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
Historical 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
Events on May 23
- 1059Henri I crowns his son compassionate King Philip I of France
- 1275King Edward I of Engld orders cessation of persecution of French Jews
- 1420Jews of Syria and Austria expelled
- 1421Jews of Austria imprisoned and expelled
- 1430Joan of Arc is captured at Compiegne and sold to the British
- 1493King Charles VIII and Maximilian I of Austria signs Peace of Senlis
- 1533King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon marriage declared null and void
- 1536Pope Paul III installs Portugese inquisition
- 1544German Emperor Charles V recognizes King Christian III of Denmark
- 1555Giampietro Caraffa elected Pope Paul IV
- 1568Battle at Heiligerlee: Dutch rebels beat Spanish, 100s killed
- 1576Tycho Brahe given Hveen Island to build Uraniborg Observatory
- 1611Matthias von Habsburg chosen King of Bohemia
- 16182nd Defenestration of Prague; beginning of 30 Years War
- 1618Imperial civil servants thrown out a window of Prague Castle
- 1644Johan Mauritius van Nassau resigns as head of Civil rights activists
- 1647Willem II sworn in as Viceroy of Holland
- 1660King Charles II returns from exile sails from Scheveningen to England
- 1667King Afonso VI of Portugal flees
- 1706Battle of Ramillies-Marlborough defeats French; 17,000 killed
- 1774Chestertown tea party occurs (tea dumped into Chester River)
- 1785Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals
- 1788SC becomes 8th state to ratify US constitution
- 1853Buenos Aires gains independence from Argentina (reunited 1859)
- 18613 fleeing slaves enter Fort Monroe Virginia
- 1861Virginia citizens vote 3 to 1 in favor of secession
- 1862Battle at Front Royal, Virginia
- 1862Valley Campaign-Stonewall Jackson takes Ft Royal, Virginia
- 1864Battle of Dallas, Georgia
- 1864Battle of North Anna, Va, 1st of 3 days of fighting
Born on May 23
- 1598Claude Mellan: French engraver / cartoonist / painter, baptized
- 1617Elias Ashmole: Antiquary
- 1620Pieter Neefs [the Younger]: Flemish painter
- 1644Thomas Eisenhut: Composer
- 1696Johann Caspar Vogler: Composer
- 1710Francois-Gaspard Adam: French sculptor (garden sculptures)
- 1718William Hunter: Obstetrician / medal writer
- 1729Giuseppe Parini: Italian priest / poet (Il Giorno)
- 1734Friedrich Anton Mesmer: Austria -- Physician / hypnotist (Mesmerism)
- 1735Charles Joseph: Prince the Ligne, Belgian Field Marshal / author
- 1737Louis Francois Chambray: Composer
- 1741Andrea Lucchesi: Composer
- 1753Giovanni Battista Viotti: Violonist / composer
- 1754Andrea Appiana: Italian royal painter (Napoleon)
- 1756Nicolas-Joseph Hullmandel: Composer
- 1759Antoinio da Silva Leite: Composer
- 1794Isaak-Ignaz Moscheles: Composer
- 1795Charles Barry: Architect
- 1799Thomas Hood: English poet / composer (Song of the Shirt)
- 1812Henri A Esquiros: French poet / writer (Les Vierges Folles)
- 1813Mason Brayman: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1895
- 1820James Buchanan Eads: United States -- Engineer / inventor (Eads Bridge-St. Louis)
- 1824Ambrose Everett Burnside: Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1832Pieter J B C R van der Aa: Dutch Indologist / geographer
- 1837James Sanks Brisbin: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1892
- 1843Pedro Miguel Marques y Garcia: Composer
- 1848Helmuth J L von Moltke: German General / Chief of Staff (WWI)
- 1848Otto Lilienthal: Pioneer aviator
- 1851Antoni Stolpe: Composer
- 1862William "Dummy" Hoy: Professional baseball player who lived to 99
Died on May 23
- 1498Girolamo Savonarola: Dictator of Florence (1494-98), hanged at 45
- 1648Luis de Nain: Painter
- 1668Philips Wouwerman: Haarlems painter, buried
- 1684Adriaen Backer: Amsterdams Painter buried at about 48
- 1754John Wood: Architect / town planner
- 1783James Otis: American lawyer
- 1785William Woollett: Engraver
- 1841Franz Xaver von Baader: German philosopher / theologist, dies at 76
- 1842Jose de Espronceda y Delgado: Spanish revolutionary / poet, dies at 34
- 1851Lucas Pieter Roodbaard: Architect, dies at 69
- 1860Albert Richard Smith: Author / lecturer
- 1867Archibald Alison: Scottish historian, dies at 74
- 1875Johann Wilhelm Mangold: Composer, dies at 78
- 1881Kit Carson: Frontiersman
- 1881Leopold von Ranke: Historian
- 1883Cyprian K Norwid: Polish Painter / Poet / playwright (Wanda)
- 1887Ludwig Mathias Lindeman: Composer, dies at 74
- 1891Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach: Composer, dies at 73
- 1895Franz E Neumann: German mineralogist / physicist, dies at 96
- 1897Aleko Konstantinov: Bulgarian writer (To Chicago & Back), dies at 34
- 1905Martinus W van AA Meerbeke: Head-editor (Time), dies at 75
- 1906Henrik Johan Ibsen: Norwegian playwright (Doll House), dies at 78
- 1926Hans Koessler: Composer, dies at 73
- 1934Bonnie Parker: Outlaw (Bonnie & Clyde), killed in police ambush
- 1934Clyde Barrow: Outlaw (Bonnie & Clyde), killed in police ambush
- 1937John Davison Rockfeller: Industrialist, dies at 97 in Ormond Beach, Florida
- 1938Philip Kleintjes: Republic leader, dies at 70
- 1940Andrej N Rimski-Korssakov: Russian musicologist / Son of Nikolai
- 1940Paul Nizan: French journalist / writer (Ce Soir / Aden Arabia), dies at 35
- 1941Lord Herbert Austin: Motor manufacturer