Historical Events
Species Plantarum
May 1 Publication of "Species Plantarum" by Carl Linnaeus - the formal start date of plant taxonomy adopted by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
The Limping Devil
May 29 Joseph Haydn's first opera "Krumme Teufel" (The Limping Devil) premieres in Vienna
Famous Birthdays
- May 8 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Spanish Catholic priest, and leader of Mexican independence, born in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, Viceroyalty of New Spain (d. 1811)
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
May 8 American poet who was both the second published African-American poet and first published African-American woman, born in West Africa
- May 12 Giovanni Battista Viotti, Italian violonist and composer, born in Fontanetto Po, Savoia, Kingdom of Sardinia (d. 1824)
- May 13 Lazare Carnot, French politician, engineer and mathematician known as the Organizer of Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars, born in Nolay, Côte-d'Or (d. 1823)
- May 24 Oliver Cromwell, decorated African American soldier who served with Washington in US War of Independence, born in Columbus, New Jersey (d. 1853)
- May 31 Pierre-Victurnien Vergniaud, French politician and police leader, born in Limoges, France (d. 1793)
Famous Deaths
- May 26 Willem Maurits, Dutch count of Nassau and governor of Zeeuws-Flanders, dies at 73
Authors
Dictators
Explorers
Outlaws
Queens
Spies