On This Day

May 1787 in History

Events in History

  • May 6 1st African American Masonic Lodge (African # 459) forms Prince Hall, Boston
  • May 8 First US prison reform society formed, the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons led by Dr. Benjamin Rush
  • May 10 British Parliament impeaches Warren Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 13 Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay, Australia

1st Governor of New South Wales Arthur Phillip
1st Governor of New South Wales
Arthur Phillip

USAConstitution of the United States

May 14 Delegates gather in Philadelphia to draw up US constitution

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Page one of the original copy of the Constitution of the United States
Page one of the original copy of the Constitution of the United States
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  • May 17 English slave ship Sisters, en route from Africa to Cuba, capsizes killing hundreds

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 25 Constitutional convention opens at Philadelphia, George Washington presiding

First US President George Washington
First US President
George Washington
  • May 29 "Virginia Plan" proposed

Birthdays in History

  • May 7 Jacques Viger, French Canadian politician, 1st mayor of Montreal (1833-36), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1858)

Deaths in History

  • May 10 William Watson, English physician and scientist, dies at 72