August 24, 2020

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sabbah Rose!

1,610 years ago
410

War
The Visigoths under king Alaric I began to pillage Rome.

1,125 years ago
895

Died on this date
Guthred. King of Northumbria, c. 883-895. Guthred was reportedly made King of Viking Northumbria after the expulsion of Halfdan. An invasion from Scotland was repelled during Guthred's reign.

820 years ago
1200

Married on this date
King John of England married Isabella of Angoulême in Angoulême Cathedral.

330 years ago
1690

Indianica
Job Charnock of the East India Company established a factory in Calcutta, an event then considered the founding of the city.

250 years ago
1770

Died on this date
Thomas Chatterton, 17. U.K. poet. Mr. Chatterton was a child prodigy who was known for his romantic poems, attributing many of them to an imaginary 15th century poet named Thomas Rowley. He was unable to make a satisfactory living with his poetry, and committed suicide by drinking arsenic. Mr. Chatterton influenced later poets such as Percy Shelley, John Keats, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

200 years ago
1820

World events
A constitutionalist insurrection took place in Oporto, Portugal.

150 years ago
1870

War
The Wolseley expedition, authorized by Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, reached Manitoba with the purpose of ending the Red River Rebellion led by Louie Riel.

130 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Duke Kahanamoku. Hawaiian-born U.S. swimmer and surfer. Mr. Kahanamoku won 5 medals in swimming in the Summer Olympic Games in 1912,, 1920, and 1924, and was credited with popularizing surfing. He died on January 22, 1968 at the age of 77.

125 years ago
1895

Died on this date
Albert F. Mummery, 39. U.K. mountaineer. Mr. Mummery achieved numerous first ascents in the Alps, but was killed, along with Gurkhas Ragobir Thapa and Goman Singh, in an avalanche while while reconnoitering the Rakhiot Face of Nanga Parbat in the Himalayas, 17 days before his 40th birthday.

100 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Alex Colville. Canadian artist. Mr. Colville, a native of Toronto, was a painter who served with the Canadian Army as an artist during World War II. He taught at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick (1946-1963), and settled in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 1973. Mr. Colville's paintings included Horse and Train (1954) and To Prince Edward Island (1965). He died from a heart condition on July 16, 2013 at the age of 92.

90 years ago
1930

Died on this date
Tom Norman, 70. U.K. showman. Mr. Norman, born Thomas Noakes, was a butcher before making his name as a freak show manager. He briefly managed and exhibited Joseph Merrick ("The Elephant Man") in the mid-1880s, and later became an auctioneer of novelty shows and circuses. Mr. Norman died of throat cancer.

80 years ago
1940

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Never Smile Again--Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers) (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, 80. German inventor. Mr. Nipkow invented the Lipkow disk, an important component of mechanical television transmission. He died two days after his 80th birthday.

Ed Hallinan, 52. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hallinan was a shortstop with the St. Louis Browns from 1911-1912, batting .212 with no home runs and 15 runs batted in in 80 games. He played in the Pacific Coast League in 1908, 1910, and 1913-1916. Mr. Hallinan died the day after his 52nd birthday.

War
German bombers launched a 24-hour direct attack against Royal Air Force bases in Britain, causing severe damage. Italian forces bombed British military installations at Alexandria, Sidi Barrani, and Matrouh in Egypt.

Diplomacy
Hungary broke off negotiations with Romania over the former's demands for the cession of Transylvania.

Defense
The United Kingdom and Bermuda announced the leasing of the Great Sound of Bermuda to the United States for an airplane base.

Politics and government
Harry Hopkins resigned as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Jesse Jones to replace him.

Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate Wendell Willkie called for the creation of an air force cabinet post.

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers, behind the pitching of Tommy Bridges (8-8), whipped the Boston Red Sox 12-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 29,209 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Ted Williams pitched the last 2 innings for the Red Sox, allowing 3 hits and 1 run. He faced Rudy York, who had driven in 5 runs for Detroit, and struck him out on 3 pitches. Joe Glenn relieved Jimmie Foxx at catcher and batted 1 for 2 in his 248th and last major league game. In the second game, the Tigers scored 4 runs in the 8th inning to take a 7-5 lead, but the Red Sox came back with a run in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to win 8-7.

75 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Midori Naka, 36. Japanese actress. Miss Naka was a stage actress with the Sakura-tai troupe, all of whom moved to Hiroshima in June 1945. When the U.S. atomic bomb "Little Boy" exploded over Hiroshima on August 6, 13 of the 17 actors died instantly. Three of the others predeceased Miss Naka, who died in hospital in Tokyo, and became the first person whose death was officially attributed to "radiation poisoning."

