December 31, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Mike Matson!

530 years ago
1491

Born on this date
Jacques Cartier. French explorer. Mr. Cartier, a native of Saint-Malo, Brittany, led expeditions for France in 1534, 1535-1536, and 1541-1542, becoming the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named "The Country of Canadas" after the Iroquoian names for the two big settlements he saw at Stadacona (Quebec City) and at Hochelaga (Montreal Island). He entered and departed 50 undiscovered harbours without serious mishap or losing a ship, and was one of the first to formally acknowledge that the New World was a land mass separate from Europe/Asia. Mr. Cartier spent his later years in Saint-Malo and his nearby estate, and died during an epidemic, possibly typhus, on September 1, 1557 at the age of 65.

520 years ago
1501

War
The First Battle of Cannanore commenced at Cannanore, India between Portuguese Empire forces commmanded by João da Nova and the Zamorin people of Calicut. It marked one of the earliest recorded deliberate uses of a naval line of battle, and for resolving the battle by cannon alone. The battle ended in a Portuguese victory two days later.

330 years ago
1691

Died on this date
Robert Boyle, 64. Irish chemist and physicist. Mr. Boyle was one of the pioneers of the modern scientific method, and was best known for Boyle's law, which describes the inversely proportional relationship between the absolute pressure and volume of a gas, if the temperature is kept constant within a closed system. He's largely regarded today as the founder of modern chemistry; his book The Sceptical Chymist (1661) was a major text in the history of chemistry. Mr. Boyle was an alchemist, but his experiments were unsuccessful. He was a devout Anglican, and believed that evidence from nature could provide evidence for the existence of God. Mr. Boyle died from paralysis after more than 20 years of declining health.

225 years ago
1796

Americana
Baltimore was officially incorporated as a city.

140 years ago
1881

Crime
Charles Guiteau, recently convicted of the assassination of U.S. President James A. Garfield, wrote a New Year's greeting to his jailer.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Dal Stivens. Australian writer. Mr. Stivens produced six novels and eight collections of short stories, often based on Australian folk tales, from 1936-1976, with his popularity peaking in the 1940s and '50s. He was also a naturalist and artist, and wrote non-fiction under several pseudonyms. Mr. Stivens died on June 15, 1997 at the age of 85.

100 years ago
1921

Died on this date
Boies Penrose, 61. U.S. politician. Mr. Penrose, a Republican, represented Philadelphia County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1885) and represented the 6th District in the Pennsylvania Senate (1887-1897). He represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate from 1897 until his death from a pulmonary thrombosis in his Washington penthouse in the last hour of 1921.

90 years ago
1931

Weather
Henderson Lake, British Columbia ended the year with a record total of 319.78 inches of rain, making it the wettest place on record in Canadian history.

Economics and finance
The Canadian stock index plunged 37.2% and Gross National Product declined 12.7%, making it the worst business year on record in the country.

80 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): It's a Great Day for the Irish--Judy Garland; The Jesters (1st month at #1)

On television tonight
The first televised New Year’s Eve special aired on WNBT in New York. It consisted of entertainment from the Rainbow Room, atop the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center.

Died on this date
Sol Hess, 69. U.S. writer. Mr. Hess and Wallace Carlson created the comic strip The Nebbs in 1923, with Mr. Hess providing the writing and Mr. Carlson doing the illustrating. Mr. Hess died of a heart attack at his apartment in the Shoreham Hotel in Chicago. His daughter Betsy and her husband Stanley Baer took over the writing for The Nebbs after Mr. Hess's death, and by 1947 had folded the strip into another strip of theirs, The Toodle Family.

War
Admiral Chester Nimitz assumed command of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet in a simple ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan demanded that U.S. forces in the Philippines surrender, and rejected the designation of Manila as an open city. U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur reported that his forces were consistently falling back in the face of heavy Japanese assaults.

Diplomacy
Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy, and Japan.

The German government announced that German Ambassador to Argentina Baron Edmund von Thermann had been recalled.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Jesse Jones as a member of the Supply Priorities and Allocation Board.

Communications
The U.S. Justice Department extended its ban on the possession of shortwave wireless sets and hand cameras by enemy aliens to cover the entire country, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department filed civil suits in Chicago against the National Broadcasting Company and Columbia Broadcasting System, charging that through their ownership of key stations and the use of exclusive contracts the two chains almost completely dominated the country's broadcasting industry.

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sioux City Sue--Bing Crosby; Kate Smith (1st month at #1)

War
U.S. President Harry S. Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II, terminating his emergency powers and 20 wartime control laws. He admitted that the move was an attempt to cooperate with the new Republican-controlled Congress.

World events
Yugoslavia released Ray Stoeckel, an American jailed on espionage charges.

Politics and government
The Soviet newspaper Izvestia assailed the merger of the British and American occupation zones in Germany as a violation of the 1945 Potsdam agreement.

The Republican Party steering committee voted to oppose the seating of Senator Theodore G. Bilbo (Democrat--Mississippi) in the new Congress to take office on January 3, 1947, because of speeches he had made in opposition to Negro voting, and accusations of graft. Mr. Bilbo had first been elected to the Senate in 1934.

Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan General Douglas MacArthur stated in Tokyo that Japan had made "major advances" toward establishing a democratic social and political system.

Energy
U.S. President Truman signed an executive order turning the Army's atomic energy facilities over to the Atomic Energy Commission.

Health
Mexican cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs were banned from the United States because of an epidemic of hoof and mouth disease.

Labour
The U.S. National Labor Relations Board recognized the right of supervisory workers to organize when it ordered Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation to bargain with a United Mine Workers of America affiliate that accepted foremen as members.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Of Time and Third Avenue, starring Henry Daniell, Edward Gargan, and Bethel Leslie

Died on this date
Maxim Litvinov, 75. U.S.S.R. politician and diplomat. Mr. Litvinov, born Meir Henoch Wallach, joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) in Kiev in 1898 when the party was an illegal organization, and adopted the name Maxim Litvinov. He was arrested in 1901 and spent 18 months in captivity, but escaped, and spent several years in exile in Geneva and London. Mr. Litvinov met V.I. Lenin in 1903, and joined the Bolsheviks, returning to Russia during the 1905 Revolution. He fled the country again in 1906, and lived in England from 1908-1918, returning to Moscow late in 1918. Mr. Litvinov served as a diplomat during the 1920s, advocating disarmament and favouring Soviet support of the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, which outlawed war as an instrument of national policy. He proposed the Litvinov Protocol, in which signatories formally proclaimed themselves in mutual compliance with the goals of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. It was signed in Moscow in February 1929 by the Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Latvia, and Estonia, and later by several other countries. Mr. Litvinov was People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (1930-1939), and was successful in obtaining American recognition of the Soviet Union. He was dismissed for holding anti-German views, while dictator Josef Stalin was negotiating a non-aggression pact with Germany. Mr. Litvinov served as Soviet Ambassador to the United States (1941-1943), and was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1943-1946), but was dismissed after giving an interview to an American journalist in which he stated his belief that war between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. was inevitable. Mr. Litvinov reportedly died of a heart attack in Moscow after suffering serious heart problems, but there were rumours that he was assassinated on Mr. Stalin's instructions to the MVD (Interior Ministry), dying from injuries received after a truck deliberately collided with his car as he rounded a bend on the way to his dacha.

War
Communist negotiators at Panmunjom agreed to furnish information on 50,000 United Nations soldiers--mostly South Koreans--believed to have been taken prisoner but not accounted for on lists submitted by the Communist truce team.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden departed aboard the Queen Mary for New York. The purpose of the trip was to have talks with U.S. President Harry Truman in Washington, followed by a visit to Canada for talks with Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent.

Terrorism
Egyptian extremists announced that they would pay any "partisan patriot" $2,800 for killing British Suez Zone commander General George Erskine, and $280 for killing any other British officer.

World events
The Bolivian government ordered a New Year's Day amnesty for 35 members of the rightist National Revolutionary Movement exiled or jailed for participating in a revolutionary plot.

Energy
Inventor Philip Ohmart announded the development of a radioelectric cell capable of converting radioactive energy into electric energy.

Economics and finance
After distributing more than $13.3 billion in U.S. aid to European countries since 1948, the Marshall Plan expired; its functions would be taken over by the new U.S. Mutual Security Agency.

U.S. Mutual Security Administrator Paul Porter announced in Madrid that the United States would give Spain financial aid under a bilateral arrangement similar to Yugoslavia's.

Labour
United Steelworkers of America President Philip Murray ordered 30,000 Kaiser Aluminum and Aluminum Company of America workers to continue working under their old contracts through January 1947, ending the threat of a strike in the aluminum industry.

60 years ago
1961

Television
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland's state broadcaster, launched its first national television service at 7 P.M., with an address by Irish President Eamon De Valera. Messages from John Cardinal d'Alton and Taoiseach Seán Lemass followed, and then a live concert, hosted by Radio Éireann chairman Eamonn Andrews, was broadcast from the Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The show, which was a countdown to the New Year, included appearances by tenor Patrick O'Hagan, the Artane Boys' Band, and Michael O'Hehir.

Music
The Beach Boys made their first live appearance, playing three songs--including their debut single, Surfin'-- as part of a Ritchie Valens memorial concert at Long Beach Civic Auditorium in Long Beach, California. Ike & Tina Turner were the headline act.

Football
NFL
Championship @ City Stadium, Green Bay
New York 0 @ Green Bay 37

Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr threw 2 touchdown passes to Ron Kramer and another to Boyd Dowler, and Paul Hornung rushed for a touchdown and kicked 4 converts and 3 field goals as the Packers routed the Giants before 39,029 fans in the first NFL championship game ever played in Green Bay. The score was 0-0 after the 1st quarter, but the Packers scored 24 points in the 2nd quarter and 10 more in the 3rd. It was Green Bay's first NFL championship since 1944, and their first under head coach Vince Lombardi. Hear the radio broadcast here, here, here, here, here, and here.



