May 19, 2021

970 years ago
1051

Married on this date
King Henry I of France married Rus' Princess Anne of Kiev.

725 years ago
1296

Died on this date
Celestine V, 80-81 (?). Roman Catholic Pope, 1294. Celestine V, born Pietro Angelerio, became a Benedictine monk at the age of 17, and preferred an ascetic lifestyle, living in caves and founding the Celestine order in 1244. He was elected Pope in the last non-conclave papal election, two years after the death of Nicholas IV. Pope Celestine V preferred to resume his ascetic lifestyle, and resigned after five months in office, a week after issuing an edict asserting a pope's right to resign. His successor, Boniface VIII, imprisoned Celestine V to prevent his possible installation as an antipope. Celestine V died in prison, and was canonized by Pope Clement V in 1313.

625 years ago
1396

Died on this date
John I, 45. King of Aragon, Valencia, and Majorca, 1387-1396. John I "the Hunter" acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Peter IV. King John abandoned his father's Anglophile foreign policy in favour of a Francophile policy, and supported Avignon Pope Clement VII. John I died when he fell from his horse while hunting, and was succeeded on the throne by his younger brother Martin.

420 years ago
1601

Died on this date
Costanzo Porta, 71-73 (?). Italian composer. Mr. Porta was representative of the Venetian School of composers. He mainly wrote sacred music, especially motets, and also madrigals.

240 years ago
1781

Americana
Chippewas ceded Michilimackinac Island in Michigan to Britain for £5,000.

175 years ago
1846

Exploration
Thomas Brunner and Charles Heaphy, guided by Kehu (Hone Mokekehu) of Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri, reached Māwhera pā on New Zealad's South Island.

160 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Nellie Melba. Australian singer and actress. Miss Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell, was an operatic soprano who was internationally famous from the 1880s until her death from septicaemia which had developed after facial surgery. She made recordings as early as 1895, and more from 1904-1926. Miss Melba died on February 23, 1931 at the age of 59.

140 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Prime Minister of Turkey, 1920-1921; 1st President of Turkey, 1923-1938. Mr. Kemal, born Ali Rıza oğlu Mustafa, came to prominence as a field marshal in World War I, helping to defeat Allied forces in the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire following the war, Mr. Kemal led the Turkish National Movement, which succeeded in defeating Allied armies in the Turkish War of Independence and establishing a secular republic. His government initiated reforms in numerous areas of Turkish society, and he was granted the surname Atatürk--"Father of the Turks"--by the Turkish Parliament in 1934. Mr. Atatürk died of cirrhosis of the liver on November 10, 1938 at the age of 57 while still in office, and was succeeded as President by İsmet İnönü.

130 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Oswald Boelcke. German military aviator. Hauptmann Boelcke was known as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics," and was the first to formalize rules of air fighting. He shot down 40 enemy aircraft during World War I, the highest total by a German ace prior to "Red Baron" Manfred von Richtofen, whom he mentored. Hauptmann Boelcke was killed during an air battle on October 28, 1916 at the age of 25, when he accidentally made contact with the plane of a fellow German, which damaged his plane and caused it to crash. He hadn't had time to properly fasten his safety belt, and he never wore a helmet, which caused his injuries to be fatal.

120 years ago
1901

Died on this date
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, 81. 1st President of the South African Republic, 1857-1860, 1864-1871; State President of the Orange Free State (1860-1863). Mr. Pretorius founded the city of Pretoria in 1855, and served as President of both the South African Republic and Orange Free State from February-September 1860 in an attempt to forge bonds between the two states. After his two terms as President of the South African Republic, Mr. Pretorius served as co-head of state with Paul Kruger and Piet Joubert as the Triumvirate from 1881-1883.

