Historical Events
- May 9 British parliament accepts abolition of slave trade
Constitution of the United States
May 23 South Carolina becomes 8th state to ratify US constitution
Famous Birthdays
- May 10 Augustin-Jean Fresnel, French physicist and optics pioneer (proved wave theory of light correct, invented catadioptric Fresnel lens), born in Broglie, France (d. 1827)
- May 10 Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, German queen (d. 1819)
- May 16 Friedrich Rückert, German Poet, Translator and Orientalist (d. 1866)
- May 18 Hugh Clapperton, Scottish explorer of Africa, born in Annan, Scotland (d. 1827)
