March 28, 2021

780 years ago
1241

Died on this date
Valdemar II, 70. King of Denmark, 1202-1241. Valdemar "the Conqueror" acceded to the throne upon the death of his elder brother Knud VI. He achieved military victories in the first two decades of his reign, and spent the rest of his life instituting legal and economic reforms, including instituting the feudal system. King Valdemar II was succeeded on the throne by his son Erik IV.

400 years ago
1621

Born on this date
Heinrich Schwemmer. German composer. Mr. Schwemmer wrote vocal works, especially sacred songs for weddings and funerals. He died on May 31, 1696 at the age of 75.

220 years ago
1801
War
The Treaty of Florence was signed, ending the war between the French Republic and the Kingdom of Naples.

150 years ago
1871

Born on this date
Willem Mengelberg. Dutch conductor and composer. Mr. Mengelberg was a pianist and composer before beginning his lengthy career as a conductor. He was best known as principal conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam (1895-1945), famous for his performances of the works of Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, and Richard Strauss, although he was criticized for neglecting Dutch composers. Mr. Mengelberg was also the musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (1922-1928), and made recordings with both orchestras. He was on friendly terms with the Nazis during their occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. After the war, Mr. Mengelberg was banned from conducting in the Netherlands for life, a ban that was reduced to six years. He went into exile in Switzerland, and died there on March 21, 1951, a week before his 80th birthday and two months before the expiration of his exile order.

Politics and government
The Paris Commune was formally established.

140 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Martin Sheridan. Irish-born U.S. athlete. Mr. Sheridan, representing the United States, won the gold medal in the discus throw in the Summer Olympic Games in 1904 and 1908 and in the Intercalated Games in 1906. In the 1908 Olympics he also won the gold medal in Greek discus and the silver medal in the standing long jump. In the 1906 Intercalated Games he won the gold medal in the shot put and silver medals in standing high jump, standing long jump, and stone throw. Mr. Sheridan was an early casualty of the influenza epidemic, and died on March 27, 1918, the day before his 37th birthday.

Died on this date
Modest Mussorgsky, 42. Russian composer. Mr. Mussorgsky's best-known compositions were the opera Boris Godunov (1869/1874); the tone poem Night on Bald Mountain, aka Night on the Bare Mountain (1867); and the piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition (1874). He drank himself to death, a week after his 42nd birthday.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Dirk Bogarde. 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 on May 8, 1999 at the age of 78, several years after suffering a stroke.

Harold Agnew. U.S. physicist and politician. Dr. Agnew helped build Chicago Pile-1, the world's first nuclear reactor, and joined Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1943. He flew as a scientific observer on the mission that saw the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Dr. Agnew, a Democrat, was a state senator in New Mexico (1955-1961) while continuing his work as Los Alamos. He was Scientific Adviser to the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) (1961-1964), and director of Los Alamos National Laboratory (1970-1979) before serving as president and chief executive officer of General Atomics (1979-1985). Dr. Agnew died of leukemia on September 29, 2013 at the age of 92.

Hockey
NHL/PCHA
Stanley Cup
Finals
Ottawa Senators (NHL) 3 @ Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) 2 (Ottawa led best-of-five series 2-1)

80 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Virginia Woolf, 59. U.K. author. Regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the 20th century, Mrs. Woolf wrote books which included Jacob’s Room (1922); Mrs. Dalloway (1925); To the Lighthouse (1927); Orlando (1928); and A Room of One’s Own (1929). She had suffered mental breakdowns, and drowned herself in the Ouse River because she feared having another breakdown from which she might not recover.

Marcus Hurley, 57. U.S. basketball player and cyclist. Mr. Hurley played basketball at Columbia University (1904-1908), earning All-American honours in each of his first three seasons, and as the team's captain, leading Columbia to the first national championship in 1908. He won gold medals in the ¼ mile, ⅓ mile, ½ mile, and mile, and a bronze medal in the 2 mile competition at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis.