110 years ago
1911

Environment
The Dominion Parks Branch (now Parks Canada) was established by the government of Canada under the Department of the Interior, to oversee and administer Canada's forest reserves and a nascent assemblage of western national parks. It was the world’s first national park service, preceding the creation of the National Park Service in the United States by more than five years; the first Parks Commissioner was J.B. Harkin.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Daniel Gélin. French actor. Mr. Gélin appeared in more than 150 films and numerous television programs in a career spanning more than 50 years. His movies included Le Plaisir (1952); Napoléon (1955); and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). Mr. Gélin died of kidney failure on November 29, 2002 at the age of 81.

Society
The Emergency Quota Act, establishing national quotas for immigrants, was signed into law by U.S. President Warren G. Harding.

90 years ago
1931

Politics and government
Charles Richards was sworn in as Premier of New Brunswick, succeeding John Baxter as head of the province's Conservative government.

80 years ago
1941

War
The Duke of Aosta, Italian commander in Ethiopia, surrendered to British forces, ending the British conquest of Ethiopia and bringing the total of Italian prisoners to 230,000. The Iraqi government claimed that 30 British armoured cars and trucks had been destroyed and 2 British gunboats damaged in the Tigris Rivers south of Basra.

Defense
The U.S. Navy Department announced that U.S. Navy Captain William Quigley had been appointed chief of staff of the Peruvian Navy.

Diplomacy
U.S. Representative Francis Case (Republican--South Dakota) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives authorizing Secretary of State Cordell Hull to negotiate for the purchase of French islands in the Western Hemisphere.

Europeana
Danish sources reported that the Icelandic Althing (Parliament) had cancelled Iceland's permanent union with Denmark and had declared the island's independence.

Academia
The New York Board of Higher Education announced the suspension of five more teachers and seven clerks at City College of New York on charges of Communist Party membership and refusal to cooperate with the Rapp-Coudert committee investigation.

Economics and finance
U.S. Assistant Treasury Secretary John L. Sullivan, addressing the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, urged that the Excess Profits Tax Act of 1940 be revised to raise at least $1.096 billion in excess profits from defense programs.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America and hard coal operators agreed in New York to a two-year contract providing wage increases for 91,000 miners who would return to their jobs on May 20, ending a one-day strike.

70 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Booth Tarkington, 76. U.S. author. Mr. Tarkington wrote novels, short stories, and plays, usually about his native Indiana. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novels The Magnificent Ambersons (1918) and Alice Adams (1921). Mr. Tarkington was also known for his humourous Penrod series of novels.

War
General Tu Li-ming announced that Nationalist Chinese forces had recaptured the Manchurian city of Szepingkai from the Chinese Communists.

A Manila newspaper reported that the Communist Hukbalahap movement had established a "state within a state" in central Luzon, resulting in 600 dead in clashes with Philippine military police.

Politics and government
Reports from La Paz indicated that Bolivian President Gualberto Villaroel's dictatorial government, having failed to win popular support in elections on May 5, was waging a campaign of political terror to stay in power.

World events
British authorities permitted 1,014 Jewish refugees from La Spezia, Italy to disembark in Haifa.

Defense
U.S. Senators David Walsh (Democrat--Massachusetts) and Carl Vinson (Democrat--Georgia) stated in a letter to Navy Secretary James Forrestal that Congress would not approve unification of the armed forces.

Academia
U.S. War Reconversion Director John W. Snyder reported to President Harry Truman that of 2,080,000 people who would seek admission to colleges in the fall of 1946, only one million could be accommodated.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Administration estimated that since July 1945 it had lifted price ceilings on 3,000 commodities with an annual sales volume of $10 million.

70 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Tennessee Waltz--Pee Wee King and his Orchestra; Patti Page

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--4th week at #1; Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
2 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Patti Page
3 How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford
4 If--Perry Como
5 Be My Love--Mario Lanza
6 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)--Patti Page
7 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole
8 Beautiful Brown Eyes--Rosemary Clooney
9 Aba Daba Honeymoon--Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
10 I Apologize--Billy Eckstine

Singles entering the chart were Hello, Young Lovers, with versions by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting (#27); Rose, Rose, I Love You by Frankie Laine (#28); and Old Soldiers Never Die by Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (#29). Mr. Como’s version of Hello, Young Lovers was the other side of We Kissed in a Shadow, charting at #26; Rose, Rose, I Love You was the B-side of Jezebel, which charted at #16. Old Soldiers Never Die was presumably recorded by Mr. Monroe as an aftermath to the farewell speech of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur after being fired by President Harry Truman.

