Historical Events
Event of Interest
May 13 Lord Salisbury offers Helgoland to Germany in exchange for Zanzibar, Uganda & Equatoria
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
- May 14 16th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45
Event of Interest
May 14 British sailor David Beatty is promoted to sub-lieutenant
David Beatty
Event of Interest
May 24 Leo von Caprivi succeeds Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor of Germany
Otto von Bismarck
Famous Birthdays
- May 2 E. E. Smith, American food engineer and sci-fi author (Triplanetary), born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (d. 1965)
- May 3 B. Traven, (German?) writer (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre) whose real identity is disputed (possible date)
- May 5 Christopher Morley, American author (Kitty Foil), born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (d. 1957)
- May 6 Claire Whitney, American silent film actress (Blind Fools, Haunted Mine), born in NYC, New York (d. 1969)
- May 7 Billy House, American actor (Imitation of Life, Bedlam, Egg & I), born in Mankato, Minnesota (d. 1961)
Alfred Jodl
May 10 Alfred Jodl, German general during World War II (head of the German High Command, signed unconditional Nazi surrender), born in Würzburg, German Empire (d. 1946)
Alfred Jodl
Ho Chi Minh
May 19 Ho Chi Minh [Nguyễn Sinh Cung], Vetnamese communist revolutionary and President of North Vietnam (1946-69), born in Nghệ An Province, French Indochina (d. 1969)
Ho Chi Minh
- May 20 Beniamino Gigli, Italian tenor (Enzo-La Gioconde)
- May 21 Albert van Raalte, conductor (AVRO-orchestra)
- May 23 Herbert Marshall, English actor (Murder, Razor's Edge, Little Foxes), born in London, England
- May 23 Virginia Eames, Ft Davis TX, entertainer
- May 26 Kurt Edzard, German sculptor (nudes/portraits), born in Bremen, Germany (d. 1972)
- May 27 Fritzi Brunette, American actress, born in Savannah, Georgia (d. 1943)
- May 29 Francis de Bourguignon, Belgian composer, born in Brussels (d. 1961)
