Today in History

Today in History for Sept. 11: On this date:

In 1541, Jacques Cartier reached the Lachine rapids above Montreal on his third voyage to Canada.

In 1672, colonial American clergyman Solomon Stoddard was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in Northampton, Mass., at age 29. He remained at this pulpit for the next 57 years. From 1727, until his death in 1729, Stoddard was assisted by his grandson, Jonathan Edwards.

In 1754, fur trader Anthony Henday became the first white man to enter what is now Alberta.

In 1777, Gen. George Washington’s American troops were defeated in the “Battle of Brandywine” by a British force under Sir William Howe.

In 1847, 300 people died when a hurricane hit Newfoundland.

In 1860, Toronto’s Horticultural Gardens (now known as Allan Gardens), built on land donated to the city by George Allan, was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales.

In 1888, Canadian Gov. Gen. Baron Stanley made one of the oldest surviving recordings. The message, a greeting to U.S. President Grover Cleveland, was recorded at Toronto’s Industrial Exhibition (now the Canadian National Exhibition).

In 1916, the centre span of the Quebec Bridge fell into the St. Lawrence River while being set into place, killing 13 workers.

In 1944, U.S. president Franklin Roosevelt and British prime minister Winston Churchill met in Canada at the opening of second Quebec Conference. At this meeting, Roosevelt accepted Churchill’s offer to send a British fleet to the Pacific to serve under American command.

In 1955, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC. Miss California, Lee Meriwether, was crowned the winner.

In 1956, Canadian war hero Billy Bishop died in Palm Beach, Fla., at age 62. The Owen Sound, Ont.-native was the top scoring Canadian and Imperial ace of the First World War, credited with shooting down 72 German aircraft. He was also the first Canadian airman to win the Victoria Cross.

In 1958, the “USS Swordfish,” the first atomic submarine, was completed.

In 1968, Charles Lavern Beasley of Dallas was charged with Canada’s first hijacking after he ordered an Air Canada Viscount bound for Toronto from Moncton, N.B., to go to Cuba. Describing himself as an American black-power militant sought by the CIA, he was arrested when the plane landed at Dorval, Que., for refuelling. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

In 1970, Ford Motor Co. introduced the Pinto, a compact that would become caught up in controversy over the safety of its gas tank. (The Pinto was discontinued in 1980.)

In 1971, Nikita Khrushchev, former leader of the Soviet Union, died at age 77.

In 1973, Helen Hunley was appointed Alberta’s first solicitor general.

In 1973, a military coup led by army chief Augusto Pinochet overthrew the government of Chile. President Salvador Allende was said to have shot himself, but many believed he was assassinated.

In 1987, Canadian actor Lorne Greene died in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 72. He first became known in Canada as the “Voice of Doom” for his CBC Radio newscasts during the Second World War. But the role of Ben Cartwright on TV’S “Bonanza” from 1959-73 catapulted him to fame throughout the world. His gunfighter narrative “Ringo” was a surprise No. 1 hit in 1964.

In 1994, Jessica Tandy, whose acting career spanned more than 60 years and who won an Academy Award at 80 for Driving Miss Daisy, died at age 85.

In 1995, Premier Frank Mckenna was given a third consecutive overwhelming victory in a New Brunswick election.

In 1997, the Scottish people voted by an overwhelming majority (74.2 per cent Yes) to restore the Scottish parliament they gave up in 1707 when they joined the United Kingdom. They also decided by a narrow margin that the parliament should have limited power to levy taxes.

In 1997, Canada’s federal and provincial health ministers reached a deal for a new blood agency (Canadian Blood Services) after the federal government agreed to pay a significant amount of its setup cost. The new blood authority replaced the Canadian Red Cross Society.

In 1998, the report of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr was made public in Washington. It alleged 11 acts by U.S. President Bill Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky affair that might constitute grounds for impeachment, including perjury and obstruction of justice.

In 2001, hijackers crashed two airplanes into New York’s World Trade Center, toppling its twin 110-storey towers. Not long after, another hijacked plane slammed into the Pentagon in suburban Washington and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers on board fought with hijackers. Approximately 3,000 people were killed in the four crashes, including two dozen Canadians. The attacks were blamed on Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, who was living in Afghanistan under the protection of that country’s Taliban government. The U.S. responded by organizing an international coalition to drive the Taliban from power and find bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. Navy SEALS in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.

In 2002, quarterback Johnny Unitas, who broke nearly every passing NFL record and won three championships with the Baltimore Colts in an 18-year career, died at age 69.

In 2003, John Ritter, whose portrayal of the bumbling but lovable Jack Tripper helped make the television comedy series “Three’s Company” a smash hit in the 1970s, died at age 54.

In 2005, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi won a landslide victory in Japan’s national elections.

In 2008, Montreal’s archbishop Cardinal Jean-claude Turcotte, 72, renounced his Order of Canada to protest Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s appointment to the prestigious membership.

In 2009, a Taiwan court imposed a life sentence on former president Chen Shui-bian after convicting him of corruption.

In 2015, a massive crane collapsed in a storm and crashed onto the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 111 people and injuring nearly 400.

In 2016, Stan Wawrinka defeated defending champ Novak Djokovic 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 for his first U.S. Open trophy and third Grand Slam title overall.

(The Canadian Press)