The Pitt–Tierney duel takes place on Putney Heath outside London. A bloodless duel between the Prime Minister of Great Britain William Pitt the Younger and…
26 May 1896
Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), often simply called “the Dow,” is one…
25 May 1925
John T. Scopes is indicted for teaching human evolution in Tennessee. The Scopes Trial, also known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” was a pivotal legal…
24 May 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 led by the United Irishmen against British rule begins. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a major uprising against British…
23 May 1430
Joan of Arc is captured at the Siege of Compiègne by troops from the Burgundian faction. Joan of Arc, also known as La Pucelle d’Orléans…
22 May 760
Fourteenth recorded perihelion passage of Halley’s Comet. Halley’s Comet is one of the most famous and well-documented comets, primarily because it’s visible to the naked…
21 May 1904
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is founded in Paris. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the global governing body for association…
20 May 1875
Signing of the Metre Convention by 17 nations leading to the establishment of the International System of Units. The Metre Convention, signed on May 20,…
19 May 1963
The New York Post Sunday Magazine publishes Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. On May 19, 1963, The New York Post Sunday Magazine…
18 May 1565
The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta. The Great Siege of Malta began in May 1565…