Events on May 20

• 0526Earthquake kills 250,000 in Antioch, Syria
• 1293Earthquake strikes Kamakura Japan, 30,000 killed
• 1303Treaty of Paris restores Gascony to British in Hundred Years War
• 1310Shoes were made for both right and left feet
• 1495French King Charles VIII leaves Naples
• 1498Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives at Calcutta India
• 1501Joao da Nova Castell discovers Ascension Islands
• 1521Ignatius Loyola seriously wounded by a cannon ball
• 1524Duke of Albany leaves Scotland
• 1571Venice, Spain and Pope Pius form anti-Turkish Saint League
• 1591Spanish troops in Zutphen surrenders to Willem Louis / Mauritius
• 1631German army under Earl Johann Tilly conquerors Maagdenburg
• 1639Dorchester Mass, forms 1st school funded by local taxes
• 1690England passes Act of Grace, forgiving followers of James II
• 1704Elias Neau forms school for slaves in New York
• 17341st Jockey Club forms in South Carolina
• 1775Citizens of Mecklenburg County, NC declare independence of Britain
• 1784England and Netherlands signs peace treaty (Peace of Paris)
• 1825Charles X becomes King of France
• 18301st railroad timetable published in newspaper (Baltimore American)
• 1830D Hyde patents fountain pen
• 18451st legislative assembly convenes in Hawaii
• 1861Cornerstone of University of Washington laid in Seattle
• 1861Kentucky proclaims its neutrality in Civil War
• 1861North Carolina becomes 11th and last state to secede from Union
• 1862Homestead Act provides cheap land for settlement of West
• 1864Battle at Ware Bottom Church, Virginia, 1,400 killed or injured
• 1864Spotsylvania-campaign ends after 10,920 killed / injured person
• 1867British parliament rejects John Stuart Mills law on women suffrage
• 1867Royal Albert Hall foundation laid by Queen Victoria

Born on May 20

• 1364Henry Percy [Harry Hotspur]: British soldier / politican
• 1470Pietro Bembo: Cardinal / Theologian
• 1537Hieronymus Fabricius Ab: Aquapend, Italy -- Physician (De Formato Foetu)
• 1547Melchior Bischoff: Composer
• 1554Paulo Bellasio: Composer
• 1593Jacob Jordaens: Flemish barok artist
• 1750Stephen Girard: Bailed out US bonds during War of 1812
• 1754Hans Gram: Composer
• 1759William Thornton: Architect (Capitol Building - Washington, DC)
• 1764J Gottfried Schadow: German sculptor / cartoonist / lithographer
• 1768Dolley Dandridge Payne Madison: 1st lady (1809-17)
• 1772William Congreve: English officer (design fire rocket)
• 1806John Stuart Mill: United Kingdom -- Philosopher / political economist / Utilitarian
• 1812Gustav Adolf Mankell: Composer
• 1818William George Fargo: Founder (Wells Fargo)
• 1822Emile Erckmann [E-Chatrian]: French writer (Waterloo)
• 1825Antoinette Brown Blackwell: Clergy (1st ordained US female minister)
• 1828James William Reilly: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1905
• 1830Amalia MdGA: Princess of Saxon-Weimar-Eisenach / Wife of Prince Henry
• 1830Hector H Malot: French writer (Without Family)
• 1841Sara Louisa Oberholtz: Social reformer, anti-smoking advocate
• 1844Henri Julien Felix Rousseau: French ambassador / painter (Dream)
• 1850Eaton Faning: Composer
• 1851Emile Berliner: Germany -- Inventor (flat phonograph record)
• 1851Rose Hawthorne Lathrop: United States -- Nun / Daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne
• 1856Henri E Cross [Delacroix]: French painter
• 1874Folkert E Posthuma: Dutch Minister of Agriculture / Industry
• 1876John Owen Jones: Composer
• 1881Wladyslaw Sikorski: Premier Poland (WWII General)
• 1882Sigrid Undset: Norway -- Novelist (Kristin Lavransdatter, Nobel 1928)

