On This Day

May 1819 in History

Events in History

  • May 22 1st steam propelled vessel to cross Atlantic (Savannah leaves Ga)

Birthdays in History

  • May 1 William Steele, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Albany, New York (d. 1885)
  • May 15 Thomas Leonidas Crittenden, American lawyer, politician, and Major General (Union Army), born in Russellville, Kentucky (d. 1893)
  • May 16 Daniel Ammen, Capt (Union Navy), (d. 1898)

Person of interestQueen Victoria

May 24 Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1837-1901), born in London (d. 1901)

Queen of the United Kingdom Queen Victoria
Queen of the United Kingdom
Queen Victoria
  • May 27 Julia Ward Howe, American poet and author (Battle Hymn of the Republic), born in NYC, New York (d. 1910)
  • May 28 William Birney, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Huntsville, Alabama (d. 1907)
  • May 30 William McMurdo, British army officer (d. 1894)

Person of interestWalt Whitman

May 31 Walt Whitman, American poet (Leaves of Grass) and volunteer nurse during the Civil War, born in West Hills, New York (d. 1892)

Poet and Nurse Walt Whitman
Poet and Nurse
Walt Whitman

Deaths in History

  • May 2 Mary Moser, English painter (Flowers Still Life), dies at 74

Person of interestKamehameha I

May 8 Kamehameha I, King of Hawaii (1782-1819), dies at 81

King of Hawaii Kamehameha I
King of Hawaii
Kamehameha I
  • May 16 Alexander van Bylandt, military, dies at 75
  • May 22 Jan Hendrik van Kinsbergen, Dutch naval officer and founder of Dutch Marines Corp, dies at 84