Events on May 7
- 12742nd Council of Lyons (14th ecumenical council) opens
- 13551,200 Jews of Toledo Spain killed by Count Henry of Trastamara
- 1416Monk Nicolaas Serrurier arrested because of heresy at Tournay
- 1579Congress of Cologne forms in the Netherlands
- 1624Admiral Hermites conquering fleet reaches Callao the Lima, Peru
- 1638Cornelis S Goyer takes possession of Mauritius (uninhabited)
- 1660Isaack B Fubine of Savoy, in The Hague, patents macaroni
- 1663Theatre Royal in Drury Lane London opens
- 1700William Penn began monthly meetings for Blacks advocating emancipation
- 1727Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia
- 1748French troops conquer Maastricht
- 1765Adm Nelsons sailboat HMS Victory runs aground
- 1771Samuel Hearne explores Copper Mine River of Canada
- 1775Turkish state of Bukovina secedes from Austria
- 17891st inaugurational ball (for George Washington in NYC)
- 1792Captain Robert Gray discovers Grays Harbor (Washington)
- 1800Indiana Territory organized
- 1832Greece becomes independent Republic
- 1832Otto of Bavaria is chosen King of Greece
- 1840Tornado strikes Natchez Miss, kills 317
- 1847American Medical Association organizes (Philadelphia)
- 1848Prussians stop insurrection in Varsovia
- 1856Argentine and Brazilian sign a navigation pact
- 1861Riot occurs between prosecessionist and Union supporters in Knoxville, Tennessee
- 1862Much of Enschede Netherlands destroyed by fire
- 1864Battle of Wilderness ends (total losses: USA-17,666; CSA-7,500)
- 1866German Premier Otto von Bismarck seriously wounded in assassin attempt
- 1867Blacks stage ride-in to protest segregation in New Orleans
- 1873US marines attack Panama
- 1875German SS Schiller sinks near Scilly Islands, 312 killed
Born on May 7
- 1574Innocent X [Giambattista Pamfili]: 236th Pope (1644-55)
- 1700Gerard van Swieten: Dutch Botanist
- 1704Carl Heinrich Graun: Composer
- 1763Josef Poniatovski: Polish General / marshal of France
- 1769Giuseppe Farinelli: Composer
- 1795Gerhard M Roentgen: Industrialist (founder dockyard Fijenoord)
- 1803Johan Peter Cronhamm: Composer
- 1812Robert Browning: London, England -- Poet (Pied Piper)
- 1826Varina Howell Davis: 1st lady (Confederacy), died in 1905
- 1827Francis Engle Patterson: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1862
- 1832Carl G Neumann: German mathematician / physicist (Neumann-functions)
- 1845Jacob van Stolk Azn: Timber Merchant / art collector
- 1847Archibald Primrose: Earl of Rosebery (Lib), British Prime Minister (1894-95)
- 1866Cornelis J K van Aalst: President (Dutch Trading Company)
- 1867Philippine "Pine" Belder [Mary de Klerk]: Actress (Hope of Blessing)
- 1873Clarence Dickinson: Composer
- 1882Willem Elsschot [Alfons J de Ridder]: Flemish writer (Mend)
- 1883Gino Roncaglia: Composer
- 1883Martin Albertz: German theologist (Church Jesus Christ)
- 1885George "Gabby" Hayes: Wellesvile, New York -- Actor (In Old Santa Fe, El Paso)
- 1887Henri Pourrat: French writer (Gaspard of the Montagnes)
- 1890Billy House: Minnesota, United States -- Actor (Imitation of Life, Bedlam, Egg & I)
- 1892Archibald MacLeish: Glencoe, Illinois -- Polit essayist / poet / dramatist (JB)
- 1892Josip Broz Tito: WWII partisan, leader of Yugoslavia (1943-80)
- 1897Kitty McKane: England, United Kingdom -- Tennis (1920, 24 Olympics - Gold / 2 Silver / 2 Bronze Medals)
- 1898Vera Chapman: Writer
- 1900Bauke Tuinstra: Dutch / Frisian notary / author (Earste Keur)
- 1900Ralph Truman: London, England -- Actor (Web of Evidence)
- 1901L T Coggeshall: Medical Scientist / US Secretary of HEW (1956-58)
- 1901Marcel Poot: Belgian Baron / composer
Died on May 7
- 0685Marwan I ibn al-Hakam: 4th kalief of Omajjaden (684-85)
- 0973Otto I the Great: Holy Roman Emperor (962-973), dies at 60
- 1166Willem I [the Bad]: King of Sicily (1154-66)
- 1205Ladislaus III Arpad: King of Hungary (1204-05), dies at 5 or 6
- 1523Franz von Sickingen: German knight / protect of poor, dies of wounds at 42
