Year: 2026

1. 1881 – The first solo ascent of the MatterhornOn May 21, 1881, Albert Frederick Mummery made the first solo ascent of the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic and […]

1. May 20, 1498 – Vasco da Gama Arrives in IndiaOn May 20, 1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut, India, marking the first time a European reached […]

1. 1536 – Anne Boleyn ExecutedOn May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed. She was accused of adultery, incest, and high […]

1. 1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the FrenchOn May 18, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. This event marked the beginning of […]

1. 1792 – The New York Stock Exchange is foundedOn May 17, 1792, the Buttonwood Agreement was signed by 24 stockbrokers outside 68 Wall Street in New York City, marking […]

1. The Battle of Vienna (1683)On May 16, 1683, the Battle of Vienna began, marking a turning point in European history. This battle saw the combined forces of the Holy […]

1. 1252 – Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull Ad exstirpanda On May 15, 1252, Pope Innocent IV issued the papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorized the use of torture […]

1. May 14, 1607 – Founding of Jamestown, VirginiaOn May 14, 1607, English colonists established Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Located in present-day Virginia, Jamestown became […]

1. The Battle of Toledo (1809)On May 13, 1809, during the Peninsular War, the Battle of Toledo took place as part of the broader conflict between Napoleonic France and the […]

1. 1820 – The Death of Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft, an English writer, philosopher, and advocate of women’s rights, died on May 12, 1820. She is best known for her work […]