Historical Events May 17 1st merry-go-round seen at a fair in Philippapolis, Turkey Famous Birthdays May 23 Pieter Neefs, the Younger, Flemish painter, baptized in Antwerp Famous Deaths May 6 Hayyim ben Joseph Vital, Palestinian-born Kabbalist (b. 1543) May 16 William Adams, English navigator and 1st ever Western Samurai, dies at 55 May 31 Willem Louis, earl of Nassau-Dillenburg, dies at 59 1619 History by Year 1621