Events on May 14
- 0649Theodore I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 1004Henry II the Saint crowned as King of Italy
- 1027Robert II, the Vrome, names son Henry I, King of France
- 1264Battle at Lewes: Simon van Leicester beats English King Henry III
- 1509Battle of Agnadello, French beat Venitians in Northern Italy
- 1576Dutch Council of State replaced by Council of Beroerten
- 16071st permanent English settlement in New World, Jamestown, Virginia
- 1638Admiral Adam Westerwolt conquerors Batticaloa, Ceylon
- 1643Louis XIV (4) becomes King of France
- 1702England and Netherlands declares war on France and Spain
- 1702Swedish troops under King Charles XII occupy Warsaw
- 1767British government disbands Americans import duty on tea
- 1787Delegates gather in Philadelphia to draw up US constitution
- 17961st smallpox inoculation administered, by Edward Jenner
- 1804Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis for Pacific Coast
- 1811Paraguay gains independence from Spain (National Day)
- 1835Charles Darwin reaches Coquimbo in Northern Chile
- 18421st edition of London Illustrated News
- 1845Utrecht-Arnhem Railway opens
- 1853Gail Borden patents her process for condensed milk
- 1862Adolphe Nicole of Switzerland patents chronograph
- 1863Battle of Jackson, Mississippi
- 1864Battle of Reseca, Atlanta, Georgia
- 18741st admission charge at a football game, Harvard beats McGill 3-0
- 1874Harvard beats University of McGill (Montreal) in football, 3-0
- 1878Vaseline is 1st sold (registered trademark for petroleum jelly)
- 1884Anti-Monopoly party forms in US
- 189016th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45
- 1892Vitesse 1892 soccer team forms in Arnhem
- 1894Fire in Boston bleachers spreads to 170 adjoining buildings
Born on May 14
- 1316Charles IV: King of Bohemia (1346-78) / Emperor (1355-78)
- 1652Johann Philipp Fortsch: Composer
- 1679Peder [Nielsen] Horrebow: Danish astronomer
- 1707Antonio Teixeira: Composer
- 1710Adolf Frederik: King of Sweden (1751-70)
- 1727Thomas Gainsborough: English painter (Blue Boy), baptized
- 1771Robert Owen: England, United Kingdom -- Factory owner / socialist
- 1781Friedrich von Raumer: German historian / parliamentarian
- 1798Frantisek Palacky: Czechoslovakia -- Historian
- 1805Johann Peter Emilius Hartmann: Composer
- 1816Gualtiero Sanelli: Composer
- 1830George Pierce Doles: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
- 1836James Patrick Major: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1877
- 1846Arnold Kerdijk: Dutch lib politician / founder (Social Weekly newspaper)
- 1846Pieter W A Cort van de Linden: Dutch Premier (1913-18)
- 1864Eleanor Everest Freer: Composer
- 1867Kurt Eisner: German Premier of revolutionary Bavaria (1918-19)
- 1870Zygmunt Denis Antoni Stojowski: Composer
- 1881Ed Walsh: Pitcher (lowest lifetime ERA of 1.82)
- 1883Jan Olieslagers: Belgian aviation pioneer (Antwerp Devil)
- 1883Julian Eltinge: Massachusetts, United States -- Vaudeville star / greatest female impersonator
- 1885Otto Klemperer: Breslau, Germany -- Conductor / composer (Das Ziel)
- 1888Miles Mander: Wolverhampton, England -- Actor (Tower of London)
- 1891Egon Kornauth: Composer
- 1892Arthur Vincent Lourie: Composer
- 1892Felix Petyrek: Composer
- 1893Ivan Alexandrovich Vishnegradsky: Composer
- 1895Lew Lehr: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Comedian (Stop Me if I heard this One)
- 1895Renato Lunelli: Composer
- 1897Sidney Bechet: United States -- Jazz clarinetist / saxophonist / band leader
Died on May 14
- 0347Pachomius: Egyptian monastery founder / abbot (Coenobieten)
- 0649Theodore: Greek Pope (642-49) (excommunicated by Paul II)
- 0964John XII [Octavianus]: Pope (955-64)
- 1565Nicolaus von Amsdorf: German reform theologist
- 1610Henry IV: 1st Bourbon-king of France (1572, 89-1610), murdered at 56
- 1643Louis XIII: King of France (1610-43), dies at 41
- 1726John B Wellekens: Poet / Painter (Wedding Guests)
