Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty
May 14 Great Britain signs treaty with Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II settling border issues with British Somaliland
- May 14 Oldest continuously operating movie theater in the world, the State Theatre first opens in Washington, Iowa (Guinness World Records)
- May 15 The Greek army retreats with heavy losses in the Greco-Turkish War.
Scientific-Humanitarian Committee
May 15 The Scientific-Humanitarian Committee is founded in Berlin by Magnus Hirschfeld, the first-ever LGBT rights organization
1st Successful Submarine
May 17 The first successful submarine that can run submerged for any considerable distance and combines electric and gasoline engines is launched in the USA by its designer John Philip Holland
Dow Chemical Founded
May 18 Herbert Henry Dow founds Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan
- May 18 Irish Music Festival first held in Dublin
- May 18 New York Giants third baseman Bill Joyce becomes last player in baseball history to hit 4 triples in a game as Giants beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-5 at Exposition Park
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
May 18 Paul Dukas' symphonic scherzo "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice" (used in Disney's Fantasia film) premieres, based on poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Oscar Wilde Released
May 19 Playwright Oscar Wilde is released from Reading Gaol
37th British Open
May 20 37th British Open Men's Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: English amateur Harold Hilton wins 2nd Open title by 1 stroke from Scot James Braid
Dracula Published
May 26 "Dracula" by Irish author Bram Stoker is published by Archibald Constable and Company in London
- May 29 31st Belmont: Joe Scherrer aboard Scottish Chieftain wins in 2:23.25
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