Ministry reported severe outbreaks of influenza and pneumonia in the major cities of England and Wales, causing 7,989 deaths in December and January.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Harry Truman asked Congress for an immediate $10-billion tax increase as the first step toward balancing his $71.6-billion budget and forestalling an anticipated $16.5-billion deficit.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): As Long as He Needs Me--Shirley Bassey

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Jamaica Ginger Story

At the movies
Constantino il grande (Constantine and the Cross), directed by Lionello de Felice, and starring Cornel Wilde, Belinda Lee, and Massimo Serato, received its premiere screening in Rome.



Terrorism
Under an agreement that he had negotiated with Brazilian authorities, Hector Galvao--a former Portuguese army captain who had led a band of pirates in hijacking the Portuguese cruise ship Santa Maria in the Atlantic Ocean on January 22, with almost 1,000 people held hostage--debarked the 607 passengers at Recife, and permitted the 350-man crew to leave the ship. Mr. Galvao and his 29 followers were granted asylum by Brazil.

Politics and government
Ministers from the ousted cabinet of former Laotian Premier Souvanna Phouma who had allied themselves with the pro-Communist Pathet Lao rebels announced the formation of an interim government to rule rebel-held areas of Laos until Mr. Phouma could return from exile in Cambodia.

Economics and finance
U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivered a special message to Congress on the economy, saying that the nation "has been falling further and further short of its economic capabilities." To reverse the downward trend, he offered "a program that goes well beyond anti-recession measures." His proposals included an increase in minimum monthly Social Security benefits; increases in taxes on both employers and employees; temporary extension of unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless; and an increase in the minimum wage to $1.15 per hour immediately and $1.25 per hour within two years. Mr. Kennedy also announced the establishment of a pilot food-stamp program for needy families in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan.

Disasters
A special Pennsylvania Railroad train carrying 300 passengers from Philadelphia to the race track at Bowie, Maryland was derailed three miles from the race track, killing 6 people and injuring more than 90.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Candida--Dawn (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
Idi Amin replaced President Milton Obote as leader of Uganda.

Defense
The United States launched NATOSAT-II, a military communications satellite placed into a stationary equatorial orbit by NASA for NATO.

Environment
The international Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Mazandaran, Iran.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (Just Like) Starting Over--John Lennon (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koi wa Do!--Toshihiko Tahara (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): (Just Like) Starting Over--John Lennon

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Angel of Mine--Frank Duval & Orchestra

War
Iran estimated that its army had killed more than 200 in major counterattacks against Iraqi troops and Kurdish insurgents in Kurdistan and Azerbaijan in the previous two days. Iraq claimed that 166 Iranian soldiers had been killed and two helicopters and a Phantom jet had been shot down.

Foreign ministers of the Organization of American States held an emergency meeting to consider the border conflict between Peru and Ecuador. Both countries had called a cease-fire in the Amazon jungle region on the border because of appeals from the United States, Pope John Paul II, and other Latin American countries. Ecuador asked the OAS to condemn Peru for aggression, and Peru asked for a committee to be sent to investigate an invasion of a border that had been set by a treaty in 1942. Both sides had claimed heavy losses to the other side, but Ecuador claimed that only two of its soldiers had been killed, while Peru admitted to the loss of one man.

Law
The reformed Québec Civil Code went into effect.

Education
U.S. Secretary of Education T.H. Bell barred proposed regulations that would have required public schools to teach foreign-speaking students in their native languages. The plans would have forced to provide instruction in both the foreign language and English. Mr. Bell estimated that the costs of these programs over the next five years would have been about $1 billion, and that there were about 3.5 million children in the United States who spoke little or no English, 70% of them Hispanic Americans.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Touch Myself--Divinyls

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sadeness Part I--Enigma

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Alle Børnene--2 X Kaj (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Sadeness Part I--Enigma

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): 3 A.M. Eternal--The KLF featuring the Children of the Revolution

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (7th week at #1)
2 Knockin' Boots--Candyman
3 Maar Vanavond Heb Ik Hoofdpijn--Hanny
4 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C&C Music Factory
5 Mary Had a Little Boy--Snap!
6 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville
7 All Together Now--The Farm
8 Don't Worry--Kim Appleby
9 Go for It! (Heart and Fire)--Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare
10 Crazy--Seal

