May 15
is the 135th day of the year in the
Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). There are 230 days remaining.
*
1252 -
Pope Innocent IV issues the
papal bull ad exstirpanda, which authorizes the
torture of
heretics in the
Medieval Inquisition. Torture quickly gains widespread usage across
Catholic Europe.
*
1514 -
Jodocus Badius Ascensius publishes
Christiern Pedersen's
Latin version of
Saxo's
Gesta Danorum, the oldest known version of that work.
*
1525 - The
battle of Frankenhausen ends the
Peasants' War.
*
1602 -
Bartholomew Gosnold becomes the first
European to see
Cape Cod.
*
1618 -
Johannes Kepler confirms his previously rejected discovery of the
third law of planetary motion (he first discovered it on
March 8 but soon rejected the idea after some initial calculations were made).
*
1701 - The
War of the Spanish Succession begins.
*
1718 -
James Puckle, a
London lawyer, patents the world's first
machine gun.
*
1756 - The
Seven Years' War begins when
England declares war on
France.
*
1776 -
American Revolution:
Virginia convention instructs its delegates to propose a declaration of independence from
Great Britain.
*
1795 -
First Coalition:
Napoleon I of France enters
Milan in triumph.
*
1811 -
Paraguay declares independence from
Spain.
*
1829 -
John the Baptist confers the
Aaronic Priesthood onto
Joseph Smith Jr. and
Oliver Cowdery.
*
1836 -
Francis Baily observes "
Baily's beads" during an
annular eclipse.
*
1849 - Troops of the
Two Sicilies take
Palermo and crush the republican government of
Sicily.
*
1851 -
Rama IV is crowned King of
Thailand.
*
1858 - The third
Royal Opera House officially opens in
London.
*
1862 -
President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the
United States Bureau of Agriculture (later renamed
USDA).
*
1864 -
American Civil War:
Battle of Resaca,
Georgia ends.
*1864 -
American Civil War:
Battle of New Market,
Virginia – Students from the
Virginia Military Institute fight alongside the
Confederate Army to force
Union General Franz Sigel out of the
Shenandoah Valley.
*
1869 -
Woman's suffrage: In
New York,
Susan B. Anthony and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the
National Woman Suffrage Association.
*
1897 - The
Greek army retreats with heavy losses in
Greco-Turkish War*
1902 - In a field outside
Grass Valley, California,
Lyman Gilmore reportedly becomes the first person to fly a powered
airplane (a
steam-powered glider).
*
1905 -
Las Vegas, Nevada, is founded when 110 acres (0.4 km²), in what later would become downtown, are auctioned off.
*
1910 - The last time a major earthquake happened on the
Lake Elsinore Fault.
*
1911 - The
United States Supreme Court declares
Standard Oil to be an "unreasonable"
monopoly under the
Sherman Antitrust Act and orders the company to be dissolved.
*
1914 -
Bolivia becomes a signatory to the
Buenos Aires copyright treaty.
*
1918 -
Finnish Civil War ends.
*1918 - The
US Post Office Department (later renamed the
USPS) begins the first regular
airmail service in the world (between
New York City,
Philadelphia and
Washington, DC).
*
1919 - The
Winnipeg General Strike began. By 11:00, virtually the entire working population of
Winnipeg had walked off the job.
*
1919 - Greek invasion of
Izmir, resulting in the massacre of hundreds of Turks by the Greek army. Hasan Tahsin fired the first gun of the
Turkish War of Independence.
*
1928 - Release of the
animated short "
Plane Crazy", featuring the first appearances of
Mickey and
Minnie Mouse.
*
1929 - A fire at the
Cleveland Clinic in
Cleveland, Ohio kills 123.
*
1930 - Aboard a
Boeing tri-motor,
Ellen Church becomes the first
airline stewardess, on a flight from
Oakland, California to
Chicago, Illinois.
*
1932 - The
May 15 Incident. In an attempted
coup the
Prime Minister of
Japan Inukai Tsuyoshi is killed.
*
1934 - The
United States Department of Justice offers a $25,000 reward for
John Dillinger.