Radio
Because of needs in the populous northeast, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission revised its rules for frequency modulation, increasing from 70 to 80 the channels originally allocated to FM.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. agreed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and to avoid interference in Chinese internal affairs.

Former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for American Affairs Nelson Rockefeller charged that the Argentine government of President Juan Peron had failed to carry out pledges as a signatory to the Act of Chapultepec.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman directed administrative assistant Samuel Rosenman to study the proposal to merge the War and Navy Departments.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board removed all controls on automobile output and lifted restrictions on the use of paper by all branches of the publishing industry except newspapers.

70 years ago
1950

Diplomacy
Edith Sampson was appointed to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations, becoming the first Negro to hold such a post.

Defense
The U.S. Army announced that it would order an additional 47,000 enlisted reservists onto active duty in the near future.

Politics and government
The Council of Europe's Consultative Assembly passed a resolution favouring a uniform, "equally high" social security code for all member countries.

The U.S.A. announced plans to discontinue the entry of Cubans in order to guard against the admission of Communists and other undesirables. The Cuban government banned Communist newspapers, and arrested several Communist leaders as a security measure.

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee rejected requests for $475,000 to establish the National Science Foundation and for $24 million for an Agriculture Department foot-and-mouth disease research station in Rhode Island.

Society
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company announced that its Stuyvesant Town housing project in New York would amit "qualified Negro tenants."

Economics and finance
Commodity Credit Corporation announced that it had lost $249 million by supporting farm prices during the past fiscal year.

Labour
A U.S. federal court of appeals in San Francisco freed International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union President Harry Bridges from prison on $25,000 bail, reversing the decision of a lower court. The U.S. government was attempting to deport Mr. Bridges, a native of Australia, for lying about his Communist past.

Baseball
Vern Stephens hit a grand slam in the 9th inning to give the Boston Red Sox their ninth straight win, 6-2 over the St. Louis Browns before 7,340 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Walt Masterson (6-4) allowed 8 hits as he outduelled Ned Garver (9-13).

Early Wynn (15-5) and Bob Lemon (19-7) were the respective winning pitchers as the Cleveland Indians swept a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals 3-1 and 5-3 before 20,628 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

The Detroit Tigers scored 2 runs in each of the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings as they came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 6-3 before 38,929 fans at Yankee Stadium, moving 2½ games ahead of the Yankees and Indians in the American League pennant race. Hal Newhouser (11-8) pitched a 9-hit complete game victory over Tommy Byrne (13-7).

The Boston Braves scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th inning and withstood a 6-run rally in the bottom of the 9th to defeat the Chicago Cubs 11-9 in the first game of a doubleheader before 23,083 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Chicago left fielder Hank Sauer drove in 5 runs with a pair of home runs and a double, while Boston shortstop Buddy Kerr hit 2 doubles and a single, driving in 4 runs. Preston Ward singled with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning and Mr. Sauer followed with a run-scoring single to provide the deciding run as the Cubs won the second game 4-3. The Braves scored a run in the 9th and had runners on first and second bases with 2 out, but Roy Hartsfield grounded into a force play to end the game.

Gil Hodges singled to lead off the 5th inning and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Pee Wee Reese for the game's only run as the Brooklyn Dodgers edged the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 14,196 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Preacher Roe (17-7) pitched an 8-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Ewell Blackwell (12-13), who allowed 6 hits. The Dodgers scored 2 runs in each of the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings as they won the second game 7-3 to complete the sweep. Joe Hatten (2-2) pitched an 8-hit complete game victory.

Bubba Church (6-2) pitched a 5-hitter and didn't allow an earned run for the Philadelphia Phillies as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 before 9,096 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Vern Law (3-6) took the loss.

Pinch hitter Clint Hartung doubled home Jack Lohrke and Whitey Lockman with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to enable the New York Giants to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 before 12,812 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Cardinals had runners on first and third bases with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, but Sal Maglie entered the game and retired Eddie Kazak and Tommy Glaviano to end the game.