Singles entering the chart were Love Let Love by Tony Scott (#29); Liefde Voor Muziek by Raymond v/h Groenewoud (#30); Cry for Help by Rick Astley (#31); Gaode Vanaovond Mee Stappe by Gaode Vanaovond Mee Stappe (#33); Someday by Mariah Carey (#34); and Give Peace a Chance by Peace Choir (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The First Time--Surface (2nd week at #1)
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
3 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
4 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
5 Play That Funky Music--Vanilla Ice
6 After the Rain--Nelson
7 I'm Not in Love--Will to Power
8 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
9 Just Another Dream--Cathy Dennis
10 High Enough--Damn Yankees

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be by Your Side by Stevie B (#81); Who Said I Would by Phil Collins (#83); Mother's Pride by George Michael (#87); My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#88); Secret by Heart (#89); Together Forever by Lisette Melendez (#92); Ride the Wind by Poison (#93); and Rico Suave by Gerardo (#96). Mother's Pride was the B-side of Waiting for that Day, charting at #43.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The First Time--Surface
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
3 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
4 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
5 High Enough--Damn Yankees
6 Play That Funky Music--Vanilla Ice
7 I’m Not in Love--Will to Power
8 After the Rain--Nelson
9 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
10 Just Another Dream--Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#72); Ride the Wind by Poison (#89); and I’ll Be by Your Side by Stevie B (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Justify My Love--Madonna
2 You Gotta Love Someone--Elton John
3 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
4 Til I Am Myself Again--Blue Rodeo
5 Disappear--INXS
6 Freedom--George Michael
7 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
8 After the Rain--Nelson
9 I’m Not in Love--Will to Power
10 For You--The Outfield

Singles entering the chart were King of the Hill by Roger McGuinn (#50); Give it Up by ZZ Top (#57); You're in Love by Wilson Phillips (#64); Headlong by Queen (#65); Cry of Love by Gino Vannelli (#73); Only the Lonely by World on Edge (#75); Crying in the Rain by A-Ha (#84); Rescue Me by Madonna (#95); and Maybe Next Time by Sue Medley (#98).

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Gene Kelly, 83. U.S. dancer and actor. Mr. Kelly was one of the most talented dancers ever to appear in motion pictures, starring in such movies as Anchors Aweigh (1945); An American in Paris (1951); Singin' in the Rain (1952); and Invitation to the Dance (1956). He achieved an honourary Academy Award in 1952 for his career achievements.

Politics and government
Canadian Governor General Roméo LeBlanc signed into law a bill giving five provinces and regions--British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada--a veto over major constitutional changes.

Protest
Soldiers in Guinea mutinied, demanding pay raises and improved working conditions.

Labour
500,000 miners in Russia were on strike to protest unpaid wages.

Disasters
120 people were killed and 400 injured when a cache of illegally stored dynamite exploded and destroyed a suburban street in the Chinese city of Shaoyang.

Football
CFL
It was announced that the Grey Cup champion Baltimore Stallions were moving to Montreal to become the Alouettes, ending the Canadian Football League's experiment of expansion to the United States. The CFL's other U.S.-based teams in San Antonio, Shreveport, Memphis, and Birmingham had folded.

20 years ago
2001

Diplomacy
Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila told the United Nations Security Council that he would seek to end Congo’s civil war, but that first the "armies of aggression" from Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda would have to leave his country.

The Canadian government banned the importation of Brazilian beef as a precaution against mad cow disease. Brazil claimed that there was no danger of the disease, and that the ban was a political one.

Scandal
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said that he and his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, would return $86,000 worth of gifts they had received in 2000. However, he said they would keep $104,000 in gifts received prior to 2000. Mr. Clinton also announced that his Presidential Library Foundation would pay about half the rent on his office in a penthouse in Manhattan. The rent would cost $650,000 or more per year, a record for a former president.

Politics and government
Ontario Minister of Finance Ernie Eves quit to become vice-chair and senior adviser at Credit Suisse First Boston Canada.

Health
Canada began banning imports of beef and beef products from Brazil due to concerns of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BES or mad cow disease).

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Margaret John, 84. U.K. actress. Miss John, a native of Wales, appeared in plays and radio programs, but was mainly a television actess, best known for playing Doris O'Neill in the comedy series Gavin & Stacey (2007-2010). She was given a lifetime achievement BAFTA Award in 2009. Miss John died of liver cancer.

Protest
Supporters of President Hosni Mubarak charged into Cairo's central square on horses and camels brandishing whips while others rained firebombs from rooftops in what appeared to be an orchestrated assault against protesters trying to topple Egypt's leader of 30 years.