On This Day

Famous People Who Died in May 1859

  • May 2 Eliza Courtney, English illegitimate daughter of Charles Grey and Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, dies at 67
  • May 4 Joseph Diez Gergonne, French mathematician, dies at 87
  • May 5 Peter G L Dirichlet, German mathematician, dies at 53
  • May 6 Friedrich Heinrich Alexander, explorer/scientist, dies

Person of interestAlexander von Humboldt

May 6 Alexander von Humboldt, German naturalist, dies at 89

Naturalist and Explorer Alexander von Humboldt
Naturalist and Explorer
Alexander von Humboldt
  • May 10 John Archduke of Austria, dies
  • May 22 Ferdinand II [Re Bomba], Dutch King of Sicily, dies at 49

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