60 years ago
1960

Baseball
The New York Yankees edged the Chicago White Sox 3-2 before 32,116 fans at Yankee Stadium to move 1½ games ahead of the White Sox in the American League pennant race. Both Chicago runs came on solo home runs by Roy Sievers, who also had a double and a base on balls in 4 plate appearances. Art Ditmar (13-7) allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 8.2 innings to outduel Herb Score (4-8), who allowed 4 hits and 3 earned runs in 7 innings.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 5 runs in the 2nd inning and 4 in the 7th as they beat the Detroit Tigers 9-2 before 15,147 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, moving into a tie with the White Sox. Jack Fisher (9-9) pitched a 7-hit complete game and batted 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 runs batted in.

Gordy Coleman singled to lead off the 13th inning and scored from second base on a 2-out single by Vada Pinson to break a 2-2 tie as the Cincinnati Reds edged the San Francisco Giants 3-2 before 11,061 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Joe Nuxhall, the second of four Cincinnati pitchers, allowed 9 hits but just 1 run--earned--in 9.2 innings with no decision, while Mike McCormick (11-9) allowed 9 hits and 3 earned runs in a complete game loss.

Roberto Clemente batted 4 for 5 with a home run, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in, while Bill Virdon was 4 for 5 with a double and run to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 10-6 before 15,268 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Clemente's home run followed a 2-run homer by Dick Stuart as the Pirates broke a 6-6 tie in the 9th inning.

50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): El Condor Pasa--Simon & Garfunkel

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ai wa Kizutsuki Yasuku--Hide & Rosanna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Un Rayo De Sol--Los Diablos (13th week at #1)

Died on this date
Robert Fassnacht, 33. U.S. scientist. Dr. Fassnacht, a post-doctoral physics researcher, was killed and four others were injured in an explosion at the University of Wisconsin at Madison that demolished the Army Mathematics Research Center. The blast, the work of four young anti-Vietnam War protesters, destroyed the life work of several scholars and damaged classrooms in adjacent buildings. A $1.5-million computer was destroyed in the explosion and ensuing fire.

Diplomacy
A crowd of 25,000 greeted U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew on his arrival in Seoul, where he pledged that the U.S. administration of President Richard Nixon would provide funds to modernize the Republic of Korea’s 600,000-man military forces. The crowd listened impassively and only a few applauded Mr. Agnew’s remarks.

40 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Locomotion--Ritz (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Donna Musica--Collage (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Yootha Joyce, 53. U.K. actress. Yootha Joyce Needham was a comic actress who appeared in several movies and television programs, but was best known for playing Mildred Roper in the television comedy series Man About the House (1973-1976) and its spin-off, George and Mildred (1976-1979). She drank herself to death.

Protest
In a further concession to striking shipyard workers, Polish Communist leader Edward Gierek purged hard-liners, including Prime Minister Edward Babiuch, three full members of the Politburo, and 11 other top officials, from the party. He also pledged the allowance of an "unlimited number of candidates" in union elections, to replace the current practice of having outgoing representatives propose almost all of the candidates, which enabled them to hold on to their power. Solidarity union leader Lech Walesa vowed that the strikes would continue, saying of Mr. Gierek’s concessions, "It’s a patching up of holes. We want something new."

Baseball
Gene Mauch, in his 5th season as manager of the Minnesota Twins, resigned following the team’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Twins were in sixth and last place in the American league West Division with a record of 54-71.

30 years ago
1990

At the movies
After Dark, My Sweet, starring Jason Patric, Rachel Ward, and Bruce Dern, opened in theatres.



Defense
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney ordered the destroyers Athabascan, Terra Nova, and the supply ship Protecteur, with 934 personnel, to the Persian Gulf.

Diplomacy
Canadian Chargé d'affaires William Bowden refused to close the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait City, as ordered by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Five other Canadians and 17 Kuwaiti employees were left with no water or electricity.

Economics and finance
A binational free trade panel ruled in favour of Canadian pork producers, saying that the U.S. International Trade Commission was wrong to put an $8/kilogram tariff on Canadian products.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds released first baseman and outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. Mr. Griffey had played with the Reds from 1973-1981 before going to the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves before rejoining the Reds in 1988. The 40-year-old Mr. Griffey was batting .206 with 1 home run and 8 runs batted in in 46 games with Cincinnati. His release gave him the opportunity to sign with the Seattle Mariners, where his son Ken, Jr., 20, was playing.

The San Diego Padres signed pitcher Atlee Hammaker as a free agent. Mr. Hammaker, whose career had been plagued by arm problems, had been with the San Francisco Giants from 1982 until being released during the 1990 season. In 25 games with San Francisco in 1990, Mr. Hammaker was 4-5 with an earned run average of 4.28.

