What Happened in May 1808

Historical Events

  • May 2 Uprising against French occupation begins in Madrid

BattleThe Third of May 1808

May 3 Day depicted by Spanish painter Goya in his "The Third of May", painted 1814
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The Third of May 1808, by Francisco de Goya
The Third of May 1808, by Francisco de Goya
  • May 3 Finnish War: Sweden loses the fortress of Sveaborg to Russia
  • May 3 Peninsular War: The Madrid rebels who rose up on May 2 are fired upon near Príncipe Pío hill

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 30 Napoleon Bonaparte annexes Tuscany & gave it seats in French Senate

French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte
French Emperor
Napoléon Bonaparte

Famous Birthdays

  • May 15 Gottfried Herrmann, composer
  • May 15 Michael William Balfe, composer
  • May 17 Charles-Louis-Adolphe Vogel, French composer (Les trois couleurs), (d.1892)
  • May 19 Samuel Jameson Gholson, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1883)
  • May 22 Gérard de Nerval [Gérard Labrunie], French writer, born in Paris (d. 1855)
  • May 30 Joaquim Casimiro Jr, composer

Famous Deaths

  • May 5 Pierre Jean George Cabanis, French physiologist, dies at 50
  • May 18 Jacob Albright, German-American Christian leader, founder of Albright's People (Evangelical Association), dies at 49
  • May 18 Elijah Craig, American minister and inventor (b. 1738?)
  • May 28 Richard Hurd, English bishop and writer (b. 1720)