Kings blog

1765
Patrick Henry bitterly denounced the Stamp Act in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
1790
Rhode Island became the 13th state in the United States, the last of the original colonies to ratify the Constitution.
1848
Wisconsin became the 30th state in the United States.
1917
John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass.
1942
Bing Crosby recorded his version of “White Christmas.” It would go on to sell over 30 million copies.
1953
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
1990
Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian republic by the parliament.
1999
The military handed over power to a democratically elected government in NIgeria
Source:This day in history/May-29

1647
The first recorded execution of a witch reportedly took place in Massachusetts when Achsah Young was hanged.
1703
St. Petersburg was founded by Czar Peter the Great.
1936
The Queen Mary left England on its maiden voyage, arriving in France four hours later.
1937
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened.
1941
British ships sank the German battleship Bismarck off the coast of France, resulting in the loss of 2,300 lives.
1994
Nobel-prize winning dissident, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn returned to Russia after 20 years in exile.
1996
After a year and a half of bloodshed, Russian President Boris Yeltsin met with the leader of the Chechen rebels and negotiated a cease-fire.
1999
Slobodan Milosevic was indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague for crimes against humanity.
Source:This day in history/May-27

As Nigeria commemorates this year’s Children’s Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has said that Nigerian children living in the northern part of the country bear the highest burden of violence even as it expressed concern that the increasing use of children as suicide bombers could lead to children being perceived as potential threats in the future.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Thirteen Kenyan police are missing after suspected al-Shabab gunmen attacked their vehicles near Somalia's border, injuring at least five other officers and burning five cars, police said on Tuesday.

A police spokesman, George Kimoti, told The Associated Press that 13 officers were missing following the attack. A statement signed by Police Chief J.K. Boinnet said two officers were critically injured and three others sustained minor injuries in the attack but made no mention of missing officers

1787
The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia under the leadership of George Washington, in order to establish a new U.S. government.
1925
John Scopes was indicted for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution.
1935
American track star Jesse Owens broke three world records and tied another in a little over an hour.
1935
The legendary Babe Ruth hit his 714th and final home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His record stood until Hank Aaron broke it in 1974.
1965
Muhammad Ali knocked Sonny Liston out cold in the first round, after 1 minute and 56 seconds, for the world heavyweight title.
1968
The Gateway Arch was dedicated in St. Louis.
1969
Midnight Cowboy, the only x-rated film to win a best picture Oscar, was released.
1979
The worst air disaster in U.S. history (excluding the Sept. 11 attacks) occurred when a DC-10 crashed at Chicago's O'Hare airport, killing over 270 people.
Source: This Day in history/May-25

1844
Samuel Morse transmitted the first telegraph message, in which he asked, "What hath God wrought?"
1883
The Brooklyn Bridge, linking Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City, opened to traffic.
1899
W.T. McCullough of Boston, Mass., opened the first public garage. One could rent space for selling, storing and repairing vehicles.
1935
Major League Baseball’s first night game was played under the lights at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field as the hometown Reds defeated Philadelphia, 2–1.
1958
The United Press and the International News Service merged to form United Press International (UPI).
1976
The British and French Concordes made their first commercial flights.
2000
Israeli troops pulled out of Lebanon after 18 consecutive years of occupation.
2001
Vermont senator James Jeffords quit the Republican Party and became an Independent, giving Democrats control of the Senate.
Source:This day in history/May-24

1430
Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians and subsequently sold to the English.
1788
South Carolina became the 8th state in United States.
1830
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began the first passenger service in the United States.
1873
The North West Mounted Police force was formed in Canada. It would later be known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
1911
The New York Public Library, at the time the largest marble structure ever built in the United States, was dedicated by President Taft in New York City after 16 years of construction.
1934
Bonnie (Parker) and Clyde (Barrow) were killed in a police shootout.
1945
Heinrich Himmler, head of Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo, committed suicide while in prison.
1949
The German Federal Republic came into existence.
1997
Moderate Mohammad Khatami was elected president of Iran.
Source:This day in history/May-23