War
British Admiral Andrew Browne Cunningham led the Royal Navy in the destruction of three major Italian heavy cruisers and two destroyers in the first day of the Battle of Cape Matapan in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Crete.

Politics and government
Peter II took the oath as King of Yugoslavia, pledging to defend the independence of the state and the integrity of the nation. Germany reportedly demanded that the new government state its position on the Axis pact.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent congratulations to King Peter II of Yugoslavia, expressing the hope that U.S.-Yugoslav relations may be mutually beneficial. Mexico announced that it had approved the entry applications of former King Carol of Romania and Madame Magda Lupescu.

Movies
Actor Cary Grant, a native of England living in California, announced that he would donate his entire salary from his next film, The Man Who Came to Dinner, to British war relief.

Scandal
Retired U.S. federal circuit court judge J. Warren Davis, 74, was indicted in Philadelphia on charges of accepting bribes from former film producer William Fox and Mr. Fox's attoprney in a 1936 bankruptcy proceeding.

Exploration
The U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition left for the United States after nearly two years in the South Pole region.

Labour
Under the protection of 500 policemen and special deputies, 2,000 men returned to work at the Allis-Chalmers plant in answer to a U.S. government order. The strike at the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania plant of Bethlehem Steel Corporation wa settled after the company promised to continue negotiations with the Congress of Industrial Organizations Steel Workers Organizing Committee, but a new strike began at the company's plant in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

75 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Chick Fullis, 45. U.S. baseball player. Charles Fullis was a center fielder and leadoff hitter with the New York Giants (1928-1932); Philadelphia Phillies (1933-1934); and St. Louis Cardinals (1934, 1936), batting .295 with 12 home runs and 167 runs batted in in 590 games. His best season was 1933, when he batted .309 with 200 hits, and led the National League in plate appearances (698); at bats (647); singles (162); and outfield putouts (410). Mr. Fullis batted .400 (2 for 5) in 3 games with the Cardinals as they defeated the Detroit Tigers 4 games to 3 in the 1934 World Series. Eye trouble forced his retirement.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. supported a United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Council vote to continue aid to refugees without the consent of their governments in return for a UNRRA commitment to facilitate repatriation.

U.S. President Harry Truman expressed unequivocal support for Secretary of State James Byrnes' actions in the dispute at the United Nations over the presence of Soviet troops in Iran.

Defense
U.S. President Truman set up a 10-man military braintrust to plan national defense, and nominated Generals George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, and Hap Arnold, and Admirals Leahy, Chester Nimitz, King, and William Halsey for permanent five-star rank.

Energy
The U.S. State Department released the Acheson–Lilienthal Report, outlining a plan for the international control of nuclear power.

Politics and government
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution to start contempt proceedings against Dr. Edward barsky, chairman of the joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Labour
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that a record 21.5 million man-days had been lost in February because of strikes.

70 years ago
1951

Literature
Seven Decisions that Shaped History, a behind-the-scenes account of World War II diplomacy by former U.S. Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, was published in New York by Harper.

War
The Battle of Mạo Khê in Vietnam concluded with French Union forces, led by General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, inflicting a defeat on Việt Minh forces commanded by General Võ Nguyên Giáp.

World events
East Berlin policed fired upon a busload of U.S. soldiers and civilians returning from a sightseeing tour of the Soviet sector when the bus ignored their orders to stop.

Diplomacy
French President Vincent Auriol arrived in New York to begin the first U.S. visit of a French chief of state.

Health
Panelists at a meeting in New York of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness reported that 800,000 Americans were going blind from glaucoma without knowing it.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Stabilization ordered a new price control system limiting price increases for most foodstuffs.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Romantica--Robertino (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: A Woman's Help, starring Geraldine Fitzgerald, Scott McKay, and Antoinette Bower

Politics and government
Quebec Premier Jean Lesage named René Lévesque as the province's Minister of Natural Resources.

