Born in May: famous birthdays and numbers for every day
May has 31 days, from the 121st to the 151st day of the year. People born in May are Taurus until May 20, then Gemini. In 2027, May 1 falls on a Saturday, and 10 of the month’s 31 days fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
Day by day, this page brings together 248 famous people, 124 events and 93 holidays and observances. The earliest birth listed is Charles IV (1316, May 14), the most recent Sabrina Carpenter (1999, May 11). 6 of them have a milestone birthday coming up, including Leonardo Bonucci (40 on May 1, 2027), Cesc Fàbregas (40 on May 4, 2027) and Thomas Pynchon (90 on May 8, 2027). In the United States, the most common May birthday from 2000 to 2014 was May 23 (60th of 366 days, about 11,926 births that day each year), and the least common May 26 (354th).
Updated October 25, 2026. Famous people, events and holidays: Wikipedia and Wikidata. US birth counts: Social Security Administration, compiled by FiveThirtyEight.
How to read the May entries
Every day in May has its own entry. It starts with the day’s rank in the year, the zodiac sign (usual dates, give or take a day depending on the year) and the day’s rank within that sign, the day of the week it falls on the next three times, the years it lands on a Saturday or Sunday over the next ten years, and the date a baby born that day, next time it comes around, will be 10,000 days old. The last figure is the average number of babies born that day each year in the United States from 2000 to 2014, with the day’s rank out of 366.
Next come the eight people born that day with the most articles across the different Wikipedias (Wikidata, checked October 25, 2026); for living people, the age shown is the one they will reach on their next birthday, calculated by Cardiboo. Finally, a few events and holidays for the day, taken from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 license), with a link to the full page for that day.
Born on May 1
121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 12th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 16, 2054 · US: about 11,296 births that day each year (194th of 366)
- 1769 Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, British Field Marshal, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1828–1830, 1834 (1769-1852)
- 1852 Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Spanish scientist (1852-1934)
- 1672 Joseph Addison, English essayist, poet, playwright and politician (1672–1719)
- 1988 Anushka Sharma, Indian actress — turns 39 in 2027
- 1881 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French philosopher, Jesuit priest, and paleontologist
- 1987 Leonardo Bonucci, Italian association football player — turns 40 in 2027
- 1923 Joseph Heller, American writer
- 1969 Wes Anderson, American filmmaker (born 1969) — turns 58 in 2027
May 1 in history
- 2016 The evacuation of nearly 88,000 people began when a wildfire swept through Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, and burned for another 14 months, becoming the costliest disaster in Canadian history.
- 2010 Faisal Shahzad attempted to detonate a car bomb in Times Square, New York City, but it failed to explode.
- 2002 The Horncastle boar's head, which probably once formed part of the crest of an Anglo-Saxon helmet, was found.
- 1991 In Major League Baseball, Rickey Henderson broke the record for stolen bases on the same night that Nolan Ryan broke his own record for no-hitters.
Holidays and observances on May 1
- Christian feast day: Aldebrandus
- Christian feast day: Amator
- Christian feast day: Andeolus
Born on May 2
122nd day of the year (123rd in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 13th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 17, 2054 · US: about 11,457 births that day each year (145th of 366)
- 1729 Catherine II of Russia, eighth Emperor of Russia, called the Great, r. 1762–1796 (lived 1729-1796)
- 1921 Satyajit Ray, Indian filmmaker and writer (1921–1992)
- 1975 David Beckham, English footballer (born 1975) — turns 52 in 2027
- 1772 Novalis, German poet and writer (1772-1801)
- 1972 Dwayne Johnson, American actor and professional wrestler (born 1972) — turns 55 in 2027
- 1860 Theodor Herzl, father of modern political Zionism (1860–1904)
- 1859 Jerome K. Jerome, English humorist (1859-1927)
- 1985 Lily Allen, British singer and actress — turns 42 in 2027
May 2 in history
- 2011 The Conservative Party of Canada won enough seats in the federal election to establish their first majority government.
- 2008 The Chaitén volcano in Chile began to erupt for the first time since around 1640.
- 2003 Cyclone Manou formed in the Indian Ocean; over the next two weeks it struck Madagascar and left more than 100,000 people homeless.
- 1999 Mireya Moscoso became the first woman to be elected President of Panama.
Holidays and observances on May 2
- Christian feast day: Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church).
- Christian feast day: Athanasius of Alexandria (Western Christianity)
- Christian feast day: Bolesław Strzelecki (Catholic Church)
Born on May 3
123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 14th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 18, 2054 · US: about 11,205 births that day each year (227th of 366)
- 1898 Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974
- 1903 Bing Crosby, American singer and actor (1903–1977)
- 1933 James Brown, American musician (1933–2006)
- 1933 Steven Weinberg, American theoretical physicist (1933-2021)
- 1919 Pete Seeger, American folk singer (1919–2014)
- 1892 George Paget Thomson, English physicist (1892–1975)
- 1902 Alfred Kastler, French physicist (1902–1984)
- 1826 Carl XV of Sweden, King of Sweden and Norway (1859-1872)
May 3 in history
- 2007 Three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal; she has never been found.
- 1999 The Kargil War initiates when Indian forces detected the infiltration of Pakistani forces in Indian-administered Kargil, a city in Jammu and Kashmir.
- 1999 A Doppler on Wheels team measured the fastest winds recorded on Earth, at 143.6 m/s (321 mph; 517 km/h), in a tornado near Bridge Creek, Oklahoma.
- 1971 Erich Honecker became First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the governing party of East Germany.
