May 31, 2021

700 years ago
1321

Died on this date
Birger, 40-41. King of Sweden, 1290-1318. Birger acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Magnus III, and came of age during a civil war involving his brothers, who took him captive in 1306 and imprisoned him in Nyköping Castle. Pressure from King Erik VI of Denmark forced Birger's relase in 1308; he appealed to King Erik for help, and was forced to give up the Royal Domain, remaining King of Sweden in name only. The supporters of King Birger ousted him in 1318, and he died in exile in Denmark.

325 years ago
1696

Died on this date
Heinrich Schwemmer, 75. German composer. Mr. Schwemmer wrote vocal works, especially sacred songs for weddings and funerals.

210 years ago
1811

Politics and government
Sir George Prevost took office as Governor of Lower Canada.

Exploration
James Ross discovered Bellot Strait, dividing Somerset Island from the mainland of Boothia Peninsula--the northernmost point of the North American continentin what is now Nunavut.

Transportation
The Clipper ship Marco Polo, launched April 19 by James Smith at Marsh Creek, Courtenay Bay, New Brunswick, left Saint John, N.B. for Liverpool; it set a record for the passage at 15 days.

120 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Alfredo Antonini. Italian-born U.S. conductor and composer. Mr. Antonini began his career as an organist and pianist in his native Italy before emigrating to the United States in 1929. He conducted various orchestras in radio broadcasts, recordings, and concerts from the 1940s through the '70s. His eight compositions included tone poems and chamber works. Mr. Antonini died during heart surgery on November 3, 1983 at the age of 82.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Maurice Allais. French economist and physicist. Professor Allais began his career as a physicist, publishing numerous works, notably on pendular oscillations and the laws of gravitation. He became an economist after a visit to the United States in 1933 during the Depression. Prof. Allais was awarded the 1988 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences "for his pioneering contributions to the theory of markets and efficient utilization of resources." He died on October 9, 2010 at the age of 99.

World events
Mexican President Porfirio Díaz fled the country during the Mexican Revolution.

Transportation
The hull of the Royal Mail Steamer Titanic was launched in Belfast. At the ceremony, a White Star Line employee claimed, "Not even God himself could sink this ship."

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Alida Valli. Italian actress. Miss Valli, born Baroness Alida Maria Laura Altenburger von Marckenstein-Frauenberg, starred in movies such as We the Living (1942); The Paradine Case (1947) and The Third Man (1949) in an international career that lasted for more than 60 years. She died on April 22, 2016 at the age of 84.

Howard Reig. U.S. broadcaster. Mr. Reeg worked for the National Broadcasting Company (1952-2005), and was best known for being the voice of NBC Nightly News. He died on November 10, 2008 at the age of 87.

Edna Doré. U.K. actress. Mrs. Doré appeared in plays, movies, radio, and television programs in a career spanning more than 50 years. Her movies included High Hopes (1988), while her best-known television role was as Mo Butcher in the soap opera EastEnders (1988-1990). Mrs. Doré died on April 11, 2014 at the age of 92.

Abominations
Mobs of white people attacked the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing as many as 300 Negroes, destroying Negro-owned businesses, and leaving 1,256 Negroes homeless.

80 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square--Vera Lynn; West End Players (1st month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell (10th week at #1)

War
A Luftwaffe air raid on Dublin claimed 38 lives. The United Kingdom completed the re-occupation of Iraq, and returned 'Abd al-Ilah to power as regent for King Faisal II.

Horse racing
Whirlaway, with Eddie Arcaro aboard, won his second straight Triple Crown race, winning the 67th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:58 4/5. King Cole placed second and Our Boots finished third; only three horses participated.



75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A Friend of Yours--Bing Crosby; Frank Sinatra (1st month at #1)

Society
The Cooperative Committee on Japanese Canadians, composed of over 30 organizations--including the major churches, labour unions, civil liberties and professional associations, the National Council of Women and the Canadian Jewish Congress--was founded to persuade the federal government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King to rescind its order to deport all Japanese-Canadians to Japan.

