Historical Events
- May 10 First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America (1st US foreign war)
Famous Birthdays
William H. Seward (1801-1872)
May 16 American politician (Secretary of State, 1861-69, Governor of New York, 1839-42), born in Florida, New York
- May 31 Johann Georg Baiter, Swiss philologist, born in Zürich, Switzerland (d. 1877)
Famous Deaths
- May 5 Philippe-Lambert-Joseph Spruyt, Flemish painter and engraver, dies at 74
- May 12 Nicholas Repnin, Russian statesman (b. 1734)
- May 14 Johann Ernst Altenburg, composer, dies at 66
- May 15 Louis di Belgioioso, Austrian count, diplomat and field marshal under the Habsburgs dies at 73
- May 17 William Heberden, English physician (b. 1710)
- May 19 Herman Hendrik Vitringa, Dutch Federalist politician (National Meetings), dies at 43
- May 22 Heinrich Gottfried Reichard, German composer, and translator, dies at 58
