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