1455
The first battle in the 30-year War of Roses took place at St. Albans.
1761
The first life insurance policy in the United States was issued in Philadelphia.
1849
Abraham Lincoln received patent number 6469 for his floating dry dock.
1927
An earthquake near Xining, China, measuring 8.3 claimed approximately 200,000 victims.
1947
Harry S. Truman's Doctrine brought aid to Greece and Turkey to combat the spread of Communism.
1972
Ceylon became Sri Lanka.
1972
Richard Nixon arrived in Moscow, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet Union.
1990
North Yemen and South Yemen merged to form the Republic of Yemen.
1992
Johnny Carson hosted the last episode of his Tonight Show.
2003
The UN Security Council approved a resolution lifting the economic sanctions against Iraq and supporting the U.S.-led administration in Iraq.
2011
At least 140 people are killed and hundreds more injured as a three-quarter-mile-wide tornado hits Joplin, Missouri. The tornado is among the deadliest in the nation's history, destroying nearly a third of the city and damaging about 2,000 buildings, including water treatment and sewage plants.
2012
Tokyo Skytree, which at 634 meters high is the tallest tower in the world, opened to the public.
Source:This day in history/May-22

WASHINGTON — President Obama denied that the United States and its allies were losing the fight against Islamic State forces in the Middle East, but he acknowledged in an interview posted online on Thursday that more should be done to help Iraqis recapture lost territory.

While repeating his refusal to commit large-scale American forces to the region, the president said Sunni fighters in Iraq needed more commitment and training to take on fellow Sunnis aligned with the Islamic State. But he offered no regrets about his handling of the war and said in the end it would be up to the Iraqis to increase their efforts.

1542
Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto died while searching for gold on the banks of the Mississippi River.
1881
Clara Barton founded what became the American Red Cross.
1927
Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly across the Atlantic (from New York to Paris) in his monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis.
1932
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean (from Newfoundland to Ireland).
1956
The first hydrogen bomb to be dropped by air exploded over the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
1989
In Hong Kong, approximately one million people took to the streets to show their support for students protesting for democratic reforms in China’s Tiananmen Square.
1991
Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian prime minister, was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
1998
Indonesian President Suharto resigned.
1999
Susan Lucci finally won a Daytime Emmy on her 19th nomination.
2003
Christine Todd Whitman announced her resignation as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Source:This day in history/May-21

A judge has ruled that a Christian-run bakery discriminated against a gay customer by refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan.

Ashers Baking Company, based in County Antrim, was taken to court by gay rights activist Gareth Lee.

A Belfast judge said, as a business, Ashers was not exempt from discrimination law.

The firm's general manager said they were "extremely disappointed" by the ruling and are considering an appeal.

Damages of £500 were agreed in advance by legal teams on both sides of the dispute.

A lawyer for Mr Lee said the money would be donated to charity.

q1536
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was beheaded.
1588
The 130-ship-strong Spanish Armada set sail for England; it was defeated in August.
1643
The colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Harbor met to form the New England Confederation.
1921
Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act, establishing national quotas for immigrants.
1928
The first annual Calaveras County "Frog Jumping Jubilee" was held in Angel's Camp, California.
1935
British author and soldier, T. E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia," died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash.
1962
Marilyn Monroe sang “Happy Birthday” to president John F. Kennedy.
1992
The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited Congress from giving itself midterm pay raises, went into effect.
1994
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York.
Source:This day in history/May-19

1642
The city of Montreal was founded by the French.
1804
Napoleon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France by the French Senate.
1896
The Supreme Court affirmed racial segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson as "separate but equal."
1920
Pope John Paul II was born near Krakow, Poland.
1953
Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound.
1974
India became the 6th country to become a nuclear power.
1980
Mount St. Helens, in Washington state, erupted after being dormant for 123 years.
1987
Okpara Kingsley Anayo was born in Gboko, Benue state of Nigeria
1994
Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza strip after three decades of occupation and Palestinians took over.
2000
A bill was finally passed that removed the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse.
2003
President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia declared martial law and sent 30,000 troops into Aceh.
2004
Randy Johnson, age 40, became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game.
2004
Sonia Gandhi stunned her party, the Indian National Congress, by refusing to accept the prime ministership of India.
Source: This day in history/May-18

Police have reported multiple fatalities during a shooting between biker gangs in the parking lot between Twin Peaks and Don Carlos restaurants in the Central Texas Marketplace in Waco.

