- May 1 Ida Pfeiffer (48) begins trip around world
- May 3 Mexican Army begins the Siege of Fort Texas near Brownsville, Texas, during the Mexican–American War
- May 4 US state Michigan ends death penalty
Historic Publication
May 7 First printed copies of "Poems" by Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë received, published under pseudonym of Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell (2 copies sold)
Emily Brontë
Charlotte Brontë