On This Day in History — May 13

Highlights of May 13

• 2017 — Eurovision Song Contest: Portugal won the contest for the first time, with the song "Amar pelos dois," performed by Salvador Sobral (pictured). Read more
• 2014 — The worst mining disaster in Turkish history took place when an explosion caused an underground mine fire at a coal mine in Soma, Manisa, leaving 301 people dead. Read more
• 2012 — Mexican authorities discovered 49 dismembered bodies in Cadereyta Jiménez. Read more
• 2011 — Two bomb explosions in Charsadda District, Pakistan, killed 98 people and wounded 140 others. Read more
• 2008 — Nine bombs placed by the Indian Mujahideen, then an unknown terrorist group, exploded in a 15-minute period in Jaipur, India, killing 80 people and injuring more than 200 others. Read more
• 2005 — Uzbek Interior Ministry and State Security Service troops fired at protesters in Andijan, killing between 187 and 1,500 people. Read more
• 2000 — An explosion at a fireworks factory in Enschede, Netherlands, resulted in 23 deaths and approximately €450 million in damage. Read more
• 1995 — Alison Hargreaves became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest without the aid of Sherpas or bottled oxygen. Read more
• 1992 — Li Hongzhi introduced the Falun Gong movement at a public lecture in Changchun, China. Read more
• 1985 — Eleven people, including five children, were killed after the Philadelphia Police Department dropped bombs from a helicopter during a raid on a house occupied by the Black liberation group MOVE. Read more
• 1972 — The Troubles: A car bomb planted by Ulster loyalists exploded outside a crowded pub in Belfast, Northern Ireland, beginning two days of gun battles between the British Army, the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and the Ulster Volunteer Force. Read more
• 1969 — Sino-Malay race riots began in Kuala Lumpur, leaving at least 190 people dead, with the government declaring a state of emergency and suspending the Parliament of Malaysia until 1971. Read more
• 1967 — Zakir Husain took office as the first elected Muslim President of India. Read more
• 1958 — US vice president Richard Nixon's motorcade was attacked by a mob in Caracas, Venezuela. Read more
• 1958 — The Australian adventurer Ben Carlin (pictured) became the only person to circumnavigate the world in an amphibious vehicle, having travelled over 80,000 kilometres (50,000 miles) by land and sea. Read more
• 1913 — The Russian inventor Igor Sikorsky flew the self-designed Russky Vityaz, the world's first four-engine fixed-wing aircraft. Read more
• 1909 — The inaugural edition of the Giro d'Italia, a long-distance multiple-stage bicycle race, began in Milan; the Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna was the eventual winner. Read more
• 1779 — Negotiated by Russian and French mediators, the Treaty of Teschen was signed by Austria and Prussia, leading to the end of the War of the Bavarian Succession. Read more
• 1725 — Johann Sebastian Bach first performed the church cantata Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 183 in Leipzig, Germany. Read more
• 1373 — The English mystic Julian of Norwich recovered from a severe illness during which she experienced a series of intense visions of Christ, which she later described in the first known English-language book written by a woman. Read more
• 1110 — Baldwin I of Jerusalem captured Beirut from the Fatimid Caliphate with the help of a Genoese fleet. Read more

