Saturday, May 2, 1998
Today's events
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The Kentucky Derby, the first in racing's Triple Crown, is to be held in Louisville, Kentucky.
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On the horizon
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On Sunday, May 3, the National Cable Television Association opens its annual convention in Atlanta.
On Monday, May 4, the Kent State Students Memorial Day will be observed.
On Tuesday, May 5, NATO chiefs of staff meet in Brussels.
On Wednesday, May 6, the Children and the Media conference will
be held in Los Angeles to examine the media's portrayals of race and class and their impact on children.
On Thursday, May 7, the special Whitewater grand jury -- the second
empaneled at Little Rock since 1994 -- is scheduled to expire. Its term cannot be extended.
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On this day
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In 1519, Leonardo da Vinci, Italian sculptor, scientist and
painter of the "Mona Lisa" and the "Last Supper," died.
In 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company was chartered by the English
crown and given a monopoly of the trade into Hudson Bay, Canada.
In 1729, Catherine II or Catherine the Great, Empress of
Russia, was born. She was noted for her willingness to embrace the political
and cultural developments in Europe.
In 1813, during the Leipzig campaign of the Napoleonic Wars,
the French won the Battle of Lutzen.
In 1860, the founder of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl, was born in
Budapest.
In 1863, during the American Civil War, the Battle of
Chancellorsville started. It was during this battle that Thomas
"Stonewall" Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men,
dying shortly afterwards.
In 1864, Giacomo Meyerbeer, German opera composer of "Les
Huguenots" and "L'Africaine," died.
In 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium was proclaimed king of the
new Congo Free State.
In 1892, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, German fighter ace,
was born; he shot down more than 80 enemy aircraft in World War One
and became known as "The Red Baron."
In 1904, Harry Lillis (Bing) Crosby, U.S. singer and actor,
was born. One of the world's most popular entertainers, his
recording of "White Christmas" sold more than 30 million
copies.
In 1923, Patrick Hillery, Irish politician, president 1976-90,
was born. He negotiated Ireland's entry into the European Community
in 1973 and was later E.C. vice president for three years.
In 1933, Adolf Hitler continued his crackdown in Germany,
banning trade unions.
In 1936, Abyssinian Emperor Haile Selassie and his family fled
Addis Ababa, three days before its capture by the Italians.
In 1938, King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho was born as Constantine
Bereng Seeiso. A largely ceremonial king (1960-90), he achieved
some degree of power from 1986 following a military coup.
In 1945, Berlin surrendered to the 1st White Russian and 1st
Ukrainian armies; hostilities in Italy ceased as the surrender
terms took effect; Hamburg opened negotiations for the surrender
of the city.
In 1951, the Council of Europe admitted Germany as a full
member.
In 1951, the Shah of Persia signed decrees approving the
nationalization of its oil industry.
In 1952, the first scheduled jet airliner passenger service
began with a BOAC Comet, which flew from London to Johannesburg
carrying 36 passengers.
In 1953, in Jordan, King Hussein formally acceded to the
throne after his father, King Talal, was deposed. In Iraq, King
Feisal II assumed power.
In 1957, Sen. Joseph McCarthy, U.S. politician and
Republican senator who led the anti-communist witch-hunts, died.
In 1964, Lady Nancy Astor, the first woman MP to sit in the
British House of Commons in 1919, died.
In 1965, the first communications satellite for relaying
television pictures went into operation; the "Early Bird"
transmitted to 24 countries.
In 1967, the Bertrand Russell International War Crimes
Tribunal began in Stockholm, later to find the United States
guilty of aggression in Vietnam.
In 1969, the British passenger liner Queen Elizabeth 2 left on
her maiden voyage to New York.
In 1972, John Edgar Hoover, founder and director of the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation since 1924, died in Washington.
In 1982, in the Falklands War, a British submarine sank the
Argentine cruiser General Belgrano with the loss of more than
350 lives.
In 1992, the Yugoslav Army seized Bosnian President Alija
Izetbegovic after fierce fighting in Sarajevo.
In 1994, Pres. F.W. de Klerk conceded victory to Nelson
Mandela in the country's historic first all-race elections.
In 1995, Serb missiles exploded in the heart of Zagreb,
killing six people.
In 1996, noted Arab author Emile Habibi died. His best known
work, a novel entitled "Strange Events in the Disappearance of
Said Abu al-Nahs al-Mutashael," was published in the mid-1970s.
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Newslink
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Listen up, Leo-maniacs. Long before the "Titanic" sailed into young girls' hearts, another Leonardo was making waves. Leonardo da Vinci, famous for the enigmatic "Mona Lisa," was also noted for his drawings. Check them out.
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Notable
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Singer and songwriter Larry Gatlin ("Broken Lady") is 49.
Singer Lesley Gore ("I'll Cry If I Want To") is 52.
Actress and activist Biana Jagger is 53.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1998, J.P. Morgan
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