What Happened in May 1890

Historical Events

  • May 2 Territory of Oklahoma created
  • May 12 Louisiana legalized prize fighting
  • May 12 The first-ever official cricket County Championship match begins. Yorkshire beats Gloucestershire by eight wickets at Bristol. George Ulyett scores the first century in the competition.
  • May 13 18th Preakness: W Martin aboard Montague wins in 2:36.75

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 13 Lord Salisbury offers Helgoland to Germany in exchange for Zanzibar, Uganda & Equatoria

British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
British Prime Minister
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
  • May 14 16th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 14 British sailor David Beatty is promoted to sub-lieutenant

British Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty
British Admiral of the Fleet
David Beatty
  • May 17 Clyde Fitch's "Beau Brummel" premieres in NYC
  • May 17 Comic Cuts, 1st weekly comic paper, published in London
  • May 17 Pietro Mascagni's opera "Rustic Chivalry" premieres in Rome at the Teatro Costanzi

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 24 Caprivi succeeds Bismarck as Chancellor of Germany

German Statesman Otto von Bismarck
German Statesman
Otto von Bismarck
  • May 24 Geo Train & Sam Wall circle world in record 67 days, Tacoma-Tacoma
  • May 24 Tivoli Theater of Varities opens in London
  • May 30 1st Dodger home run (Dave Foutz)

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, author (Kitty Foil)
  • 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)

Person of interestAlfred 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)

Nazi Leader Alfred Jodl
Nazi Leader
Alfred Jodl
  • May 11 Woodall Rodgers, mayor of Dallas, Texas (d. 1961)
  • May 14 Alex Pompez, American baseball executive (d. 1974)
  • May 15 Katherine Anne Porter, American novelist (Ship of Fools)
  • May 17 Philip James, composer

Person of interestHo 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)

Vietnamese Communist Revolutionary Ho Chi Minh
Vietnamese Communist Revolutionary
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, composer

Famous Deaths

  • May 6 Hubert Leonard, composer, dies at 71
  • May 7 James Nasmyth, Scottish Engineer and Inventor of the steam hammer, dies at 81
  • May 19 Gus Kempis, South African cricketer (South Africa's 1st Test), dies of fever at 24
  • May 28 Viktor Ernst Nessler, composer, dies at 49