On This Day

What Happened in May 1811

Historical Events

  • May 14 Paraguay gains independence from Spain (National Day)
  • May 16 Peninsular War: Allies defeat French at Albuera
  • May 18 Battle of Las Piedras: The first great military triumph of the revolution of the Río de la Plata in Uruguay lead by Jose Artigas

Famous Birthdays

  • May 11 Chang & Eng Bunker, Chinese-Thai Siamese twins, born in Samutsongkram, Thailand (d. 1874)
  • May 11 Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel, member of the Swiss Federal Council (d. 1893)
  • May 24 Charles Clark, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Lebanon, Ohio (d. 1877)

Famous Deaths

  • May 4 Nikolay Kamensky, Russian general (b. 1776)
  • May 5 Robert Mylne, Scottish architect (b. 1734)
  • May 12 Louis-Charles-Joseph Rey, French classical cellist and composer, dies at 52
  • May 28 Henry Dundas, British minister (b. 1742)


What Happened in 1811