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On This Day in History — May 2
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Highlights of May 2
- 2014 — Russo-Ukrainian War: Forty-eight people were killed during a confrontation between pro-Russian protesters and pro-Ukrainian unity protesters in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa. Read more
- 2014 — Two mudslides in Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, killed at least 350 people. Read more
- 2011 — The Conservative Party of Canada won enough seats in the federal election to establish their first majority government. Read more
- 2011 — Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six in his private residential compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Read more
- 2008 — The Chaitén volcano in Chile began to erupt for the first time since around 1640. Read more
- 2003 — Cyclone Manou formed in the Indian Ocean; over the next two weeks it struck Madagascar and left more than 100,000 people homeless. Read more
- 1999 — Mireya Moscoso (pictured) became the first woman to be elected President of Panama. Read more
- 1995 — Croatian War of Independence: Serb forces began rocket attacks on the Croatian capital Zagreb, killing 7 people and injuring around 200 others. Read more
- 1986 — Henri Toivonen was killed in an accident while leading the Tour de Corse rally, resulting in FISA banning the popular Group B rally cars for the following season. Read more
- 1982 — Falklands War: HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano (pictured), the only ship ever to have been deliberately sunk by a nuclear submarine in battle. Read more
- 1964 — Vietnam War: An explosion attributed to Viet Cong commandos caused the escort carrier USNS Card to sink in the port of Saigon. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: General Helmuth Weidling, the German commander of Berlin, surrendered to Soviet forces led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, ending the Battle of Berlin. Read more
- 1889 — The Treaty of Wuchale was signed, ending the Italo-Ethiopian War, but differences in translation later led to another war. Read more
- 1878 — A dust explosion (depicted) at the world's largest flour mill in Minneapolis resulted in 18 deaths. Read more
- 1670 — A royal charter granted the Hudson's Bay Company a monopoly in the fur trade in Rupert's Land (present-day Canada). Read more
- 1559 — Presbyterian clergyman John Knox returned from exile to lead the Scottish Reformation. Read more
- 1194 — King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter. Read more
Events
- 2014 — Two mudslides in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, leave up to 2,500 people missing. Read more
- 2012 — A pastel version of The Scream, by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, sells for $120 million in a New York City auction, setting a new world record for a work of art at auction. Read more
- 2011 — Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI's most wanted fugitive, is killed by the United States Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Read more
- 2011 — An E. coli outbreak strikes Europe, mostly in Germany, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others are taken ill. Read more
- 2008 — Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless. Read more
- 2008 — Chaitén Volcano begins erupting in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people. Read more
- 2004 — The Yelwa massacre concludes. It began on 4 February 2004 when armed Muslims killed 78 Christians at Yelwa, Nigeria. In response, about 630 Muslims were killed by Christians on May 2. Read more
- 2000 — President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military. Read more
- 1999 — Panamanian general election: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama. Read more
- 1998 — The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy. Read more
- 1995 — During the Croatian War of Independence, the Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina fires cluster bombs at Zagreb, killing seven and wounding over 175 civilians. Read more
- 1989 — Cold War: Hungary begins dismantling its border fence with Austria, which allows a number of East Germans to defect. Read more
- 1986 — Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster. Read more
- 1982 — Falklands War: The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano. Read more
- 1972 — In the early morning hours a fire breaks out at the Sunshine Mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho, killing 91 workers. Read more
- 1970 — ALM Flight 980 ditches in the Caribbean Sea near Saint Croix, killing 23. Read more
- 1969 — The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 departs on her maiden voyage to New York City. Read more
- 1964 — Vietnam War: An explosion sinks the American aircraft carrier USNS Card while it is docked at Saigon. Two Viet Cong combat swimmers had placed explosives on the ship's hull. She is raised and returned to service less than seven months later. Read more
- 1964 — First ascent of Shishapangma, the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders. Read more
- 1963 — Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany. Read more
- 1952 — A De Havilland Comet makes the first jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers, from London to Johannesburg. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The Soviet Union announces the fall of Berlin. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The surrender of Caserta comes into effect, by which German troops in Italy cease fighting. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The US 82nd Airborne Division liberates Wöbbelin concentration camp finding 1,000 dead prisoners, most of whom starved to death. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: A death march from Dachau to the Austrian border is halted by the segregated, all-Nisei 522nd Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. Army in southern Bavaria, saving several hundred prisoners. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: Following the coup d'état against Iraq Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah earlier that year, the United Kingdom launches the Anglo-Iraqi War to restore him to power. Read more
- 1933 — Germany's independent labor unions are replaced by the German Labour Front. Read more
- 1920 — The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis. Read more
- 1906 — Closing ceremony of the Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece. Read more
- 1889 — Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, signs the Treaty of Wuchale, giving Italy control over Eritrea. Read more
- 1885 — Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion. Read more
- 1876 — The April Uprising breaks out in Ottoman Bulgaria. Read more
- 1867 — Albert Günther publishes the first study to recognise that the New Zealand tuatara is not a lizard. Read more
- 1866 — Peruvian defenders fight off the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp after reconnoitering during the Battle of Chancellorsville. He succumbs to pneumonia eight days later. Read more
