June 2, 2021

400 years ago
1621

Born on this date
Rutger von Ascheberg. Swedish military officer and politician. Count Ascheberg served in several wars, rising to the rank of field marshal. He was Governor-General of Gothenburg and Bohus and Dalsland (1679-1693); Governor-General of Scania, Halland and Blekinge (1680); and Governor-General of Scania and Halland (1680-1693). Count Ascheberg died on April 17, 1693 at the age of 71.

200 years ago
1821

Born on this date
Ion C. Brătianu. Prime Minister of Romania, 1876-1881; 1881-1888. Mr. Brătianu founded the National Liberal Party (PNL) in 1875; as Prime Minister, he steered the country away from Ottoman Empire vassalage and toward an alliance with Russia. Mr. Brătianu's long period of leadership of his party and country eventually caused resentment, and he averted an impeachment proceeding in 1890. Mr. Brătianu remained as leader of the PNL until 12 days before his death on May 16, 1891, occurred 17 days before his 70th birthday.

170 years ago
1851

Society
Maine became the first U.S. state to enact a law prohibiting alcohol.

140 years ago
1881

Born on this date
Walter Egan. U.S. golfer. Mr. Egan was runner-up in the Western Amateur tournament three times, and won it in 1903. He was runner-up in the U.S. Amateur championship in 1901, and was a member of the American team that won the gold medal in the men's team competition at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, although he was eliminated in the first round of match play. Mr. Egan died on September 12, 1971 at the age of 90.

130 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Takijirō Ōnishi. Japanese military officer. Admiral Ōnishi was the Imperial Japanese Navy officer who directed the kamikaze attacks against Allied aircraft carriers during World War II. He committed sepuku--ritual suicide--in his quarters on August 16, 1945 at the age of 54, following Japan's surrender to the Allies.

Thurman Arnold. U.S. lawyer, judge, and politician. Mr. Arnold was a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (1921) and Mayor of Laramie, Wyoming (1923-1924) before holding positions in the law schools of various institutions, including Yale University (1930-1938). He served the administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt as Assistant Attorney General (1938-1943), where he was in charge of the Antitrust Division. When President Roosevelt decided to de-emphasize antitrust enforcement in favour of getting corporations to contribute to the effort to win World War II, he kicked Mr. Arnold upstairs by appointing him as Associate Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (1943-1945). Mr. Arnold didn't enjoy life on the bench, and resigned to return to the private practice of law in Washington, D.C. He died on November 7, 1969 at the age of 88.

125 years ago
1896

Technology
Guglielmo Marconi applied for a patent for his wireless telegraph.

100 years ago
1921

Politics and government
16 Liberal Party candidates were elected by acclamation when nominations closed for the Saskatchewan provincial election.

80 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Lou Gehrig, 37. U.S. baseball player. "The Iron Horse," born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an alumnus of Columbia University, and joined the New York Yankees as a first baseman in 1923. On June 1, 1925, he began a then-record streak of 2,130 consecutive games played, which ended after 8 games of the 1939 season, when he pulled himself out of the lineup. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which became popularly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Mr. Gehrig batted .340 with 493 home runs and 1,995 runs batted in in 2,164 games; his other achievements are too numerous to mention. Mr. Gehrig was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, as the Hall waived its normal five-year waiting period. He served as New York City Parole Commissioner from January 1940 until a month before his death, which occurred 17 days before his 38th birthday.

Abominations
The Farhud, a pogrom of Iraqi Jews, concluded in Baghdad with the deaths of 175-780 Jews, and 300-400 rioters killed by local authorities. 1,000 Jews were injured, and 900 Jewish homes were destroyed. The event occurred in the aftermath of Iraq's defeat in the Anglo-Iraqi War, and the collapse of the pro-Nazi Iraqi government of Prime Minister Rashid Ali.

German paratroopers massacred 23-60 male Greek civilians in the Cretan village of Kondomari for the heinous crime of resisting the German invasion of their homeland.

War
27 Japanese planes killed 100 people and wounded 200 in Chungking.

Politics and government
King George II of Greece accepted the resignation of his cabinet-in-exile in Cairo, and formed a new one in which Emmanuel Tsouderos remained as Prime Minister.