Events

• 2014 — An explosion at an underground coal mine in southwest Turkey kills 301 miners. Read more
• 2013 — American physician Kermit Gosnell is found guilty in Pennsylvania of murdering three infants born alive during attempted abortions, involuntary manslaughter of a woman during an abortion procedure, and other charges. Read more
• 2012 — Forty-nine dismembered bodies are discovered by Mexican authorities on Mexican Federal Highway 40. Read more
• 2011 — Two bombs explode in the Charsadda District of Pakistan killing 98 people and wounding 140 others. Read more
• 2006 — São Paulo violence: Rebellions occur in several prisons in Brazil. Read more
• 2005 — Andijan uprising, Uzbekistan: Troops open fire on crowds of protestors after a prison break; at least 187 people were killed according to official estimates. Read more
• 2000 — A fireworks storage depot explodes in a residential neighborhood in Enschede, Netherlands, killing 23 people and injuring 950 others. Read more
• 1999 — Kosovo War: NATO bombs the village of Koriša, killing at least 87 people. Read more
• 1998 — Race riots break out in Jakarta, Indonesia, where shops owned by Indonesians of Chinese descent are looted and women raped. Read more
• 1998 — India carries out two nuclear weapon tests at Pokhran, following the three conducted on May 11. The United States and Japan impose economic sanctions on India. Read more
• 1996 — Severe thunderstorms and a tornado in Bangladesh kill 600 people. Read more
• 1995 — Alison Hargreaves, a 33-year-old British mother, becomes the first woman to ascend Everest without oxygen or the help of sherpas. Read more
• 1992 — Li Hongzhi gives the first public lecture on Falun Gong in Changchun, People's Republic of China. Read more
• 1990 — The Dinamo–Red Star riot takes place at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, Croatia, between the Bad Blue Boys (fans of Dinamo Zagreb) and the Delije (fans of Red Star Belgrade). Read more
• 1989 — Large groups of students occupy Tiananmen Square and begin a hunger strike. Read more
• 1985 — Police bomb MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 city residents. Read more
• 1981 — Mehmet Ali Ağca attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in Rome. The Pope is rushed to the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic to undergo emergency surgery and survives. Read more
• 1980 — An F3 tornado hits Kalamazoo County, Michigan. President Jimmy Carter declares it a federal disaster area. Read more
• 1972 — A fire occurs in the Sennichi Department Store in Osaka, Japan. Blocked exits and non-functional elevators result in 118 fatalities (many victims leaping to their deaths). Read more
• 1972 — The Troubles: A car bombing outside a crowded pub in Belfast sparks a two-day gun battle involving the Provisional IRA, Ulster Volunteer Force and British Army. Seven people are killed and over 66 injured. Read more
• 1969 — In the aftermath of the 1969 Malaysian general election, Sino-Malay sectarian violence erupts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Read more
• 1967 — Dr. Zakir Husain becomes the third President of India. He is the first Muslim President of the Indian Union. He holds this position until August 24, 1969. Read more
• 1960 — Hundreds of University of California, Berkeley students congregate for the first day of protest against a visit by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Read more
• 1958 — During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, the US Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators. Read more
• 1958 — May 1958 crisis: A group of French military officers lead a coup in Algiers demanding that a government of national unity be formed with Charles de Gaulle at its head in order to defend French control of Algeria. Read more
• 1958 — Ben Carlin becomes the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle, having travelled over 17,000 kilometres (11,000 mi) by sea and 62,000 kilometres (39,000 mi) by land during a ten-year journey. Read more
• 1954 — The anti-National Service Riots, by Chinese middle school students in Singapore, take place. Read more
• 1952 — The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, holds its first sitting. Read more
• 1951 — The 400th anniversary of the founding of the National University of San Marcos is commemorated by the opening of the first large-capacity stadium in Peru. Read more
• 1950 — The inaugural Formula One World Championship race takes place at Silverstone Circuit. The race was won by Giuseppe Farina, who would go on to become the inaugural champion that year. Read more
• 1949 — Aeroflot Flight 17 crashes on approach to Severny Airport in Novosibirsk, killing 25. Read more
• 1948 — Arab–Israeli War: The Kfar Etzion massacre occurs, a day prior to the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: Yevgeny Khaldei's photograph Raising a Flag over the Reichstag is published in Ogonyok magazine. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: Operations Vulcan and Strike force the surrender of the last Axis troops in Tunisia. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Germany's conquest of France begins, as the German army crosses the Meuse. Winston Churchill makes his "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech to the House of Commons. Read more
• 1917 — Three children report the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal. Read more
• 1912 — The Royal Flying Corps, the forerunner of the Royal Air Force, is established in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1909 — The first edition of the Giro d'Italia, a long-distance multiple-stage bicycle race, begins in Milan; the Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna was the eventual winner. Read more
• 1888 — With the passage of the Lei Áurea ("Golden Law"), the Empire of Brazil abolishes slavery. Read more
• 1862 — Southern slave Robert Smalls steals the steamboat Planter, spirits it through Confederate lines and hands it to the United States Navy, who quickly commission it as the gunboat USS Planter and appoint Smalls as captain, thus making him the first black man to command a United States ship. Read more
• 1861 — American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the Confederacy as having belligerent rights. Read more
• 1861 — The Great Comet of 1861 is discovered by John Tebbutt of Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. Read more
• 1861 — Pakistan's (then a part of British India) first railway line opens, from Karachi to Kotri. Read more
• 1858 — Montenegrin forces under Grand Duke Mirko Petrović-Njegoš defeat an Ottoman army under Hussein Pasha in the battle of Grahovac. The battle is a significant step towards formal independence and quickly becomes a part of national folklore. Read more
• 1846 — Mexican–American War: The United States declares war on the Federal Republic of Mexico following a dispute over the American annexation of the Republic of Texas and a Mexican military incursion. Read more
• 1830 — Ecuador gains its independence from Gran Colombia. Read more
• 1804 — Forces sent by Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli to retake Derna from the Americans attack the city. Read more
• 1791 — The British under Charles Cornwallis defeat a Mysorean army under Tipu Sultan in the battle of Arakere. Read more
• 1780 — The Cumberland Compact is signed by leaders of the settlers in the Cumberland River area of what would become the U.S. state of Tennessee, providing for democratic government and a formal system of justice. Read more
• 1779 — War of the Bavarian Succession: Russian and French mediators at the Congress of Teschen negotiate an end to the war. In the agreement Austria acquires the Innviertel. Read more
• 1654 — A Venetian fleet under Admiral Cort Adeler breaks through a line of galleys and defeats the Turkish navy. Read more
• 1619 — Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt is executed in The Hague after being convicted of treason. Read more
• 1612 — Sword duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro on the shores of Ganryū Island. Kojiro dies at the end. Read more
• 1568 — Mary, Queen of Scots, is defeated at the Battle of Langside, part of the civil war between Queen Mary and the supporters of her son, James VI. Read more
• 1501 — Amerigo Vespucci, this time under Portuguese flag, sets sail for western lands. Read more
• 1373 — Julian of Norwich has visions of Jesus while suffering from a life-threatening illness, visions which are later described and interpreted in her book Revelations of Divine Love. Read more
• 1344 — A Latin Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet in the battle of Pallene during the Smyrniote crusades. Read more
• 1110 — Baldwin I of Jerusalem captures the city of Beirut from the Fatimid Caliphate with the help of a Genoese fleet. Read more
• 535 — Election of pope Agapetus I following the death of pope John II earlier that month. Read more