The day after losing the first game of a crucial four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox scored 2 runs in the 9th inning to defeat the Blue Jays 2-0 before 49,914 fans at SkyDome in Toronto to move 2 games ahead of the Blue Jays in the American League East Division pennant race. Dana Kiecker pitched 8 innings to get the win. This blogger was in Toronto that weekend, and despite the fact that all four of the games were televised locally, scalpers were selling standing-room seats for $200.

Bill Spiers scored on a wild pitch with 2 out in the top of the 5th inning for the only run of the game as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the New York Yankees 1-0 before 20,191 fans at Yankee Stadium. Mark Knudson allowed 6 hits in 7 innings to get the win over Tim Leary, who allowed just 5 hits in pitching a complete game and dropping to 7-16 for the season.

The Kansas City Royals scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 before 30,888 fans at Royals Stadium. Willie Wilson led off the bottom of the 9th with a home run to tie the game. Kurt Stilwell and Mike Macfarlane walked, and Mr. Stilwell went to third base when Kevin Seitzer grounded into a double play. Steve Jeltz then walked and advanced to second base on defensive indifference, and Brian McRae followed with an infield single to score Mr. Stilwell with the winning run to end the game.

Jeff Kunkel doubled home 2 runs in the 7th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins before 22,321 fans at Arlington Stadium. Craig McMurtry, John Barfield, and Brad Arnsberg combined to pitch a 4-hit shutout, with Mr. Barfield getting the win. Mark Guthrie allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Roberto Alomar singled home Bip Roberts for the first run and scored the second on a single by Tony Gwynn as the San Diego Padres scored 2 runs with 2 out in the 3rd inning and held on to defeat the Montreal Expos 2-1 before 17,473 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Andy Benes allowed 3 hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win over Dennis Martinez, who allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 innings. Tim Raines led off the 7th inning with a home run for the only Montreal run.

The San Francisco Giants scored 8 runs in the 2nd inning as they routed the Philadelphia Phillies 13-2 before 15,961 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Kevin Mitchell drove in 3 runs with a double in the 2nd inning and came around to score, and added another run with his 28th home run of the season in the 7th. Mark Dewey made his major league debut with the Giants, allowing 2 hits but no runs as he pitched the 9th inning.

Kevin McReynolds' second home run of the game provided the winning run as the New York Mets edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 before 48,358 fans at Dodger Stadium. Dwight Gooden allowed 6 hits in 8 2/3 innings and recorded 11 strikeouts to improve his 1990 record to 14-6.

25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Shy Guy--Diana King (3rd week at #1)

World events
Harry Wu, a native of China who had moved to the United States in 1985 and become an American citizen in 1994, was convicted of spying and expelled from China, two months after being arrested while attempting to enter China from Kazakhstan. Mr. Wu had spent 19 years in Chinese labour camps for criticizing the Communist Party, and had returned to China undercover several times, videotaping prison conditions.

Politics and government
The parliament of Georgia approved the country's first constitution since Georgia had become independent of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. The constitution created the office of president, as both head of state and head of government.

Technology
The Microsoft Windows 95 computer operating system was released to the public in North America.

20 years ago
2000

Economics and finance
British Columbia announced that its booming economy allowed the province to record a surplus in 1999-2000, the first in a decade.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (4-4) 51 @ Toronto (1-6-1) 4

The game was as lopsided as the score: the Lions rolled up 30 first downs to 7 for the Argonauts, and 513 yards net offense to 87 for Toronto. Quarterback Damon Allen completed 15 of 22 passes for 257 yards and touchdowns to Alfred Jackson and Don Blair, while running for a touchdown himself. Robert Drummond rushed 14 times for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns, while backup quarterback Doug Nussmeier rushed for another B.C. touchdown. Lui Passaglia added 6 converts and 3 field goals. Only 11,350 fans were on hand at SkyDome to witness the debacle. The game was a successful debut for Steve Buratto as head coach of the Lions; it was his first game as a head coach in the CFL since 1985, and his first win since 1984. The Argonauts’ pathetic performance marked the end of the line for John Huard as head coach; he was replaced by Mike "Pinball" Clemons, who continued as a player for a few more games.



10 years ago
2010

Crime
In San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, 72 illegal immigrants were killed by Los Zetas drug cartel and eventually found dead by Mexican authorities.

Disasters
Henan Airlines Flight 8387, an Embraer E190 LR en route from Harbin, crashed at Yichun Lindu Airport in Yichun, Heilongjiang, China, killing 44 of the 96 people on board.