May 23, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Chrisie Bell!

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Polly & Maurice Pratt!

200 years ago
1817

Business
The Bank of Montreal was officially founded, with a capital of £250,000; it opened for business on November 3, 1817.

130 years ago
1887

Transportation
Canadian Pacific Railway Engine 374, pulling a passenger train from Montreal, became the first locomotive to steam into the new West Coast terminus at Vancouver harbour, a year after its sister Engine No. 371 brought the first Canadian Pacific Railway train to cross Canada into Port Moody, British Columbia. CPR president W.C. Van Horne moved the terminus to Vancouver because of a deeper harbour for the planned steamship service.

110 years ago
1907

Politics and government
The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathered in Helsinki for its first plenary session.

100 years ago
1917

Died on his date
Ranavalona III, 55. Queen of Madagascar, 1883-1897. Ranavalona III was selected from among several members of the Andriana class qualified to succeed Queen Ranavalona II on the throne. Queen Ranavalona III entered into a political marriage with Rainilaiarivony, a member of the Hova elite who served as Prime Minister (1864-1895). She tried to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties with foreign powers, but invading French troops defeated Hova forces in 1895 and formally annexed Madagascar on January 1, 1896. Queen Ranavalona was allowed to remain as a figurehead sovereign, but a popular resistance movement against the French was put down in 1897, and she was exiled to the island of Réunion. Rainilaiarivony died later that year, and Ravalona III moved to Algiers, where she lived until her death from a severe embolism.

90 years ago
1927

At the movies
The Mountain Eagle, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Nita Naldi, Bernhard Goetzke, Malcolm Keen, and John F. Hamilton, opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
John D. Rockefeller, 97. U.S. industrialist. Mr. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil Company in 1870, which controlled, at its peak, 90% of American oil. Mr. Rockefeller became the richest person in modern history and the richest American ever, with a peak net worth estimated at $336 billion (in 2007 U.S. dollars) in 1913. He spent the last 40 years of his life engaged in philanthropy.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Tangerine--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

War
Soviet troops abandoned Kerch Peninsula in Crimea. Japanese forces occupied Chuanshih Island at the mouth of the Min River below Foochow, and 21 Japanese warships shelled Santu, Pingtan, and Nanjisu Islands nearby.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board ordered a halt in construction of new race tracks, theatres, baseball parks, and other public amusement projects costing $5,000 or more by June 6, 1942.

Disasters
Flash floods in eastern and central Pennsylvania killed 32 people.

Track and field
Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam of Long Beach, California set a world record in the pole vault, reaching a height of 15 feet, 7 3/4 inches at a meet in Modesto, California. The record lasted until 1957.

Baseball
Princeton University defeated Harvard University 6-5 to clinch the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League championship for the second straight year.

70 years ago
1947

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council's Balkan Inquiry Commission concluded its four-month study of the area by charging that Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Albania had supported guerrilla units fighting the Greek government, and recommended the creation of a neutral commission to supervise the Greek frontier for two years.

Protest
Student demonstrations for higher subsistence payments turned into anti-government riots at 43 Chinese universities and high schools, as Chinese leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek charged that Communists were behind the student unrest.

Economics and finance
Sultan Sidi Mohammed of Morocco refused to sign the French colony's budget in protest against a clause giving France increased economic control over Moroccan industries.

Scandal
Former U.S. House of Representatives Sergeant-at-Arms Kenneth Romney was sentenced in Washington to 1-3 years in prison for embezzlement of House funds.

Boxing
World light heavyweight champion Gus Lesnevich (57-11-5), fighting as a heavyweight, knocked out Melio Bettina (76-13-3) in just 59 seconds of the 1st round, the quickest knockout ever for a main event at the third Madison Square Garden in New York. Mr. Bettina, who outweighed Mr. Lesnevich by 10 1/2 pounds, was knocked down three times, and referee Billy Cavanaugh waved off the count after the third knockdown.

60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
William L. Murphy, 81. U.S. inventor. Mr. Murphy invented the Murphy bed, that folds into a wall.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council heard arguments on a complaint by Syria that Israel had secured a "military advantage" by building a bridge across the Jordan River near the Hula Valley land drainage project.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill continuing conscription of physicians through mid-1959.

Labour
The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations Executive Council, meeting in Washington, suspended the 85,000-member Laundry Workers International Union; the 75,000-member Allied Industrial Workers union; and the 35,000-member Distillery Workers International Union on charges of corruption.

50 years ago
1967

Politics and government
Premier Ernest Manning led his Social Credit Party to its ninth consecutive--and last--majority government in the Alberta provincial election. Social Credit captured 55 of 65 seats in the Legislative Assembly, down from 57 at dissolution. The Progressive Conservative Party, led by Peter Lougheed, took 6 seats--up from zero--and the Liberals, led by Michael Maccagno, repeated with 3 seats. Clarence Copithorne was elected as an independent candidate in Banff-Cochrane. Voters also narrowly rejected a proposal to adopt daylight saving time.

