Historical Events
- Admiral Johannes Furstner, Royal Dutch Navy, departs to England
Sports History
Boston's Jimmie Foxx HR goes over Comiskey Park's left field roof
- British Local Defence Volunteers forms, an armed citizen militia designed to support the British Army during the Second World War. It is later renamed the Home Guard.
- German breakthrough at Sedan
- Lord Beaverbrook appointed British minister of aircraft production
- Nazis bomb Rotterdam (600-900 dead), Netherlands surrenders to Germany
Famous Birthdays
- 'H'. Jones, British Soldier (VC recipient) (d. 1982)
- Chay Blyth, English sailor (Alone in Order to the World)
- Tommy Lawrence, Scottish football player and goalkeeper (Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers), born in Dailly, Scotland (d. 2018)
Famous Deaths
- Eddy [Charles E] du Platform, writer/poet, dies
- Edgar du Perron, Dutch author and poet (Land of Origin), dies at 40
- Emma Goldman, American anarchist and author (Living My Life), dies at 70
- Jacob van Gelderen, economist/sociologist/SDAP-2nd-Chamber, dies at 49
- Menno ter Braak, Dutch writer (Forum, New Elite), commits suicide at 38
- Willem Johannes Leyds, Dutch-South Africa lawyer and diplomat (State Secretary of the South African Republic), dies at 81
1940 Highlights
About May 14, 1940
Day of the Week: Tuesday
How Long Ago? 82 years, 8 months and 15 days
Leap Year: Yes
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Taurus