Tuesday 6 January 2009

November 16, 2008

200 years ago
1808


Died on this date
Mustafa IV, 29
. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1807-1808. Mustafa IV, the son of Sultan Abdul Hamid I, participated in the overthrow of his cousin Selim III. Sultan Mustafa ordered the murders of both his younger brother Mahmud and his cousin Selim at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul in order to eliminate rivals. When, upon his orders, guards displayed the dead body of Sultan Selim III, Mustafa IV assumed that Mahmud had also been murdered; however, the prince had been hiding, and when he revealed himself, Mustafa was deposed on July 28, 1808, with his brother taking the throne as Sultan Mahmud II. Mustafa IV was killed on the orders of his younger brother.

180 years ago
1828


Diplomacy
The London Protocol was signed by representatives of the United Kingdom, France, and Russia, entailing the creation of an autonomous Greek state under Ottoman suzerainty, encompassing the Morea and the Cyclades.

170 years ago
1838


Died on this date
Edgeworth Ussher, 34
. Canadian militia leader. Captain Ussher served in the 3rd Regiment of the Lincoln Militia during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. He was shot to death on the front step of his home in Chippewa, Upper Canada by republican rebel Benjamin Lett in reprisal for his participation in the destruction of the American vessel steamer Caroline.

War
The four-day Battle of the Windmill at Prescott, Upper Canada ended in defeat for republican forces led by Colonel Nils Von Schoultz, with 137 members of his Hunters Lodges surrendering to British regular troops and Upper Canadian militia. Rebel losses were estimated at 80; British and Canadian losses were 16 dead and 60 wounded. Meanwhile, republican rebels fought against militiamen at Pakenham, Upper Canada.

120 years ago
1888


Born on this date
Luis Cluzeau Mortet
. Uruguayan musician and composer. Mr. Mortet was a violinist who performed with Ossodre (SODRE Symphony Orchestra) from 1931-1946 before he had to retire because of a hearing problem. He wrote songs for piano, instrumental works for piano, and symphonic music. Mr. Mortet died on August 28, 1957 at the age of 68.

100 years ago
1908


Died on this date
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, 78
. French-born Canadian politician. Sir Henri, who added "de Lotbinière" to his surname in 1888, was a Liberal who represented Lotbinière in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1861-1867. He represented Lotbinière in the Quebec Legislative Assembly from 1867-1885, while also representing Lotbinière in the federal House of Commons from 1867-1874. Sir Henri was Premier of Quebec from 1878-1879. He returned to politics by representing Portneuf in the House of Commons from 1896-1900, and served as Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia from 1900-1906. Sir Henri died 19 days before his 79th birthday.

90 years ago
1918


Defense
Major General Ants Kurvits was named commander of the Estonian Defence League in Tartu County.

80 years ago
1928


Diplomacy
Georges-Jean Knight, the first French Ambassador to Canada, presented his credentials to Governor General Baron Willingdon.

Declaring that he did not care to go to Geneva as the representative of a government that contained no parties of the left, Joseph-Paul Boncour announced his resignation as France's delegate to the League of Nations.

Economics and finance
On the New York Stock Exchange, 6,546,490 shares were dealt in.

75 years ago
1933


Diplomacy
The United States and U.S.S.R. established diplomatic relations.

70 years ago
1938


Science
Albert Hofmann, working at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland, first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).

Hockey
NHL
The Boston Bruins traded goaltender Tiny Thompson to the Detroit Red Wings for goaltender Normie Smith and $15,000, and called up goaltender Frank Brimsek from the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League.

60 years ago
1948


Died on this date
Frederick Cottrell, 71
. U.S. chemist. Dr. Cottrell was best known for his invention of the electrostatic precipitator, one of the first inventions designed to eliminate air pollution. In 1912 he founded the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, which continues to fund scientific advancement. Dr. Cottrell died of a heart ailment while attending a convention of the National Academy of Sciences.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. agreed to "immediate conversations" on the Berlin issue, but refused to lift the blockade as a precondition. U.S. President Harry Truman reiterated Western refusal to negotiate on Berlin while the blockade remained in effect.