Police on scene confirm the shooting started about 12:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon and involved at least two biker gangs. The shooting reportedly started after an argument inside Twin Peaks escalated to the parking lot. Police say restaurant management had been aware that the gangs went to their restaurant.

There were multiple fatalities and injuries reported, but no word yet on the exact number or condition of those wounded. A witness on scene said she saw at least two bodies under sheets. No police officers were reported injured during the shooting.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been called to assist. Medical personnel from as far away as Limestone County are being called to the scene.

Nearby restaurants Don Carlos and Twin Peaks were locked down for a time and later cleared.

Witnesses also tell News Channel 25 that people who are in the area cannot leave, and police are not letting people into the area either because it is not safe.

source:police respond to shooting between biker gangs at restaurant

1792
The New York Stock Exchange was established when a group of 24 brokers and merchants met by a tree on what is now Wall Street and signed the Buttonwood Agreement.
1875
The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky.
1938
NBC aired the Information Please quiz show on the radio for the first time.
1954
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously against segregation in schools in Brown v. Board of Education.
1973
Televised Watergate hearings opened, headed by North Carolina senator Sam Ervin.
1987
An Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S.S. Stark in the Persian Gulf, killing 37 American sailors and wounding 62.
1997
Laurent Kabila declared himself president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2004
In Massachusetts, same-sex couples exchanged marriage vows for the first time in the United States.
Source:This day in history/May-17

Manchester United have qualified for the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League.

The Reds, who missed out on qualifying for Europe's premier competition last season, were mathematically guaranteed at least fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday after fifth-placed Liverpool lost at home to Crystal Palace. Louis van Gaal’s men still have an opportunity to finish higher in the table, but must rely on other results going the right way.

1770

Marie Antoinette married the future King Louis XVI of France.

1868

The first ballot on one of 11 articles of impeachment in the U.S. Senate failed to convict President Andrew Johnson.

1929

The first Academy Awards were given on this night. The term, Oscars, was not used to describe the statuettes given to actors and actresses until 1931.

1946

The Irving Berlin musical, Annie Get Your Gun, opened on Broadway.

1975

Japanese climber Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest.

1991

Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address the United States Congress.

1997

President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire ended 32 years of autocratic rule when rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila expelled him from the country.

source: This day in history/May-16

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When Daniel Berehulak flew into Kathmandu four days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in April, his initial impression was that the damage was not as catastrophic as he had expected. His first days were spent photographing people pulling valuables — televisions and teddy bears and kitchen cupboards — from rubble piles around the city, sometimes carrying them away balanced on their heads. It was a sight that struck him as brave and hopeful.

1862
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was created by an act of Congress on this day.
1911
The Standard Oil Company, headed by John D. Rockefeller, was ordered dissolved by the Supreme Court, under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
1918
The first air mail route in the U.S. was established between New York and Washington, DC, with a stop at Philadelphia.
1930
On a Boeing Air Transport flight between Oakland and Chicago, Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess.
1940
Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the United States.
1972
Alabama Governor George Wallace was shot and crippled as he campaigned for the presidency.
1988
The Soviet Union began to withdraw its estimated 115,000 troops from Afghanistan.
Source: This day in history/May-15

1796
Edward Jenner administered the first smallpox vaccine to 8-year-old James Phipps.
1804
The Lewis and Clark expedition set out from St. Louis.
1904
The Olympic Games were held in the United States for the first time, in St. Louis, Missouri.
1948
British rule in Palestine came to an end as The Jewish National Council proclaimed the State of Israel. Within hours, Israel was under attack from Arab forces.
1955
The Warsaw Pact was signed by the Soviet Union and seven other Communist bloc countries. It finally dissolved in 1991.
1973
Skylab, the United States’ first space station, was launched into orbit.
1998
Frank Sinatra died at the age of 82.
Source:ThiS day in history/May-14

1568

Mary Queen of Scots was defeated at the Battle of Langside and immediately fled to North England.

