The first edition of the Giro d’Italia, a long-distance multiple-stage bicycle race, began in Milan; the Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna was the eventual winner The…
12 May 1965
The Soviet spacecraft Luna 5 crashes on the Moon. The Soviet spacecraft Luna 5 was part of the Soviet Union’s ambitious Luna program, which aimed…
11 May 1857
Indian rebels seize Delhi from the British. The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Indian Independence,…
10 May 1824
The National Gallery in London opens to the public. The The National Gallery was founded in 1824, when the British government purchased 38 paintings from…
9 May 1992
Westray Mine disaster kills 26 workers in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Westray Mine disaster was one of Canada’s deadliest mining tragedies. It occurred on May…
8 May 1429
Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the Hundred Years’ War. The Siege of Orléans was a major turning point…
7 May 1832
Greece’s independence is recognized by the Treaty of London. The Treaty of London was an important agreement signed by Britain, France, and Russia to establish…
6 May 1840
The Penny Black postage stamp becomes valid for use in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Penny Black postage stamp, issued in…
5 May 1762
Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg. The Treaty of St. Petersburg marked a dramatic turning point in the latter stages of the…
4 May 1904
The United States begins construction of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal has a long and complex history shaped by ambition, engineering challenges, and geopolitics….