Historic Discovery
May 2 William Herschel discovers 1st binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris
Historic Event
May 4 American Academy of Arts & Science founded in Boston, James Bowdoin, John and Samuel Adams founding members
- May 4 Charles Bunbury on Diomed wins 1st Epsom Derby
Victory in Battle
May 12 American General Benjamin Lincoln surrenders Charleston to the British (Revolutionary War)
- May 19 About midday, near-total darkness descends on New England, now known to be caused by forest fires in Canada
- May 29 Battle of Waxhaw Creek: alleged massacre of 113 of Colonel Abraham Buford's continentals by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton's troops after the continentals raised a white flag