Holidays and observances on May 3
- Christian feast day: Abhai (Syriac Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Emilia Bicchieri
- Christian feast day: Juvenal of Narni
Born on May 4
124th day of the year (125th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 15th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 19, 2054 · US: about 10,816 births that day each year (336th of 366)
- 1929 Audrey Hepburn, British actress (1929–1993)
- 1928 Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011
- 1825 Thomas Henry Huxley, British biologist and comparative anatomist (1825–1895)
- 1904 Umm Kulthum, Egyptian singer and actress (1886–1975)
- 1987 Cesc Fàbregas, Spanish professional footballer player and manager — turns 40 in 2027
- 1939 Amos Oz, Israeli writer, novelist, journalist and intellectual (1939–2018)
- 1960 Werner Faymann, Austrian politician who was Chancellor of Austria and chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Austria — turns 67 in 2027
- 1985 Fernandinho, Brazilian footballer (born 1985) — turns 42 in 2027
May 4 in history
- 2019 The inaugural race of the W Series took place at Hockenheimring, Germany, and was won by Jamie Chadwick, who later became the season's champion.
- 2015 The Parliament of Malta moved from the Grandmaster's Palace to the purpose-built Parliament House.
- 2000 Ken Livingstone took office as the first mayor of London.
- 1979 Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Holidays and observances on May 4
- Anti-Bullying Day (United Nations)
- Bird Day (United States)
- Cassinga Day (Namibia)
Born on May 5
125th day of the year (126th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 16th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 20, 2054 · US: about 11,072 births that day each year (272nd of 366)
- 1818 Karl Marx, German-born philosopher (1818–1883)
- 1813 Søren Kierkegaard, Danish theologian, philosopher, poet and social critic (1813–1855)
- 1846 Henryk Sienkiewicz, Polish writer, novelist, journalist, philanthropist and Nobel Prize laureate (1846–1916)
- 1988 Adele, English singer-songwriter (born 1988) — turns 39 in 2027
- 1983 Henry Cavill, British actor (born 1983) — turns 44 in 2027
- 1921 Arthur Leonard Schawlow, American physicist
- 1747 Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, Holy Roman Emperor from 1790 to 1792
- 1864 Nellie Bly, American journalist
May 5 in history
- 2023 The World Health Organization declared the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency.
- 2020 Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN was forced to go off-air by the National Telecommunications Commission after Congress failed to renew its franchise granted in 1995.
- 1994 American teenager Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore for theft and vandalism, a punishment that the United States deemed to be excessive for a teenager committing a non-violent crime.
- 1992 The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, 202 years after it was first proposed.
Holidays and observances on May 5
- Children's Day (Japan, South Korea)
- Christian feast day: Angelus of Jerusalem
- Christian feast day: Aventinus of Tours
Born on May 6
126th day of the year (127th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 17th day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 21, 2054 · US: about 10,888 births that day each year (313th of 366)
- 1856 Sigmund Freud, Austrian psychiatrist and founder of psychoanalysis (1856–1939)
- 1953 Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 — turns 74 in 2027
- 1758 Maximilien Robespierre, French revolutionary lawyer and politician (1758–1794)
- 1961 George Clooney, American-French actor and filmmaker (born 1961) — turns 66 in 2027
- 1915 Orson Welles, American actor and filmmaker (1915–1985)
- 1904 Harry Martinson, Swedish writer (1904–1978)
- 1871 Victor Grignard, French chemist (1871-1935)
- 1880 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, German painter, sculptor, engraver and printmaker (1880–1938)
May 6 in history
- 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey in London.
- 2013 Amanda Berry escaped from the Cleveland, Ohio, home of her captor, Ariel Castro, having been held there with two other women for ten years.
- 2004 The final episode of the television sitcom Friends was aired.
- 1998 Steve Jobs unveiled the iMac G3' personal computer.
Holidays and observances on May 6
- Christian feast day: Dominic Savio
- Christian feast day: Evodius of Antioch (Roman Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: François de Laval
Born on May 7
127th day of the year (128th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 18th day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 22, 2054 · US: about 11,119 births that day each year (255th of 366)
- 1861 Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali poet, philosopher and polymath (1861–1941)
- 1840 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Russian composer (1840–1893)
- 1833 Johannes Brahms, German composer (1833–1897)
- 1711 David Hume, Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian (1711-1776)
- 1892 Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman (1892−1980)
- 1867 Władysław Reymont, Polish novelist (1867-1925)
- 1919 Eva Perón, Argentine actress and politician (1919–1952)
- 1812 Robert Browning, English poet and playwright (1812–1889)
May 7 in history
- 2010 A draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome was published, demonstrating that most living humans have Neanderthal ancestors.
- 2009 Police in Napier, New Zealand, began a 40-hour siege of the home of a former New Zealand Army member who had shot at officers during the routine execution of a search warrant.
- 1954 A convoy of circus wagons carrying lions, horses, ponies and an ass lost control and overturned into some shop fronts in Dungannon, Northern Ireland.
- 1946 Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita founded the telecommunications corporation Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, later renamed Sony.
Holidays and observances on May 7
- Christian feast day: Agathius of Byzantium
- Christian feast day: Agostino Roscelli
- Christian feast day: Anthony of Kiev
Born on May 8
128th day of the year (129th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 19th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 23, 2054 · US: about 11,240 births that day each year (218th of 366)
- 1884 Harry S. Truman, president of the United States from 1945 to 1953; politician (1884–1972)
- 1899 Friedrich Hayek, Austrian and British economist (1899–1992)
- 1828 Henry Dunant, Swiss businessman and co-founder of the Red Cross (1828-1910)
- 1737 Edward Gibbon, English historian and politician (1737–1794)
- 1975 Enrique Iglesias, Spanish singer, songwriter and producer (born 1975) — turns 52 in 2027
- 1926 David Attenborough, British broadcaster and naturalist (born 1926) — turns 101 in 2027
- 1937 Thomas Pynchon, American novelist (born 1937) — turns 90 in 2027
- 1903 Fernandel, French actor and singer (1903-1971)
May 8 in history
- 1984 The Soviet Union announced the boycott of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, citing security concerns.
