Events on May 18

• 1096Crusaders massacre Jews of Worm
• 1291Sultan of Egypt and his son take last Christian stronghold of Acre
• 1302Trades people assault on French garrison (Brugse Metten)
• 1385Peace of Doornik: Gent and Louis van Thoughts
• 1596Willem Barents leaves Amsterdam for Novaya Zemlya
• 1619Hugo the Great sentenced to life in prison
• 1631English colony Massachusetts Bay grants puritarian voting right
• 1631John Winthrop is elected 1st Governor of Massachusetts
• 1642Montreal Canada founded
• 1652Rhode Island enacts 1st law declaring slavery illegal
• 1703Dutch and English troops occupy Cologne
• 1756England declares war on France
• 17942nd battle of Bouvines (France-Austria)
• 1803Britain declares war on France after Napoleon Bonaparte continues interfering in Italy and Switzerland
• 1804Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed Emperor of France
• 1828Battle of Las Piedras, ends conflict between Uruguay and Brazil
• 1830Edwin Budding of England signs an agreement for manufacture of his invention, lawn mower. Saturdays are destroyed forever
• 1843United Free Church of Scotland forms
• 1846US troops attack Rio Grande occupying Matamoros
• 1851Amsterdam-Nieuwediep telegraph connection linked
• 1852Massachusetts rules all school-age children must attend school
• 1860Republican Party nominates Abraham Lincoln for President
• 1861Friedrich Hebbels "Kriemhildes Rache, " premieres in Weimar
• 1863Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
• 1864Battle of Yellow Bayou, LA (Bayou de Glaize, Old Oaks)
• 1866French Government of De Putte resigns
• 1889Jules Massenets opera "Esclarmonde, " premieres in Paris
• 1896US Supreme court affirms race separation (Plessy vs. Ferguson)
• 1897Irish Music Festival 1st held (Dublin)
• 1897New York Giant William Joyce sets record of 4 triples in 1 game

Born on May 18

• 1692Joseph Butler: Wantage Berkshire, United Kingdom -- Theologian
• 1711Ruggiero G Boscovich [Rudzer J Boskovic]: Italian astronomer
• 1744Joseph Beer: Bohemia clarinetist / composer (5th clarinet flap)
• 1759Charles Duquesnoy: Composer
• 1788Hugh Clapperton: Annan, Scotland -- African explorer
• 1797Frederik Augustus II: King of Saxon (1836-54)
• 1798Ethan Allen Hitchcock: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1870
• 1815Thomas Stanhope Bocock: Rep (Confederacy), died in 1891
• 1817James William Denver: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1892
• 1819Julius Hopp: Composer
• 1830Karl Goldmark: Keszthely, Hungary -- Composer (Sakuhtala)
• 1836Isidor Vorobchievici: Composer
• 1836Wilhelm Steinitz: Austria -- World chess champion (1866-94)
• 1850Oliver Heaviside: London, England -- Physicist (predicted ionosphere)
• 1854Bernard Zweers: Dutch composer (To my Fatherland)
• 1862Freiherr Albert von Schrenk-Notzing: German para-psychologist
• 1864Jan P Veth: Bayern -- Dutch painter / etcher / lithographer / art historian
• 1865William Heinemann: England, United Kingdom -- Publisher (Chemical Instrumental)
• 1868Nicholas II Aleksandrovitsj: Last tsar of Russia (1894-1917)
• 1869Ruprecht: Crown Prince of Bavaria / General-Field Marshal
• 1871Franiska zu Reventlow: Writer
• 1872Bertrand Russell: England, United Kingdom -- Mathematician / philosopher (Nobel 1950)
• 1875Guido Alberto Fano: Composer
• 1881Georgi Atanasov: Composer
• 1882Eduardo Fabini: Composer
• 1883Walter Gropius: Berlin, Germany -- Architect (Bauhaus school of design)
• 1885Eurico Gaspar Dutra: President of Brazil (1945-50)
• 1886Ole Windingstad: Composer
• 1887Ernst Wiechert: Writer
• 1889G Gunnarson: Writer

