May 18, 2016

725 years ago
1291

War
The six-week siege of Acre concluded with the fall of the Crusader-controlled city into Muslim hands, marking the end of Crusader presence in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

260 years ago
1756

War
King George II's declaration of war against France became official, beginning the Seven Years' War between Great Britain and France.

240 years ago
1776

War
The Battle of the Cedars began between Continental Army forces commanded by General Benedict Arnold and British and Iroquois forces led by Captain George Forster, 28 miles west of Montreal.

170 years ago
1846

Canadiana
Kingston, Canada West (now Ontario) was incorporated as a city.

Politics and government
Sir John Harvey was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia; he had been Civil Governor of Newfoundland (1841-1846).

130 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Jeanie MacPherson. U.S. actress and screenwriter. Miss MacPherson acted in silent movies directed by D.W. Griffith, but was best known for writing the screenplays for 30 movies with producer Cecil B. DeMille. She died of cancer on August 26, 1946 at the age of 60.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Eric Backman. Swedish runner. Mr. Backman was a long-distance runner who won a silver medal in the individual cross country event and bronze medals in the cross-country team, 3,000-metre team, and 5,000-metre events. He died on June 29, 1965 at the age of 69.

Law
The United States Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that the "separate but equal" doctrine of racial segregation was constitutional.

90 years ago
1926

Scandal
Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappeared while visiting a Venice, California beach; she reappeared a month later claiming she had been kidnapped, but evidence suggested a possible fling with her radio engineer, Kenneth Ormiston.

80 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Kichizo Ishida, 42. Japanese restaurateur. Mr. Ishida owned the Yoshidaya restaurant in Tokyo. He was married but a notorious womanizer, and began a sexual relationship with prostitute Sada Abe in April 1936. After several weeks, Miss Abe became upset at the thought of Mr. Ishida returning to his wife. At the conclusion of an evening of kinky sex, she strangled him, cut off his penis and genitals, and carried the body parts in her purse until her arrest on May 21.

75 years ago
1941

War
French High Commissioner for Syria and Lebanon General Henri Fernand Dentz broadcasted from Beirut that the French armies in the mandated territories were ready to defend themselves against British attack.

Italiana
King Victor Emmanuel III crowned his cousin, the Duke of Spoleto, King Aimone of Croatia in a 10-minute ceremony in Rome.

Economics and finance
U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull outlined a five-point postwar world reconstruction program based on free trade.

Labour
The San Francisco-area American Federation of Labor Metal Trades Council voted to cross AFL and Congress of Industrial Organizations picket lines at 11 shipyards.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Prisoner of Love--Perry Como with Russ Case and His Orchestra (Best Seller--3rd week at #1); The Gypsy--Dinah Shore (Airplay--1st week at #1); Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and His Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Juke Box--10th week at #1); Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)--Dinah Shore; Andy Russell; Sammy Kaye and his “Swing And Sway” Orchestra (Honor Roll of Hits--1st week at #1)

War
U.S. military sources revealed in Frankfurt that American forces had captured more than 8 million of the 17 million soldiers enlisted in the German Army.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Refugee Committee in London voted against Soviet-bloc opposition to accord "political emigres" the same rights and treatment as other refugees.

Labour
U.S. President Harry Truman announced that the scheduled nationwide strike of railroad workers had been called off by union leaders at his request.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): No Other Love--Ronnie Hilton (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
23 Paces to Baker Street, directed by Henry Hathaway, and starring Van Johnson, Vera Miles, and Cecil Parker, opened in theatres.





Adventure
The team of Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger from the Swiss Mount Everest/Lhotse Expedition completed the first ascent of Lhotse in the Himalaya. At 8,516 metres, Lhotse is the fourth-highest mountain in the world.

Boxing
Sugar Ray Robinson (139-4-2) retained his world middleweight title by knocking out former world champion Carl "Bobo" Olson (71-9) at 2:51 of the 4th round at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. It was the fourth and last fight between the two, all won by Mr. Robinson.



50 years ago
1966

Crime
Harry Gold, an American who had spied for the U.S.S.R., was released from prison after serving nearly 16 years of a 30-year sentence. He was a key government witness at the 1951 espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, after confessing his part in the case.

40 years ago
1976

At the movies
The Missouri Breaks, starring Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson, opened in theatres. The film was one of the biggest flops of the 1970s.



Energy
Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Allan MacEachen announced an end to Canada's nuclear cooperation pact with India.

Economics and finance
Inter-American Development Bank members, meeting in Cancun, Mexico, called for more U.S. aid for the bank's lending programs.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Midnight Lady--Chris Norman (2nd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 3 @ Calgary 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Brian Skrudland of the Canadiens set a Stanley Cup record for the fastest overtime goal when he scored just 9 seconds after the faceoff to begin the first overtime period at Olympic Saddledome.