Disasters
A four-engine Czechoslovak Airlines Ilyushin-18 turbo-prop plane exploded in midair, crashed and burned near Russelbach, West Germany, killing all 52 people aboard.

50 years ago
1971

Died on this date
Robert Hunter, 84. U.S. golfer. Mr. Hunter was a member of the American team that won the gold medal at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, and won the national collegiate championship in 1910 while at Yale University.

Politics and government
National Party candidate Ramón Ernesto Cruz Uclés was elected President of Honduras, taking 52.62% of the vote to 47.38% for Liberal Party candidate Jorge Bueso Arias. The two parties had agreed before the election to evenly divide the congressional seats between tham at 32 each, with the deciding seat going to the winner of the presidential election, who was entitled to a seat.

Golf
A week after winning the Greater Jacksonville Open, Gary Player won the National Airlines Open at Miami, Florida, taking first prize money of $40,000.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sarà perché ti amo--Ricchi e Poveri

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: More and More--Joe Dolan

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Stop the Music--Yarbrough & Peoples
3 Stars on 45--Stars on 45
4 Vienna--Ultravox
5 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre
6 It's a Love Thing--The Whispers
7 All American Girls--Sister Sledge
8 Shine On--L-T-D
9 Leila--Dolly Dots
10 Rock this Town--Stray Cats

Singles entering the chart were Mister Sandman by Emmylou Harris (#22); Angel of Mine by Frank Duval & Orchestra (#30); Ik Heb 'n Truck Als M'n Woning by Henk Wijngaard (#31); You Better You Bet by the Who (#34); 9 to 5 by Dolly (#37); Marliese by Fischer-Z (#38); and Can You Feel It by the Jacksons (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Rapture--Blondie
2 Woman--John Lennon
3 The Best of Times--Styx
4 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
5 Crying--Don McLean
6 Hello Again--Neil Diamond
7 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
8 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
9 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
10 What Kind of Fool--Barbra Streisand (Duet with Barry Gibb)

Singles entering the chart were Love You Like I Never Loved Before by John O'Banion (#72); Say You'll Be Mine by Christopher Cross (#74); Watching the Wheels by John Lennon (#77); What are We Doin' in Love by Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers) (#78); Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#80); Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield (#81); Blessed are the Believers by Anne Murray (#83); Lover by the Michael Stanley Band (#84); Unchained Melody by Heart (#85); Somebody Send My Baby Home by Lenny LeBlanc (#87); Shotgun Rider by Delbert McClinton (#89); and Don't Know Much by Bill Medley (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Woman--John Lennon (2nd week at #1)
2 Rapture--Blondie
3 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
4 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
5 The Best of Times--Styx
6 Crying--Don McLean
7 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
8 Hello Again--Neil Diamond
9 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
10 Treat Me Right--Pat Benatar

Singles entering the chart were Watching the Wheels by John Lennon (#71); Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#72); Say You’ll Be Mine by Christopher Cross (#74); What are We Doin’ in Love by Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers) (#81); Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield (#85); I Loved ‘Em Every One by T.G. Sheppard (#87); Blessed are the Believers by Anne Murray (#88); Somebody Send My Baby Home by Lenny LeBlanc (#89); Lover by the Michael Stanley Band (#90); 96 Tears by Garland Jeffreys (#94); and Don’t Know Much by Bill Medley (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
2 Woman--John Lennon
3 Rapture--Blondie
4 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
5 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
6 The Best of Times--Styx
7 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 I Love a Rainy Night--Eddie Rabbitt
9 Crying--Don McLean
10 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.

