Events in History
Event of Interest
May 25 Oscar Wilde sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for gross indecency
- May 25 The Republic of Formosa is formed, with Tang Ching-sung as the president
- May 27 British inventor Birt Acres patents film camera/projector
Birthdays in History
- May 2 Alfred Kurella, German author and functionary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in East Germany, born in Brieg, Silesia (d. 1975)
- May 2 Peggy Bacon, American author and illustrator (Off With Their Heads), born in Ridgefield, Connecticut (d. 1987)
- May 3 Cornelius Van Til, Dutch philosopher and Christian apologist, Grootegast, Netherlands (d. 1987)
- May 3 Ernst Kantorowicz, German-American historian (Laudes regiae), born in Posen, Prussia (d. 1963)
- May 6 Fidél Pálffy, Hungarian National socialist (leading supporter of Nazism in Hungary), born in Szentgyörgy, Austria-Hungary (d. 1946)
- May 6 Júlio César de Mello e Souza, Brazilian writer (The Man Who Counted), born in Rio de Janeiro (d. 1974)
- May 8 Edmund Wilson, American literary critic and writer (Patriotic Gore), born in Red Bank, New Jersey (d. 1972)
- May 8 Fulton J. Sheen, America bishop (Life is Worth Living), born in El Paso, Illinois (d. 1979)
- May 8 James H. "Dutch" Kindelberger, American aerospace pioneer (d. 1962)
- May 8 José Gómez Ortega [Joselito el Gallo], Spanish matador (one of 20th century's most famous bullfighters), born in Gelves, Spain (d. 1920)
- May 9 Lucian Blaga, Romanian philosopher and poet (Dogmatic Aeon), born in Lámkerék, Szeben County, Austria-Hungary (d. 1961)
- May 11 Jan Parandowski, Polish writer and translator, born in Lwów, Austria-Hungary (now Lviv, Ukraine) (d. 19780
- May 12 Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher (Songs of Life), born in Madanapalle, India (d. 1986)
- May 15 Charles Lamont, American actor and director (Abbott & Costello films), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1993)
- May 15 William D. Byron, U.S. Congressman (d. 1941)
- May 18 Augusto Sandino, Nicaraguan patriot and revolutionary, born in Niquinohomo, Nicaragua (d. 1934)
- May 20 Reginald J "R" Mitchell, English aviation manufacturer (Spitfire)
- May 24 Samuel I Newhouse Sr., American businessman and publisher (Parade, Vogue, Glamour), born in NYC, New York (d. 1979)
- May 26 Dorothea Lange, American documentary photographer, born in Hoboken, New Jersey (d. 1965)
Deaths in History
- May 15 Joseph Whitaker, British publisher (Whitaker's Almanack), dies at 75
- May 19 Jose Marti y Perez, Cuban poet (Versos sencillos) essayist and politician (fought for independence from Spain), dies fighting the Battle of Dos Rios at 42
- May 21 Mary Harris Thompson, 1st American woman surgeon, dies at 66
- May 23 Franz E. Neumann, German mineralogist, mathematician and physicist, dies at 96
- May 24 Hugh McCulloch, US Treasury Secretary (1865-69, 1884-85), dies at 86
- May 24 Joseph Quinaux, Belgian painter (landscape paintings), dies at 73
- May 25 Ahmed Cevdet Paşa, Turkish statesman and historian (Minister of Justice), dies at 73
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists