1700s / 18th century history on the 1st of May
1707 : The Act of Union took effect to join the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland, which formed the Kingdom of Great Britain.
1753 : Species Plantarum by Linnaeus was published, and the plant taxonomy was adopted by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.
1759 : Wedgwood pottery company was founded by Josiah Wedgwood, in Great Britain.
1776 : The Illuminati was established by Adam Weishaupt, in Ingolstadt, Upper Bavaria, Germany.
1786 : The Marriage of Figaro opera by Mozart was performed for the first time, in Vienna, Austria.
1800s / 19th century history on the 1st of May
1840 : The 1st official adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in the United Kingdom.
1851 : The Great Exhibition was opened by Queen Victoria at The Crystal Palace in London.
1857 : THEO van GOGH the Dutch art dealer was born Theodorus van Gogh in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands (died in 1891 aged 33). He was the younger brother of Vincent van Gogh. Theo provided regular financial and emotional support to Vincent so he could devote himself entirely to painting. Theo’s well known influence on his brother often overshadows the impact that Theo made on the art world as a renowned art dealer, with his role in the introduction of contemporary Dutch and French art to the public. Theo died when he was 33 years old, only 6 months after his brother Vincent died aged 37.
1864 : Anna Jarvis the founder of Mother’s Day was born in Webster, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. (died in 1948 aged 84).
1869 : The Folies Bergère opened in Paris.
1875 : Alexandra Palace reopened after it was burnt down in a fire in 1873.
1884 : The 8 hour workday was demanded by The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, in the United States.
1904 : Antonín Dvořák the Czech composer died aged 62, after an attack of influenza 13 days earlier (born in 1841).
1930 : PLUTO was officially proposed as the name of the dwarf planet newly-discovered by Pluto by Vesto Slipher, in the Lowell Observatory Observation Circular.
1931 : The Empire State Building in New York City was opened. It was known as the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1970.
1939 : Judy Collins the American singer-songwriter was born Judith Marjorie Collins in Seattle, Washington, USA.
1945 : Rita Coolidge the American singer was born in Lafayette, Tennessee, USA. Rita Coolidge official website : RitaCoolidge.net
1941 : German forces launched a major attack during the siege of Tobruk, during World War 2.
1946 : Pilbara strike of Indigenous Australians started, and lasted 3 years. It was one of the longest industrial strikes in Australia, and became a landmark for indigenous Australians, for their fight for human rights, cultural rights, and Native title.
1946 : Joanna Lumley (OBE FRGS) the English actress was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India. She is also former model, television presenter / producer, author, and activist.
1951 : Sally Mann (HonFRPS) the American photographer was born in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Sally Mann’s official website : SallyMann.com
1954 : RAY PARKER Jr. the American musician was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
1956 : The POLiO VACCiNE was made available to the public. It was developed by Jonas Salk and a team at the University of Pittsburgh in 1952. In 1953 Jonas Salk reported a successful test on a small group of adults and children, followed by testing the vaccine at an elementary school and a home for children in Pittsburgh.
1961 : The Prime Minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro, proclaims Cuba a socialist nation and abolishes elections.
1967 : Tim McGraw the American singer-songwriter was born in Start, Louisiana, USA. Tim McGraw’s official website : TimMcGraw.com
1978 : The 1st person to reach the North Pole alone : Naomi Uemura from Japan traveled for 57 days by dog sled.
1994 : Ayrton Senna the Brazilian race car driver died aged 34, from a fatal injuries sustained in the San Marino Grand Prix (born in 1960).
1999 : George Mallory’s body was found on Mount Everest, 75 years after he disappeared in 1924.
2000s / 21st century history on the 1st of May
2003 : President George W. Bush announced “Mission Accomplished” and declared that “major combat operations in Iraq have ended,” in a speech on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, off the coast of California, USA, after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, which began on the 19th March.
2009 : Same-sex marriage was legalized in Sweden.
2011 : Pope John Paul II was beatified by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.
2013 : Chris Kelly the American rapper died aged 34 (born in 1978). He was best known as Mac Daddy from Kris Kross hip hop duo.
Today in History for May 1st by Associated Press
The video includes : President George W. Bush announced that major combat had ended in Iraq, U2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet Union, and the Empire State Building was dedicated…
see more interesting events on all the other days of MAY (History On This Day @ Azoosh)
This page was last updated on the 1st May 2021
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