70 years ago
1951

Television
Moscow radio asserted that television had been invented by a Russian, Professor Boris Rosing, in 1907.

Diplomacy
Western powers at the stalemated Big Four conference in Paris invited the U.S.S.R. to a Big Four foreign ministers meeting, to begin July 23 in Washington.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman signed a $6.4-billion supplementary defense appropriation for fiscal 1951.

60 years ago
1961

Africana
The Union of South Africa became the Republic of South Africa, formally severed its affiliation with the Commonwealth of Nations, and inaugurated Charles Swart, its last governor general, as its first president. In his inaugural address, Mr. Swart implied that the racial separation policy of apartheid would continue.

World events
The Rokotov–Faibishenko show trial of financial speculators began in Moscow City Court, despite the Khrushchev Thaw to reverse Stalinist elements in Soviet society.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Another Day--Paul McCartney

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Mata Au Hi Made--Kiyohiko Ozaki (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Qué Será (Che Sará)--José Feliciano (3rd week at #1)

Americana
In accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1968, the observance of Memorial Day occurred on the last Monday in May for the first time, rather than on the traditional Memorial Day of May 30.

Law
Sandra Oxner was appointed the first female judge of Nova Scotia Magistrate's Court.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Being with You--Smokey Robinson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Barbara Ward, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth, 67. U.K. economist. Miss Ward was a lifelong Roman Catholic whose religious views influenced her economic views. She advised major Western leaders, urging them to share their countries' prosperity with backward countries. Miss Ward was an early advocate of sustainable development, and has been credited by some with coining the term "spaceship Earth." She was married to Sir Robert Jackson, an Australian administrator of the United Nations; they separated in the early 1970s, but she used his surname when she was given a life peerage in 1976. Baroness Jackson died eight days after her 67th birthday.

Protest
An organized mob of police and government-sponsored Sinhalese paramilitary forces began three days of attacks that led to the burning of the Jaffna Public Library in Sri Lanka.

Environment
Parks Canada declared Carbonear Island, Newfoundland a National Historic Site. Fort Carbonear was an early British post, and was attacked by the French in 1696 and 1705.

Baseball
The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team in major league history to pass one million in home attendance before the end of May, as 46,411 fans saw the Dodgers rout the Cincinnati Reds 16-4 at Dodger Stadium. Every Los Angeles starter had at least 1 hit and 1 run except pitcher Jerry Reuss, who left the game with a strained hamstring after Dave Collins singled to lead off the game.

30 years ago
1991

War
People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) President José Eduardo dos Santos and National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) President Jonas Savimbi signed the Bicesse Accords in Lisbon, ending a 16-year civil war and laying out a transition to multi-party democracy in Angola under the supervision of the United Nations' United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II).

Politics and government
Chief George Martin of Kahnesatake Mohawk Reserve in Quebec failed to block members from voting 526-21 for direct election of a new band council.

Basketball
NBA
Pat Riley, who had coached the Los Angeles Lakers to four National Basketball Association titles in the 1980s, was named head coach of the New York Knickerbockers.

Baseball
The San Diego Padres traded shortstop Garry Templeton to the New York Mets for utility infielder Tim Teufel. Mr. Templeton, who had been traded to the Padres in 1982 for shortstop Ozzie Smith, was batting .193 with 1 home run and 6 runs batted in in 32 games with the Padres in 1991, while Mr. Teufel was batting just .118 in 20 games with the Mets.

Mike Hampton pitched a no-hitter for the San Bernardino Spirit of the Class A California League as they shut out the Visalia Oaks 6-0 in San Bernardino. Troy Mooney pitched a 7-inning no-hitter for the Augusta Pirates of the Class A South Atlantic League as they edged the Savannah Cardinals 1-0.