1846

The United States formally declared war on Mexico after several days of fighting.

1938

Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded the New Orleans's jazz classic, When the Saints Go Marching In, on Decca Records.

1940

Winston Churchill gave his first speech as prime minister: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

1973

Tennis male chauvinist Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Smith Court, 6-2, 6-1 in front of a world-wide television audience. He would lose to Billie Jean King later that year.

1981

Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Agca as he drove through a crowd in St. Peter's Square, Rome.

source: This day in history/May-13

1870
Manitoba became a province of Canada.
1932
The body of Charles and Anne Lindbergh's kidnapped baby was found.
1937
Britain’s King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London.
1943
Axis forces in North Africa surrendered.
1949
The Soviet blockade that prompted the Berlin airlift was ended.
1970
Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, swatted his 500th home run.
1970
Harry A. Blackmun was confirmed as a Supreme Court justice.
2002
Former president Jimmy Carter became the first U.S. president (in or out of office) to visit Fidel Castro's Cuba.
2008
Tens of thousands killed and thousands injured when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces in western China.
2008
An estimated 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces in western China and as many as 68,000 people were killed.
2012
The 2012 World Expo began in Yeosu, South Korea.
Source:This day in history/May-12

The remains of Damilola Fajana, the pregnant woman who was hit by a stray bullet during a cross fire between members of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, and pipeline vandals two weeks ago in Arepo area of Ogun State, was interred weekend.
The deceased, who was six months pregnant, was reportedly on her way from the hospital where her husband, Bukola Fajana, was admitted, when she was killed.

50 Cent is smack in the middle of a criminal investigation after a guy claims 50's goons pistol whipped him and stole a quarter of a million dollars in bling. Robert Marin, who owns LAX Jewelry Co., tells TMZ he went to Vegas during fight weekend because he wanted to sell the rapper a watch and chain worth $250K. Marin says he met 50 at Drai's nightclub, showed him the jewelry and 50 was in, but they needed to negotiate a price. Marin says they stayed at Drai's until the wee hours Saturday and 50's crew invited him to see Floyd Mayweather's gym ... an offer he couldn't refuse. Marin claimed when they arrived things turned ugly. He says 2 of 50's guys pistol whipped him, stole the jewelry and fled. Marin has filed a robbery report and Vegas cops are investigating. 50's people say the story is BS ... his attorney Scott Leemon tells us, “On behalf of 50, I can adamantly deny that he or his security had anything to do with these baseless and false allegations.”
Surce:50 cent crew robbed jeweler jewelry-las-vegas-fight/

A large explosion has rocked the Indian Point nuclear plant in upstate New York, the facility's management reported.

Indian Point Energy Center is a three-unit nuclear power plant station located in Buchanan, New York just south of Peekskill. The plant on the east bank of the Hudson river is located 61km north of New York City.

The company running the plant said the facility was safely shut down and in safe and stable condition after a transformer failure.

Residents in the vicinity of the plant reported the explosion and said they saw a 200m high fire ball over plant.