- 1976 Great American Revolution opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California.
- 1957 South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm began a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor.
- 1950 The Tollund Man, a naturally mummified corpse, was discovered in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark.
Holidays and observances on May 8
- Christian feast day: Amato Ronconi
- Christian feast day: Pope Boniface IV
- Christian feast day: Apparition of Saint Michael
Born on May 9
129th day of the year (130th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 20th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 24, 2054 · US: about 11,378 births that day each year (172nd of 366)
- 1860 J. M. Barrie, Scottish writer and playwright (1860–1937)
- 1874 Howard Carter, British egyptologist (1874–1939)
- 1936 Glenda Jackson, British actress and politician (1936–2023)
- 1883 José Ortega y Gasset, Spanish liberal philosopher and essayist (1883–1955)
- 1921 Sophie Scholl, German resistance fighter during the Nazi regime, member of the White Rose (1921-1943)
- 1949 Billy Joel, American singer, songwriter, and pianist (born 1949) — turns 78 in 2027
- 1927 Manfred Eigen, German biophysical chemist (1927-2019)
- 1800 John Brown, American abolitionist
May 9 in history
- 2023 Pakistani protests: Riots broke out following the arrest of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan.
- 1979 Prominent Iranian Jew Habib Elghanian was executed after having been convicted by a revolutionary tribunal of various charges, triggering a mass exodus of Jews from Iran.
- 1968 About 200 students at Bucks County Community College held a protest after the college canceled a planned speech by gay rights activist Dick Leitsch.
- 1964 Ngô Đình Cẩn, a younger brother and the confidant of South Vietnam's first president, Ngô Đình Diệm, was executed by Nguyễn Khánh's military junta.
Holidays and observances on May 9
- Christian feast day: Beatus of Vendome
- Christian feast day: Christopher (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: George Preca
Born on May 10
130th day of the year (131st in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 21st day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 25, 2054 · US: about 11,393 births that day each year (170th of 366)
- 1899 Fred Astaire, American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer (1899–1987)
- 1923 Heydar Aliyev, 3rd President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1923–2003)
- 1960 Bono, Irish singer — turns 67 in 2027
- 1878 Gustav Stresemann, German politician, statesman, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1878-1929)
- 1969 Dennis Bergkamp, Dutch association football player (born 1969) — turns 58 in 2027
- 1886 Karl Barth, Swiss Protestant theologian (1886-1968)
- 1957 Sid Vicious, English bassist (1957–1979)
- 1788 Augustin-Jean Fresnel, French engineer and physicist (1788-1827)
May 10 in history
- 2017 Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces, assisted by the U.S. military, captured the Tabqa Dam and surrounding countryside, completing the Battle of Tabqa.
- 2013 One World Trade Center in New York City, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, was topped out at a height of 1,776 feet (541 m).
- 1941 World War II: German Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with the British government.
- 1940 British prime minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and formally recommended Winston Churchill as his successor.
Holidays and observances on May 10
- Children's Day (Maldives)
- Christian feast day: Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus
- Christian feast day: Blessed Beatrice d'Este
Born on May 11
131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 22nd day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 26, 2054 · US: about 10,946 births that day each year (298th of 366)
- 1904 Salvador Dalí, Spanish artist (1904–1989)
- 1918 Richard Feynman, American theoretical physicist (1918–1988)
- 1984 Andrés Iniesta, Spanish footballer and manager — turns 43 in 2027
- 1916 Camilo José Cela, Spanish writer (1916–2002)
- 1992 Thibaut Courtois, Belgian association football player (born 1992) — turns 35 in 2027
- 1999 Sabrina Carpenter, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1999) — turns 28 in 2027
- 1930 Edsger W. Dijkstra, Dutch computer scientist (1930–2002)
- 1888 Irving Berlin, American composer and lyricist (1888–1989)
May 11 in history
- 2011 An earthquake registering Mw 5.1, the worst to hit the region for more than 50 years, struck near Lorca, Spain.
- 2010 David Cameron took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed the country's first coalition government since the Second World War.
- 2010 Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party after failing to strike a coalition agreement with the Liberal Democrats.
- 1998 India began the Pokhran-II nuclear-weapons test, its first since the Smiling Buddha test 24 years earlier.
Holidays and observances on May 11
- Christian feast day: Anthimus of Rome
- Christian feast day: Gangulphus of Burgundy
- Christian feast day: Blessed John Rochester
Born on May 12
132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 23rd day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 27, 2054 · US: about 11,013 births that day each year (284th of 366)
- 1820 Florence Nightingale, English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820–1910)
- 1980 Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024 — turns 47 in 2027
- 1907 Katharine Hepburn, American actress (1907–2003)
- 1895 Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian spiritual philosopher, mystic, speaker and writer (1895–1986)
- 1910 Dorothy Hodgkin, British chemist
- 1937 George Carlin, American stand-up comedian (1937–2008)
- 1977 Maryam Mirzakhani, Iranian mathematician (1977–2017)
- 1828 Dante Gabriel Rossetti, English poet, illustrator, painter, and translator (1828-1882)
May 12 in history
- 2022 The Event Horizon Telescope released the first image of Sagittarius A*.
