On This Day

Historical Events in May 1886

  • May 1 US general strike for 8-hour working day begins
  • May 3 M A Maclean elected 1st mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia
  • May 4 Haymarket riot in Chicago; bomb kills 7 policemen
  • May 5 The Bay View Tragedy occurs, as militia fires upon a crowd of protesters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin killing seven.
  • May 8 Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta sells the first Coca-Cola (contained cocaine)
  • May 14 12th Kentucky Derby: Paul Duffy aboard Ben Ali wins in 2:36.50

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 15 British sailor David Beatty is promoted to midshipman

British Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty
British Admiral of the Fleet
David Beatty
  • May 19 Camille Saint-Saëns' 3rd Symphony in C premieres
  • May 21 14th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Bard wins in 2:45

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 29 American chemist John Pemberton begins to advertise Coca-Cola

Pharmacist John Pemberton
Pharmacist
John Pemberton

Search the world's largest, most accurate site for today in history.