At the movies
Sealed Cargo, directed by Alfred L. Werker, and starring Dana Andrews, Carla Balenda, and Claude Rains, opened in theatres.



War
North Korean forces failed in a suicidal effort to break into Seoul.

In a note to the U.S.S.R., the U.S.A. rejected Soviet demands on Japanese peace treaty organizations.

Diplomacy
Brazil, Peru, and Spain all recognized Bolivia's new military junta.

Defense
The U.S.A., U.K., and Canada agreed to standardize 400 items of military equipment, including the new U.S. Walker Bulldog light tank.

Oil
A British note on oil nationalization delivered in Tehran warned that Iran's refusal to negotiate a settlement could lead to "the most serious consequences" and threatened to withdraw British technicians and transport facilities from Iran.

Horse racing
Bold, with Eddie Arcaro up, won the 66th running of the Preakness Stakes before 24,863 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:56 2/5. First prize money was $83,110. Counterpoint placed second and Alerted finished third in the 8-horse field.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Runaway--Del Shannon

On television tonight
The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Sonny Rosen Story II

Protest
U.S. President John F. Kennedy sent John Siegenthaler, a member of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s staff, to Alabama as his personal representative in an attempt to obtain from Alabama Governor John Patterson guarantees of protection for the Freedom Riders, the civil rights activists riding buses from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans to challenge various state segregation laws.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Knock Three Times--Dawn

Died on this date
Ogden Nash, 68. U.S. poet. Mr. Nash was known for his light verse and unconventional rhymes in a career spanning 40 years. He frequently appeared on radio and television, and spoke on college campuses. Mr. Nash died of complications from Crohn's disease aggravated by a lactobacillus infection transmitted by improperly prepared coleslaw.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the probe Mars 2, scheduled to reach Mars about November 15, 1971.

Baseball
Clete Boyer and Mike Lum each hit 2 home runs to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 10-4 win over the Montreal Expos before 4,686 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Mr. Boyer now had 5 homers in his last 5 games and 6 for the season, but the 2 he hit in this game were his last in the major leagues. Clyde Mashore hit his first major league home run as a pinch hitter for the Expos with 1 out in the 9th inning.

40 years ago
1981

Crime
Edmonton Trappers’ shortstop Todd Cruz, who had joined the team from the Chicago White Sox on an injury rehabilitation assignment several days earlier in Hawaii, was arrested in the wee hours of the morning in the Hudson’s Bay store downtown, where he was found by police with a number of watches strapped to his arms. Mr. Cruz had played both games of a Victoria Day doubleheader the previous afternoon, but had too much to drink that evening. After his arrest, he spent most of the day in court and didn’t play that night. Mr. Cruz was charged with breaking and entering and theft.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
New York Islanders 2 @ Minnesota 4 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Steve Payne scored with 7:34 remaining in regulation time and Bobby Smith scored on a powerplay with 1:48 remaining at Metropolitan Sports Center to enable the North Stars to avert a sweep. Craig Hartsburg and Al MacAdam also scored for Minnesota, while Brad Maxwell aded 3 assists and Mr. Smith 2. Gord Lane and Mike McEwen scored for the Islanders. Don Beaupre returned to play goal for the North Stars--replacing the benched Gilles Meloche--while Billy Smith was in goal once again for the Islanders.



30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Trippin'--Push Push (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (8th week at #1)
2 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
3 Secret Love--Bee Gees
4 No Coke--Dr. Alban
5 The One and Only--Chesney Hawkes
6 Crazy--Seal
7 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
8 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
9 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
10 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash

The only single entering the chart was My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#20).

