Historical Events
Event of Interest
May 7 William Penn began monthly meetings for blacks advocating emancipation
William Penn
Famous Birthdays
- May 7 Gerard van Swieten, Dutch-Austrian physician (Austrian Empress Maria Theresa's personal physician), born in Leiden, Netherlaands (d. 1772)
- May 12 Luigi Vanvitelli, Italian architect (Palace of Caserta), born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (d. 1773)
- May 19 José de Escandón, Spanish colonial governor (d. 1770)
- May 26 Nicolaus Ludwig, Imperial Count von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, German religious and social reformer, born in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1760)
Famous Deaths
- May 1 John Dryden, English poet and playwright, first Poet Laureate (1668-1688), dies at 68