50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey--Paul & Linda McCartney (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Mamy Blue--Pop Tops (9th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Mammy Blue--Charisma (10th week at #1)
2 Get Me Some Help--Neville Whitmill
3 Amen--Peanutbutter Conspiracy
4 Butterfly--Danyel Gerard
5 Cousin Norman--Marmalade
6 You--Peter Maffay
7 The Desiderata--Les Crane
8 Never Ending Song of Love--The New Seekers
9 Soley Soley--Middle of the Road
10 Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast--Daniel Boone

The only single entering the chart was Tokoloshe Man by John Kongos (#17).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--The New Seekers
2 American Pie--Don McLean
3 Brand New Key--Melanie (2nd week at #1)
4 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
5 Day After Day--Badfinger
6 Devil You--Stampeders
7 Have You Seen Her--Chi-Lites
8 All I Really Need is You--Sonny & Cher
9 Can I Get a Witness--Lee Michaels
10 Stay with Me--Faces

Singles entering the chart were Never Been to Spain by Three Dog Night (#26); Black Dog by Led Zeppelin (#27); White Lies, Blue Eyes by Bullet (#28); Mexican Lady by Steel River (#29); and Levon by Elton John (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 American Pie--Don McLean
2 Day After Day--Badfinger
3 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
4 Life in the Bloodstream--The Guess Who
5 One Monkey Don't Stop No Show--The Honey Cone
6 Brand New Key--Melanie
7 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--The New Seekers
8 Respect Yourself--The Staple Singers
9 Love Me, Love Me, Love--Frank Mills
10 Hey Big Brother--Rare Earth

Singles entering the chart were Hallelujah by Sweathog (#27); I Turn to You by Spring (#33); Where Did Our Love Go by Donnie Elbert (#34); Anticipation by Carly Simon (#38); Mexican Lady by Steel River (#39); and Too True Mama by Crowfoot (#40).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
2 Do I Love You--Paul Anka
3 Day After Day--Badfinger
4 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
5 Lonesome Mary--Chilliwack
6 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
7 Take it Slow--Lighthouse
8 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean
9 The Desiderata--Les Crane
10 I Don't Need No Doctor--Humble Pie
Pick hit of the week: Brand New Key--Melanie

Died on this date
Pete Duel, 31. U.S. actor. Mr. Duel, born Peter Deuel, appeared in several television programs and movies. He co-starred in the television comedy series Love on a Rooftop (1966-1967), but was best known for playing Hannibal Heyes (alias Joshua Smith) in the Western series Alias Smith and Jones (1971), which was in its second season when Mr. Duel, who was suffering from depression and drinking heavily, committed suicide by shooting himself.

Hal Weaver, 28. Canadian disc jockey. Mr. Weaver began his career at CKRD in Red Deer; he worked in Edmonton (CJCA), Hamilton (CKOC), Toronto (CHUM), and Vancouver (CJOR, CKVN) before dying of cancer.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Physical--Olivia Newton-John (2nd week at #1)
2 Young Turks--Rod Stewart
3 Don't Stop Believin'--Journey
4 Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
5 Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham
6 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
7 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Private Eyes--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner
10 Why Do Fools Fall in Love--Diana Ross

Singles entering the chart were Tainted Love by Soft Cell (#18); and Hooked on Classics by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (#20).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CFRN)
1 Hooked on Classics--The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (3rd week at #1)
2 Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
3 Comin' In and Out of Your Life--Barbra Streisand
4 Yesterday's Songs--Neil Diamond
5 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
6 Come Go with Me--The Beach Boys
7 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 I Wouldn't Have Missed it for the World--Ronnie Milsap
9 Cool Night--Paul Davis
10 She's Got a Way--Billy Joel

World events
A coup d'état in Ghana removed President Hilla Limann's People's National Party (PNP) government and replaced it with the Provisional National Defence Council, led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings. Fl. Lt. Rawlings had previously seized power in June 1979, and handed it over to Mr. Limann and the PNP three months later.

30 years ago
1991

World events
As of this date, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ceased to exist, as all official Soviet Union institutions ceased operations.

Terrorism
17 Haitian Liberation Organization activists surrendered to police after occupying the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince for six weeks.

25 years ago
1996

Died on this date
Wesley Addy, 83. U.S. actor. Mr. Addy was a character actor in numerous plays, television programs, and movies. His films included Seconds (1966); Tora! Tora! Tora! 1970) and The Verdict (1982).

Music
About 4,000 people made their way to the remote location of Canaan Downs, Tākaka, New Zealand to take part in the first Gathering, a two-day festival for electronic dance music fans.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Eileen Heckart, 82. U.S. actress. Miss Heckart, born Anna Eileen Herbert, had a career spanning nearly 60 years, usually playing supporting roles in plays, movies, and television programs. She won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for her supporting performance in Butterflies are Free (1972); two Emmy Awards; and a Tony Award in 2000 for lifetime achievement. Miss Heckart died of lung cancer.

Politics and government
Eduardo Camano assumed the position of acting President of Argentina, the day after the resignation of interim President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa.

10 years ago
2011

Space
The United States succeeded in putting GRAIL A (Ebb), the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) satellites in orbit around the Moon. Grail B (FLow) followed 25 hours later. The spacecraft had been launched on September 10, 2011.



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