Historic Event
May 13 Lord Salisbury offers Helgoland to Germany in exchange for Zanzibar, Uganda & Equatoria
- May 14 16th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45
Historic Event
May 14 British sailor David Beatty is promoted to sub-lieutenant
Theater Premiere
May 17 Clyde Fitch's play "Beau Brummel" premieres in NYC
Historic Event
May 24 Leo von Caprivi succeeds Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor of Germany
- May 24 Geo Train & Sam Wall circle world in record 67 days, Tacoma-Tacoma
- May 24 Tivoli Theater of Varieties opens in London
- May 30 First baseman Dave Foutz hits Brooklyn Bridegrooms' (later Dodgers) first ever home run during doubleheader defeats to Chicago Colts at Washington Park, Brooklyn
- May 31 Ulm Minster, in Ulm, Germany, the tallest church in the world with a steeple 161.5m high, is finally completed (begun 1377)