April 28, 2021

410 years ago
1611

Academia
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines, was established by Miguel de Benavides, Archbishop of Manila, as the largest Roman Catholic university in the world.

240 years ago
1781

Died on this date
Cornelius Harnett, 58. American politician. Mr. Harnett was a plantation owner who held various offices in the province of North Carolina; he represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress (1777-1779). When British forces occupied Wilmington, N.C. in January 1781, they captured and imprisoned Mr. Harnett; his health declined, and he died 18 days after his 58th birthday, shortly after being released on parole.

225 years ago
1796

War
The Armistice of Cherasco was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Vittorio Amedeo III, King of Sardinia, expanding French territory along the Mediterranean coast.

140 years ago
1881

Crime
Billy the Kid escaped from the Lincoln County, New Mexico jail, killing two deputies on guard.

130 years ago
1891

Transportation
RMS Empress of India, carrying 486 passengers and a cargo of tea and silk became the first of the Canadian Pacific Steamships "Empress" liners to arrive at Vancouver harbour, via the Suez Canal and Hong Kong. Canadian Pacific Steamships had signed a contract for subsidized mail service between Britain and Hong Kong via Canada.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Lee Falk. U.S. cartoonist, director, and producer. Mr. Falk, born Leon Gross, was best known for creating the comic strips Mandrake the Magician and The Phantom. He produced about 300 plays, and directed about 100. Mr. Falk died on March 13, 1999 at the age of 87.

Aviation
The first aeroplane flight in Alberta was made in Edmonton by Bob St. Henry.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Rowland Evans. U.S. journalist. Mr. Evans was a conservative political reporter in Washington, D.C. who partnered with Robert Novak to write a syndicated column, which began running in newspapers in 1963. The newsletter Evans-Novak Political Report began publication in 1967. The pair hosted the television panel program Evans & Novak on CNN from the early 1980s until Mr. Evans' death from esophageal cancer on March 23, 2001, just over a month before his 80th birthday.

Simin Dāneshvar. Iranian authoress. Miss Dāneshvar wrote short stories and novels in a career spanning more than 50 years, and was generally regarded as the first major Iranian woman novelist. She died after a bout of influenza at the age of 90 on March 8, 2012.

80 years ago
1941

War
The German advance continued in Greece. New Zealand Army Sergeant Jack Hinton earned the Victoria Cross for leading a counterattack against invading German troops in Kalamata.

Abominations
The Croatian nationalist organization Ustaše massacred nearly 200 Serbs in the village of Gudovac, the first massacre of their genocidal campaign against Serbs of the Independent State of Croatia.

Defense
Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, an outspoken opponent of potential U.S. entry into the European war, wrote President Franklin D. Roosevelt that in view of Mr. Roosevelt's remarks "concerning my loyalty," he was resigning his commission as a colonel in the Army Air Corps.

Society
In a case brought by U.S. Representative Arthur Mitchell (Democrat--Illinois), the only Negro member of Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Negroes were entitled to Pullman car accommodation and other first-class services equal to those that white passengers received on passenger trains.

Labour
Operators of soft coal mines in the Southern United States accepted President Roosevelt's request to reopen the mines and continue wage discussions, ending the 28-day Appalachian coal strike of 400,000 miners. The U.S. National Association of Manufacturers condemned strikes as "a major bottleneck" in defense production, claiming that over three million man-days had been lost during the first three months of 1941 as a result of strikes, more than half of them in defense industries.

75 years ago
1946

Died on this date
François de la Rocque, 60. French politician. Mr. de la Rocque led the fascist Croix de Feu movement from 1930-1936, and founded and led the more moderate nationalist Parti Social Français from 1936–1940, when he supported Vichy regime leader Marshal Philippe Petain, before turning against the principle of collaboration with the Nazis.

War
Chinese Communist forces seized Tsitsihar, an important Manchurian railway centre.

Diplomacy
Azerbaijani leader Mir Sayid Jafar Pishevari arrived in Tehran to discuss Iranian Prime Minister Ahmad Ghavam Saltaneh's seven-point peace proposal under which the autonomous province of Azerbaijan would return to central government control.

Defense
The U.S. Army-Navy Munitions Board announced plans for a survey of the nation's caverns for underground military and industrial installations in the event of an atomic war.

Protest
More than 4,000 Germans engaged in a four-hour riot after an attack on civilians in Landsberg by Jews from the nearby displaced persons camp.

Religion
The Alliance for the Preservation of American Reform Judaism, opposed to Zionism and Jewish nationalism, was formed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Economics and finance
The Russell Sage Foundation reported that low interest rates were reducing funds availabe to the nation's 505 social welfare foundations, which had an estimated $1.8 billion in capital assets.