- 2008 In Postville, Iowa, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the largest-ever raid of a workplace and arrested nearly 400 immigrants for identity theft and document fraud.
- 1982 The Coppergate Helmet, the best preserved of the six known Anglo-Saxon helmets, was discovered.
- 1975 The Cambodian navy seized the American container ship SS Mayaguez in what they claimed to be Cambodian territorial waters.
Holidays and observances on May 12
- Christian feast day: Blessed Joan of Portugal
- Christian feast day: Crispoldus
- Christian feast day: Dominic de la Calzada
Born on May 13
133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 24th day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 28, 2054 · US: about 10,653 births that day each year (346th of 366)
- 1792 Pius IX, Pope of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878
- 1840 Alphonse Daudet, French novelist, playwright, and poet (1840–1897)
- 1717 Maria Theresa of Austria, ruler of the Habsburg Dominions (1717-1780)
- 1950 Stevie Wonder, American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, composer and record producer (born 1950) — turns 77 in 2027
- 1857 Ronald Ross, British doctor, Nobel laureate, writer, and artist (1857–1932)
- 1968 Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia from 2018 to 2022 — turns 59 in 2027
- 1986 Robert Pattinson, English actor and film producer (born 1986) — turns 41 in 2027
- 1993 Romelu Lukaku, Belgian footballer (born 1993) — turns 34 in 2027
May 13 in history
- 2017 Eurovision Song Contest: Portugal won the contest for the first time, with the song "Amar pelos dois," performed by Salvador Sobral.
- 2012 Mexican authorities discovered 49 dismembered bodies in Cadereyta Jiménez.
- 1995 Alison Hargreaves became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest without the aid of Sherpas or bottled oxygen.
- 1992 Li Hongzhi introduced the Falun Gong movement at a public lecture in Changchun, China.
Holidays and observances on May 13
- Abbotsbury Garland Day (Dorset, England)
- Christian feast day: André-Hubert Fournet
- Christian feast day: Our Lady of Fátima
Born on May 14
134th day of the year (135th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 25th day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 29, 2054 · US: about 11,270 births that day each year (201st of 366)
- 1984 Mark Zuckerberg, American Internet entrepreneur — turns 43 in 2027
- 1969 Cate Blanchett, Australian actor and producer (born 1969) — turns 58 in 2027
- 1944 George Lucas, American filmmaker and philanthropist (born 1944) — turns 83 in 2027
- 1952 Robert Zemeckis, American screenwriter, film producer and director (born 1952) — turns 75 in 2027
- 1316 Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1771 Robert Owen, Welsh textile manufacturer and social reformer (1771–1858)
- 1922 Franjo Tuđman, Croatian politician, soldier, president and historian (1922–1999)
- 1993 Miranda Cosgrove, American actress, singer-songwriter and producer (born 1993) — turns 34 in 2027
May 14 in history
- 2008 On the day of the UEFA Cup Final, violence erupted between football hooligan supporters of both teams and the Greater Manchester Police, resulting in 39 arrests and 39 injured officers.
- 1955 Cold War: Eight Eastern Bloc countries signed a mutual defense treaty to establish the Warsaw Pact.
- 1951 Trains ran on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales for the first time since its preservation, making it the first railway in the world to be operated by volunteers.
- 1940 World War II: The bulk of Dutch forces surrendered to the German Wehrmacht, ending the Battle of the Netherlands.
Holidays and observances on May 14
- Christian feast day: Boniface of Tarsus
- Christian feast day: Justa, Justina and Henedina
- Christian feast day: Maria Domenica Mazzarello
Born on May 15
135th day of the year (136th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 26th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on September 30, 2054 · US: about 11,435 births that day each year (156th of 366)
- 1859 Pierre Curie, French physicist and chemist (1859–1906)
- 1891 Mikhail Bulgakov, Russian author (1891–1940)
- 1937 Madeleine Albright, United States Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001
- 1982 Layal Abboud, Lebanese pop singer — turns 45 in 2027
- 1915 Paul Samuelson, American economist (1915–2009)
- 1773 Klemens von Metternich, Austrian diplomat, foreign minister and Chancellor (1773–1859)
- 1987 Andy Murray, British tennis player (born 1987) — turns 40 in 2027
- 1845 Élie Metchnikoff, Russian-French immunologist, embryologist, biologist (1845-1916)
May 15 in history
- 2010 Three days before her seventeenth birthday, Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney after sailing non-stop and unassisted around the world.
- 2004 Arsenal became the first football team in England's top flight to finish a season undefeated since Preston North End did so in 1888–1889.
- 2001 A runaway train loaded with hazardous chemicals traveled driverless for 66 miles (106 km) through Ohio before being stopped near Kenton.
- 1990 Vincent van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gachet was sold at auction at Christie's in New York for US$82.5 million, making it the world's most expensive painting at the time.
Holidays and observances on May 15
- Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)
- Army Day (Slovenia)
- Christian feast day: Achillius of Larissa
Born on May 16
136th day of the year (137th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 27th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 1, 2054 · US: about 11,664 births that day each year (100th of 366)
- 1986 Megan Fox, American actress and model (born 1986) — turns 41 in 2027
- 1953 Pierce Brosnan, Irish actor (born 1953) — turns 74 in 2027
- 1966 Janet Jackson, American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress (born 1966) — turns 61 in 2027
- 1905 Henry Fonda, American actor (1905–1982)
- 1718 Maria Gaetana Agnesi, Italian mathematician and philanthropist (1718–1799)
- 1883 Celâl Bayar, 3rd President of the Republic of Turkey (1883–1986)
- 1974 Laura Pausini, Italian singer — turns 53 in 2027
- 1950 Georg Bednorz, physicist — turns 77 in 2027
May 16 in history
- 1977 The first Chuck E. Cheese location, the first family restaurant to integrate food, animated entertainment, and an indoor arcade, opened in San Jose, California.