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Until it Sleeps--Metallica

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Man Utd Man--Men Utd featuring the Absolutely's (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Timothy Leary, 75. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Leary was a lecturer in clinical psychology at Harvard University when he began experimenting with psychedelic drugs, and urged their use in altering behaviour and reaching a higher state of consciousness. He was fired from Harvard in 1963--ostensibly for failing to deliver required lectures--and became one of the major figures of the 1960s counterculture. Dr. Leary was famous for uttering the slogan, "Turn on, tune in, drop out." He spent several years in prison, and then resumed his career as an advocate of psychedelic drugs. In later years, Dr. Leary was an avowed pagan, and advocated human colonization of space. He died of prostate cancer, and was cremated, after initially indicating interest in having his body cryogenically preserved.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Arlene Francis, 93. U.S. actress and television personality. Miss Francis, born Arline Francis Kazanjian, appeared in plays, and movies such as Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) and All My Sons (1948), and hosted radio programs, but was best known for her work in television, particularly as a panelist on the quiz show What's My Line? (1950-1967, 1968-1975). She died of Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

Economics and finance
Sheila Fraser was appointed Auditor General of Canada, becoming the first woman to hold the position; she retired in May 2011.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Colorado 3 @ New Jersey 1 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Ray Bourque's powerplay goal 31 seconds into the 3rd period broke a 1-1 tie as the Avalanche defeated the Devils before 19,040 fans at Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford. Patrick Roy made 21 saves to win the goaltending duel over Martin Brodeur.



10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
John Martin, 93. U.K. military officer and politician. Vice Admiral Martin served in the Royal Navy (1938-1973); he participated in the evacuation of Dunkirk (1940) and the invasion of Sicily (1943). He was Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey (1974-1980), and died three weeks after his 93rd birthday.

Pauline Betz, 91. U.S. tennis player. Miss Betz was one of the best players in the world in the 1940s, winning five Grand Slam singles titles and reaching the final in three others. She turned professional and played into the 1950s.

Philip Rose, 89. U.S. theatrical producer. Mr. Rose, born Philip Rosenberg, produced Broadway plays expressing liberal social views. His productions included A Raisin in the Sun (1959); The Owl and the Pussycat (1964); Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? (1969); and Shenandoah (1974).

Andy Robustelli, 85. U.S. football player. Mr. Robustelli was a defensive end with the Los Angeles Rams (1951-1955) and New York Giants (1956-1964); he helped his teams win National Football League championships in his first season with each team. He was a First Team All-Pro six times and a Second Team All-Pro four times, and was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1971. Mr. Robustelli died from complications following gallbladder surgery.

Derek Hodge, 69. U.S.V.I. politician. Mr. Hodge, a Democrat, was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1982, but was elected to the U.S.V.I. Senate in 1984, serving from 1985-1986, and then becoming Alexander Farrelly's running mate in 1986, and winning election as Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. Mr. Hodge served two terms (1987-1995), but was defeated in the 1994 gubernatorial election. He returned to the practice of law, and died of cancer.

Crime
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from media magnate Conrad Black after challenging his two remaining convictions on fraud and obstruction of justice. He was resentenced in June to spend up to another 13 months behind bars, and was released and deported to Canada on May 4, 2012.

Business
National Hockey League Commissioner little Gary Bettman confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers had been sold to True North Sports & Entertainment for $170 million, with $60 million going to the NHL as a relocation fee; the team would relocate to Winnipeg as the Winnipeg Jets for the 2011–12 season pending the approval of the sale and relocation by the NHL Board of Governors; approval was given on June 21. Winnipeg's original Jets had relocated in 1996 to become the Phoenix Coyotes.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Dallas 84 @ Miami 92 (Miami led best-of-seven series 1-0)

LeBron James scored 24 points, while Dwyane Wade added 22 and Chris Bosh 19 for the Heat as they defeated the Mavericks before 20,003 fans at American Airlines Arena. Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas led all scorers with 27 points, but suffered a torn tendon in a finger with 4 minutes left in the game.