Died on May 20

• 1277John XXI [Petrus Juliani / Hispanus]: Port Pope (1276-77)
• 1444Bernardinus van Siena: Italian saint, dies at 63
• 1449Peter: Prince / regent of Portugal / writer (Virtuosa Benfeitoria)
• 1471Henry VI: King of England (1422-61, 70-71) / France (1431-71)
• 1506Christopher Columbus: Explorer, dies at 55 in poverty, Spain
• 1509Catharina Sforza: Italian Duchess of Forli, dies at 45
• 1597Matthijs Heldt: Dies in battle
• 1622Osman II: Sultan of Turkey (1618-22)
• 1648Wladyslaw IV Wasa: King of Poland
• 1650Francesco Sacrati: Composer, dies at 44
• 1669Joris van der Hagen: Landscape painter
• 1751Domingo Miguel Bernaube Terradellas: Composer, dies at 38
• 1782Carlo Giovanni Testori: Composer, dies at 68
• 1782Christoph Gottlieb Schroter: Composer, dies at 82
• 1834Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert de Motier: Nobleman
• 1834Marquis de Lafayette: French General
• 1841Joseph Blanco White: Theological writert
• 1847Mary Lamb: Writer
• 1864John Clare: English Poet (Little Trotty Wagtail), dies at 70
• 1875Amalia: Wife of King Otto of Greece, dies at 58
• 1876Harold: Grandson of English Queen Victoria, dies at 8 days old
• 1876Khristo Botev: Bulgarian poet
• 1883William Chambers: Author / publisher
• 1896Clara Josephine Wieck Schumann: Composer / pianist, dies at 76
• 1900Gustav Heinrich Graben-Hoffman: Composer, dies at 80
• 1910Jean-Baptiste Theodore Weckerlin: Composer, dies at 88
• 1919Jacob Verdam: Philosopher
• 1923Hans Goldschmidt: German chemist
• 1935Ivans [Jacob van Schevichaven]: Lawyer / detective writer, dies at 68
• 1939Joe Carr: NFL hall of famer / NFL President (1921-39), dies at 59

Historical events on May 21

• 0143Earliest known date in Amer-pre Mayan King Harvest-Bergvorst installed
• 0685Battle at Nechtansmere: Picten beat Northumbrians
• 0996Pope Gregory V crowns his cousin Otto III German Emperor
• 1040King Henry III gives Utrecht the Groninger currency
• 1216French crown Prince Louis enters England
• 1420Treaty of Troyes-French King Charles VI gives France to English
• 1471King Edwards IV enters London
• 1502Portuguese Admiral Da Nova discovers St. Helena
• 1553English Lady Jane Grey marries Guildford Dudley
• 1674General John Sobieski chosen King of Poland
• 1683West Indian Company sells 1 / 3 of Suriname
• 1793Curacao Island Council forbids criticism on House of Orange
• 1804Lewis and Clark Expedition begins
• 1809Battle at Aspern-Essling: Austrian Archduke Karl beats Napoleon
• 18191st bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced in New York City
• 1825Prince Willem FK marries Louise AWA of Prussia
• 18321st Democratic National Convention (Baltimore)
• 1840New Zealand became a British colony
• 18461st steamship arrives in Hawaii
• 1856Lawrence Kansas captured, sacked by pro-slavery forces
• 1861NC is 10th state to secede from Union
• 1861Richmond, Va is designated Confederate Capital
• 1863Siege on Port Hudson, Louisiana begins
• 1864GEN David Hunter takes command of Department of West Virginia
• 18661st-class debut of G F Grace aged 15 years 159 days
• 1879Battle of Iquiquw
• 1881American Red Cross founded by Clara Barton
• 1881US Nation Lawn Tennis Association forms
• 188614th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Bard wins in 2:45
• 1891Boxers Peter Jackson and Jim Corbett fight to a draw in 61 rounds

Born on May 21

• 1527Philip II: King of Spain (1556-98) and Portugal (1580-98)
• 1633Joseph de La Barre: Composer
• 1671Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaia: Composer
• 1680Frederich Karl Erbach: Composer
• 1720Antonio Corbisiero: Composer
• 1722Wilhelm Gottfried Enderle: Composer
• 1775Lucien Bonaparte: Prince of Canino / Musignano
• 1780Elizabeth Fry: Quaker Minister / prison Reformer / nurse
• 1796Reverdy Johnson: Rep (Union), died in 1876
• 1821John F Loudon: Dutch entrepreneur / colonial director
• 1822Dabney Herndon Maury: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1900
• 1822Mosby Monroe Parsons: Brigadier General (Confederate Army) died in 1865
• 1825George Lafayette Beal: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1826Danillo II: Ruler of Montenegro
• 1834Charles-Albert Gobat: Switzerland -- Politician / lawyer / author (Nobel 1902)
• 1835Newton Martin Curtis: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1841Joseph Parry: Composer
• 1843Louis Renault: French lawyer
• 1855Emile A G Verhaeren: Belgian poet / writer (Les Flammes Hautes)
• 1858Jose Battle Ordonez: Uruguay -- Politician
• 1860Willam Einthoven: Dutch physiologist / inventor (electrocardiograph)
• 1865C J Thomsen: Denmark
• 1867Marie Joseph Leon Desire Paque: Composer
• 1872Henry Warren: Boston, Massachusetts -- Inventor (Telechon electric clock)
• 1873Emil Ermatinger: Switzerland -- Literature historian
• 1873Everard Verachtert: Flemish translator (I speak beschaafd Dutch)
• 1878Glenn Hammond Curtiss: United States -- Inventor (hydroplane)
• 1878Louis L H de Visser: Dutch MP (CPN)
• 1880Pablo Luna y Carne: Composer
• 1882Georgine M "May" Basting: Actress (Hostage Rights of Aemstel)