Died on May 18

• 0323Alexander III the Great: King of Macedonia / conqueror, dies at 32
• 0526John I: Pope (523-26)
• 1160Erik IX Helgi [The Saint]: King of Sweden
• 1410Ruprecht: Roman Catholics German King
• 1587Felix van Cantalice: Italian saint
• 1675Jacques Marquette: Jesuit / missionaries (Chicago), dies at 37
• 1692Elias Ashmole: Antiquary
• 1724Johann K Amman: Swiss / Dutch doctor for deaf-mutes, dies at 54
• 1733Georg Bohm: German Organist / composer, dies at 71
• 1767Thaddaus Ferdinand Lipowsky: Composer, dies at 28
• 1799Pierre de Beaumarchais: Dramatist
• 1808Jacob Albright [Albrecht]: German / US preacher, dies at 49
• 1829Bernardo Bittoni: Composer, dies at 72
• 1832Bonafacio Asioli: Composer, dies at 62
• 1839Carolina [Maria A] Bonaparte: Countess Lipona, dies at 57
• 1848William A Leidesdorf: Black, dies at 38 in San Francisco
• 1862William H Keim: US Union Brigadier General, dies in battle at 48
• 1864James Byron Gordon: Confederate Brigadier General, dies at 41
• 1909George Meredith: English Poet / writer (Diana of Crossways), dies at 81
• 1910Flor van Duyse: Composer, dies at 66
• 1913Otto Reubke: Composer, dies at 70
• 1918Toivo Kuula: Composer, dies at 34
• 1930Joao Marcellino Arroyo: Composer, dies at 68
• 1936Alick Maclean: Composer, dies at 63
• 1949James T Adams: US Historian (Pulitzer 1921)
• 1952Rossetter Gleason Cole: Composer, dies at 86
• 1955Mary McLeod Bethune: Educator and civil rights leader, dies at 79
• 1965Eduard J Dijksterhuis: Mathematician (Archimedes), dies at 72
• 1966Paul Althaus: German Theologist (That Christian Wahrheit), dies at 78
• 1967Richard Ainley: Actor (I Dood It, Above Suspicion), dies at 56

Historical events on May 19

• 0715St. Gregory II begins his reign as Catholic Pope
• 1506Columbus selects his son Diego as sole heir
• 1515George van Saksen-Meissen sells Friesland for 100,000 gold guilders to Archduke Charles
• 1517Philip van Bourgondie installed as Bishop of Utrecht
• 1547Monarch Johan Frederik surrenders to Karel
• 1568English Queen Elizabeth I arrests Scottish Queen Mary
• 1571Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi founded Manilla in the Phillipines
• 1585Spain confisquates English ships
• 1588Spanish Armada sets sail for Lisbon, bound to England
• 1608Matthias von Habsburgs army reaches Lieben, at Prague
• 1635France declares war on Spain
• 1643Battle at Rocroi / Allersheim: French army destroys Spanish army
• 1643Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Harbor form United Colonies of New England
• 1652Spanish troops occupy Grevelingen
• 1662Uniformity Act of England goes into effect
• 1749George II grants charter to Ohio Company to settle Ohio Valley
• 1792Russian army enters Poland
• 1793Netherlands captures French island of St. Maarten (held until 1795)
• 1796Game protection law restricts encroachment on Indian hunting grounds
• 18481st department store opens
• 1848Mexico gives Texas to US, ending the war
• 1853Dutch Prince Henry marries Princess Amalia of Saxony-Weimar
• 1856Sen Charles Sumner, Mass, spoke out against slavery
• 1857William Francis Channing and Moses G Farmer patents electric fire alarm
• 1862Homestead Act becomes law provides cheap land for settlement of West
• 1863Siege of Vicksburg, investment of city complete
• 1864Last engagement in series of battles known as Spotsylvania
• 1864Skirmish at Cassville, Georgia
• 1865President Jefferson Davis is captured by Union Cavalry in Georgia
• 1878Blanche Kelso Bruce appointed register of treasury by President Garfield

