May 21, 2014

170 years ago
1844

Born on this date
Henri Rousseau. French artist. Mr. Rousseau was a post-Impressionist painter who was known for his many paintings of jungle scenes. He died of a gangrene infection on September 2, 1910 at the age of 66.

125 years ago
1894

Transportation
The Manchester Ship Canal in England was officially opened by Queen Victoria, who later knighted its designer, Sir Edward Leader Williams.

110 years ago
1904

Born on this date
Robert Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery was a popular star in movies in the 1930s and '40s, initially in comedic roles and later, in dramatic roles. He was nominated for Academy Awards for his starring roles in Night Must Fall (1937) and Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). Mr. Montgomery served with the U.S. Navy in World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander, seeing action in the Battle of Normandy, and earning numerous decorations. He began directing films after returning to the United States, directing and starring in movies such as Lady in the Lake (1947) and Ride the Pink Horse (1947). Mr. Montgomery hosted the television anthology program Robert Montgomery Presents (1950-1957). He was a staunch anti-Communist, and, beginning in 1954, served as an unpaid media consultant and adviser to U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mr. Montgomery retired from film and television activity in 1960, and died of cancer on September 27, 1981 at the age of 77.

100 years ago
1914

Canadiana
The Japanese ship SS Komagata Maru, with 376 passengers from the Indian state of Punjab, arrived in Vancouver, but the ship was not allowed to dock. The passengers--340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus--were all British subjects, but only 24 were admitted to Canada.

90 years ago
1924

Died on this date
Bobby Franks, 14. U.S. murder victim. Young Mr. Franks was kidnapped and murdered by University of Chicago law students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb in an attempt to commit a "perfect crime." It was one of the most sensational crimes of its time.

80 years ago
1939

Canadiana
The Canadian National War Memorial was unveiled in Ottawa by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.



75 years ago
1944

War
Advance American elements entered Terracina, but were forced to pull out and set up a line three miles south of the city. Chinese troops captured Sinantien, Honan Province, the fifth town they had regained along the Peking-Hankow railway.

Politics and government
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou returned to Cairo from Beirut, where he agreed to fuse with Greek guerrillas to form a representative government.

Religion
Alexei, 67, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, was named acting Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church with the announcement of the Holy Synod that the late Patriarch Sergius had directed "in his last will" that Alexei succeed him.

Business
The U.S. Army seized Hummer Manufacturing Company, the Springfield, Illinois subsidiary of Montgomery Ward & Company. Hummer had been strikebound since May 5 because of the company's refusal to include a union maintenance clause in its contract with the workers.

60 years ago
1954

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Secret Love--Doris Day (4th week at #1)

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Believe--The Bachelors

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Juliet--The Four Pennies

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Waterloo--ABBA (4th week at #1)

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Footloose--Kenny Loggins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lobo-Hombre en París--La Unión

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Fire Woman--The Cult

#1 single in Switzerland: Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff (4th week at #1)

Protest
In Hong Kong, approximately one million people took to the streets to show their support for students protesting for democratic reforms in China.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Calgary 4 @ Montreal 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): The Sign--Ace of Base (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Eins, Zwei, Polizei--Mo-Do

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Hooked on a Feeling--Tony Wilson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol) (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Without You--Mariah Carey (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Je danse le mia--IAM (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Like to Move It--Reel 2 Real featuring the Mad Stuntman (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Come On You Reds--Manchester United F.C.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Swear--All-4-One
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 I'll Remember--Madonna
4 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol)
5 Bump n' Grind--R. Kelly
6 Baby I Love Your Way--Big Mountain
7 Return to Innocence--Enigma
8 Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm--Crash Test Dummies
9 I'm Ready--Tevin Campbell
10 You Mean the World to Me--Toni Braxton

Singles entering the chart were (Meet) The Flintstones by the B.C.-52's (#81); Whenever You Come Around by Vince Gill (#85); Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John (#86); Sending My Love by Zhane (#89); Night in My Veins by the Pretenders (#94); Crazy by Aerosmith (#97); and Crooklyn by the Crooklyn Dodgers (#98). (Meet) The Flintstones was from the movie The Flintstones (1994). Can You Feel the Love Tonight was from the movie The Lion King (1994). Crooklyn was the title song of the movie.

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol) (5th week at #1)
2 I'll Remember--Madonna
3 Baby, I Love Your Way--Big Mountain
4 The Sign--Ace of Base
5 Return to Innocence--Enigma
6 I Swear--All-4-One
7 I'm Ready--Tevin Campbell
8 Bump n' Grind--R. Kelly
9 You Mean the World to Me--Toni Braxton
10 Love Sneakin' Up on You--Bonnie Raitt

Singles entering the chart were (Meet) The Flintstones by the B.C.-52's (#68); Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John (#70); Anytime You Need a Friend by Mariah Carey (#75); Crazy by Aerosmith (#77); Love on My Mind by Xscape (#80); Shine by Collective Soul (#82); Bizarre Love Triangle by Frente! (#83); Back and Forth by Aaliyah (#84); (She’s) Some Kind of Wonderful by Huey Lewis and the News (#85); Until I Fall Away by Gin Blossoms (#86); Wild Night by John Mellencamp with Me’shell Ndegeocello (#87); Ease My Mind by Arrested Development (#89); and Any Time, Any Place by Janet Jackson (#90).

Asiatica
The Democratic Republic of Yemen, led by President Ali Salim al-Beidh and Prime Minister Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas, declared its independence from the Republic of Yemen.

Politics and government
Bakili Muluzi, leader of the United Democratic Front, took office as President of Malawi, four days after winning the country's first multi-party election.

Horse racing
Tabasco Cat, with Pat Day aboard, won the 119th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:56 2/5, edging Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin by 3/4 length. Concern finished third in the 10-horse field.