MAY 5 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1260 ~ KUBLAi KHAN became the ruler of the Mongol Empire on the 5th day of May in 1260.

Painting of Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire by Chinese court artist Liu Guandao in 1280
Painting of Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire by Chinese court artist Liu Guandao in 1280

1494 ~ CHRiSTOPHER COLUMBUS landed on the island of Jamaica and claimed it for Spain on the 5th day of May in 1494.

1809 ~ Mary Kies became the first woman awarded a U.S. patent on the 5th May 1809, for a technique of weaving straw with silk and thread.

1818 ~ KARL MARX the German political philosopher was born on the 5th day of May in 1818 (died in 1883 aged 64).

1821 ~ NAPOLEON the Emperor of France from 1804 to 1815 died on the 5th day of May in 1821, while in exile on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.

1830 ~ JOHN B. STETSON the American hat manufacturer, inventor of the cowboy hat and founder of the John B. Stetson Company was born on the 5th May 1830 (d. 1906).

1833 ~ Ferdinand von Richthofen the German geographer was born on the 5th May 1833 (died 1905).

1864 ~ Nellie Bly the American journalist and author was born on the 5th May 1864 (died 1922).

1866 ~ MEMORiAL DAY was first celebrated in United States at Waterloo, New York on the 5th day of May in 1866.

1869Fabián de la Rosa the Filipino painter was born on the 5th May 1869 (died 1937).

1883 ~ AGUSTíN BARRiOS the Paraguayan guitarist and composer was born on the 5th May 1883 (died 1944).

1891 ~ CARNEGiE HALL originally known as The Music Hall in New York City had its grand opening and first public performance, with TCHAiKOVSKY as the guest conductor on the 5th day of May in 1891.

1901 ~ Blind Willie McTell the American singer and guitarist was born on the 5th May 1901 (died 1959).

1905 ~ Floyd Gottfredson the American cartoonist was born on the 5th May 1905 (died 1986).

1914 ~ Tyrone Power the American actor was born on the 5th May 1914 (died 1958).

1915 ~ Alice Faye the American actress was born on the 5th May 1915 (died 1998).

1923 ~ RiCHARD WOLLHEiM the British philosopher noted for original work on mind, emotions, and the philosophy of art, died on the 5th day of May in 1923 (d. 2003 aged 80). Richard Wollheim served as the president of the British Society of Aesthetics from 1992 until his death in 2003. In a 1965 essay, Richard Wollheim coined the phrase “Minimal Art, although its meaning eventually drifted from his.

1925 ~ Afrikaans was declared an official language on the 5th May 1925, by the government of South Africa.

1927 ~ Pat Carroll the American actress was born on the 5th May 1927.

1929 ~ Ilene Woods the American actress was born on the 5th May 1929 (died 2010).

1934 ~ The THREE STOOGES first short film Woman Haters was released on the 5th May 1934.

1938 ~ Michael Murphy the American actor was born on the 5th May 1938.

1942TAMMY WYNETTE  the biggest-selling country female vocalists aka the First Lady of Country Music was born on this the 5th day of May in 1942 (died in 1998 aged 55). Tammy was best known for the biggest selling hit country single by a woman in history ~ Stand by Your Man (1968)

1942 ~ Marc Alaimo the American actor was born on the 5th May 1942.

1943 ~ MiCHAEL PALiN the British writer, actor, and comedian best known as a member of MONTY PYTHON and his travel documentaries, was born on the 5th day of May in 1943.

1948 ~ BiLL WARD the English drummer from Black Sabbath was born on the 5th May 1948.

1955 ~ WEST GERMANY gained full sovereignty on the 5th day of May in 1955.

German Unity Day Re-unification Germany celebration Germans celebrating flags crowd Worldcup soccer photo by Arne Müseler
Germans celebrating with flags at the Worldcup soccer (photo by Arne Müseler)

1955GEORGE DONiKiAN the Australian television news presenter was born on the 5th May 1955. www.facebook.com/George.Donikianwww.twitter.com/GeorgeDonikian

1956Jay Rosen the American media critic, writer and a professor of journalism at New York University was born in Buffalo, New York on the 5th May 1956. Jay Rosen’s Press Think website: www.PressThink.org | Jay Rosen’s verified Twitter: www.twitter.com/JayRosen_nyu

1957Richard E. Grant the British-Swazi actor, screenwriter, and director was was born on the 5th May 1957.

1958Robert DiPierdomenico the Australian footballer known as Dipper was born on the 5th May 1958.

1959 ~ iAN McCULLOCH the English lead singer of ECHO & The BUNNYMEN was born on the 5th day of May in 1959. The video below features the single “The Cutter” released in 1983, the 2nd single from the “Porcupine” album… 

1961 ~ Alan Shepard became the 1st American to travel into outer space, on a sub-orbital flight on the 5th May 1961, during the The Mercury programMercury-Redstone 3.

1962GARY DALY the English lead singer of CHiNA CRiSiS was born on the 5th day of May in 1962. The video below features a great song from 1985 by China Crisis ~ “Black Man Ray”

1963James LaBrie the Canadian lead singer in Dream Theater was born on the 5th May 1963.

1964 ~ The Council of Europe declared May 5 as Europe Day on the 5th May 1964.

1965 ~ Glenn Seton the Australian race car driver was born on the 5th May 1965.

1966 ~ Shawn Drover the Canadian drummer from Megadeth was born on the 5th May 1966.

1973 ~ SECRETARiAT won the 1973 Kentucky Derby in 1:59 2/5 on the 5th May 1973, a still standing record.

1976 ~ Dieter Brummer the Australian actor was born on the 5th May 1976.

1980HANK GREEN the musician, video blogger and founder of ecogeek.org was born on the 5th day of May in 1980.

1981CRAiG DAViD the English singer was born on the 5th day of May in 1981.

1988 ~ ADELE Adkins the English recording artist and songwriter was born on the 5th day of May in 1988.

1989 ~ CHRiS BROWN the American singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer and actor was  born on the 5th day of May in 1989.

1991 ~ iNTERNATiONAL MiDWiVES’ DAY was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world. The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands.

2013Valery Rozov the 48 year old Russian extreme sport star made the world’s highest BASE jump on the 5th May 2013, when he flew off the north face of Mount Everest.

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