Defense
The U.S. Navy commissioned the 17,000-ton destroyer USS Des Moines, the largest heavy cruiser in the world.

Politics and government
U.S.S.R. authorities in Berlin dismissed the non-Communist directors of the municipal economics and public utilities departments, establishing separate agencies for the Soviet sector.

Business
A U.S. House of Representatives investigating subcommittee headed by Rep. Kingsland Macy (Republican--New York) ended two days of hearings on the automobile sales business by charging that customers had been cheated of $450 million during the first part of 1948 through special charges for prompt delivery, required purchases of accessories, and other illegal arrangements.

50 years ago
1958


On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Man with a Problem, starring Gary Merrill, Mark Richman, and Elizabeth Montgomery

Politics and government
In the first parliamentary election in Hungary since the 1956 revolution, the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party, led by General Secretary János Kádár, received 99.6% of the vote, taking 276 of 338 seats. The remaining seats went to 62 pro-Communist independent candidates.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and India signed a five-year trade agreement in Moscow providing for the exchange of Soviet industrial and agricultural equipment for Indian farm commodities.

Labour
Striking Chrysler Corporation office workers returned to work after United Auto Workers of America President Walter Reuther negotiated a three-year contract providing "substantial progress" on job security in addition to raises of about $2.53 per week.

Football
NFL
Baltimore (7-1) 17 @ Chicago Bears (5-3) 0

40 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Hey Jude/Revolution--The Beatles (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Picking Up Pebbles--Cornelia; Little Arrows--Leapy Lee

#1 single in France: Hey Jude--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Applausi--I Camaleonti (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Heidschi Bumbeidschi--Heintje (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): My Little Lady--The Tremeloes (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): With a Little Help from My Friends--Joe Cocker

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hey Jude--The Beatles (8th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Heidschi Bumbeidschi--Heintje (3rd week at #1)
2 With a Little Help from My Friends--Joe Cocker
3 My Little Lady--The Tremeloes
4 Lea--The Cats
5 White Room--Cream
6 Only One Woman--The Marbles
7 Listen to Me/Do the Best You Can--The Hollies
8 Ik Ben Met Jou niet Getrouwd--Tony Bass
9 Hey Jude--The Beatles
10 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
--Sandie Shaw

Singles entering the chart were Just a Little Bit of Peace in My Heart by Golden Earrings (#17); Starstruck by the Kinks (#29); Battle Hymn of the Republic by Andy Williams (#35); Ride My See-Saw by the Moody Blues (#38); and Henry the Horse by Gee Bros (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (2nd week at #1)
2 Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes
3 Hey Jude--The Beatles
4 Little Green Apples--O.C. Smith
5 Magic Carpet Ride--Steppenwolf
6 White Room--Cream
7 Elenore--The Turtles
8 Hold Me Tight--Johnny Nash
9 Midnight Confessions--The Grass Roots
10 Bang-Shang-A-Lang--The Archies

Singles entering the chart were See Saw by Aretha Franklin (#57); Cloud Nine by the Temptations (#61); Ballad of Two Brothers by Autry Inman (#72); Scarborough Fair by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 (#73); I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye (#78); A Man and a Half by Wilson Pickett (#79); I Can't Turn You Loose by the Chambers Brothers (#82); Till by the Vogues (#84); People by the Tymes (#87); Soulful Strut by Young-Holt Unlimited (#93); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (#97); Come On, React! by the Fireballs (#98); Run to Me by the Montanas (#99); and Ramblin' Gamblin' Man by the Bob Seger System (#100). Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a version of the title song of the movie.

