What Happened on May 15
Important Events
- 1252 Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull ad exstirpanda, which authorizes, but also limits, the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition
- 1618 German astronomer Johannes Kepler discovers the third of his three planetary laws his "harmonics law"
- 1869 National Woman Suffrage Association forms in New York, founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
- 1940 Richard and Maurice McDonald open the 1st McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California
- 1951 AT&T becomes the 1st US corporation to have a million stockholders after young car salesman Brady Denton purchases 7 shares worth $1,078
- 1988 USSR begins withdrawing its 115,000 troops from Afghanistan
May 15 in Film & TV
- 2002 "Bowling for Columbine", a documentary directed by Michael Moore has its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival
May 15 in Music
- 1914 Henri Rabaud's opera "Marouf, savetier de Caire" premieres in Paris
May 15 in Sport
- 2010 Jessica Watson at age 16 becomes the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world
Did You Know?
Mickey Mouse makes his 1st ever appearance in silent film "Plane Crazy"
On May 15, 1928
Famous Birthdays
George Brett
67 Years Old- Emmitt Smith
51 Years Old - Ray Lewis
45 Years Old - David Krumholtz
42 Years Old - Zara Phillips
39 Years Old - Andy Murray
33 Years Old
George Brett
Emmitt Smith
Ray Lewis
David Krumholtz
Zara Phillips
Andy MurrayFamous Weddings
- 1567 Mary, Queen of Scots marries James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell
- 1825 Author and scholar Wilhelm Grimm (39) weds Henriette Dorothea
- 1948 Dancer and actress Cyd Charisse (26) weds singer Tony Martin (34)
Emily Dickinson
Joe Malone
Robert Menzies
June Carter CashArticles, Photos and Quiz
UK Tests a Hydrogen Bomb
The first British hydrogen bomb test, Operation Grapple
May 15, 1957Taxman Delivers Cruel Blow to Miss Whiplash
If I agreed to your demand for cash payment it means that you would be living off immoral earnings, celebrated Madam tells the tax authority.
May 15, 1990Weekly Quiz for May 13-20
Test your knowledge of historical events in our multi-choice weekly history quiz for May 13-20. Number 7 will leave you truly stumped then amazed!
May in History
How Australia Was Born
Captain Arthur Phillip commanded a fleet of British ships carrying convicts to New South Wales on this day, effectively founding the British colony of Australia.
May 13, 1787Pope 'Turned Vatican Into Whorehouse'
Pope John XII who died – some say he was murdered – on this day lived a life of sin, corruption and murder. But is his reputation as the worst pope deserved?
May 14, 964 ADSilence is Golden At The First Oscars
The first Academy Awards ceremony took place on this day before just 250 guests. All the movies nominated for what would become known as an Oscar were silent
May 16, 1929Theodore Roosevelt, the Cowboy President
President Theodore Roosevelt began a camping trip on this day with naturalist, writer and conservationist John Muir. The trip had a profound effect on Roosevelt
May 17, 1903