- 1617David Fabricius: German astronomer, dies at 53
- 1667Johann Jakob Froberger: German Organist / singer / composer, dies at 50
- 1671Edward Montagu: English Baron Kimbolton, dies at about 68
- 1671Pieter Stockmans: Flemish Chairman of Opperkrijgshof, dies at 62
- 1673Johannes Teellinck: Dutch vicar, dies at about 58
- 1736John Weldon: Composer, dies at 60
- 1792Aert Schouman: Dutch bird / portrait painter, dies at 82
- 1793Johan A Zoutman: Dutch Lieutenant Admiral (battle of Doggersbank), dies at 68
- 1793Pietro Nardini: Composer, dies at 71
- 1800Laurens P van Spiegel: Regent / pension advisor (1787-95), dies at 64
- 1814Franz Volrath Buttstett: Composer, dies at 79
- 1818Leopold Jan Antonin Kozeluh: Composer, dies at 70
- 1825Antonio Salieri: Italian composer, dies at 74 in Vienna, Austria
- 1836Norbert Burgmuller: Composer, dies at 26
- 1863Amiel Weeks Whipple: US Union General Major, dies of injuries at 46
- 1871Louis Papineau: Political reformer
- 1876Franz Count of Pocci: German artist / Composer (Alchemist), dies at 69
- 1884Judah P Benjamin: Confederate Minister of War, dies at 72
- 1900Richard Storrs Willis: Composer, dies at 81
- 1904Peter Hille: Writer
- 1914Edward Mollenhauer: Composer, dies at 87
- 1915Alfred G Vanderbilt: US millionaire, dies aboard Lusitania
- 1915Alfred Scott Witherbee, Jr.: US Lusitania officer
- 1915Charles Frohman: Dies aboard Lusitania
- 1928Alexander Afanasii Spendiaryan: Composer, dies at 56
Historical events on May 8
- 0535John II ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0615St. Boniface IV ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0685St. Benedict II ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 1521Parliament of Worms installs edict against Marten Luther
- 1541Hernando de Soto discovers Mississippi River
- 1639William Coddington founds Newport, Rhode Island
- 1660English parliament asks King Charles II to resigns
- 1721Michelangiolo dei Conti replaces Pope Clement XI, as Innocent XIII
- 1741France and Bavaria sign Covenant of Nymphenburg
- 1784Only known deaths by hailstones in US (Winnsborough SC)
- 1792British Captain George Vancouver sights, names Mt Rainier, Washington
- 1792US establishes military draft
- 1823"Home Sweet Home" 1st sung (London)
- 1834Prussia, Austria and Russia sign classified accord about Belgium
- 1840Alexander Wolcott patents Photographic Process
- 1842Versailles to Paris train catches fire; 50 die
- 1847Robert Thompson patents rubber tire
- 1858John Brown holds antislavery convention
- 1861Richmond Va, is named the capital of the Confederacy
- 1862Valley Campaign: Federals repulsed at Battle of McDowell, Virginia
- 1864Atlanta Campaign: Sever fighting near Dalton
- 1864Battle of Antietam, VA (Spotslyvania Court House, Laurel Hill)
- 1866Australian Rules Football is created
- 1871English-US treaty ends Alabama dispute
- 18771st Westminster Dog Show held
- 18781st unassisted triple play in organized baseball, by Paul Hines
- 1879George Selden files for 1st patent for a gasoline-driven automobile
- 1881Henry Morton Stanley signs contract with Congolian monarch
- 1885Sarah Ann Henley survives 76-m jump from Clifton Bridge, Avon, Engl
- 1895China cedes Taiwan to Japan under Treaty of Shimonoseki
Born on May 8
- 1492Andreas Alciatus [Giovanni Andrea-Alciato]: Italian lawyer
- 1521Peter Canisius [Pieter de Hondt / Kanijs]: Jesuit / Saint
- 1527Johann Walter: Composer
- 1592Francis Quarles: English poet (Argalus & Parthenia, Emblems)
- 1641Nicolaas Witsen: Etcher / Mayor (Amsterdam)
- 1668Alain R Lesage: French author (Turcaret ou le Financier)
- 1673Johann Valentin Eckelt: Composer
- 1703Gottlob Harrer: Composer
- 1742Johann Baptist Krumpholtz: Composer
- 1745Carl Philipp Stamitz: Composer
- 1750Elias Mann: Composer
- 1763John Goldberg: Dutch patriot / Statesman
- 1778Johann Gansbacher: Composer
- 1786Thomas Hancock: Founded British rubber industry
