June 24, 2014

700 years ago
1314

Born on this date
Philippa of Hainault. Queen consort of England, 1328-1369. Philippa was the wife of King Edward III. She died at the age of 55 on August 15, 1369.

War
In the First War of Scottish Independence, the Battle of Bannockburn concluded with a decisive victory by Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce over English forces led by King Edward II.

410 years ago
1604

Exploration
Samuel de Champlain discovered the mouth of the Saint John River, site of Reversing Falls and the present day city of Saint John, New Brunswick.

290 years ago
1724

Died on this date
Johann Theile, 77. German composer. Mr. Theile was an organist who composed choral works, most notably the opera Adam und Eva (1678).

225 years ago
1789

Canadiana
In front of British and American witnesses, Spanish explorer Esteban Jose Martinez performed a formal act of sovereignty, taking possession of the entire northwest coast of North America for Spain.

175 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Gustavus Franklin Swift. U.S. businessman. Mr. Swift began working in the meat industry in 1855, co-founding the meat-packing firm that was incorporated in 1885 as Swift & Co. He was responsible for introducing numerous technological innovations in meat-packing and use of animal byproducts. Mr. Swift died on March 29, 1803 at the age of 63.

130 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Frank Waller. U.S. athlete and musician. Mr. Waller won silver medals in the men's 400-metre run and 400-metre hurdles events at the 1904 Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis. He later served as a pianist accompanying singer Lillian Russell; as a voice coach with various classical singers; and as director of several orchestras. Mr. Waller died of a heart ailment on November 29, 1941 at the age of 57.

120 years ago
1894

Education
In London, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned the February 20 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, ruling that Roman Catholics in Manitoba had grounds for appeal of the acts passed by the provincial legislature abolishing government-supported Catholic schools.

110 years ago
1904

Canadiana
King Edward VII conferred the right to use the prefix "Royal" on the North-West Mounted Police, in recognition of 30 years of loyal service.

75 years ago
1939

Asiatica
Siam was renamed Thailand by Prime Minister Plaek Pibulsonggram.

Communications
The first transatlantic airmail flight departed from Shediac New Brunswick, landing at Foynes, Ireland.

70 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)--Harry James and his Music Makers with Dick Haymes (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

War
Royal Canadian Air Force Flight Lieutenant David Hornell his and crew were on anti-submarine patrol in an amphibious plane in Scotland's Shetland Islands when they tangled with a German U-Boat. They sank the sub with depth charges, but had to ditch their plane in rough seas. The crew took turns in the life raft,and were rescued the next day, but Lt. Hornell died from hypothermia. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. U.S. troops in Italy trapped a large German force on the Tyrrhenian coast between Grosseto and Follonica. Two Soviet Red Army units closed pincers from the north and south on Vitebsk. U.S. Marines scaled Mount Topatchau on Saipan, while the west coast town of Garapan and the Kagman Peninsula were also brought under Allied control. Allied troops broke into Mogaung, Burma and fought their way into the centre of town.

Diplomacy
Talks in Chungking between Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek and U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace ended with an agreement on war policies toward Japan and her disarmament at the war's end.

Technology
The American Physical Society revealed a motor operated by magnetic current from a magnet previously developed by Felix Ehrenhaft.

60 years ago
1954

On the radio
The Six Shooter, starring James Stewart, on NBC

Tonight's episode: Myra Barker

This was the last episode of the series, which ran just one season.

War
Vietminh troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment ambush G.M. 100 of France in An Khê in the Battle of Mang Yang Pass.

50 years ago
1964

Music
Instrumental tracks for the songs Frosty the Snowman and I'll Be Home for Christmas were recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California, with the musicians performing under the direction of Dick Reynolds. The Beach Boys recorded vocals for the songs five days later, and they appeared on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, released several months later.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Billy - Don't Be a Hero--Paper Lace (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ayudadme--Camilo Sesto (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Ken Phillips, 25. Canadian football player. Mr. Phillips, nicknamed "Porky Punter," played with the British Columbia Lions (1969-1972) and Edmonton Eskimos (1972), leading the Western Football Conference of the Canadian Football League in average yards per punt in 1970 (44.6) and 1971 (42.6). Mr. Phillips, a left-footed kicker, also handled placekicking duties for the Lions for most of the 1971 season, and on August 9, kicked 5 field goals in a 22-15 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, tying what was then the league record for field goals in a game. He played for the CFL All-Stars in the 1972 All-Star Game and missed 3 converts as the All-Stars lost 23-22 to the defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders, and it was the beginning of the end for Mr. Phillips' career. He was cut by the Lions after a poor performance in the season opener; the Eskimos activated him a month later, but he quit the team after getting injured in his first game. Mr. Phillips was a heavy smoker--he stuffed packs of cigarettes up the sleeves of his football uniform--and died of lung cancer in Vancouver eight days before his 26th birthday.

