1600s / 17th century history on the 15th of May
1618 : Johannes Kepler confirmed his discovery of the third law of planetary motion, which he first discovered 2 months earlier on the 8th of March but originally rejected the idea.
1800s / 19th century history on the 15th of May
1817 : The 1st private mental health hospital was opened in the United States, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason is now known as the Friends Hospital.
1836 : Baily’s Beads were first observed during an annular eclipse, by Francis Baily, an English astronomer. The Baily’s beads effect is also referred to as a diamond ring effect, and occurs during total and annular solar eclipses, when the Moon covers the Sun and the rugged topography of the visible lunar surface allows irregular beads of sunlight to shine through.
1851 : The first Australian GOLD RUSH was proclaimed, although various gold discoveries were made earlier. The first gold rush lasted 63 years, from 1851 to 1914.
1859 : Pierre Curie the French physicist was born in Paris, France (died in 1906 aged 46). He won the Nobel Prize in Physics with his wife, Marie Curie.
1863 : Frank Hornby the inventor of MECCANO was born in Copperas Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, England (died in 1936 aged 73). Meccano model construction systems have been in production since 1901. He also invented and produced Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys.
1900s / 20th century history on the 15th of May
1905 : Las Vegas was founded in Nevada, USA.
1937 : Madeleine Albright the 64th United States Secretary of State was born in Smíchov, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
1940 : The 1st McDONALD’S restaurant in the world was opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, USA.
1947 : Graeham Goble the Australian musician was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Official website : GraemeGoble.com
1948 : Brian Eno the English musician and producer, was born in Melton, Suffolk, England. Official website : Brian-Eno.net
1953 : Mike Oldfield the British musician was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom. Website : MikeOldfieldOfficial.com
1960 : Rhonda Burchmore the Australian entertainer was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Official website : RhondaBurchmore.com
1962 : Lisa Curry (AO MBE) the Australian swimmer was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She has won 15 gold international swimming medals, plus 7 silver and 8 bronze medals. Lisa Curry is the only Australian swimmer to achieve Commonwealth and Australian records in every swimming stroke event (except backstroke).
1963 : Mercury-Atlas 9 was launched for the final Mercury mission. Astronaut Gordon Cooper was on board, and became the first American to spend more than a day in space, and also the last American to go into space alone.
1970 : Anna Mae Hays & Elizabeth P. Hoisington were appointed as the first female United States Army generals, by President Richard Nixon.
1978 : Robert Menzies the 12th Prime Minister of Australia died from a heart attack, aged 83 (born in 1894).
1991 : Édith Cresson became France’s first female Prime Minister.
2000s / 21st century history on the 15th of May
2008 : WiLL ELDER the American MAD illustrator died from complications due to Parkinson’s disease (born in 1921). He was a commercial artist and comic book artist, but best known for his cartoon art in Mad comic book.
2009 : Bud Tingwell (AM) the Australian actor died from prostate cancer, aged 86 (born in 1923).
1996 : BiRDY the English singer-songwriter, musician was born Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde in Lymington, Hampshire, England. Website : OfficialBirdy.com
1997 : The Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched, to dock with the Russian space station Mir.
2010 : Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail unassisted and non-stop around the world solo. Official website : JessicaWatson.com
see more interesting events on all the other days of MAY (History On This Day @ Azoosh)
This page was last updated on the 16th May 2021
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