- 1803Joseph Napoleon Ney Moskova: Composer
- 1806Jan Bedrich Kittl: Composer
- 1810James Cooper: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1863
- 1814Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin: Anarchist
- 1824William Walker: Filibuster / President of Nicaragua (1856-57)
- 1828Jean Henri Dunant: Switzerland -- Writer / founder (Red Cross, YMCA, Nobel 1901)
- 1829Louis Moreau Gottschalk: 1st internationally recognized US pianist
- 1833Frank Wheaton: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1903
- 1836Bryan Morel Thomas: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1905
- 1839Francis W Warre-Cornish: English vice-provost of Eton / writer
- 1842Emil C Hansen: Danish physiologist
- 1844Hermann Gradener: Composer
- 1846Oscar Hammerstein: Germany -- Opera / playwright (Kohinoor)
- 1853Charles Lee Williams: Composer
- 1857Frits [Frederik H] Tartaud: Dutch actor / husband of Alida Klein
- 1858John Meade Falkner: Novelist (Moonfleet)
Died on May 8
- 0535John [Mercurius]: Italian Pope (533-35)
- 0685Benedict II: Italian Pope (683-85)
- 1319Haakon V: King of Norway (1299-1319)
- 1577Viglius ab Aytta Zuichemus: Lawyer / President (Raad van State)
- 1684Henri Dumont: Composer
- 1725John Lovewell: US indian fighter, dies in battle
- 1773Ali Bey: Egyptian Mameluk head
- 1785Pietro Longhi: Painter
- 1794Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier: Chemist (identified oxygen), guillotined
- 1809Augustin Pajou: French Sculptor (Bachante), dies at 78
- 1818Franz Ignaz Kaa: Composer, dies at 78
- 1829Mauro Giuseppe Sergio Pantaleo Giuliani: Composer, dies at 47
- 1844Charles XIV Johan [Jean B Bernadotte]: King of Sweden / Norway
- 1846Giacomo Cordella: Composer, dies at 59
- 1853Joannes P Roothaan: 1st Dutch lt Colonel-General of Jesuits, dies at 67
- 1864James Samuel Wadsworth: General Major (Union), dies in battle at 56
- 1873John Stuart Mill: Great Empiricist philosopher, dies at 66
- 1876Truganini: Last originating Tasmanian
- 1885Pavel Krizkovsky: Composer, dies at 65
- 1887Alexander Ulyanov: Brother of Lenin / hanged for assassination of tsar
- 1891Helena Petrovina Blavatsky: Russian theosophist
- 1904Eadweard Muybridge: English photographer (horse trot)
- 1909Friedrich von Holstein: German diplomat
- 1915Henry McNeal Turner: 1 US black army chaplain, dies at 82
- 1924Lev N Lunts: Russian writer (Outside the Law), dies at 23
- 1930Lvar Henning Mankell: Composer, dies at 61
- 1936Oswald Spengler: German philosopher (Underworld of Abendlandes)
- 1941Heinrich Zollner: Composer, dies at 86
- 1943Mordicai Anielewicz: Commander of Warsaw ghetto uprising, killed
- 1948Alfred Holy: Composer, dies at 81
Events on May 9
- 1002After trailing 9-0, St. Louis Cardinals beat Atlanta Braves 12-11
- 1092Lincoln Cathedral consecrated
- 1336Italian Poet Francesco Petrarca climbs Mont Ventoux
- 1386Treaty of Windsor between Portugal-England
- 1460Court yard episcopal palace Atrecht has witch burnings
- 1502Columbus left Spain on his 4th and final trip to New World
- 1519Austrian adel / burgerij in uprising against central government
- 1573Polish Parliament selects Duke of Anjou as King
- 1588Duke Henri de Guises troops occupy Paris
- 1671Colonel Thomas Blood attempts to steal Crown Jewels
- 1689English King Willem III declares war on France
- 1738England routes fleet in Mediterranean Sea and West-Indies
- 1753King Louis XV disbands French parliament
- 17541st newspaper cartoon in America-divided snake "Join or Die"
- 1766John Byron back in England after trip around the world
- 1785British inventor Joseph Bramah patents beer-pump handle
- 1788English parliament accepts abolishing of slave trade
- 1836HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin departs Port Louis, Mauritius
- 1837"Sherrod" burns in Mississippi River below Natchez Miss; 175 dies
- 1846Battle of Resaca de la Palma-US sends Mexico back to Rio Grande