70 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)--Paul Weston and his Orchestra with the Norman Luboff Choir (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); If--Perry Como (Jukebox--5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford (2nd week at #1)
--Patti Page
2 Be My Love--Mario Lanza
3 If--Perry Como
4 Aba Daba Honeymoon--Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
5 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
6 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)--Patti Page
7 Beautiful Brown Eyes--Rosemary Clooney
8 My Heart Cries for You--Guy Mitchell
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
--Jimmy Wakely
9 You’re Just in Love--Perry Como
10 Sparrow in the Tree Top--Guy Mitchell
--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

Singles entering the chart were We Kissed in a Shadow, with versions by Frank Sinatra; and Perry Como (#31); Too Late Now by Toni Arden (#32); Faithfully Yours by Tony Martin (#33); and I Love the Way You Say Goodnight by Dean Martin (#37).

War
U.S. and U.K. forces in Korea withdrew to a line four miles north of Seoul in the face of strong Chinese Communist attacks.

Diplomacy
The Hungarian government released International Telephone & Telegraph Vice President and alleged spy Robert Vogeler after 17 months' imprisonment in return for several U.S. concessions, incuding reopening of the Hungarian consulates in New York and Cleveland, and the return of $70 million in Hungarian property confiscated by the Nazis and still held in the American zone of Germany.

Politics and government
Prime Minister Robert Menzies led his Liberal Party/Country Party coalition to victory in the Australian federal election. The coalition won 69 of 121 seats in the House of Representatives--down from 74 in the most recent election in 1949--while the Labour Party, led by Ben Chifley, increased from 47 to 52 seats. The coalition achieved a majority in the Senate, taking 32 seats--an increase of 6--to 28 for Labour.



U.S. President Harry Truman authorized the dismissal of federal employees or denial of jobs to applicants on "reasonable doubt" as to their loyalty to the United States.

World events
The Paraguayan government announced the arrest in Asuncion of Captain Bartolome Araujo, leader of troops who rebelled in northern Paraguay during the 1947 civil war.

Science
California Institute of Technology physicist Robert Leighton reported the discovery of the long-sought negative proton, one of the rarest of fundamental cosmic ray particles.

Oil
Sheik Abdullah of Kuwait asked the U.S.- and U.K.-owned Kuwait Oil Company to raise his royalties to $200,000 per day.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): You're Driving Me Crazy--The Temperance Seven

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Silence, starring Franchot Tone, Liam Sullivan, and Jonathan Harris

Died on this date
Tommy Connolly, 90. U.K.-born U.S. baseball umpire. Mr. Connolly, a native of Manchester, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1885, and soon became interested in baseball. He umpired in the New England League (1894-1897) and moved up to the National League in 1898. Unhappy with NL President Nicholas Young's reluctance to back up the league's umpires, Mr. Connolly resigned early in the 1900 season, and joined the American League when the AL began operating as a major league in 1901. He worked in the AL for the next 30 years, establishing a reputation as the league's best umpire. Mr. Connolly was removed from field duty in June 1931 by American League President Will Harridge, who was concerned about the quality of the league's umpires. Mr. Connolly was made the AL's supervisor of umpires, holding that position in 1954, coming out of retirement to work in one game in 1932. He worked 4,770 regular season major league games in 35 yers (1898-1932), and 45 World Series games in 8 years. Mr. Connolly was inducted into the Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946; with Bill Klem of the National League, he was one of the first two umpires inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

Baseball
Warren Spahn (2-1), 40, pitched his second career no-hitter as the Milwaukee Braves edged the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before 8,518 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. His first no-hitter had come the previous September 16 at home against the Philadelphia Phillies. Hank Aaron singled home Frank Bolling with the game’s only run with 2 out in the bottom of the 1st inning off losing pitcher Sam Jones (2-1), who allowed 5 hits and struck out 10 batters.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Double Barrel--Dave and Ansel Collins

At the movies
Bananas, co-written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Mr. Allen, Louise Lasser, Howard Cosell, and Carlos Montalban, opened in theatres.



Boxing
Cleveland Williams (75-11-1) won a 10-round majority decision over Ted Gullick (15-3) in a heavyweight bout at Cleveland Arena.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Baltimore 99 @ Milwaukee 107 (Milwaukee led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Bob Dandridge scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Lew Alcindor added 23 points and 21 rebounds for the Bucks as they defeated the Bullets before 10,746 fans at Milwaukee Arena. Jack Marin led Baltimore scorers with 21 points, while Wes Unseld scored 20 points and grabbed 23 rebounds.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates (5th week at #1)
2 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
3 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
4 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
5 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
6 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs
7 I Can't Stand It--Eric Clapton and his Band
8 You Better You Bet--The Who
9 Ain't Even Done with the Night--John Cougar
10 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon

Singles entering the chart were Take it on the Run; and Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#20).