25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Horses--Daryl Braithwaite

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 One More Try--Timmy T
2 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
3 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
4 You--Ten Sharp
5 Wind of Change--Scorpions
6 Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)--De La Soul
7 Future Love Paradise--Seal
8 Always on the Run--Lenny Kravitz
9 Liefde is Lekker Maar Lekker is Niet Altijd Liefde--Hanny
10 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa

Singles entering the chart were Last Train to Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent) by the KLF (#24); The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes (#28); Word of Mouth by Mike & the Mechanics (#29); Baby Come Back by BC & the Basic Boom (#31); Couple Days Off by Huey Lewis and the News (#35); and I Dreamed a Dream by Chess (#37). I Dreamed a Dream was a version of the theme from the musical Les Miserables.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
2 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
3 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
4 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
5 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
6 Joyride--Roxette
7 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
8 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
9 More than Words--Extreme
10 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd

Singles entering the chart were See the Lights by Simple Minds (#82); This Time Make it Funky by Tracie Spencer (#89); Lily was Here by David A. Stewart introducing Candy Dulfer (#91); Temptation by Corina (#94); Treat 'em Right by Chubb Rock (#95); and Exclusivity by Damian Dame (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Joyride--Roxette
8 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
9 More than Words--Extreme
10 You Don’t Have to Go Home Tonight--The Triplets

Singles entering the chart were Lift Me Up by Yes (#82); Right Here, Right Now by Jesus Jones (#83); Life Goes On by Poison (#84); Lily was Here by David A. Stewart introducing Candy Dulfer (#86); Never Gonna Let You Down by Surface (#87); Mama Said Knock You Out by L.L. Cool J (#88); and Give Me Your Heart by Vanity Kills (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joyride--Roxette (2nd week at #1)
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
5 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
6 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
7 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
8 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
9 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
10 Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You--Robert Palmer

Singles entering the chart included Rush Rush by Paula Abdul (#41); Power of Love/Love Power by Luther Vandross (#56); The Answer's Electric by Brett Ryan (#86); Starting All Over Again by Daryl Hall and John Oates (#90); Compared to Nothing by Jude Cole (#94); and Ordinary Average Guy by Joe Walsh (#98).

Space
Helen Sharman of Sheffield, England became the first Briton to go into space when she travelled aboard the Soyuz TM-12 spacecraft with commander Anatoly Artebartsky and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalyov as part of the U.S.S.R.’s Project Juno.



Africana
Northern Somalia declared independence from the rest of Somalia as the Republic of Somaliland, but was not recognized by the "international community."

Horse racing
Hansel, with Jerry Bailey up, won the 116th running of the Preakness Stakes before 96,695 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:54. Corporate Report placed second and Mane Minister finished third. Kentucky Derby winner and favourite Strike the Gold finished sixth.



20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Fastlove--George Michael

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Lift U up--2 Fabiola

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Soirée disco--Boris (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Children--Robert Miles (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Drill Instructor--Captain Jack

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Fastlove--George Michael (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
4 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
5 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
6 You're the One--SWV
7 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
8 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
9 Count on Me--Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
10 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly featuring Ronald Isley

Singles entering the chart were Flood by Jars of Clay (#56); Get on Up by Jodeci (#60); Forever More by Puff Johnson (#83); You Still Touch Me by Sting (#89); Heartspark Dollarsign by Everclear (#92); Let's Lay Together by the Isley Brothers (#94); and Hoop N Yo Face by 69 Boyz featuring Quad City DJ's (#95). Let's Lay Together was from the movie Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996). Hoop N Yo Face was from the movie Sunset Park (1996).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)
2 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
3 You're the One--SWV
4 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
5 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
6 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
7 Old Man and Me (When I Get to Heaven)--Hootie & the Blowfish
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
9 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
10 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project

Singles entering the chart were You by Monifah (#40); The 13th by the Cure (#48); Flood by Jars of Clay (#52); Ain't No Nigga/Dead Presidents by Jay-Z (#65); Love Don't Live Here Anymore by Madonna (#66); Your Loving Arms by Billie Ray Martin (#69); and Children by Robert Miles (#80).

Horse racing
Louis Quatorze, with Pat Day up, won the 121st running of the Preakness Stakes before 97,751 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:53 2/5. Skip Away placed second and Editor's Note finished third.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Finals
Florida 5 @ Pittsburgh 1 (Florida led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
2006

Diplomacy
Australian Prime Minister John Howard addressed a joint session of the Canadian Parliament, becoming the first Australian leader to do so since 1944.

Politics and government
The post-Loktantra Andolan Nepalese government passed a landmark bill curtailing the power of the monarchy and making Nepal a secular country.