*1934 -
Kārlis Ulmanis establishes an authoritarian government in
Latvia.
*
1940 -
Nylon stockings go on sale for the first time in the
United States.
*1940 -
World War II: After fierce fighting, the poorly trained and equipped Dutch troops have to surrender to Nazi Germany, marking the beginning of 5 years of occupation.*
1941 -
Baseball player Joe DiMaggio starts his record-breaking 56-game hitting streak.
*
1942 -
World War II: In the
United States, a bill creating the
Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (
WAAC) is signed into law.
*
1943 -
Joseph Stalin dissolves the
Comintern (or
Third International).
*
1945 - Last skirmish of the
Second World War in
Europe fought near
Prevalje,
Slovenia.
*
1948 -
Egypt,
Transjordan,
Lebanon,
Syria,
Iraq and
Saudi Arabia attack
Israel.
*
1951 - The
Polish cultural attache in
Paris,
Czesław Miłosz, asks the
French government for
political asylum.
*
1955 -
Austrian Independence Treaty signed.
*1955 -
First ascent of
Makalu, the world's fifth highest mountain.
*
1957 -
Britain tests its first
hydrogen bomb in
Operation Grapple.
*
1958 - The
Soviet Union launches
Sputnik 3.
*
1960 - The
Soviet Union launches
Sputnik 4.
*
1963 -
Mercury program: launches the last mission of the program,
Mercury 9 (on
June 12 NASA Administrator
James E. Webb told
Congress the program was complete).
*
1964 -
The Smothers Brothers give their first concert in
Carnegie Hall in
New York City.
*
1970 -
The Beatles' last
LP,
Let It Be, is released in the
United States.
*1970 -
President Richard Nixon appoints
Anna Mae Hays and
Elizabeth P. Hoisington the first female
United States Army Generals.
*1970 -
Philip Lafayette Gibbs and
James Earl Green killed at
Jackson State University by police during
student protests.
*
1972 - The island of
Okinawa, under
U.S. military governance since its
conquest in
1945, reverts to
Japanese control.
*1972 - In
Laurel, Maryland,
Arthur Bremer shoots and paralyzes
Alabama Governor George Wallace while Wallace is campaigning to be
American President.
*
1978 -
Lagumot Harris, having only been elected
President less than a month before, is replaced as the leader of the
republic of
Nauru. He is succeeded by
Hammer DeRoburt.
*
1988 -
Soviet war in Afghanistan: After more than eight years of fighting, the
Red Army begins its withdrawal from
Afghanistan.
*
1990 -
Portrait of Doctor Gachet by
Vincent van Gogh is sold for a record $82.5 million, the
most expensive painting at the time.
*
1991 -
Edith Cresson becomes
France's first female
prime minister.
*
2004 - The largest known
prime number at the time of its discovery, 2
24036583 − 1, is found by
Josh Findley and the
GIMPS collaborative effort.
*
1567 - (baptism)
Claudio Monteverdi, Italian composer (d.
1643)
*
1720 -
Maximilian Hell, Slovakian astronomer (d.
1792)
*
1773 - Prince
Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, Austrian statesman (d.
1859)
*
1786 - General
Dimitris Plapoutas, a Revolutionary during the
Greek War of Independence (d.
1864)
*
1817 -
Debendranath Tagore, Indian religious reformer (d.
1905)
*
1848 -
Viktor Vasnetsov, Russian painter (d.
1926)
*
1856 -
L. Frank Baum, American author (d.
1919)
*
1857 -
Williamina Fleming, Scottish-born astronomer (d.
1911)
*
1859 -
Pierre Curie, French physicist,
Nobel Prize laureate (d.
1906)
*
1862 -
Arthur Schnitzler, Austrian dramatist and narrator (d.
1931)
*
1890 -
Katherine Anne Porter, American author (d.
1980)
*
1891 -
Mikhail Bulgakov, Russian writer (d.
1940)
* 1891 -
Fritz Feigl, Austria-born chemist (d.
1971)
*
1892 -
Jimmy Wilde, boxer (d.
1969)
*
1895 -
William D. Byron, U.S. Congressman (d.
