What Happened in May 1836

Historical Events

  • May 7 The settlement of Mayagüez elevates Puerto Rico to the royal status of villa by the government of Spain
  • May 15 Francis Baily observes "Baily's Beads" during annular solar eclipse

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 22 Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio "St Paul" premieres in Dusseldorf

Composer and Pianist Felix Mendelssohn
Composer and Pianist
Felix Mendelssohn
  • May 31 HMS Beagle anchors in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope

Famous Birthdays

  • May 8 Bryan Morel Thomas, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Milledgeville, Georgia (d. 1905)
  • May 14 James Patrick Major, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1877)
  • May 17 Wilhelm Steinitz, Austrian world chess champion (1866-94)
  • May 17 Virginie Loveling, Belgian writer and poet (d. 1923)
  • May 17 Sir Norman Lockyer, English physicist, co-founder of helium gas, founder and editor of "Nature" magazine, born in Rugby, Warwickshire (d. 1920)
  • May 18 Isidor Vorobchievici, Urainian composer, born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine (d. 1903)
  • May 24 Joseph Rowntree, British social reformer, born in York, England (d. 1925)
  • May 27 Edwin Gray Lee, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1870)
  • May 27 Jay Gould, US railroad executive, financier
  • May 28 Alexander Mitscherlich, German chemist (d. 1918)

Famous Weddings


LoveWedding of Interest

May 16 US writer Edgar Allan Poe (26) marries his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm

Author Edgar Allan Poe
Author
Edgar Allan Poe

Famous Deaths

  • May 6 Christian Ignatius Latrobe, English clergyman and composer (Selection of Sacred Music), dies at 78
  • May 7 Norbert Burgmuller, German composer, drowns during an epileptic seizure at 26
  • May 28 Anton Reicha, composer, dies at 66