- 1975 Based on the results of a referendum held about one month earlier, the Kingdom of Sikkim abolished its monarchy and was annexed to become the 22nd state of India.
- 1975 Japanese climber Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
- 1968 A gas explosion in Ronan Point causes a corner of the building to collapse, leading to a loss of public confidence in high-rise residential buildings.
Holidays and observances on May 16
- Christian feast day: Aaron (Coptic Church)
- Christian feast day: Abda and Abdjesus, and companions: Abdas of Susa
- Christian feast day: Andrew Bobola
Born on May 17
137th day of the year (138th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 28th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 2, 2054 · US: about 11,418 births that day each year (163rd of 366)
- 1961 Enya, Irish singer (born 1961) — turns 66 in 2027
- 1749 Edward Jenner, English physician, scientist and pioneer of vaccination (1749–1823)
- 1873 Henri Barbusse, French author (1873-1935)
- 1866 Erik Satie, French composer and pianist (1866-1925)
- 1886 Alfonso XIII, King of Spain from 1886 to 1931 (1886–1941)
- 1936 Dennis Hopper, American actor and film director (1936–2010)
- 1956 Bob Saget, American stand-up comedian (1957–2022)
- 1955 Bill Paxton, American actor and filmmaker (1955–2017)
May 17 in history
- 2004 Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.
- 1997 The First Congo War came to an end when Laurent-Désiré Kabila proclaimed himself president of Zaire, which was also renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 1995 Six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama selected by the 14th Dalai Lama, was kidnapped by the Chinese government, who advocated a proxy.
- 1954 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, outlawing racial segregation in public schools because "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and therefore unconstitutional.
Holidays and observances on May 17
- Birthday of the Raja (Perlis)
- Christian feast day: Giulia Salzano
- Christian feast day: Blessed Ivan Ziatyk
Born on May 18
138th day of the year (139th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 29th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 3, 2054 · US: about 11,051 births that day each year (277th of 366)
- 1920 John Paul II, pope, cardinal, bishop, priest, author
- 1872 Bertrand Russell, British philosopher and logician (1872–1970)
- 1868 Nicholas II of Russia, 14th and last Emperor of Russia (1894–1917)
- 1883 Walter Gropius, German-American architect (1883–1969)
- 1897 Frank Capra, Italian-born American film director (1897–1991)
- 1970 Tina Fey, American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright — turns 57 in 2027
- 1891 Rudolf Carnap, German philosopher and logician (1891–1970)
- 1919 Margot Fonteyn, British ballerina
May 18 in history
- 2006 The Parliament of Nepal unanimously voted to strip King Gyanendra of many of his powers.
- 2005 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion publicly debuted at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
- 1996 Ireland won the Eurovision song contest for the seventh time, the highest number of wins for any country before Sweden tied it in 2023.
- 1974 India conducted its first nuclear test explosion at Pokhran, the first confirmed nuclear test by a nation outside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Holidays and observances on May 18
- Christian feast day: Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury
- Christian feast day: Blessed Blandine Merten
- Christian feast day: Eric IX of Sweden
Born on May 19
139th day of the year (140th in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 30th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 4, 2054 · US: about 11,009 births that day each year (286th of 366)
- 1890 Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese communist leader, founder of North Vietnam (1890–1969)
- 1925 Malcolm X, American Black rights activist (1925–1965)
- 1762 Johann Gottlieb Fichte, German philosopher (1762–1814)
- 1977 Natalia Oreiro, Uruguayan actress, singer, host, and model — turns 50 in 2027
- 1979 Diego Forlán, Uruguayan association football player and manager (born 1979) — turns 48 in 2027
- 1979 Andrea Pirlo, Italian association football player and manager — turns 48 in 2027
- 1941 Nora Ephron, American film director and writer (1941–2012)
- 1992 Sam Smith, British singer-songwriter (born 1992) — turns 35 in 2027
May 19 in history
- 2018 The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England.
- 2015 A corroded pipeline near Refugio State Beach, California, spilled 142,800 gallons (3,400 barrels) of crude oil onto the Gaviota Coast.
- 2010 In Bangkok, the Thai military concluded a week-long crackdown on widespread protests by forcing the surrender of opposition leaders.
- 1997 The Sierra Gorda Biosphere, which encompasses the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, was established as a result of grassroots efforts.
Holidays and observances on May 19
- Christian feast day: Calocerus (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Crispin of Viterbo
- Christian feast day: Dunstan (Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church; commemoration, Anglicanism)
Born on May 20
140th day of the year (141st in leap years) · ♉ Taurus, 31st day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 5, 2054 · US: about 11,192 births that day each year (230th of 366)
- 1799 Honoré de Balzac, French novelist and playwright (1799–1850)
- 1806 John Stuart Mill, British philosopher and political economist (1806–1873)
- 1946 Cher, American musician, singer, actress and television personality (born 1946) — turns 81 in 2027
- 1882 Sigrid Undset, Norwegian writer (1882–1949)
- 1935 José Mujica, Uruguayan guerrilla fighter and politician
- 1981 Iker Casillas, Spanish association football player — turns 46 in 2027
- 1908 James Stewart, American actor and military officer (1908–1997)
- 1944 Joe Cocker, British singer (1944–2014)
May 20 in history
- 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war: Russia claimed full control of Mariupol after a nearly three-month siege.
