On This Day

Historical Events in May 1789

Conference meetingMeeting of Interest

May 5 French Estates-General meets for the first time since 1614 at Versailles, summoned King Louis XVI

King of France Louis XVI
King of France
Louis XVI

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 7 First US Presidential inaugural ball (for George Washington in NYC)

First US President George Washington
First US President
George Washington
  • May 12 Society of St Tammany is formed by Revolutionary War soldiers. It later becomes an infamous group of NYC political bosses

UKBritain Abolishes the Slave Trade

May 12 William Wilberforce makes his first major speech on abolition in the UK House of Commons, reasoning the slave trade morally reprehensible and an issue of natural justice

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'Am I Not a Man and a Brother?' emblem used by some abolitionists determined to end the slave trade in the British Empire
'Am I Not a Man and a Brother?' emblem used by some abolitionists determined to end the slave trade in the British Empire
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