1941)
*
1898 -
Arletty, French model and actress (d.
1992)
*
1899 -
Jean-Etienne Valluy, French general (d.
1970)
*
1902 -
Richard J. Daley, Mayor of Chicago (d.
1976)
*
1905 -
Joseph Cotten, American actor (d.
1994)
*
1909 -
James Mason, English actor (d.
1984)
*
1910 -
Constance Cummings, British
actress (d.
2005)
*
1911 -
Max Frisch, Swiss author (d.
1991)
*1911 -
Herta Oberheuser, Nazi doctor (d.
1978)
*
1914 -
Tenzing Norgay, Nepalese Sherpa (d.
1986)
* 1914 -
Turk Broda,
Ice hockey goaltender *
1915 -
Paul Samuelson, American economist,
Nobel Prize laureate
*
1918 -
Eddy Arnold, American singer
*
1922 -
Jakucho Setouchi, Japanese writer and Buddhist nun
*
1923 -
Richard Avedon, American photographer (d.
2004)
* 1923 -
John Lanchbery, English composer (d.
2003)
*
1926 -
Anthony Shaffer, English playwright (d.
2001)
* 1926 -
Peter Shaffer, English playwright
*
1930 -
Jasper Johns, American painter
*
1931 -
Ken Venturi, American golfer
*
1936 -
Anna Maria Alberghetti, Italian-born actress
* 1936 -
Hugh Romney, American clown and activist
* 1936 -
Ralph Steadman, British cartoonist
* 1936 -
Paul Zindel, American writer (d.
2003)
*
1937 -
Madeleine Albright,
U.S. Secretary of State* 1937 -
Trini López, American musician
*
1940 -
Lainie Kazan, American actress and singer
* 1940 -
Don Nelson, NBA Coach
*
1941 -
K.T. Oslin, American musician
*
1944 -
Ulrich Beck, German sociologist
*
1945 -
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza* 1945 -
Lasse Berghagen, Swedish singer
*
1948 -
Brian Eno, English musician and record producer
*
1951 -
Chazz Palminteri, American actor, writer and director
* 1951 -
Jonathan Richman, American musician
* 1951 -
Frank Wilczek, American physicist,
Nobel Prize laureate
*
1953 -
George Brett, baseball player
* 1953 -
Mike Oldfield, English composer
*
1955 -
Melinda Culea, American actress
*
1956 -
Dan Patrick, American sportscaster
*
1958 -
Ron Simmons, American professional wrestler
*
1959 -
Andrew Eldritch, English singer and songwriter (
The Sisters of Mercy)
* 1959 -
Kaokor Galaxy, Thai boxer
*
1961 -
Katrin Cartlidge, British
actress (d.
2002)
*
1962 -
Melle Mel, American musician
*
1965 -
Raí, Brazilian footballer
*
1967 -
John Smoltz, baseball player
*
1969 -
Emmitt Smith, American football player
*
1970 -
Desmond Howard, American football player
*
1970 -
Rod Smith, American football player
*
1970 -
Frank de Boer, Dutch football player
*
1970 -
Ronald de Boer, Dutch football player
*
1972 -
David Charvet, French actor
*
1974 -
Andrew Johns, Australian rugby player
* 1974 -
Ahmet Zappa, American musician
*
1975 -
Ray Lewis, American football player
*
1976 -
Torraye Braggs, American basketball player
* 1976 -
Tyler Walker, baseball player
* 1976 -
Jacek Krzynówek, Polish footballer
* 1976 -
Ryan Leaf, former NFL quarterback
*
1978 -
Amy Chow, American gymnast
* 1978 -
Edu, Brazilian footballer
*
1980 -
Josh Beckett, baseball player
*
1981 -
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, American actress
*
1982 -
Veronica Campbell, Jamaican athlete
* 1982 -
Jessica Sutta, American dancer, singer and actress (
The Pussycat Dolls)
*1982 -
Segundo Castillo, Ecuadorian footballer
*
1983 -
Devin Bronson, American guitarist (
Avril Lavigne)
*
1987 -
Jennylyn Mercado, Filipino actress and singer
*
1990 -
Gerald Santos, Filipino actor and singer
*
1982 -
Alex Breckenridge, American actress
*
1036 -
Emperor Go-Ichijō of Japan (b.