- 1996 In deciding Romer v. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a constitutional amendment in Colorado that prevented protected status under the law for homosexuals or bisexuals.
- 1993 "One for the Road", the series finale of American television sitcom Cheers, was watched by 42.4 million American households on its original airing.
- 1983 A team of researchers led by French virologist Luc Montagnier published their discovery of HIV, but were not then certain that it caused AIDS.
Holidays and observances on May 20
- Christian feast day: Abercius and Helena
- Christian feast day: Alcuin of York
- Christian feast day: Aurea of Ostia
Born on May 21
141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 1st day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 6, 2054 · US: about 11,472 births that day each year (143rd of 366)
- 1921 Andrei Sakharov, Soviet nuclear physicist and human rights activist (1921–1989)
- 1944 Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights — turns 83 in 2027
- 1860 Willem Einthoven, Dutch physiologist
- 1986 Mario Mandžukić, Croatian association football player (born 1986) — turns 41 in 2027
- 1844 Henri Rousseau, French painter (1844–1910)
- 1972 The Notorious B.I.G., American rapper (1972–1997)
- 1843 Charles Albert Gobat, Swiss politician and lawyer (1843-1914)
- 1914 Romain Gary, French writer and diplomat (1914–1980)
May 21 in history
- 2024 The Greenfield tornado, estimated to have produced winds in excess of 309 miles per hour (497 km/h), moved across Iowa.
- 2015 Islamic State militants entered the ancient city of Palmyra.
- 2005 The world's tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, U.S.
- 1998 Indonesian president Suharto resigned after a collapse of support for his presidency amid economic and political crises, ending 32 years in power.
Holidays and observances on May 21
- Afro-Colombian Day (Colombia)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Adílio Daronch and Manuel Gómez González
- Christian feast day: Blessed Franz Jägerstätter
Born on May 22
142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 2nd day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 7, 2054 · US: about 11,574 births that day each year (124th of 366)
- 1813 Richard Wagner, German composer (1813–1883)
- 1859 Arthur Conan Doyle, British writer and physician (1859–1930)
- 1987 Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis player (born 1987) — turns 40 in 2027
- 1924 Charles Aznavour, Armenian-French singer and diplomat (1924-2018)
- 1907 Laurence Olivier, English actor and director (1907–1989)
- 1844 Mary Cassatt, American painter and printmaker (1844—1926)
- 1946 George Best, Northern Irish footballer (1946–2005)
- 1970 Naomi Campbell, British model (born 1970) — turns 57 in 2027
May 22 in history
- 2014 Prayut Chan-o-cha, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, launched a coup d'état against the caretaker government following six months of political crisis.
- 2002 Police announced that the skeletal remains of Federal Bureau of Prisons intern Chandra Levy, who had been missing for a year, had been found in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.
- 1998 In Public Prosecutor v Taw Cheng Kong, the Court of Appeal of Singapore overruled a High Court decision in the only time a statute in Singapore had been ruled unconstitutional.
- 1980 Location testing for Pac-Man, a Japanese arcade game that became an icon of 1980s popular culture, began in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Holidays and observances on May 22
- Abolition Day (Martinique)
- Aromanian National Day (marginal, celebration on May 23 is more common)
- Christian feast day: Castus and Emilius
Born on May 23
143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 3rd day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 8, 2054 · US: about 11,926 births that day each year (60th of 366)
- 1707 Carl Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist (1707–1778); developed the foundations of modern taxonomy
- 1891 Pär Lagerkvist, Swedish writer (1891–1974)
- 1908 John Bardeen, American physicist and engineer (1908–1991)
- 1951 Anatoly Karpov, Russian chess player — turns 76 in 2027
- 1991 Lena Meyer-Landrut, German singer (born 1991) — turns 36 in 2027
- 1949 Alan García, President of Peru (1985–1990 and 2006–2011)
- 1972 Rubens Barrichello, Brazilian racing driver — turns 55 in 2027
- 1848 Otto Lilienthal, German aviation pioneer (1848-1896)
May 23 in history
- 2021 Ryanair Flight 4978 was forced to land by Belarusian authorities, who detained dissident journalist Roman Protasevich.
- 2008 The International Court of Justice awarded the Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca to Singapore, resolving a 29-year-old territorial dispute in the Singapore Strait.
- 1999 Professional wrestler Owen Hart died immediately before a World Wrestling Federation match after dropping 70 feet (21 m) onto the ring during a botched entrance.
- 1980 The Shining, the psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, premiered on 10 screens in New York City and Los Angeles.
Holidays and observances on May 23
- Aromanian National Day
- Christian feast day: Aaron the Illustrious (Syriac Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Desiderius of Vienne
Born on May 24
144th day of the year (145th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 4th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 9, 2054 · US: about 11,661 births that day each year (101st of 366)
- 1941 Bob Dylan, American singer-songwriter (born 1941) — turns 86 in 2027
- 1819 Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901 (1819-1901)
- 1940 Joseph Brodsky, Russian-American poet, essayist, and Nobel laureate (1940–1996)
- 1905 Mikhail Sholokhov, Soviet writer (1905-1984)
- 1743 Jean-Paul Marat, politician and journalist during the French Revolution (1743-1793)
- 1686 Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, German-Polish physicist and engineer (1686-1736)
- 1966 Eric Cantona, French footballer and actor (born 1966) — turns 61 in 2027
- 1946 Tansu Çiller, Turkish politician, who has been the first female and 22nd prime minister of the country — turns 81 in 2027
May 24 in history
- 2006 An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary film that has been credited for raising international public awareness of climate change and re-energizing the environmental movement, was released.