- 1862Battle of Farmington, Mississippi
- 1862Battle of Ft Pickens, Florida (Pensacola), evacuated by CS
- 1862US Naval Academy relocated from Annapolis MD to Newport, Rhode Island
- 1864Battle of Dalton, Georgia
- 1864Ship battle at Helgoland, Austria-Denmark
- 1874Victoria Embankment, in London opens
- 1882Telegraph Hill RR Co organized
- 18961st horseless carriage show in London (featured 10 models)
- 1899Lawn mower patented
- 1901Australia opens its 1st parliament in Melbourne
Born on May 9
- 1265Dante Alighieri: Italian poet (Divina Commedia)
- 1596Abraham van Diepenbeeck: Painter
- 1738John Pindar [Peter]: Physician / poet
- 1740Giovanni Paisiello: Italian composer (Barber of Seville)
- 1783Alexander Ross: Canada -- Pioneer / fur trader
- 1785James Pollard Espy: Pennsylvania, United States -- Meteorologist (Philosphy of Storms)
- 1793Johannes C de Jonge: Dutch historian / archivist
- 1796August Pauly: German classicus (Real Encyclopedia)
- 1800John Brown: Abolitionist; led attack on Harpers Ferry
- 1801Samuel Cousins: Mezzotint engraver
- 1810Louis Gallait: Historical painter
- 1810WFLC Marianne: Princess of Orange-Nassau / Daughter of King Willem I
- 1814Adolph von Henselt: Composer
- 1824William Edmonson "Grumble" Jones: Brigadier General (Confederate Army)
- 1829Ciro Pinsuti: Pianist / composer
- 1833Boleslaw Dembinski: Composer
- 1837Adam Opel: German manufacturer (cycling, motorcars)
- 1843Belle Boyd: Spy (Confederate) / actress / lecturer
- 1844[Maria] Catharina Beersmans: Belgian actress (Bad Herders)
- 1855Julius Rontgen: Composer
- 1860James Matthew Barrie: Scotland, United Kingdom -- Novelist (Margaret Ogilvy, Peter Pan)
- 1865August de Boeck: Composer
- 1882Henry J Kaiser: Builder (Liberty Ships, Jeeps, Boulder Dam)
- 1887Jules Van de Leene: Belgian writer
- 1892Eric Westberg: Composer
- 1892Zita: Empress (Austria) / Queen (Hungary)
- 1895Lucian Blaga: Romaniams philosopher / poet (Dogmatic Aeon)
- 1895Richard Barthelmess: NYC, New York -- Actor (Broken Blossoms, Noose)
- 1899Edward Pollock: Saxophone / clarinet
- 1901Fuzzy Knight: Fairmont, West Virginia -- Actor (Oklahoma Annie, Cowby & the Lady)
Died on May 9
- 1079Stanislaus: Polish Bishop of Cracow, murdered
- 1280Magnus VI Lagaboeter: King of Norway (1263-80), dies at 42
- 1460Jean Lavite: Atrechts painter
- 1474Peter van Hagenbach: Elzasser knight / land guardian, beheaded
- 1590Karel "Cardinal" van Bourbon: Archbishop of Rouen, dies at 66
- 1657William Bradford: Governor (Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts)
- 1667Marie Louise de Gonzague-Nevers: French Queen of Poland (1645-48)
- 1688Frederick William: Great Elector of Brandenburg, dies at 68
- 1707Dietrich Buxtehude: German Organist / composer, dies at about 69
- 1745Tomaso Antonio Vitali: Composer, dies at 82
- 1760Nikolaus Ludwig und Pottendorf: Austrian composer, dies at 59
- 1785Franz Xaver Schnitzer: Composer, dies at 44
- 1791Francis Hopkinson: US writer / music / lawyer, dies at 53
- 1799Claude-Benigne Balbastre: Composer, dies at 72
- 1805Friedrich Schiller: Writer, dies at 45
- 1805Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller: Poet / playwright, dies at 45
- 1822Charles Duquesnoy: Composer, dies at 62
- 1850Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac: Chemist / physicist
- 1853Johann Philipp Samuel Schmidt: Composer, dies at 73
- 1864"Uncle" John Sedgwick: US Union General Major, dies in battle at 50
- 1864Thomas Donnely Doubleday: US Union Col, dies in an accident
- 1880Johann Hermann Berens: Composer, dies at 54
- 1884Hermanus W Witteveen: Theologist, dies at 69
- 1905Ernst Pauer: Composer, dies at 78
- 1926Joseph Mallaby Dent: Publisher
- 1928Constantin Dimitrescu: Composer, dies at 81
- 1931A[lbert] A[braham] Michelson: US physicist (1907 Nobel), dies at 78
- 1937Walter Mittelholzer: Swiss aviation pioneer, dies in crash at 43
- 1944Ethel Mary Smyth: Composer, dies at 86
- 1949Louis II: Prince of Monaco