Born on May 13

• 2005 — Romain Esse, English footballer Read more
• 2003 — Jaxson Dart, American football player Read more
• 2003 — Javi Guerra, Spanish footballer Read more
• 2003 — Jabari Smith Jr., American basketball player Read more
• 2002 — Diego López, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1999 — Óscar Mingueza, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1999 — Aníbal Moreno, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1998 — Adrià Pedrosa, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1998 — Luca Zidane, Algerian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Nico Hoerner, American baseball player Read more
• 1994 — Percy Tau, South African footballer Read more
• 1993 — Abby Dahlkemper, American footballer Read more
• 1993 — Romelu Lukaku, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1993 — Debby Ryan, American actress and singer Read more
• 1993 — Morgan Wallen, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1992 — Thievy Bifouma, Congolese footballer Read more
• 1992 — Willson Contreras, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1992 — Tyrann Mathieu, American football player Read more
• 1992 — Josh Papalii, New Zealand-Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1992 — Mark Stone, Canadian hockey player Read more
• 1991 — Jen Beattie, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1991 — Francis Coquelin, French footballer Read more
• 1991 — Junior Messias, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Alan Patrick, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Mychal Givens, American baseball player Read more
• 1989 — P. K. Subban, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Paulo Avelino, Filipino actor and singer Read more
• 1988 — Casey Donovan, Australian singer-songwriter Read more
• 1988 — Lydia Williams, Australian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Candice King, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1987 — Marianne Vos, Dutch cyclist Read more
• 1986 — Lena Dunham, American actress, director, and screenwriter Read more
• 1986 — Robert Pattinson, English actor Read more
• 1986 — Alexander Rybak, Belarusian-Norwegian singer-songwriter, violinist, and actor Read more
• 1986 — Kris Versteeg, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1985 — Javi Balboa, Equatoguinean footballer Read more
• 1985 — Jaroslav Halák, Slovak ice hockey player Read more
• 1985 — Iwan Rheon, Welsh actor and singer Read more
• 1985 — Travis Zajac, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1984 — Dawn Harper, American hurdler Read more