- 1991 The Israel Defense Forces began Operation Solomon, a covert operation to bring thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
- 1988 Section 28 of the United Kingdom's Local Government Act of 1988, a controversial amendment stating that a local authority cannot intentionally promote homosexuality, was enacted.
- 1976 In a wine competition in Paris, French judges shocked the wine industry by rating California wines higher than French ones.
Holidays and observances on May 24
- Aldersgate Day/Wesley Day (Methodism)
- Battle of Pichincha Day (Ecuador)
- Bermuda Day (Bermuda), celebrated on the nearest weekday if May 24 falls on the weekend.
Born on May 25
145th day of the year (146th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 5th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 10, 2054 · US: about 11,098 births that day each year (267th of 366)
- 1803 Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher (1803–1882)
- 1865 Pieter Zeeman, Dutch physicist (1865–1943)
- 1939 Ian McKellen, British actor (born 1939) — turns 88 in 2027
- 1976 Cillian Murphy, Irish actor (born 1976) — turns 51 in 2027
- 1963 Mike Myers, Canadian actor, comedian and filmmaker — turns 64 in 2027
- 1803 Edward Bulwer-Lytton, British statesman and author (1803–1873)
- 1965 Yahya Jammeh, 2nd President of the Gambia — turns 62 in 2027
- 1921 Jack Steinberger, German-American physicist, Nobel laureate (1921-2020)
May 25 in history
- 2012 In a test flight, SpaceX's Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station.
- 2011 The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated daytime talk show in U.S. television history, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, was broadcast.
- 2009 North Korea conducted a nuclear test and several other missile tests that were widely condemned internationally and led to sanctions from the United Nations Security Council.
- 1979 Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared on his way to school in New York City, and later became one of the first missing children to have his picture featured on milk cartons.
Holidays and observances on May 25
- Africa Day (African Union)
- African Liberation Day (African Union, Rastafari)
- Christian feast day: Aldhelm
Born on May 26
146th day of the year (147th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 6th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 11, 2054 · US: about 10,330 births that day each year (354th of 366)
- 1907 John Wayne, American actor (1907–1979)
- 1926 Miles Davis, American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer (1926–1991)
- 1951 Sally Ride, American astronaut and physicist (1951–2012)
- 1966 Helena Bonham Carter, British actress (born 1966) — turns 61 in 2027
- 1949 Jeremy Corbyn, British politician, leader of the Labour Party 2015 to 2020 — turns 78 in 2027
- 1968 Frederik X of Denmark, King of Denmark since 2024 — turns 59 in 2027
- 1964 Lenny Kravitz, American guitarist and singer (born 1964) — turns 63 in 2027
- 1912 János Kádár, former General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party
May 26 in history
- 2025 A car rammed into a crowd on Water Street, Liverpool, injuring 65 people.
- 2002 Barges being towed destroyed part of a bridge near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, causing vehicles to fall into the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir on the Arkansas River.
- 1999 Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League final to become the first English football club to win three major championships in the same season.
- 1967 The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, one of the first progressive rock albums, was released.
Holidays and observances on May 26
- Christian feast day: Andrew Kaggwa
- Christian feast day: Augustine of Canterbury (Anglican Communion and Eastern Orthodox)
- Christian feast day: Lambert of Vence
Born on May 27
147th day of the year (148th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 7th day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 12, 2054 · US: about 10,660 births that day each year (345th of 366)
- 1922 Christopher Lee, English actor and singer (1922–2015)
- 1907 Rachel Carson, American marine biologist and conservationist (1907–1964)
- 1894 Louis-Ferdinand Céline, French writer (1894–1961)
- 1897 John Cockcroft, British physicist (1897–1967)
- 1911 Hubert Humphrey, vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969
- 1894 Dashiell Hammett, American writer (1894–1961)
- 1918 Yasuhiro Nakasone, Japanese politician (1918–2019)
- 1911 Vincent Price, American actor (1911–1993)
May 27 in history
- 2014 The football club Kerala Blasters FC and its first supporters' group Manjappada were formed.
- 2001 Twenty tourists were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in Palawan, Philippines, triggering a hostage crisis that lasted for more than a year.
- 1995 American actor Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse, leaving him quadriplegic; he later became an activist on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries.
- 1967 Australians voted overwhelmingly to include Indigenous Australians in population counts for constitutional purposes and to allow the federal government to make special laws affecting them in states.
Holidays and observances on May 27
- Armed Forces Day (Nicaragua)
- Children's Day (Nigeria)
- Christian feast day: Augustine of Canterbury
Born on May 28
148th day of the year (149th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 8th day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 13, 2054 · US: about 10,781 births that day each year (338th of 366)
- 1968 Kylie Minogue, Australian singer and actress (born 1968) — turns 59 in 2027
- 1908 Ian Fleming, British author (1908–1964)
- 1912 Patrick White, English-born Australian writer
- 1971 Marco Rubio, 72nd United States Secretary of State since 2025 — turns 56 in 2027
- 1759 William Pitt the Younger, British statesman (1759–1806)
- 1925 Bülent Ecevit, 16th Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey (1925–2006)
- 1884 Edvard Beneš, Czechoslovak politician (1884-1948)
- 1985 Carey Mulligan, British actress (born 1985) — turns 42 in 2027
May 28 in history
- 2002 An independent commission appointed by the Football Association voted two-to-one to allow Wimbledon F.C. to relocate from London to Milton Keynes.