- 1726Moshe Darshan: Rabbi / Author (Torat Ahsam)
- 1742Dominique Marie Valet: French RC / old-Catholic Bishop, dies at 64
- 1761Thomas Simpson: English Mathematician (rule of Simpson), dies at 50
- 1801Johann Ernst Altenburg: Composer, dies at 66
- 1820Paul Friedrich Struck: Composer, dies at 43
- 1832John van Speijk: Dutch heroic sailor, buried
- 1833Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von Konigslow: Composer, dies at 88
- 1847Fanny Cacilia Mendelssohn Hensel: Composer, dies at 41
- 1863Emile Racine Gauthier Prudent: Composer, dies at 46
- 1864William N Green, Jr.: Union Brigadier General
- 1870Ramon Vilanova y Barrera: Composer, dies at 69
- 1877John Roberts: Composer, dies at 54
- 1893Earnest E Kummer: German Mathematician (surface of Kummer), dies at 83
- 1893Johan T Buys: Dutch lawyer, dies at 65
- 1904Richard Hol: Dutch Composer / Organist / conductor, dies at 78
- 1912August Strindberg: Swedish writer (Deaddans), dies at 63
- 1912Frederik VIII C W K: King of Denmark (1906-12), dies at 68
- 1925Henry Rider Haggard: English writer (Dawn, She)
- 1936Edmond HH Allenby: English Field Marshal in Egypt, dies at 74
- 1938Jacobus C J "Jacques" Hermans: Actor (Ghetto), dies at 81
- 1940Eddy [Charles E] du Platform: Writer / poet
- 1940Emma Goldman: US anarchists / feminist / Author (Living My Life)
- 1940Jacob van Gelderen: Economist / sociologist / SDAP-2nd-Chamber, dies at 49
Historical events on May 15
- 0756Abd-al-Rahman I becomes emir of Cordova Spain
- 0884Marinus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 1004Henry II the Saint crowned King of Italy
- 1213English King John names Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury
- 1492Cheese and Bread rebellion: German mercenaries kills 232 Alkmaarse
- 1525German boer army surrounded / slaughters 5,000; ends Boer war
- 1536Anna Boleyn and Lord Rochford accused of adultery / incest
- 1567Mary, Queen of Scots marries James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell
- 1572Louis van Nassau and huguenots occupy Valenciennes
- 1602Cape Cod discovered by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold
- 1610Parliament of Paris appoints Louis XIII (8) as French King
- 1618Johannes Kepler discovers harmonics law
- 1665Pope Alexander VII convicts Jansenisme
- 16721st copyright law enacted by Massachusetts
- 1702War of Spanish Succession, 1st American conflict between England and France
- 1730Robert Walpole becomes England 1st Prime Minister (was: chief min)
- 1796France and Sardinia sign Peace treaty of Paris
- 1796French troops occupy Milan
- 1800King George III survives a 2nd assassination attempt
- 1800Pope Pius VII calls on French bishops to return to Gospel principles
- 1817Ambonese uprising against Dutch authority, under T Matulesia
- 1829Joseph Smith ordained by John the Baptist according to Joseph Smith
- 1849Philadelphia Turngemeinde founded
- 1851Rama IV, [Phra Chomklao Chaoyuhua], King of Thai (1851-68), crowned
- 18562nd SF Vigilance Committee organized
- 1858Royal Italian Opera opens in Covent Garden London
- 1862Confederate cruiser The Alabama runs aground near London
- 1862Department of Agriculture created
- 1862Gen Benjamin F Butler delegates "Woman Order" of NO to be his whores
- 1862Union Grounds, Brooklyn, 1st baseball enclosure, opens
Born on May 15
- 1565Henrick de Keyser: Architect / master builder of Amsterdam
- 1754Pierre Dutillieu: Composer
- 1759Maria Theresia von Paradis: Composer
- 1764Johann Nepomuk Kalcher: Composer
- 1773Clemens L Metternich: Austrian Prince
- 1791Baron Floris A van Hall: Dutch Minister of Justice / Finance
- 1795Adolf B Marx: German music theorist
- 1802Isaac Ridgeway Trimble: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1888
- 1807Luigi Ferdinando Casamorata: Composer
- 1808Gottfried Herrmann: Composer
- 1808Michael William Balfe: Composer
- 1810Jacob Thompson: (Confederacy), died in 1885
- 1813Stephen Heller: Composer