Died on May 13

• 2025 — Kit Bond, American lawyer and politician, 47th Governor of Missouri (born 1939) Read more
• 2025 — Danny Lendich, New Zealand businessperson (born 1944) Read more
• 2025 — José Mujica, Uruguayan politician, 40th President of Uruguay (born 1935) Read more
• 2024 — Alice Munro, Canadian short story writer (born 1931) Read more
• 2024 — Cyril Wecht, American forensic pathologist (born 1931) Read more
• 2024 — Samm-Art Williams, American playwright and screenwriter (born 1946) Read more
• 2022 — Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2nd President of the United Arab Emirates (born 1948) Read more
• 2019 — Doris Day, American singer and actress (born 1922) Read more
• 2019 — Unita Blackwell, American civil rights activist and politician (born 1933) Read more
• 2016 — Murray A. Straus, American sociologist and academic (born 1926) Read more
• 2015 — Earl Averill, Jr., American baseball player (born 1931) Read more
• 2015 — Robert Drasnin, American clarinet player and composer (born 1927) Read more
• 2015 — Nina Otkalenko, Russian runner (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — David Sackett, American-Canadian physician and academic (born 1934) Read more
• 2015 — Gainan Saidkhuzhin, Russian cyclist (born 1937) Read more
• 2014 — David Malet Armstrong, Australian philosopher and author (born 1926) Read more
• 2014 — Malik Bendjelloul, Swedish director and producer (born 1977) Read more
• 2014 — J. F. Coleman, American soldier and pilot (born 1918) Read more
• 2014 — Ron Stevens, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1949) Read more
• 2014 — Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, American occultist and author (born 1948) Read more
• 2013 — Joyce Brothers, American psychologist, author, and actress (born 1927) Read more
• 2013 — Otto Herrigel, Namibian lawyer and politician (born 1937) Read more
• 2013 — Jagdish Mali, Indian photographer (born 1954) Read more
• 2013 — Chuck Muncie, American football player (born 1953) Read more
• 2013 — Fyodor Tuvin, Russian footballer (born 1973) Read more
• 2013 — Lynne Woolstencroft, Canadian politician (born 1943) Read more
• 2012 — Arsala Rahmani Daulat, Afghan politician (born 1937) Read more
• 2012 — Donald "Duck" Dunn, American bass player, songwriter, and producer (born 1941) Read more
• 2012 — Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, Cuban-American theologian, author, and academic (born 1943) Read more
• 2012 — Lee Richardson, English speedway rider (born 1979) Read more
• 2012 — Don Ritchie, Australian humanitarian (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Nguyễn Văn Thiện, Vietnamese bishop (born 1906) Read more
• 2011 — Derek Boogaard, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1982) Read more
• 2011 — Stephen De Staebler, American sculptor and educator (born 1933) Read more
• 2011 — Wallace McCain, Canadian businessman, co-founded McCain Foods (born 1930) Read more
• 2011 — Bruce Ricker, American director and producer (born 1942) Read more
• 2009 — Frank Aletter, American actor (born 1926) Read more
• 2009 — Meir Brandsdorfer, Belgian rabbi (born 1934) Read more
• 2009 — Achille Compagnoni, Italian skier and mountaineer (born 1914) Read more
• 2008 — Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti ruler, Emir of Kuwait (born 1930) Read more

Holidays & observances

Abbotsbury Garland Day (Dorset, England); Christian feast day: André-Hubert Fournet; Christian feast day: Our Lady of Fátima; Christian feast day: Conchita Barrecheguren (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day: Gerard of Villamagna; Christian feast day: Glyceria; Christian feast day: John the Silent (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day: Julian of Norwich (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day: Frances Perkins (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day: Servatius; Christian feast day: May 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Rotuma Day (Rotuma)

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & SunsetStar TransitMoon & Planting CalendarsAncient Measures