World events
With the local Serb population boycotting the referendum, Croatians voted in favour of independence from Yugoslavia.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Pittsburgh 1 @ Minnesota 3 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 2-1)



25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): California Love--2Pac featuring Dr. Dre (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Children--Robert Miles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Children--Robert Miles (13th week at #1)

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit--Gina G (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
John Beradino, 79. U.S. baseball player and actor. Mr. Beradino, born Giovanni Berardino, was a second baseman and shortstop with the St. Louis Browns (1939-1942, 1946-1947, 1951); Cleveland Indians (1948-1950, 1952); and Pittsburgh Pirates (1950, 1952), batting .249 with 36 home runs and 387 runs batted in in 912 games. He was a member of the Indians' World Series championship team in 1948. While playing as Johnny Berardino, he began appearing in bit parts in movies, but achieved stardom playing Dr. Steve Hardy in the soap opera General Hospital from 1963-1996. Mr. Beradino died 18 days after his 79th birthday.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin the 10-day mission STS-77, with a six-man crew commanded by John Casper and including Canadian Marc Garneau.



Protest
Royal Canadian Mounted Police stormed an armed barricade to end a five-week standoff at the Waterhen reserve in Manitoba; 32 were arrested.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals
Colorado 3 @ Detroit 2 (OT) (Colorado led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Aleksey Maresyev, 85. U.S.S.R. military aviator. Colonel Maresyev joined the Soviet Air Force in 1937 and had shot down four German aircraft in World War II before being shot down in April 1942, and having both his legs amputated above the knee. He eventually mastered the use of prostheses, and returned to active duty a year later, and shot down three German planes in a dogfight in August 1943. Col. Maresyev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in August 1943, joined the Communist Party in 1944, and retired from the Air Force in 1946. He obtained a doctorate in history in 1956, and eventually became a member of the Supreme Soviet. Dr. Maresyev died of a heart attack, two weeks after his 85th birthday.

Susannah McCorkle, 55. U.S. singer. Miss McCorkle was a jazz singer who performed in clubs and recorded about 20 albums from the mid-1970s until her death. She long suffered from depression, and committed suicide by jumping from the window of her New York apartment.

Business
Apple, Inc. opened its first retail stores, in Tysons Corner, Virginia and Glendale, California.

Horse racing
Point Given, with Gary Stevens up, won the 126th running of the Preakness Stakes before 118,926 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. A.P. Valentine placed second, Congaree, finished third, and Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos finished sixth in the 11-horse field.



Baseball
The Montreal Expos gave up 20 runs in a game for the first time in their 33-year history, losing 20-7 to the San Diego Padres before 7,297 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. San Diego right fielder Bubba Trammell batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, base on balls, was hit twice by pitches, scored 4 runs, and drove in 6.

10 years ago
2011

On television tonight
Katie Couric, the first regular solo anchorwoman of a U.S. network evening newscast, signed off the CBS Evening News for the last time after five years in the position.



Died on this date
Garret FitzGerald, 85. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, 1981-1982, 1982-1987. Mr. FitzGerald, a member of Fine Gael, was the son of Desmond FitzGerald, the first foreign minister of the Irish Free State. Garret represented the Industrial and Commercial Panel in the Senate (1965-1969) and Dublin South-East in the Teachta Dála (1969-1992). He was Minister for Foreign Affairs (1973-1977) and leader of Fine Gael (1977-1987), leading the party to a minority government in the 1981 general election. An economic crisis led to the defeat of Mr. FitzGerald's government in the Dáil Éireann and in the subsequent election in February 1982, but another election in November 1982 resulted in a Fine Gael–Labour coalition with a working majority, and the return of Mr. FitzGerald as Taoiseach. His government suffered from political infighting and continuing economic problems, but succeeded in negotiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 regarding the governance of Northern Ireland. Fine Gael was defeated in the 1987 general election, and Mr. FitzGerald resigned as party leader. After leaving politics in 1992, he wrote a weekly newspaper column and lectured on public affairs before his death from pneumonia.