1825 The House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president, though Andrew Jackson had more popular votes. Those who opposed Jackson combined to support Adams, who was no one’s first choice. A biography of Adams is discussed elsewhere on this blog. He did good work after he left the presidency.
1870 Louis Riel became the head of the Métis provisional government, which then negotiated Manitoba’s entry into Canadian Confederation with the federal government. Riel had led a rebellion against the British uniting, briefly, Indians and French settlers west of Ontario in 1869-1870 and again in 1885 in Saskatchewan. In the latter instance he was hanged. He remains a polarising figure in Canadian history.
1900 Dwight Davis of St Louis established the Davis Cup for international tennis competition. He thought such competition would improve the game and the players.
1960 The Hollywood Walk of Fame was inaugurated and the first star placed was for Joanne Woodward. A good choice.
1971 Satchel Paige entered the Baseball Hall of Fame after five decades of strike outs. The Jolter said Paige was the best pitcher he had ever faced. At the time Paige was forty-two and Joe twenty-five, but the latter’s reflexes were no match for the former’s fast ball even at that age. Segregation kept out of baseball until 1948. I saw this Houdini of the horsehide pitch once.
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