Died on May 21

• 0987Louis V: Last Carlovingians King of France (966-987)
• 1254Koenraad IV: RC-German King (1237-54), dies at 26
• 1481Christian I: King of Denmark / Norway / Sweden
• 1524Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk: General / Premier, dies at about 80
• 1542Hernando de Soto: Dies while searching for gold near Mississippi River
• 1639Giovan D "Tommaso" Campanella: Italian philosopher / poet, dies at 70
• 1647Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft: Poet / playwright (Warenar), dies at about 65
• 1650James G: Marquis of Montrose, Scottish General, hanged
• 1690John Eliot: English Missionary in Massachusetts, dies at 85
• 1703Roemer Vlacq: Dutch Admiral, dies in battle
• 1725Robert Haley Earl of Oxford: English Whig Premier (1710-4), dies at 63
• 1786Carl W Scheele: Swedish pharmacist / chemist, dies at 43
• 1790Thomas Warton: English Poet (Oxford sausage)
• 1812Joseph Wolfl: Composer, dies at 38
• 1815Roman Hoffstetter: Composer, dies at 73
• 1817Johann Friedrich Christmann: Composer, dies at 64
• 1844Guiseppi Baini: Composer, dies at 68
• 1860Johannes Frederick Frohlich: Composer, dies at 53
• 1885Gavril Yakimovich Lomakin: Composer, dies at 73
• 1894August A Kundt: German physicist, (test of Kundt), dies at 54
• 1895Franz von Suppe: Austrian Composer (Poet und Bauer), dies at 76
• 1897Karol Mikuli: Composer, dies at 77
• 1924Bobby Franks: Killed by Leopold and Loeb, at 14
• 1926Ronald Arthur A Firbank: British writer (Prancing Nigger), dies at 40
• 1933John Henry Mackay: Scottish / German Author (Der Schwimmer), dies at 69
• 1935Hugo de Vries: Botanist Gruppenweise Artbildung, dies at 87
• 1935Jane Addams: A founder of ACLU (Nobel 1973), dies at 65
• 1949Klaus Mann: German writer, dies at 42
• 1952John Garfield: Actor (Juarez, Air Force), dies at 39
• 1954Janos Hammerschlag: Composer, dies at 68

Events on May 22

• 1176Murder attempt by "Assassins" on Saladin near Aleppo
• 1200Peace of Goulet
• 1370Jews are expelled / massacred from Brussels Belgium
• 1455Richard of York takes St. Albans, kidnapping King Henry VI
• 1526Pope Clemens VII, France, Genoa, Venice, Florence and Milan form Anti-French League of Cognac
• 15701st atlas, with 70 maps, published
• 1594Earl Mauritius and Willem Louis begins siege of Groningen
• 1659France, England and Netherlands sign "Hedges Concerto" treaty
• 1712Emperor Karel VI crowned King of Hungary
• 1746Russia and Austria signs treaty of cooperation
• 17611st life insurance policy in US, issued in Philadelphia
• 1762Sweden and Prussia sign peace treaty
• 1784Ceylonese student leader Pieter Quint Ondaatje demands democracy
• 18031st public library opens (Connecticut)
• 1807Former VP Aaron Burr is tried for treason in Richmond Va (acquitted)
• 1807Townsend Speakman 1st sells fruit-flavored carbonated drinks (Philadelphia)
• 18191st steam propelled vessel to cross Atlantic (Savannah leaves Ga)
• 18431st wagon train, 1000+ depart Independence Missouri for Oregon
• 1849Abraham Lincoln patents a buoying device
• 1856Violence in Senate, SC rep Brooks used a cane on Mass Sen Sumner
• 1863General Grant begins siege on Vicksburg
• 1863War Department establishes Bureau of Colored Troops
• 1868Great Train Robbery-7 men (Reno Brother) make off with $98,000 in cash
• 1872Amnesty Act restores civil rights to Southerners (except for 500)
• 18773rd Kentucky Derby: Billy Walker aboard Baden-Baden wins in 2:38
• 18841-armed pitcher Hugh Daily fanned 13 hitters
• 188513th Preakness: Jim McLaughlin aboard Tecumseh wins in 2:49
• 1888Leroy Buffington patents a system to build skyscrapers
• 1892Dr Washington Sheffield invents toothpaste tube
• 1893Montreal Athletic Association beat Ottawa Generals 2-1, in 1st Cup Game