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Revolution/Hey Jude--The Beatles (9th/3rd week at #1)
2 Cinnamon--Derek
3 Little Arrows--Leapy Lee
4 Abraham, Martin and John--Dion
5 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
6 Bitter Green--Gordon Lightfoot
7 Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)--Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus
8 Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes
9 Elephant Candy--The Fun and Games
10 Elenore--The Turtles
Pick hit of the week: Snakes and Ladders--The Original Caste

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Proton 4, the last in a series of satellites designed to study the energy spectrum and the chemical composition of cosmic rays. At 19 tons it was the largest automatic space station yet put into Earth orbit, and was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Politics and government
12 days of talks in Salisbury between British and Rhodesian negotiators concluded without a resolution of the constitutional dispute dividing the countries. U.K. negotiator George Thomson declared on his departure for London that Rhodesia's refusal to accept the British demand that black Africans be protected against new racial laws by a right of appeal to the British Privy Council remained the principal stumbling block to an agreement.

Protest
Student sit-in strikes continued in Czechoslovakia in protest against Soviet occupation of the country.

Football
CFL
Western Finals
Calgary 32 @ Saskatchewan 0 (Calgary led best-of-three series 1-0)

Terry Evanshen, Gerry Shaw, and Dave Cranmer scored offensive touchdowns, while Rick Shaw returned an interception for another TD, as the Stampeders routed the Roughriders before 18,833 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Larry Robinson converted all 4 touchdowns and added a field goal and a single.



NCAA
Wisconsin (0-9) 9 @ Michigan (8-1) 34

Michigan running back Ron Johnson set an NCAA record for a single game with 347 yards rushing on 31 carries--an average of 11.2 yards per carry--as he led the Wolverines over the Badgers at University of Michigan Stadium. Mr. Johnson scored 5 touchdowns, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Red Grange of Illinois scored 5 in a game against Michigan in 1924. The Wolverines trailed 9-7 at halftime, but outscored their opponents 27-0 in the 2nd half.

30 years ago
1978


Hockey
NHL
Toronto 6 @ Boston 4
Montreal 3 @ Los Angeles 6

25 years ago
1983


Canadiana
While Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was conducting his "peace initiative" in Asia, his wife Margaret filed for divorce.

Society
U.S. Federal District Judge Leonard Wexler denied the request of the U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan for access to medical records of "Baby Jane Doe," a girl born on October 11 on Long Island, New York with several serious birth defects. The girl's parents had decided on a program of limited treatment, but rejected surgery, without which she would die within two years, according to her doctors. The doctors had said that even with surgery the girl would be severely retarded and bedridden. Judge Wexler asserted that the parents' decision "to refuse to the surgical procedure was a reasonable one based on due consideration of the medical options available and on a genuine concern for the best interests of the child."

War
Palestine Liberation Organization rebels overran a second refugee camp, PLO leader Yasser Arafat's last stronghold, and Mr. Arafat's troops moved their equipment into the streets of Tripoli, Lebanon. Israel bombed a Shiite Muslim militia base in eastern Lebanon that was suspected of having links to recent truck bombings in Lebanon.

The U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan announced that all U.S. combat troops in Grenada would be withdrawn by December 23.

Abominations
50 English soccer fans hooligans were arrested in Luxembourg after a night of violence following a European Championship match between the two nations' teams in Luxembourg.

20 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Sarah--Mauro Scocco

Politics and government
The Pakistan People's Party, led by Benazir Bhutto, captured 94 of 207 seats in the National Assembly in the Pakistani general election, with no other party winning more than 56 seats. Ms. Bhutto was the daughter of former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had been executed in 1979.

Law
Estonia's Supreme Soviet asserted the right to veto national laws affecting Estonia, in effect declaring the Baltic republic sovereign.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department, responding to the previous day's proclamation by the Palestine National Council of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, said that "implied or indirect reference to Israel's right to exist is not sufficient."

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher flew to Washington for a farewell visit with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who would be leaving office two months later.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. deficit in merchandise trade had declined to $10.46 billion in September.

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