Historical Events
- May 2 John Maitland, administrator of Scotland for Charles II, made the Duke of Lauderdale and Earl of March
- May 6 Brandenburg monarch Frederik Willem signs treaty with Netherlands
- May 15 1st copyright law enacted by Massachusetts
- May 17 Frontenac becomes Governor of New France (Canada)
Famous Birthdays
Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
May 1 English essayist, playwright (Cato, a Tragedy), poet and Whig politician who co-founded "The Spectator" magazine, born in Milston, Wiltshire, England
Famous Deaths
- May 5 Samuel Cooper, English painter (b. 1609)
- May 8 Jean-Armand du Peyrer, Comte de Tréville and French Officer (b. 1598)
- May 11 Charles Seton, 2nd Earl of Dunfermline, Scottish peer, dies at 57
- May 28 Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich, English soldier, admiral and patron of Samuel Pepys, killed at the Battle of Solebay at 46
- May 28 John Trevor, English politician (b. 1626)
Authors
Dictators
Explorers
Outlaws
Queens
Spies