Events in History
Event of Interest
May 1 Publication of Species Plantarum by Carolus Linnaeus, and the formal start date of plant taxonomy adopted by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
Carolus Linnaeus
- May 6 French King Louis XV observes transit of Mercury at Mendon Castle
Birthdays in History
- May 8 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, father of Mexican independence, born in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, Viceroyalty of New Spain (d. 1811)
Phillis Wheatley
May 8 Phillis Wheatley, American poet who was both the second published African-American poet and first published African-American woman, born in West Africa (d. 1784)
Phillis Wheatley
- May 13 Lazare Carnot, French politician, engineer and mathematician known as the Organizer of Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars, born in Nolay, Côte-d'Or (d. 1823)
- May 24 Oliver Cromwell, decorated African American soldier who served with Washington in US War of Independence, born in Burlington, New Jersey
- May 31 Pierre-Victurnien Vergniaud, French politician and police leader, born in Limoges, France (d. 1793)
Deaths in History
- May 26 Willem Maurits, Dutch count of Nassau and governor of Zeeuws-Flanders, dies at 73