Transportation
Ontario's GO Transit--commuter rail service among Pickering, Toronto, Oakville, and Hamilton under an operating agreement with Canadian National Railways--was inaugurated.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Amayadori--Masashi Sada

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gavilán o Paloma--Pablo Abraira (5th week at #1)

Terrorism
Activists from the South Molucca Islands (formerly part of the Dutch East Indies) took more than 100 children and 6 teachers hostage in a primary school in northern Holland.

Scandal
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review appeals from John Mitchell, Bob Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman of their convictions in the cover-up of the 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The decision let stand a District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruling which had upheld their convictions in October 1976, which had resulted in prison sentences from 8-28 years.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed into law a bill to cut taxes and simplify income tax returns.

Golf
Jack Nicklaus won the Memorial Open in Dublin, Ohio.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Let it Be--Ferry Aid

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Multimix--The Communards (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Crockett's Theme--Jan Hammer

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Crockett's Theme--Jan Hammer (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Hold Me Now--Johnny Logan (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): With or Without You--U2 (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 With or Without You--U2 (2nd week at #1)
2 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
3 The Lady in Red--Chris DeBurgh
4 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
5 Always--Atlantic Starr
6 Heat of the Night--Bryan Adams
7 Big Love--Fleetwood Mac
8 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
9 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
10 Wanted Dead or Alive--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Shakedown by Bob Seger (#51); The Pleasure Principle by Janet Jackson (#79); Only in My Dreams by Debbie Gibson (#82); Happy by Surface (#86); Why Should I Cry? by Nona Hendryx (#87); If I was Your Girlfriend by Prince (#88); and Can't Get Started by Peter Wolf (#89).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew (2nd week at #1)
2 With or Without You--U2
3 Lean on Me--Club Nouveau
4 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
5 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship
6 Boom Boom--Paul Lekakis
7 Heat of the Night--Bryan Adams
8 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
9 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael
10 Don't Dream it's Over--Crowded House

Singles entering the chart were Take My Heart by Corey Hart (#87); One Night (Is All it Takes) by Paul Janz (#91); Shakedown by Bob Seger (#93); Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by the Nylons (#95); Heartbreak Beat by Psychedelic Furs (#96); and Fascinated by Company B (#98).

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): To Be with You--Mr. Big (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kimi ga iru dakede--Kome Club (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Why--Annie Lennox (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Please Don't Go--Double You (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Please Don't Go--Double You

#1 single in France (SNEP): Joy--François Feldman (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Please Don't Go--Double You

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Please Don't Go/Game Boy--KWS (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jump--Kris Kross (5th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue
2 Jump--Kris Kross
3 One--U2
4 Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams
5 Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen
6 Everything About You--Ugly Kid Joe
7 Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven--Bryan Adams
8 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
9 Live and Learn--Joe Public
10 Let's Get Rocked--Def Leppard

Singles entering the chart were Hold on My Heart by Genesis (#60); Tennessee by Arrested Development (#63); Silent Prayer by Shanice featuring Johnny Gill (#69); Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane (#75); Closer to Me by the Outfield (#81); and White Men Can't Jump by Riff (#87). White Men Can't Jump was the title song of the movie.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 One--U2 (3rd week at #1)
2 Human Touch--Bruce Springsteen
3 Let's Get Rocked--Def Leppard
4 Sinking Like a Sunset--Tom Cochrane
5 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
6 Will You Marry Me--Paula Abdul
7 Make it Happen--Mariah Carey
8 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
9 Lift Me Up--Howard Jones
10 Constant Craving--k.d. lang

Singles entering the chart were Steel Bars by Michael Bolton (#72); Just Another Day by Jon Secada (#76); White Men Can't Jump by Riff (#77); I Drove All Night by Roy Orbison (#80); Hold Me Now by Dan Hill (#92); Fall in Love Again by Eddie Money (#93); I Want to Believe by Sass Jordan (#95); and You've Got a Way by Kathy Troccoli (#97).

Died on this date
Giovanni Falcone, 53. Italian judge. Mr. Falcone, an anti-Mafia crusader, was killed--five days after his 53rd birthday--along with this wife and three bodyguards in a bomb explosion near Capaci, Sicily. 13 others were injured in the attack, perpetrated by the Corleonesi clan.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Pittsburgh 5 @ Boston 1 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-0)

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Lonely--Nana (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio (5th week at #1)

Politics and government
Mohammad Khatami, a moderate, was elected President of Iran, defeating hard-liners in the ruling Muslim clergy.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Finals
Philadelphia 3 @ New York Rangers 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)

10 years ago
2007

War
Stephen Harper visited the forward operating base in Ma'sum Ghar near Kandahar, Afghanistan, becoming the first Canadian Prime Minister to enter a combat zone.

Terrorism
The Supreme Court of Canada ordered the federal government to hand over documents to lawyers for suspect Omar Khadr from interrogation sessions held with him in 2003.