Canadiana
For the first time since Confederation, the Maritime Provinces were experiencing a population growth equal to the national average, with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia exceeding the rest of Canada by 2%. New Brunswick reported a population of 457,401 people.

Law
Charles Evans Hughes, 79, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice since 1930, announced his resignation, effective July 1, 1941.

75 years ago
1946

Literature
The New York Herald Tribune listed This Side of Innocence by Taylor Caldwell as the best-selling fiction book, and The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald as the best-selling non-fiction book.

Politics and government
In a referendum, 54.3% of Italians voted to turn Italy from a monarchy into a republic. After the referendum, King Umberto II was exiled to Portugal after just 40 days on the throne.

The "Three-Party Alliance" of Popular Republican Movement, led by Georges Bidault (166); French Communist Party, led by Maurice Thorez (153) and French Section of the Workers International, led by Guy Mollet (128) combined to win 447 of 586 seats in the French Constituent Assembly election.

The U.S. military government in Hesse turned over denazification of clergy and church employees to the state ministry of cults.

70 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Tennessee Waltz--Pee Wee King and his Orchestra; Patti Page (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Disc Jockey--6th week at #1; Jukebox--5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson (3rd week at #1)
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
2 How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford
3 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Patti Page
4 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole
5 Sound Off (The Duckworth Chant)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
6 The Syncopated Clock--Leroy Anderson and his "Pops" Concert Orchestra
7 I Apologize--Billy Eckstine
8 Unless--Eddie Fisher
--Guy Mitchell
9 Jezebel--Frankie Laine
10 Rose, Rose, I Love You--Frankie Laine

Jezebel and Rose, Rose, I Love You were two sides of the same record. Singles entering the chart were Pretty Eyed Baby, with versions by Jo Stafford and Frankie Laine; and Al Trace and his Orchestra with Lola Ameche (#21); Mister and Mississippi, with versions by Patti Page; and Dennis Day (#26); Because of Rain by Nat "King" Cole (#27); I'm Yours to Command, with versions by Billy Eckstine; Herb Jeffries; and Gordon MacRae (#32); and Because of You, with versions by Tony Bennett; and Les Baxter and his Orchestra (#36).

Died on this date
John Erskine, 71. U.S. scholar and musician. Professor Erskine taught at Amherst College (1903-1909) and Columbia University (1909-1937); in the latter position he formulated the General Honors Cours, responsible for inspiring the influential Great Books movement. Prof. Erskine wrote more than 100 books of fiction and non-fiction. He was a pianist and composer, known for writing libretti for operas, and was the first president of the Juilliard School of Music (1928-1937).

Married on this date
U.S. actress Myrna Loy married U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Howard Sargeant in Fort Myer, Virginia.

War
U.S. 8th Army Commander James Van Fleet said that the "pursuit" phase of the latest United Nations counter-offensive had ended with nearly all of the Communist forces expelled from South Korea. Testifying before the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson warned that General Douglas MacArthur's program of air and naval attacks on Communist China would break up the world anti-Communist alliance without winning the Korean War.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. banned travel to Czechoslovakia by American citizens, claiming that it was too hazardous.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Surrender--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Obsolete Man, starring Burgess Meredith and Fritz Weaver

This was the last episode of the season.

The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Louy K: Part 2 Sing Sing



At the movies
Gidget Goes Hawaiian, directed by Paul Wendkos, and starring James Darren, Michael Callan, and Deborah Walley, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
George S. Kaufman, 71. U.S. playwright and director. Mr. Kaufman wrote hit plays on Broadway from the early 1920s through the 1950s. He collaborated with Morrie Ryskind and Ira Gershwin to write Of Thee I Sing (1931), and with Moss Hart to write You Can't Take it With You (1936), which won Pulitzer Prizes for Drama in 1932 and 1937, respectively. Mr. Kaufman won a Tony Award for Best Director for Guys and Dolls (1950).

Politics and government
U.S. President John F. Kennedy addressed defense and other issues at a news conference in Paris.