Music
The two-record album Endless Summer by the Beach Boys, a compilation of previously-released songs, was released on Capitol Records.

Terrorism
Sudanese President Gaafar al-Nimeiry announced that he would turn over to the Palestine Liberation Organization the eight Arab guerrillas who had been convicted the previous day and sentenced to life imprisonment for killing two American diplomats and one Belgian in the March 1973 attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum. Mr. Nimeiry had commuted the sentences to seven years before deciding to free the murderers.

Three Arab terrorists attacked a small apartment house in the northern Israeli resort town of Nahariya, killing three civilians before being slain in a gunfight with Israeli soldiers. One Israeli soldier was killed and five wounded.

Scandal
The panel of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee investigating the possible impeachment of U.S. President Richard Nixon issued what it described as its final four subpoenas for tape recordings of 49 White House conversations related to the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. and the subsequent cover-up.

Defense
The British government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson admitted to exploding a nuclear device at the U.S. desert test range in Nevada several weeks earlier, sparking debate between pro- and anti-nuclear weapons factions within the governing Labour Party.

Baseball
Jim Lonborg hit his first career grand slam and pitched a complete game for his sixth straight win to improve to 10-5 as the Philadelphia Phillies scored 6 runs in the 3rd inning to take an 8-0 lead and beat the Montreal Expos 8-2 before 15,083 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Losing pitcher Mike Torrez lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 7 runs--all earned.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Self Control--Laura Branigan

Died on this date
Clarence Campbell, 78. Canadian lawyer and hockey executive. Mr. Campbell, a native of Fleming, Saskatchewan, moved to Edmonton at an early age and graduated from the University of Alberta with a law degree in 1925. He served as a referee in the National Hockey League from 1933-1939, and then served in the Canadian Army during World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Campbell acted as a prosecutor in trials of Nazi war criminals after the war before succeeding Red Dutton as NHL President, holding the office from 1946-1977. Mr. Campbell oversaw the league's expansion from 6-18 teams; the lengthening of the regular season from 60-80 games; the introduction of television broadcasting of games; and the introduction of the draft of amateur players. Mr. Campbell's career ended in scandal when he was convicted and fined in 1976 for bribing Canadian Senator Louis Giguère to use his influence to persuade the Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to reverse a 1972 decision not to renew its concession to operate duty-free Sky Shops in Montreal's airports. Mr. Campbell was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

David Overstreet, 25. U.S. football player. Mr. Overstreet was a star running back with the University of Oklahoma from 1977-1980, rushing for 678 yards in his senior year, including 258 yards on 18 carries in one game. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, he instead signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Mr. Overstreet led the Eastern Division in his rookie year of 1981 with 952 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns, catching 48 passes for 356 yards and 1 touchdown. However, he fumbled 15 times--losing 12--in 15 games, which severely detracted from his effectiveness. Mr. Overstreet was released by the Montreal club--renamed the Concordes--in mid-season of 1982 after rushing for just 190 yards in 6 games. Mr. Overstreet joined the Dolphins in 1983 and rushed for 392 yards and 1 touchdown in 14 games. He was killed in a car accident in Winona, Texas at 6 A.M. when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel and his car crashed into gas pumps at a service station.

Religion
U.S. Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan called Judaism a "gutter religion" and Israel an "outlaw" state.

War
Iraqi planes struck a Greek tanker at Iran's Kharg Island oil-loading terminal. The tanker received only light damage.