Died on this date
Mickey Walker, 77 or 79. U.S. boxer. Mr. Walker, nicknamed "The Toy Bulldog," compiled a record of 131-25-6-2 in a professional career from 1919-1935. He gradually moved up in weight classification, holding the world welterweight (1922-1926) and middleweight (1926-1929) titles before briefly moving up to the heavyweight division and finishing as a light heavyweight. Mr. Walker is regarded as one of the best middleweights in history, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He became an accomplished painter and restaurateur after his boxing career, but suffered from various health problems in his later years.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ New York Islanders 5 (Islanders led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Minnesota 4 @ Calgary 1 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 1-0)

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Trippin'--Push Push (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (4th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (5th week at #1)
2 No Coke--Dr. Alban
3 Secret Love--Bee Gees
4 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
5 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
6 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
7 Crazy--Seal
8 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C & C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
9 Blue Hotel--Chris Isaak
10 (I Wanna Give You) Devotion--Nomad featuring MC Mikee Freedom

Singles entering the chart were Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You) by Pet Shop Boys (#14); One More Try by Timmy T (#20); You Got the Love (Erens Bootleg Mix) by The Source featuring Candi Staton (#25); Too Late (True Love) by the Real Milli Vanilli (#26); Venedig im Regen by Thomas Forstner (#27); and Wiggle It by 2 in a Room (#30).

Died on this date
Ken Curtis, 74. U.S. actor and singer. Mr. Curtis, born Curtis Gates, sang with the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Shep Fields before joining the Sons of the Pioneers from 1949-1953. He was best known for playing Festus Haggen in the television Western series Gunsmoke from 1963-1975.

Economics and finance
Ontario Treasurer Floyd Laughren presented a $52.8-billion spending budget that would triple the provincial deficit to a record $9.7 billion; Mr. Laughren went against the advice of the federal government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Hockey
IIHF Men’s World Championship
Group A
Czechoslovakia (3-4) 4 Canada (4-2-1) 3
U.S.S.R. (6-0-1) 5 Sweden (3-0-4) 5
Switzerland (1-6) 5 Germany (0-6-1) 2
U.S.A. (3-2-2) 2 Finland (3-3-1) 1

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Minnesota 3 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 4-2)
Los Angeles 3 @ Edmonton 4 (OT) (Edmonton won best-of-series 4-2)

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-2 before 18,039 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis as Jack Morris (2-3) allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 innings to get his 200th career major league win.

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): California Love--2Pac featuring Dr. Dre

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Children--Robert Miles

#1 single in Switzerland: Children--Robert Miles (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit--Gina G (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Lester Sumrall, 83. U.S. clergyman. Mr. Sumrall was an Assemblies of God pastor who founded World Harvest Radio International in 1968 and World Harvest Television in 1972; he was known as the "Father of Christian television."

Music
This blogger, with enjoyable female company, attended a chamber music performance by members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Citadel Theatre's Maclab Theatre.

Crime
Gunman Martin Bryant opened fire on a crowd at a popular tourist site in Port Arthur, Tasmania, killing 35 and wounding 18.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
New York Rangers 5 @ Montreal 3 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Pittsburgh 3 @ Washington 2 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Detroit 4 @ Winnipeg 1 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-2)

The Red Wings eliminated the Jets in the last National Hockey League game ever played at Winnipeg Arena, and the last game played by the Winnipeg Jets before they moved to Phoenix to become the Coyotes for the 1996-97 season.

Baseball
The Montreal Expos scored 7 runs in the 1st inning and 11 in the first 3 innings and went on to beat the Colorado Rockies 21-9 before 48,006 fans at Coors Field in Denver. Montreal shortstop and leadoff hitter Mark Grudzielanek batted 5 for 7 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in.

The Cleveland Indians scored 6 runs in the 1st inning and 3 in the 2nd as they routed the Toronto Blue Jays 17-3 before 31,143 fans at SkyDome in Toronto.

20 years ago
2001

Space
Dennis Tito, 60, a billionaire businessman and former NASA employee from California, became the first paying passenger to go into space, aboard Soyuz TM-32, a Russian mission with a crew of Talgat Musabayev (Commander) and Yuri Baturin (Flight Engineer).

Baseball
Geoff Jenkins hit 3 home runs and drove in 6 runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Montreal Expos 8-4 before 40,877 fans at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

10 years ago
2011

Politics and government
U.S. President Barack Obama reshuffled his national security team, with Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta succeeding Defense Secretary Robert Gates and General David Petraeus replacing Mr. Panetta at the CIA.

Crime
Phillip Garrido and his wife Nancy pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping Jaycee Dugard, who was abducted in California in 1991 at age 11 and rescued 18 years later. The Garridos were sentenced to up to life in prison.

Figure Skating
Patrick Chan of Canada won his first men's world figure skating title, sweeping all three world records, with 93.02 points for his short program, 187.96 points for his long program and 280.98 points overall at Megasport Arena in Moscow. Mr. Chan won again in 2012 and 2013.