1008)
*
1157 -
Yury Dolgoruky, Russian prince
*
1174 -
Nur ad-Din, ruler of Syria (b.
1118)
*
1381 -
Eppelein von Gailingen, German robber baron
*
1470 -
Charles VIII of Sweden (b.
1409)
*
1585 -
Niwa Nagahide, Japanese warlord (b.
1535)
*
1591 -
Dmitry Ivanovich, Tsarevich (b.
1582)
*
1609 -
Giovanni Croce, Italian composer (b.
1557)
*
1634 -
Hendrick Avercamp, Dutch painter (b.
1585)
*
1698 -
Marie Champmeslé, French actress (b.
1642)
*
1699 -
Edward Petre, English Jesuit and privy councilor (b.
1631)
*
1714 -
Roger Elliott, British general and Governor of Gibraltar
*
1740 -
Ephraim Chambers, English encyclopaedist (b.
1680)
*
1760 -
Alaungpaya, King of Burma (b.
1711)
*
1773 -
Alban Butler, English Catholic priest and writer (b.
1710)
*
1782 -
Marquis of Pombal,
Prime Minister of Portugal (b.
1699)
*
1886 -
Emily Dickinson, American poet (b.
1830)
*
1924 -
Paul-Henri-Benjamin d'Estournelles de Constant, French diplomat, recipient of the
Nobel Peace Prize (b.
1852)
*
1935 -
Kazimir Malevich, Ukrainian artist (b.
1878)
*
1937 -
Phillip Snowden, British politician (b.
1864)
*
1940 -
Menno ter Braak , Dutch author and polemicist (b.
1902 )
*
1948 - Father
Edward Flanagan, American priest and founder of Boys Town (b.
1886)
*
1956 -
Austin Osman Spare, English magician (b.
1886)
*
1967 -
Edward Hopper, American painter (b.
1882)
*
1971 - Sir
Tyrone Guthrie, English director, producer, and writer (b.
1900)
*
1986 -
Theodore H. White, American writer (b.
1915)
*
1989 -
Johnny Green, American
songwriter (b.
1908)
*
1991 -
Andreas Floer, German mathematician (b.
1956)
*
1994 -
Gilbert Roland, Mexican actor (b.
1904)
*
1995 -
Eric Porter, British actor (b.
1928)
*
1996 -
Charles B. Fulton, American jurist (b.
1910)
*
1998 -
Earl Manigault, American basketball player (b.
1944)
*
2003 -
June Carter Cash, American musician and singer (b.
1929)
* 2003 -
George Francis, British gangster (b.
1940)
* 2003 -
Rik Van Steenbergen, Belgian cyclist (b.
1924)
*
2005 -
Les Bartley, lacrosse coach (b.
1954)
* 2005 -
Alan B. Gold,
Chief justice of the
Quebec Superior Court (b.
1917)
* 2006 -
Joyce Ballantyne Brand,
artist (b.
1918)
*
Paraguay -
Independence Day. Celebrations for the anniversary of the independence begin on
Flag Day,
14 May.
*
Roman Empire -
Mercuralia in honor of
Mercury held.
*International day of
families.
*International day of
climate changes.
*International
conscientious objectors' day.
*
Buddha's Birthday in
Taiwan,
Hong Kong,
Macau and
South Korea (
2005).
*
United States -
Peace Officers Memorial Day.
*
Slovenia - Day of
Slovenian armed forces.
*
Teacher's Day in
Mexico (Día del Maestro) and
South Korea (스승의 날).
*
Nakba Day in
Palestinian communities.
in the
Roman Catholic Church:
*
Saint Achillius*
Saint Gerebern*
Saint Isidore the Labourer*
Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle*
Saint Reticius*
Saint Denise*
Saint Dymphna*
BBC: On This Day*
The New York Times: On This Day*
On This Day in CanadaMay 14 -
May 16 -
April 15 -
June 15 –
listing of all days
