On This Day

What Happened in May 1688

Famous Birthdays


Person of interestAlexander Pope

May 21 Alexander Pope, English poet (Rape of the Lock, translation of Homer) (d. 1744), born in London, England

Poet Alexander Pope
Poet
Alexander Pope
  • May 25 Christian August Jacobi, German composer, born in Grimma, Leipzig (d. 1725)

Famous Deaths

  • May 9 Frederick William, Great Elector of Brandenburg, dies at 68
  • May 14 Antoine Furetière, French writer (b. 1619)
  • May 22 Johannes Andreas Quenstedt, German Lutheran theologian, dies at 70