- 1819Thomas Leonidas Crittenden: Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1830Laurence Simmons Baker: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1907
- 1830Martinus W van der Aa: Author / Dutch head-editor (The Time)
- 1841Giovanni Bolzoni: Composer
- 1845Ilja [Elias] Metsjnikov: USSR -- Zoologist / bacteriologist (Nobel 1908)
- 1855Eduard Earl of Keyserling: German writer (Dritte Stiege)
- 1855Graf Keyserling: Writer
- 1859Pierre Curie: France -- Physicist (Nobel 1903)
- 1860Ellen Louise Axson Wilson: 1st Wife of Woodrow Wilson
- 1862Arthur Schnitzler: Austria -- Playwright / Novelist (La Ronde)
- 1865Albert Verwey: Dutch poet / literature historian (Motion)
- 1878Francisco Pujol: Composer
- 1880Otto Dibelius: German theologist / Bishop (Confessional Church)
- 1883Stanley Robert Marchant: Composer
- 1888Jean Wahl: French philosopher
- 1889Bessie Hillman: Founder (Almalgamated Clothing Workers of America)
- 1890Katherine Anne Porter: United States -- Novelist (Ship of Fools)
Died on May 15
- 0392Valentinianus II: Emperor of Rome (375-392), murdered at 21
- 0884Marinus I [Martinus II]: Pope (882-84)
- 1174Nur ad-Din Mahmud: King of Syria
- 1470Charles VIII: Knutsson Bonde, King of Sweden
- 1482Paolo Toscanelli: Italian Physician and mapmaker
- 1591Dimitri Ivanovitch: Russian Son of Czar Ivan IV, murdered at 9
- 1622Peter Plancius: Flemish vicar / cartographer, dies at about 69
- 1685Henri Otto: Spanish Marquis of Caretto / Savona / Grana
- 1746Giovanni Antonio Ricieri: Composer, dies at 67
- 1761Jacob Mossel: Governor-General (Dutch East Indies), dies at 56
- 1785Karel Blazej Kopriva: Composer, dies at 29
- 1801Louis C count Barbiano de Belgioioso: Austrian diplomat, dies at 73
- 1821John Wall Calcott: Composer, dies at 54
- 1822Christian Ludwig Dieter: Composer, dies at 64
- 1823Antonio Frantisek Becvarovsky: Composer, dies at 69
- 1824Alexander Campbell: Composer, dies at 60
- 1832Carl Friedrich Zelter: Composer, dies at 73
- 1833Edmund Kean: English actor (Shylock), dies at 46
- 1842Emanuel A D M J count de las Cases: French Historian (Napoleon), dies at 76
- 1845Samuel I Wiselius: Dutch lawyer / businessman / writer, dies at 76
- 1855Jan Mazereeuw: Frisian farmer / Sect Leader, dies at 75
- 1872Thomas Hastings: Composer, dies at 87
- 1873Alexander J Cuza: Monarch of Moldavia / Romania, dies at 53
- 1886Emily Dickinson: US poet, dies at 55
- 1889Alfred Potocki: Premier Austrian / Governor / Viceroy of Galicia
- 1892Arthur Hodister: British ivory seller (Heart of Darkness), murdered
- 1899Francisque Sarcey: French writer (Le Temps), dies at 70
- 1926Mohammed VI Vahideddin: Last Sultan of Turkey (1918-22)
- 1932Ki Inukai: Premier Japan (1931-32), murdered
- 1933Ernest Torrence: Actor (I Cover the Waterfront), dies at 54
Events on May 16
- 1165Ramjbam and his family reach Acre Palestine
- 1527Florence becomes a Republic
- 1532Sir Thomas More resigns as English Lord Chancellor
- 1547Protestant German monarch surrenders to Karel in Wittenberg
- 1568Mary Queen of Scotland flees to England
- 1571Johannes Kepler, by his own calculations, is conceived at 4:37 AM
- 15847 Westfriese towns divide monasteries of Egmond / Blokker / St-Pietersdal
- 1605Camillo Borghese elected to succeed Pope Leo XI becomes Paul V
- 16062,000 foreigners murdered in Russia
- 1747Prince Willem V sworn in as admiral-general of Neth
- 1763Samuel Johnson meets his future biographer James Boswell in London
- 1770Marie Antoinette (14) marries future King Louis XVI (15) of France
- 1792Denmark abolishes slave trade
- 1795Hedges Treaty: Bataafse Republic becomes French vassel state
- 1796Lombardije Republic forms
- 1803Peace of Amiens ends
- 1804Senate and Tribune declare Napolean leader of France
- 1811Peninsular War-Allies defeat French at Albuera
- 1817Mississippi River steamboat service begins
- 1861Confederate government offers war volunteers $10 premium
- 1861Kentucky proclaims its neutrality
- 1862Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir builds 1st automobile
