19th May 1536: The execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife and mother of the future Elizabeth I
Although found unanimously guilty by a jury of 27 peers, the evidence against Anne was questionable. Only the Flemish musician Mark Smeaton admitted to having an affair with her, and this confession is reputed to have been extracted under ...
19 Touko 20220s
18th May 1291: The Siege of Acre saw the Muslim forces of the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil seize control of the Crusader-controlled city
The Siege of Acre, sometimes known in Christendom as the Fall of Acre, marked the last attempt to exert Crusader influence in the Holy ...
18 Touko 20220s
17th May 1943: Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron carries out the ‘Dambusters’ raids
Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron attacked German dams in Operation Chastise, otherwise known as the Dambuster ...
17 Touko 20220s
16th May 1966: Start of the Cultural Revolution in China when Mao releases the ‘May 16th Notification’
By the time the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976 an estimated minimum of 400,000 people had died through torture, execution, or ...
16 Touko 20220s
15th May 1928: Mickey Mouse’s first cartoon appearance
On 15th May 1928, the first animated cartoon to feature Mickey and Minnie Mouse was shown to a theatre ...
15 Touko 20220s
14th May 1796: English physician and scientist Edward Jenner tests the process of vaccination against smallpox using cowpox infection
Jenner scientifically tested, and proved, that infection with the mild disease of cowpox gave immunity to the more dangerous smallpox ...
14 Touko 20220s
13th May 1950: First #Formula1 World Championship Grand Prix race at Silverstone
The first Formula One World Championship Grand Prix race took place at the Silverstone circuit in ...
13 Touko 20220s
12th May 1846: The Donner Party begin their ill-fated journey to California
The Donner Party departed Independence, Missouri on their ill-fated journey to ...
12 Touko 20220s