Born on May 22

• 1671Abraham Patras: Governor-General of East-Indies (1735-37)
• 1722Johannes Schmidlin: Composer
• 1759Gervais-Francois Couperin: Composer
• 1780Jan Emmanuel Dulezalek: Composer
• 1783Thomas Forbes Walmisley: Composer
• 1804John William [Turk] Livingston: Commander (Union Navy), died in 1885
• 1808G de Nerval: Writer
• 1813Richard Wagner: Leipsig, Germany -- Composer (Ring, Flying Dutchman)
• 1820Alexander Ernst Fesca: Composer
• 1821Alfred Sully: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1879
• 1844Mary Cassatt: United States -- Impressionist painter (Woman Bathing)
• 1850Johann Schrammel: Composer
• 1852Emile Sauret: Composer
• 1859Arthur Conan Doyle: United Kingdom -- Author brought Sherlock Holmes to life twice
• 1862August Cuppens: Flemish author / pastor
• 1865Enrique Morera: Composer
• 1874Daniel F Malan: Premier of South-Africa (1948-54)
• 1874Francesco Paolo Neglia: Composer
• 1879Eastwood Lane: Composer
• 1879Jean Emile Paul Cras: Composer
• 1884Alceo Toni: Composer
• 1885Julio Fonseca: Composer
• 1891J R Becher: Writer
• 1891Robert Gordon Sproul: Educator / College President (University of California)
• 1892Louis van Tulder: Dutch tenor (From Office Stool to High C)
• 1897Robert Neumann: Austrian / British author (Waters of Babylon)
• 1904Anne de Vries: Writer (Bartje)
• 1906Harry Ritz: US comic (Ritz Brothers-Silent Movie)
• 1910Johnny Olson: TV announcer (Price is Right)
• 1911Anatol Rapoport: Russ / US mathem / biologist (game theory)

Died on May 22

• 0337Constantine the Great: Emperor of Rome (306-37) / anti semite
• 0987Louis V le Faineant [the Lazy]: King of France (986-87), poisoned at 20
• 1501Robert Gaguin: French writer / diplomat (Arte Metrificandi), dies at 66
• 1540Francesco Guicciardini: Italian Historian / President of Romagna, dies at 57
• 1667Alexander VII [Fabio Chigi]: Italian Pope (1655-67), dies at 68
• 1688Johann A Quenstedt: German Lutherian theologist, dies at 70
• 1781Garret Wesley Mornington: Composer, dies at 45
• 1801Heinrich Gottfried Reichard: Composer, dies at 58
• 1819John H van Kinsbergen: Lieutenant Admiral / founder (Corps Marines), dies at 84
• 1825Domenico Corri: Composer, dies at 80
• 1859Ferdinand II [Re Bomba]: Dutch King of Sicily, dies at 49
• 1878Franz von Holstein: Composer, dies at 52
• 1880Heinrich WA Freiherr von Gagern: German liberal politician, dies at 80
• 1910Jules Renard: French writer (Le plaisir the rompre), dies at 46
• 1921Marie E Wilton: Writer
• 1925John [Denton Pinkstone] French: British Field Marshal (WWI), dies at 72
• 1928William HT Gairdner: Engl Missionary (Nile Mission Press), dies at 54
• 1932Lady Augusta [Isabella Gregory]: Playwright (Gold Apple), dies at 80
• 1939Ernst Toller: Writer, dies at 45
• 1945Carel A Lion Cachet: Lithographer / wood carver
• 1948Claude McKaye: Jamaican / US Author (Banjo, Home to Harlem), dies at 57
• 1949Hans Erich Pfitzner: Russian / German composer, dies at 80
• 1949Klaus H T Mann: German / US writer (Turning Point)
• 1953Vaclav Klicka: Composer, dies at 70
• 1961Joan Davis: Actress (I Married Joan), dies of heart attack at 53
• 1965Bobby Watson: Comedian (Hitler Gang, Boys Town), dies at 77
• 1967J Langston Hughes: US Author (Tambourines to Glory), dies at 65
• 1975Torben Meyer: Actor (Viking, Roberta, Sunny), dies at 90
• 1977Gijsbert van Hall: Banker / Mayor of Amsterdam (1957-67), dies at 73
• 1977Marius Monnikendam: Dutch choir composer, dies at 80