NBC's Chris Essner said on Twitter that the fire was extinguished. "No injuries and police say there is no ongoing emergency threat."
Source:Explosion rocks york nuclear power plant

1775
Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British.
1863
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson died after being accidentally shot by his own troops.
1869
The United States’ first transcontinental railroad was completed with a ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah.
1924
J. Edgar Hoover became director of the FBI.
1940
Winston Churchill succeeded Neville Chamberlain as British prime minister.
1994
Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa's first black president.
Source:This day in history/May-10

1914
Mother's Day became a public holiday.
1926
Explorers Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett flew over the North Pole.
1936
Fascist Italy annexed Ethiopia.
1962
The Beatles signed their first recording contract and hired George Martin to be their producer.
1978
The body of slain former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in an automobile in Rome.
1984
It took the Chicago White Sox 25 innings, eight hours, and six minutes, over two days, to finally defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6. It was the longest game (in elapsed time) in major-league history.
1994
The South African parliament chose Nelson Mandela as president.
2004
Chechnya's Moscow-backed leader, Akhmad Kadyrov, was killed in a bombing. Six others were killed and another 60 wounded.
Source:This Day in history/May-9

A small passenger aeroplane has crashed and burst into flames along a busy Atlanta motorway, killing all four people onboard.
No one on the ground was hurt although the plane nearly stuck a vehicle.
"It's a miracle, literally a miracle, that no other cars were hit," DeKalb Fire Capt Eric Jackson said.
The Piper PA-32 crashed minutes after taking off from DeKalb Peachtree Airport on Friday.
Rescue workers shut down Interstate 285 in both directions so investigators could determine what happened. The closure created traffic problems through the city.
Authorities did not immediately release the names of the victims.
"It looked like it was struggling. You could see him trying to get the nose of the plane up. It was edging up, and then it just dropped," witness Don McGhee told the Associated Press. "It was just a huge fire, just smoke and fire."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32632519#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

1794
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was guillotined during the Reign of Terror.
1877
The first Westminister Dog Show was held.
1902
Mount Pelee on Martinique erupted, destroying the town of St. Pierre, and killing 40,000 people.
1945
V-E Day marks the European victory of the Allies in World War II.
1973
The 10-week Wounded Knee occupation ended when members of the American Indian Movement surrendered.
1978
David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the “Son of Sam,” plead guilty to killing six people in New York City.
1999
The Citadel in South Carolina graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Mace.
Source:This day in history/May-8

LAS VEGAS — To many Americans, the billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett is the “Oracle of Omaha.” To another billionaire investor, Daniel S. Loeb, he is a hypocrite.

Mr. Loeb, who runs the $17.4 billion hedge fund Third Point, told an audience of hedge fund faithful on Wednesday that Mr. Buffett “has a lot of wisdom, but I think we need to be aware of the disconnect between his wisdom and how he behaves.”

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi struck twice and set up Neymar in the final 13 minutes as Pep Guardiola’s return to the Camp Nou as Bayern Munich coach ended in a 3-0 defeat in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Al Shabaab Islamist militants shot dead a government official in Mogadishu on Wednesday and, in a separate attack, bombed an African Union troop convoy outside the capital, police and a spokesman for the group said. Abdifatah Barre, the Deputy District Commissioner of Mogadishu’s Wadajir district, was shot dead in his car.

1882
Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act over President Chester A. Arthur's veto.
1889
The Universal Exposition opened in Paris, marking the completion and dedication of the Eiffel Tower.
1937
The German airship Hindenburg blew up and burst into flames at Lakehurst, N.J.
1941
Dictator Joseph Stalin became the premier of Russia.
1954
British athlete Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes (3:59:4).
1994
The Chunnel between England and France officially opened.
1999
Scotland elected its first separate parliament in three centuries.
Source: This day in history/May-6

1626
Peter Minuit landed in Manhattan, which he later bought for $24 worth of cloth and brass buttons.
1886
The Haymarket Square riot broke out as a result of a labor demonstration.
1932
Public Enemy Number One, Al Capone, was jailed for tax evasion.
1959
The first Grammy Awards were held.
1961
Civil rights activists, called "freedom riders," left Washington, DC for New Orleans.
1970
Four Kent State University students were shot down by National Guard members during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration.
Source:This day in history/May-4
1998
The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, was sentenced to four life terms plus 30 years for his series of bombings that killed three and injured 23.

Las Vegas (AFP) - Floyd Mayweather danced his way to a unanimous decision over frustrated Manny Pacquiao to win the richest fight in history and cement his place in the pantheon of boxing greats.