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the 1984 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States, continued his Central American tour in Panama, meeting with four Salvadoran rebel leaders.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Express Yourself--Madonna

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Marina (Remix 89)--Rocco Granata & the Carnations

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No More Boleros--Gerard Joling (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny Come Home--Avalanche (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)--Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Satisfied--Richard Marx
2 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block
3 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
4 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
5 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
6 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
7 This Time I Know it's for Real--Donna Summer
8 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
9 Miss You Like Crazy--Natalie Cole
10 Cry--Waterfront

Singles entering the chart were The End of the Innocence by Don Henley (#62); Cold Hearted by Paula Abdul (#65); Keep on Movin' by Soul II Soul (Featuring Caron Wheeler) (#82); Comin' Down Tonight by Thirty Eight Special (#83); Talk it Over by Grayson Hugh (#88); Gonna Make It by SaFire (#90); Don't Say You Love Me by Billy Squier (#93); Little Fighter by White Lion (#94); and My One Temptation by Mica Paris (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Satisfied--Richard Marx
2 Every Little Step--Bobby Brown
3 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
4 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
5 I'll Be Loving You (Forever)--New Kids on the Block
6 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
7 Wind Beneath My Wings--Bette Midler
8 This Time I Know it's for Real--Donna Summer
9 Express Yourself--Madonna
10 Cry--Waterfront

Singles entering the chart were The End of the Innocence by Don Henley (#60); Cold Hearted by Paula Abdul (#70); Cover of Love by Michael Damian (#75); Friends by Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim (#77); Love Train by Holly Johnson (#85); I'm That Type of Guy by L.L. Cool J (#87); and Trouble Me by 10,000 Maniacs (#90).

Music
The Who started a North American tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, the same venue where they had played their farewell performance in 1982.

Politics and government
Jiang Zemin succeeded Zhao Ziyang as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, three weeks after the crushing of student-led protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The Central Committee of Hungary's Socialist Workers' (Communist) Party established a collective presidency of four officials in which reformers appeared to be control.

Baseball
Dave Stewart pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1989 record to 12-3 and Rickey Henderson hit a 2-run home run for the Oakland Athletics as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 before 39,659 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Mel Hall's grand slam opened the scoring in a 6-run 1st inning for the New York Yankees as they beat the Kansas City Royals 12-5 before 40,589 fans at Royals Stadium.

Joe Carter hit 3 home runs in a game for the third time in his major league career to lead the Cleveland Indians past the Texas Rangers 7-3 before 39,496 fans at Arlington Stadium. Texas pitchers Charlie Hough and Kenny Rogers allowed just 6 hits, but all were home runs.

Kevin Gross pitched a 3-hitter and the Montreal Expos scored all their runs in the 5th inning as they shut out the Chicago Cubs 5-0 before 36,068 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

St. Louis Cardinals’ center fielder Vince Coleman picked up his 39th and 40th consecutive stolen bases to break a major league record set by Davey Lopes in 1975, but the Cardinals lost 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates before 36,064 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Will Clark tripled home 2 runs and scored on a sacrifice fly as the San Francisco Giants scored all their runs in the 8th inning to defeat the San Diego Padres 3-1 before 32,615 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Baby, I Love Your Way--Big Mountain

Died on this date
Jean Vallerand, 78. Canadian composer, teacher, and journalist. Mr. Vallerand, a native of Montreal, composed works in various genres from 1935-1969. He was a music critic with several Montreal newspapers and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from the 1940s through the 1960s, while serving during the same period as Secretary General of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal (CMQM) and teaching at the Université de Montréal.

Disasters
A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane County, Washington, killing all four crew members, and later providing a case study on the importance of compliance with safety regulations.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Baltimore (1-0) 33 @ Shreveport (0-1) 18
Ottawa (0-1) 28 @ Winnipeg (1-0) 61

10 years ago
2004

War
More than 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded in a series of coordinated attacks by insurgents in the Iraqi cities of Falluja, Ramadi, Baquba, Mosul, and Baghdad.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee report was highly critical of the Central Intelligence Agency's spying operations, and said that mismanagement led to the intelligence failure on Iraq's weapons program.

North Korea threatened to test one of its nuclear weapons.

Scandal
U.S. federal investigators questioned President George W. Bush for more than an hour in connection with the news leak of a CIA operative's name.

Law
In the state of New York, capital punishment was declared unconstitutional.

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-1) 10 @ Ottawa (2-0) 20