Born on May 19

• 1469Giovanni della Robbia: Italian sculptor
• 1611Innocent XI [Benedetto Odescalchi]: Italy -- 240th Pope (1676-89)
• 1616Johann Jacob Froberger: German singer / Organist / composer
• 1746Johann Friedrich Peter: Composer
• 1755Gabriele Prota: Composer
• 1762Johann G Fichte: Germany -- Philosopher (Wissenschaftslehre)
• 1770Antoine-Charles Glachant: Composer
• 1795Johns Hopkins: Philanthropist, founded Johns Hopkins University
• 1808Samuel Jameson Gholson: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1883
• 1812Felix Kirk Zollicoffer: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1862
• 1815John Gross Barnard: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1882
• 1828Adin Ballou Underwood: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1839Alice Mary Smith: Composer
• 1858Roland Napoleon Bonaparte: French officer / traveller (Surinam)
• 1859Nellie Melba [Heal Mitchell]: Australian soprano (Peach Melba)
• 1864Carl Ethan Akeley: United States -- Naturalist - developed animal mount process
• 1869Jules Poncelet: Belgian Minister of State
• 1873Federico Gerdes: Composer
• 1878Adam von Ahn Carse: Composer
• 1880Allard R Hulshoff: Architect of Amsterdam (1924)
• 1883Henricus WJM Keuls: Dutch lawyer / poet (Dancing Lamp)
• 1884Arthur Meulemans: Belgian composer (Adriaan Brouwer) (or 5 / 10)
• 1895Albert Hay Malotte: Composer
• 1895Cecil Gray: Composer
• 1896Michael Balcon: Birmingham, England -- Producer / father of Jill Balcon
• 1899Leonid Maksimovich Leonov: Novelist / playwright
• 1901Ivo Cruz: Composer
• 1904Sven Thofelt: Sweden -- Pentathlete (1928 Olympics - Gold Medalist)
• 1909Bruce Bennett: Tacoma, Washington -- Actor (Before I Hang, Sahara)
• 1909Schlomo Joffe: Composer

Died on May 19

• 0804Alcuin of York: English scholar, dies in Tours France at 69
• 0988Dunstan[us]: English Archbishop of Canterbury
• 1296Celestine V [Pietro del Murrone]: Pope (1294)
• 1536Anne Boleyn: Queen of England / Wife of Henry VIII, beheaded
• 1536Lord Rochford: English Brother of Anna Boleyn, beheaded
• 1647Sebastian Vrancx: Flemish Painter (captain of vigilante)
• 1786John Stanley: Composer, dies at 74
• 1795Josiah Bartlett: US Physician / judge (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 65
• 1800French Bosbeeck: Veterinarian / robber, hanged
• 1801Herman H Vitringa: Politician (National Meetings)
• 1845Maria EJ Versfelt: Mistress of General Moreau / marshal Ney, dies at 68
• 1864Nathaniel Hawthorne: United States -- Writer (Scarlet Letter)
• 1872Johan van Dale: Schoolmaster (New Dutch Language Wordbook), dies at 44
• 1876Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer: Dutch Historian / politician, dies at 74
• 1895Jose J Marti y Perez: Spanish / Cuban Poet (Versos sencillos)
• 1901Marthinus Wessels Pretorius: 1st President Rep South-Africa, dies at 81
• 1922Heinrich I Quincke: German internist (postural drainage), dies at 79
• 1928Henry Franklin Belknap Gilbert: Composer, dies at 59
• 1928Max Scheler: German philosopher, dies at 53
• 1935Charles Martin Tornow Loeffler: French composer, dies at 74
• 1935Thomas E Lawrence (of Arabia): Dies in a motorcycle crash
• 1942[Nicoline] Magdalene Anchor-Roll: Norwegian Author (Enken), dies at 69
• 1953Damasco Berenguer y Fuste: Spanish General / Minister of War, dies at 79
• 1954Aart A van Schelven: Church Historian (Willem of Orange), dies at 73
• 1954Charles Edward Ives: US Composer (Unanswered Question), dies at 79
• 1958Bruno Sturmer: Composer, dies at 65
• 1958Ronald Colman: British actor (Prisoner of Zenda), dies at 67
• 1961Joe Howard: Singer (Gay Nineties Revue), dies at 94
• 1965Maria Dabrowska: Polish writer (Znaki Zycia)
• 1969Coleman Hawkins: US jazz musician / composer

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