- 1864Atlanta Campaign-battle of Resaca, ends (since May 13)
- 1864Battle of Bermuda Hundred, Virginia
- 1866Charles Elmer Hires invents root beer
- 1866Congress authorizes nickel 5 cent piece (replaces silver half-dime)
- 1866US Treasury Department authorizes nickel
- 1868By one vote, Senate fails to impeach President Andrew Johnson
- 1869Cincinnati Reds play their 1st baseball game, win 41-7
- 1872Metropolitan Gas Company lamps lit for 1st time
Born on May 16
- 1558Andreas of Austria: Bohemia Cardinal / gov of the Netherlands (1598-1600)
- 1609Ferdinand: Austria -- Cardinal of Spain / Governor of the Netherlands
- 1641Dudley North: Financier / economist
- 1659Campegius Vitringa: Dutch theologist
- 1748Antonius van Alphen: Apostolic vicar of De Bosch
- 1761John Opie: Artist
- 1763Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin: Chemist (discovered chromium, beryllium)
- 1782John Sell Cotman: Water color artist
- 1801William Henry Seward: Secretary of State (1861-69, buys Alaska at 2 cents / acre)
- 1804Elizabeth Palmer Peabody: Educator / founder (US kindergarten)
- 1806George C Cadwalader: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1879
- 1816Henry Hopkins Sibley: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1886
- 1819Daniel Ammen: Captain (Union Navy), died in 1898
- 1822Eduard Hille: Dutch composer / conductor
- 1824Edmund Kirby Smith: Florida, United States -- General (Confederate Army), died in 1893
- 1824Levi Parsons Morton: (R) 22nd US VP (1889-93)
- 1827Petrus J H Cuypers: Architect (Amsterdam Museum, Central station)
- 1831David Edward Hughes: Inventor (microphone, teleprinter)
- 1832Philip Danforth Armour: Founder (Armour Foods)
- 1850Arthur Henry Mann: Organist / composer
- 1857Juan Morel Campos: Composer
- 1858Frank Lynes: Composer
- 1858Hanus Trnecek: Composer
- 1866Ernest Watson Burgess: US sociologist (ecological school)
- 1878Taylor Holmes: Newark, New Jersey -- Actor (Tobor the Great, Beware My Lovely)
- 1880Julian Tannen: New York, United States -- Comedian (Great Moment)
- 1887Bull Montana: Vogliera, Italy -- Actor (Brass Buttons, Victory)
- 1887J van Hoddis: Writer
- 1889Joan Collette: Dutch (male) painter (New Church, Delft)
- 1892Coenraad B van Haeringen: Linguist / etymologist (Dutch Dictionary)
Died on May 16
- 0942Saadiah Gaon: Head of Talmudic Academy of Sura
- 1434Pieter Appelmans: Flemish Architect / master builder, dies at about 60
- 1669Pietro da Cortona [Berrettini]: Painter / architect
- 1669Reyer Anslo: Writer / poet, dies at about 42
- 1691Jacob Leisler: Becomes 1st American colonist hanged for treason
- 1703Charles Perrault: Author / fairy tale writer
- 1754Giovanni Carlo Maria Clari: Composer, dies at 76
- 1762Ernst Chreistian Hesse: Composer, dies at 86
- 1768Cornelis Writer: Fleet supervisor, dies at about 81
- 1777Button Gwinnet: US revolutionary leader, dies from wounds
- 1782Daniuel Charles Solander: Botanist
- 1805Christian Brunings: Hydraulic engineer, dies at 68
- 1819Alexander van Bylandt: Military, dies at 75
- 1830Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier: Mathematician
- 1835Felicia Dorothea Hemans: Poet / hymn writer
- 1847Kaspar Ett: German Organist / composer, dies at 59
- 1863Lloyd Tilghman: Confederate Brigadier General, dies in battle at 47
- 1864Lean Bear: Cheyenne chief, murdered
- 1880Karl August Krebs: Composer, dies at 76
- 1892John Banvard: Painted worlds largest painting (3 mile canvas)
- 1892Theodoor J Canneel: Flemish painter, dies at 74
- 1903Eduard Rappoldi: Composer, dies at 72
- 1904N I Bobrikov: Russian Governor-General in Finland
- 1910Henri E Cross [Delacroix]: French painter, dies at 53
- 1918Eusapia Palladino: Napolitan, dies at 64
- 1926Mehmed VI Vahideddin (Mohammed Osman): Last Sultan of Turkey
- 1928Edmund William Grosse: Poet / author
- 1929Lilli Lehmann: Soprano
- 1932Ki Imukai: Premier of Japan (1931-32), murdered
- 1932William Pember Reeves: Politician / poet