TODAY IN HISTORY: Edward proclaimed Britain’s king
In 1936, Edward, Prince of Wales, was proclaimed Britain’s king, one day after the death of his father, King George V. Edward reigned for only 11 months, abdicating to marry a divorced American, Wallis Warfield Simpson. Edward took the title of Duke of Windsor. He died of cancer in 1972 at the age of 78.
In 1966, George Harrison of The Beatles married Patricia Ann Boyd. They met during the filming of “A Hard Day’s Night.” Patti Boyd later left Harrison to marry his close friend, Eric Clapton.
In 1975, firefighters called to a blaze at a Montreal bar discovered the bodies of 13 people in a closet. Police described the deaths as underworld grudge killings.
In 1976, the supersonic Concorde jet was put into service by Britain and France, with flights from London to Bahrain and from Paris to Rio de Janeiro.
In 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter declared a full pardon for all Vietnam war draft evaders except those who deserted from the military or used violence.
In 1983, Joann Wilson, the ex-wife of Saskatchewan politician Colin Thatcher, was found beaten and shot to death in the garage of her Regina home. Thatcher was later found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He served 22 years behind bars before being granted full parole on Nov. 20, 2006.
In 1984, Jackie Wilson, one of the premier black vocalists of the late 1950s and ’60s, died in hospital at age 49. He had been in a coma since Sept. 25, 1975, when he had a heart attack and collapsed on stage at a Dick Clark revue at the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, N.J.
In 1989, Steve Wahrer, the drummer who helped lift “The Trashmen” and their hit single “Surfin’ Bird” to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, died in Robbinsdale, Minn., of throat cancer. He was 47.
In 1992, a jury in Manassas, Va., acquitted Lorena Bobbitt by reason of temporary insanity of maliciously wounding her husband John. She had cut off his penis.
In 1997, Colonel Tom Parker, the domineering manager who turned Elvis Presley into a music phenomenon, died in Las Vegas of complications from a stroke. He was 87. Parker became Presley’s manager in 1955 when Elvis was on the verge of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll star. He had firm control over Elvis’ career until Presley’s death in 1977.
In 1998, the first news accounts appeared of an alleged affair between U.S. President Bill Clinton and a former White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. The affair, which Clinton denied for many months, led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives. But the Senate failed to convict him and he finished out his term in January 2001.
In 2004, the recording industry sued 532 computer users it said were illegally distributing songs over the Internet.
In 2021, Julie Payette resigned as Governor General following an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace at Rideau Hall. She issued a statement apologizing for tensions in her office but did not take direct responsibility for creating such an atmosphere. Said Payette: “We all experience things differently, but we should always strive to do better, and be attentive to one another’s perceptions.” She also suggests the move was made for personal reasons, citing her father’s declining health. The allegations against Payette include that she belittled and publicly humiliated employees, reducing some to tears and prompting others to quit.
In 2022, Canada’s top doctor said there were early indications that the Omicron wave of COVID-19 had peaked nationally. Dr. Theresa Tam pointed to dropping case rates, the share of tests coming back positive, and wastewater surveillance. Her comments echoed recent statements from several provinces, including Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. But while patient numbers in some provinces showed signs of stabilizing, there remained a heavy strain on