50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Knock Three Times--Dawn (3rd week at #1)

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Tears on My Pillow--The Parker Project

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (8th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (10th week at #1)
2 The One and Only--Chesney Hawkes
3 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
4 Secret Love--Bee Gees
5 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
6 Jesus Loves You--Bow Down Mister
7 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
8 No Coke--Dr. Alban
9 Just the Way it Is, Baby--The Rembrandts
10 Lucifer--Blue System

Singles entering the chart were U & Mi by Dr. Alban (#17); Abwärts und bergauf by Wolfgang Ambros (#23); and This is Your Life by Banderas (#24).

Canadiana
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police unfurled their official flag in Ottawa.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 93 @ Chicago 91 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Sam Perkins connected for a 3-point field goal with 14 seconds remaining in regulation time and Byron Scott added a free throw as the Lakers edged the Bulls before 18,676 fans at Chicago Stadium. Michael Jordan of the Bulls led all scorers with 36 points and 12 assists. It was the last NBA finals game played in the afternoon.



25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Killing Me Softly--The Fugees

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Children--Robert Miles (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Coco Jamboo--Mr. President

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Killing Me Softly--The Fugees

Died on this date
John Alton, 94. Austro-Hungarian-born U.S. cinematographer. Mr. Alton, born Johann Altmann, won the Academy Award for colour cinematography for An American in Paris (1951), but was perhaps best known for his work in black and white in film noir, in movies such as T-Men (1947); He Walked by Night (1948); Raw Deal (1948); and The Big Combo (1955).

Leon Garfield, 74. U.K. author. Mr. Garfield wrote more than 30 books, and was best known for writing historical novels for children.

Ray Combs, 40. U.S. comedian. Mr. Combs was a successful standup comic in the late 1980s, especially as a warmup act for audiences for television programs. He hosted the revived version of the game show Family Feud from 1988-1994, but reportedly became despondent when the show's producer decided to replace him with Richard Dawson, the original host of Family Feud, in an attempt to improve declining ratings. Mr. Combs suffered from back pain caused by a 1994 car accident and was heavily in debt, and became violently suicidal; he was involuntarily admitted to the psychiatric ward of a hospital in Glendale, California, and hanged himself using bed sheets that he had fashioned into a noose.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Imogene Coca, 92. U.S. actress. Miss Coca had a career spanning more than 70 years, and was known for her comic performances on stage and television. She won an Emmy Award in 1951 and a Peabody Award in 1953 for her co-starring performances in the television variety program Your Show of Shows (1950-1954). Miss Coca was nominated for Emmys for Your Show of Shows in four other years, and for a guest performance in Moonlighting (1988). She died of natural causes related to Alzheimer's disease.

Joey Maxim, 79. U.S. boxer. Mr. Maxim, born Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, compiled a record of 83-29-4 in a professional career from 1941-1958, and was world light heavyweight champion from January 1950-December 1952. He lost a decision to Ezzard Charles for the world heavyweight title in 1951, and retained his light heavyweight title with a technical knockout of Sugar Ray Robinson in 1952 when Mr. Robinson was unable to continue because of hyperthermia on a hot night in New York. Mr. Maxim worked at various jobs after his boxing career ended, and died several months after suffering a stroke.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Colorado 2 @ New Jersey 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Petr Sykora scored with 2:37 remaining in regulation time to break a 2-2 tie as the Devils edged the Avalanche before 19,040 fans at Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford. The Avalanche managed just 12 shots on New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur, while Patrick Roy faced 35 shots in the Colorado goal.



10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Ray Bryant, 79. U.S. musician. Mr. Bryant was a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger who worked on his own or in duos and trios, and as an accompanist for singers such as Carmen McRae and Aretha Franklin in a career spanning more than 50 years. He died after a long illness.

Politics and government
Andrew Scheer (Conservative--Regina-Qu'Appelle) was chosen as the new Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, replacing Peter Milliken (Liberal--Kingston and the Islands), who had retired prior to the May 2, 2011 federal election.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney announced his bid for the 2012 Republican Party U.S. presidential nomination.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Dallas 95 @ Miami 93 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points, and his layup field goal with 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation time broke a 93-93 tie as the Mavericks came back from a 15-point deficit with 7 minutes remaining to edge the Heat before 20,003 fans at American Airlines Arena. Miami's Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 36 points, but missed a shot at the final buzzer.