Boos rang out from a pro-Pacquiao Las Vegas crowd as Mayweather's emphatic victory was confirmed by all three scorecards after 12 rounds of cat and mouse action.

1937
Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for Gone With the Wind.
1948
The Shelley v. Kraemer Supreme Court decision stated that it is unconstitutional for a court to enforce a restrictive covenant which prevents people of a certain race from owning or occupying property.
1979
Margaret Thatcher became the first woman elected prime minister of England.
1986
At the age of 54, legendary horse jockey Bill Shoemaker became the oldest person to win the Kentucky Derby, riding Ferdinand to victory.
1999
Kansas and Oklahoma were hit by an outbreak of more than 55 tornadoes, including one measured at F5 on the Fujita scale.
2001
The United States, a member of the UN Human Rights Commission since its inception, lost its seat. It would be restored the following year.
2003
New Hampshire’s symbol, the granite Old Man of the Mountain, collapsed in the state’s Franconia Mountains.
Source:This day in history/May-3

1885

Good Housekeeping magazine went on sale for the first time.

1939

Lou Gehrig established a new major-league baseball record when he played his 2,130th consecutive game. It would take another 57 years before Cal Ripken, Jr., broke it.

1945

The Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin.

1955

Tennessee Williams won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

1969

The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II departed on her maiden voyage to New York.

1994

Nelson Mandela was victorious in South Africa’s first multiracial election.

1997

The Labour Party’s Tony Blair became Prime Minister of Britain, ending 18 years of conservative rule. At 44, he was the youngest prime minister in 185 years.

2011

U.S. troops and CIA operatives shot and killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

2012

A pastel version of The Scream, by painter Edvard Munch, sold for $120 million in a New York City auction. The transaction set a new world record for an auctioned piece of art.

source:This day in history/May-2

(Photo : Oli Scarff | Getty Images)

Most people know that May brings with it two of the biggest holidays of spring: Mother's Day and Memorial Day. However, if you're looking for a celebration in May, you don't have to wait very long after the month begins because May 1 is a holiday too.

May 1 is also known as May Day. And no, it's not a day about that word you yell when you have an emergency. That would kind of be a weird thing to celebrate, don't you think?

It's OK if you don't know what May Day is all about. Lots of people don't. The fact that there isn't just one holiday but two on this day doesn't make it any easier to understand it either.

On April 29, 1770, the British HM Bark Endeavor became the first European vessel to reach the east coast of Australia after it landed at Botany Bay near modern day Sydney. At the helm was James Cook, a taciturn mariner who would go on to circumnavigate the globe twice and explore everything from the Bering Strait and the islands of the South Pacific to the treacherous ice floes surrounding Antarctica. Cook’s three voyages of discovery helped fill in many of the blank spots on Europeans’ world maps, but his mistreatment of natives in Hawaii eventually led to an untimely death. Two hundred forty-five years after he landed in Australia, learn 10 surprising facts about the explorer who vowed to sail “as far as I think it possible for man to go.”

1707

The Act of Union joined England and Scotland to form Great Britain.

1931

The Empire State Building opened in New York City. At 102 stories, it would be the world's tallest building for the next 41 years. Click to see the current tallest.

1941

Orson Welles's Citizen Kane, considered by many the greatest film ever made, premiered in New York.

1948

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established with Kim Il Sung as president.

1960

The Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane over Soviet territory.

1967

Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu. (They divorced in 1973.)

1991

44-year-old Texas fireballer Nolan Ryan hurled his seventh and final no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. That same day, Oakland's Rickey Henderson broke Lou Brock’s stolen base record.

2003

President Bush made a speech aboard an aircraft carrier proclaiming “major combat operations in Iraq have ended.”

2009

For the first time in 341 years, a woman is appointed as poet laureate of the United Kingdom. Carol Ann Duffy, 53, will take over the post from current poet laureate Andrew Motion.

source:This day in history/May-1

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