Singles entering the chart were Watching the Wheels by John Lennon (#66); Say You'll Be Mine by Christopher Cross (#74); Love You Like I Never Loved Before by John O'Banion (#75); Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#81); What are We Doin' in Love by Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers) (#82); and Lover by the Michael Stanley Band (#91).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Celebration--Kool & the Gang
2 Woman--John Lennon
3 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
4 Rapture--Blondie
5 The Best of Times--Styx
6 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
7 Wasn’t That a Party--The Rovers
8 A Little in Love--Cliff Richard
9 I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It--Stevie Wonder
10 Turn Me Loose--Loverboy

Singles entering the chart were I Missed Again by Phil Collins (#39); Ain’t Even Done with the Night by John Cougar (#43); The Party’s Over by Journey (#45); and Super Trouper by ABBA (#47).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Rapture--Blondie
2 Woman--John Lennon
3 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
4 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
5 The Best of Times--Styx
6 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
7 A Little in Love--Cliff Richard
8 What Kind of Fool--Barbra Streisand (Duet with Barry Gibb)
9 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs
10 You Better You Bet--The Who

Singles entering the chart were High School Confidential by Rough Trade (#23); I Missed Again by Phil Collins (#26); and Being with You by Smokey Robinson (#28).

Disasters
11 construction workers were killed and 27 injured when a condominium under construction collapsed in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 4 @ Detroit 2
Chicago 2 @ Boston 5
Pittsburgh 4 @ New York Islanders 4
New York Rangers 6 @ Montreal 2
Calgary 5 @ Toronto 9
Buffalo 4 @ St. Louis 7
Minnesota 2 @ Los Angeles 3

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart

Radio
Canadian External Affairs Minister Joe Clark said that the Department of External Affairs would operate Radio Canada International after the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation dropped funding, with a 50% cut in service.

Protest
More than 100,000 supporters of Russian President Boris Yeltsin took to the streets in Moscow despite U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev’s ban on demonstrations in Moscow.

War
A Shiite leader in Iraq said that the Shiites were still conducting guerrilla warfare against government forces.

Law
Former U.S. President broke with the views of the National Rifle Association and delivered a speech at George Washington University in which he endorsed the so-called Brady Bill, currently before Congress, that would require a seven-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun, during which law enforcement personnel could check on the background of the purchaser. The bill was named after Mr. Reagan’s press secretary, James Brady, who had been seriously wounded in the assassination attempt on Mr. Reagan 10 years earlier.

Disasters
A coroner’s jury voted 9-2 to return a verdict of accidental death in the 1989 collapse of the grandstand at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, England that resulted in the deaths of 96 people.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 3 @ Chicago 5

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Firestarter--The Prodigy

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (9th week at #1)

Crime
The Shamgar Commission issued its final report into the November 4, 1995 assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. It was critical of the internal security service Shin Bet for putting the Prime Minister at risk and ignoring threats to his life from Jewish extremists.

Hockey
NHL
Florida 2 @ Pittsburgh 3

Jaromir Jagr scored his 60th goal of the season to help the Penguins beat the Panthers at Civic Arena. He and Mario Lemieux, with 64 goals, were the first teammates to score 60 or more goals in a season since Wayne Gretzky (73) and Jari Kurri (71) of the Edmonton Oilers in 1984-85. Mr. Jagr also set a league record for most points by a European player in one NHL season, with 140.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Moe Koffman, 72. Canadian musician. Mr. Koffman, a native of Toronto, was a jazz flautist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader whose public career spanned more than 50 years, leading his own band and performing with other bands, such as the Boss Brass. He performed on countless recording sessions as well as television programs and commercials. Mr. Koffman's best-known recording was The Swinging Shepherd Blues, a hit single in Canada, the U.S.A., and U.K. in 1958. He died of cancer in Orangeville, Ontario.

Terrorism
A suicide bomber killed two Israeli teenagers as they waited for a school bus in Jerusalem. In immediate retaliation, Israeli helicopter gunships attacked the bases and camps of the personal security forces of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Wenche Foss, 93. Norwegian actress and singer. Miss Foss appeared in plays, movies, and television programs in a career spanning 65 years. She was a mezzo-soprano who sang in operettas and musicals. Miss Wenche died in her sleep after several months of illness.