- 1987 Mathias Rust, a West German aviator, flew his Cessna 172 from Helsinki, Finland, through Soviet air defences, landing illegally near Red Square in Moscow.
- 1982 Falklands War: The British War Cabinet, which never considered using nuclear weapons in the conflict, ordered that the nuclear depth bombs on British ships return home.
- 1940 Second World War: Belgium surrendered to Nazi Germany, ending the Battle of Belgium.
Holidays and observances on May 28
- Armed Forces Day (Croatia)
- Christian feast day: Bernard of Menthon
- Christian feast day: Germain of Paris
Born on May 29
149th day of the year (150th in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 9th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 14, 2054 · US: about 11,006 births that day each year (287th of 366)
- 1917 John F. Kennedy, president of the United States from 1961 to 1963 (1917–1963)
- 1874 G. K. Chesterton, English author and Christian apologist (1874–1936)
- 1929 Peter Higgs, British physicist and Nobel Prize winner (1929–2024)
- 1914 Tenzing Norgay, Nepalese Indian Sherpa mountaineer (1914-1986)
- 1880 Oswald Spengler, German historian and philosopher (1880-1936)
- 1903 Bob Hope, American entertainer (1903–2003)
- 1958 Annette Bening, American actress (born 1958) — turns 69 in 2027
- 1981 Andrey Arshavin, Russian association football player — turns 46 in 2027
May 29 in history
- 2020 An oil spill in Norilsk released 17,500 tons of diesel oil into nearby rivers.
- 1999 Charlotte Perrelli, representing Sweden, won the Eurovision Song Contest, the first edition not to feature an orchestra or live accompaniment.
- 1999 President Olusegun Obasanjo took office as Nigeria's first elected and civilian head of state after 16 years of military dictatorship.
- 1954 Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes.
Holidays and observances on May 29
- Army Day (Argentina)
- Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh (Baháʼí Faith) (Only if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz falls on March 21 of the Gregorian calendar)
- Christian feast day: Bona of Pisa
Born on May 30
150th day of the year (151st in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 10th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 15, 2054 · US: about 11,303 births that day each year (189th of 366)
- 1814 Mikhail Bakunin, Russian revolutionary anarchist and philosopher (1814–1876)
- 1980 Steven Gerrard, English association football player and manager (born 1980) — turns 47 in 2027
- 1934 Alexey Leonov, Soviet-Russian pilot and cosmonaut, first human to conduct a spacewalk (1934–2019)
- 1908 Hannes Alfvén, Swedish electrical engineer, plasma physicist and science fiction author (1908–1995), winner of the 1970 Nobel Prize for
- 1909 Benny Goodman, American jazz clarinetist and bandleader (1909–1986)
- 1928 Agnès Varda, French artist, film director, screenwriter and photographer (1928–2019)
- 1845 Amadeo I of Spain, Italian Royal and temporary Head of State of Spain (1845–1890)
- 1951 Fernando Lugo, 47.° President of Paraguay — turns 76 in 2027
May 30 in history
- 2024 Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in a New York trial, becoming the first former U.S. president found guilty in a criminal case.
- 2020 Crew Dragon Demo-2 became the first commercial mission to the International Space Station.
- 2012 Former Liberia president Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone Civil War.
- 2008 The Convention on Cluster Munitions, prohibiting the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs, was adopted.
Holidays and observances on May 30
- Anguilla Day, commemorates the beginning of the Anguillian Revolution in 1967. (Anguilla)
- Canary Islands Day (Spain)
- Christian feast day: Basil the Elder and Emmelia of Caesarea
Born on May 31
151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) · ♊ Gemini, 11th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on October 16, 2054 · US: about 11,035 births that day each year (279th of 366)
- 1819 Walt Whitman, American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)
- 1930 Clint Eastwood, American actor and film director (born 1930) — turns 97 in 2027
- 1948 Svetlana Alexievich, Belarusian investigative journalist and non-fiction prose writer (born 1948) — turns 79 in 2027
- 1857 Pius XI, pope of the Catholic Church from 1922 to 1939
- 1963 Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary (1998–2002; 2010–2026) (born 1963) — turns 64 in 2027
- 1887 Saint-John Perse, French poet and diplomat (1887–1975)
- 1989 Marco Reus, German association football player (born 1989) — turns 38 in 2027
- 1976 Colin Farrell, Irish actor (born 1976) — turns 51 in 2027
May 31 in history
- 1902 The Second Boer War came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in Pretoria, South Africa.
- 1862 American Civil War: Confederate troops under Joseph E. Johnston and G. W. Smith engaged Union forces under George B. McClellan at the Battle of Seven Pines outside Richmond, Virginia.
- 1775 American Revolution: The Committee of Safety of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, adopted the Mecklenburg Resolves, which annulled and vacated all laws originating from the authority of the king or the Parliament of Great Britain.
- 1468 Cardinal Bessarion announced his donation of 746 Greek and Latin codices to the Republic of Venice, forming the Biblioteca Marciana.
Holidays and observances on May 31
- Anniversary of Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (Brunei)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Camilla Battista da Varano
- Christian feast day: Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla
Frequently asked questions
What is the zodiac sign for people born in May?
Taurus ♉ until May 20, then Gemini ♊ from May 21 (usual dates, give or take a day depending on the year).
Which famous people were born in May?
For example Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (May 1, 1769), Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856), Salvador Dalí (May 11, 1904), Megan Fox (May 16, 1986), Andrei Sakharov (May 21, 1921) and John Wayne (May 26, 1907). The eight best-known people for every day in May are in the entries above.
Which May birthdays fall on a weekend in 2027?
10 days out of 31: May 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, 2027.