Historical Events
- May 5 Smolny Institute forms in St Petersburg for noble girls
Event of Interest
May 24 Samuel Adams writes instructions for Boston Town Meeting opposing the Sugar Act, laying groundwork for colonial resistance to taxation without representation
Famous Birthdays
- May 1 Benjamin Henry Latrobe, American architect (completed U.S. Capitol), born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England (d. 1820)
- May 1 Gottfried Rieger, Czech composer, born in Opavice, Silesia (d. 1855)
- May 3 Élisabeth of France, princess of France, youngest sister of king Louis XVI, born in Versailles, France (d. 1794)
- May 4 Joseph Carpue, English surgeon who pioneered early plastic surgery in England, born in London, England (d. 1846)
- May 5 Robert Craufurd, British general, born in Newark Castle, Ayrshire (d. 1812)
- May 15 Johann Nepomuk Kalcher, German organist, composer, and teacher of Carl Maria von Weber, born in Freising, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1827)
- May 20 Johann Gottfried Schadow, German sculptor (Brandenburg Gate chariot), born in Berlin, Prussia (d. 1850)
- May 28 Edward Livingston, American jurist and statesman, born in Columbia County, New York (d. 1836)
Authors
Dictators
Explorers
Outlaws
Queens
Spies