28th May 1754: Battle of Jumonville Glen in Pennsylvania marks the beginning of the French and Indian War
While precise details are unclear, it’s known that the engagement lasted only about 15 minutes. Around a quarter of the French soldiers were killed, including their commander, Joseph Coulon de ...
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27th May 1703: The foundation of St Petersburg by Tsar Peter the Great
In 1703 Peter’s forces captured Swedish possessions at the mouth of the Neva river, and it was here that he laid the foundation stone for the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy ...
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26th May 1923: First 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race begins, establishing the endurance racing format
The first race began at 4 p.m. on 26 May 1923 and concluded at the same time on the following day. Taking place on public roads closed for the occasion, the circuit of just over 17 kilometres included long straights, village roads, and tight ...
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25th May 1977: The first Star Wars film is released in cinemas
The first instalment of the Star Wars film series was released in cinemas in the United States of ...
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24th May 1943: Josef Mengele, the Nazi Angel of Death, transferred to Auschwitz
Josef Mengele, the Nazi ‘Angel Of Death’, was transferred to begin work at Auschwitz concentration ...
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23rd May 1949: West Germany formally established, otherwise known as the Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany was a federal parliamentary republic with a Chancellor as head of government and a President who held a largely ceremonial ...
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22nd May 1849: Abraham Lincoln becomes the first and only President to be awarded a patent
Abraham Lincoln was issued a patent for his invention to lift boats over shoals and other obstructions in a ...
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21st May 1927 and 1932: Charles Lindbergh makes the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic, followed five years later by Emilia Earhart as the first woman
The very first non-stop transatlantic flight had occurred in 1919 when John Alcock and Arthur Whiten Brown flew a modified Vickers Vimy bomber aircraft from Newfoundland to Ireland in just under 16 ...
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