Historical Events May 7 Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia May 29 Peter II becomes Tsar of Russia aged 11 May 31 France, Britain & Netherlands sign accord of Paris Famous Birthdays May 10 Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, French minister of Finance (17.. -76) May 14 Thomas Gainsborough, English painter (Blue Boy), baptized Famous Deaths May 2 Paul Aler, French jesuit and poet (Gradus ad Parnassum), dies at 70 May 6 Catharine I of Russia [Marta Samuilovna], wife of Peter the Great, dies at about 42 May 17 Catherine I, Empress of Russia (1725-27), dies at 43 1726 History by Year 1728