- 1829 — After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger declares the Swan River Colony in Australia. Read more
- 1812 — The Siege of Cuautla during the Mexican War of Independence ends with both sides claiming victory. Read more
- 1808 — Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808. Read more
- 1670 — King Charles II of England grants a permanent charter to the Hudson's Bay Company to open up the fur trade in North America. Read more
- 1625 — Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Latin Patriarch of Ethiopia, arrives at Beilul from Goa. Read more
- 1611 — The King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker. Read more
- 1568 — Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle. Read more
- 1559 — John Knox returns from exile to Scotland to become the leader of the nascent Scottish Reformation. Read more
- 1536 — Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft. Read more
- 1388 — The surrender of the Acropolis of Athens to Nerio Acciaioli ends the Catalan presence in the Duchy of Athens. Read more
- 1250 — Mamluks under Baybars murder the Ayyubid sultan Turanshah for fear of losing their privileges. Read more
- 1230 — William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. Read more
- 1194 — King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first royal charter. Read more
Born on May 2
- 2015 — Princess Charlotte of Wales, British royal, and third in line to the British throne Read more
- 1997 — BamBam, Thai singer Read more
- 1996 — Cherprang Areekul, Thai singer Read more
- 1996 — Julian Brandt, German footballer Read more
- 1996 — Schuyler Bailar, American swimmer Read more
- 1995 — Lucy Dacus, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1993 — Owain Doull, Welsh track cyclist Read more
- 1993 — Isyana Sarasvati, Indonesian singer Read more
- 1993 — Huang Zitao, Chinese singer and rapper Read more
- 1992 — Sunmi, South Korean singer Read more
- 1992 — María Teresa Torró Flor, Spanish tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Jeong Jinwoon, South Korean actor and singer Read more
- 1991 — Jonathan Villar, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Kay Panabaker, American actress Read more
- 1990 — Paul George, American basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Neftalí Feliz, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Saara Aalto, Finnish singer and actress Read more
- 1987 — Nana Kitade, Japanese singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1987 — Pat McAfee, American sports analyst and football player Read more
- 1987 — Kris Russell, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1986 — Yasir Shah, Pakistani cricketer Read more
- 1985 — Lily Allen, English singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1985 — Kyle Busch, American race car driver (died 2026) Read more
- 1985 — Ashley Harkleroad, American tennis player Read more
- 1985 — Sarah Hughes, American figure skater Read more
- 1984 — Saulius Mikoliūnas, Lithuanian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Thabo Sefolosha, Swiss basketball player Read more
- 1983 — Alessandro Diamanti, Italian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Maynor Figueroa, Honduran footballer Read more
- 1983 — Tina Maze, Slovenian skier Read more
- 1983 — Daniel Sordo, Spanish race car driver Read more
- 1982 — Johan Botha, South African cricketer Read more
- 1981 — Robert Buckley, American actor Read more
- 1981 — Chris Kirkland, English footballer Read more
- 1981 — Tiago Mendes, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1980 — Tim Borowski, German footballer Read more
- 1980 — Ellie Kemper, American actress, comedian and writer Read more
- 1980 — Zat Knight, English footballer Read more
- 1980 — Troy Murphy, American basketball player Read more
- 1980 — Brad Richards, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
Died on May 2
- 2025 — Ricky Davao, Filipino actor and director (born 1961) Read more
- 2025 — George Ryan, American politician, 39th Governor of Illinois (born 1934) Read more
- 2024 — Sjoukje Dijkstra, Dutch figure skater (born 1942) Read more
- 2024 — Darius Morris, American basketball player (born 1991) Read more
- 2024 — Peter Oosterhuis, English golfer and broadcaster (born 1948) Read more
- 2021 — Marcel Stellman, Belgian record producer and lyricist (born 1925) Read more
- 2020 — Arif Wazir, Pakistani politician, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (born 1982) Read more
- 2016 — Afeni Shakur, American music businesswoman, activist, and Black Panther (born 1947) Read more
- 2015 — Stuart Archer, English colonel and architect (born 1915) Read more
- 2015 — Michael Blake, American author and screenwriter (born 1945) Read more
- 2015 — Guy Carawan, American singer and musicologist (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Maya Plisetskaya, Russian-Lithuanian ballerina, choreographer, actress, and director (born 1925) Read more
- 2015 — Ruth Rendell, English author (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Tomás Balduino, Brazilian bishop (born 1922) Read more
- 2014 — Žarko Petan, Slovenian director, playwright, and screenwriter (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Efrem Zimbalist Jr., American actor (born 1918) Read more
- 2013 — Ernie Field, English boxer (born 1943) Read more
- 2013 — Jeff Hanneman, American guitarist and songwriter (born 1964) Read more
- 2013 — Joseph P. McFadden, American bishop (born 1947) Read more
- 2013 — Dvora Omer, Israeli author and educator (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Ivan Turina, Croatian footballer (born 1980) Read more
- 2013 — Charles Banks Wilson, American painter and illustrator (born 1918) Read more
- 2012 — Fernando Lopes, Portuguese director and screenwriter (born 1935) Read more
- 2012 — Zenaida Manfugás, Cuban-born American-naturalized pianist (born 1932) Read more
- 2012 — Tufan Miñnullin, Russian playwright and politician (born 1936) Read more
- 2012 — Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Indonesian physician and politician, Indonesian Minister of Health (born 1955) Read more
- 2012 — Akira Tonomura, Japanese physicist, author, and academic (born 1942) Read more
- 2012 — Lourdes Valera, Venezuelan actress (born 1963) Read more
- 2011 — Osama bin Laden, Saudi Arabian terrorist, founder of Al-Qaeda (born 1957) Read more
- 2010 — Lynn Redgrave, English-American actress and singer (born 1943) Read more
- 2009 — Marilyn French, American author and academic (born 1929) Read more
- 2009 — Kiyoshiro Imawano, Japanese singer-songwriter, producer, and actor (born 1951) Read more
- 2009 — Jack Kemp, American football player and politician, 9th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (born 1935) Read more
- 2008 — Beverlee McKinsey, American actress (born 1940) Read more
- 2008 — Izold Pustõlnik, Ukrainian-Estonian astronomer and academic (born 1938) Read more
- 2007 — Brad McGann, New Zealand director and screenwriter (born 1964) Read more
- 2006 — Louis Rukeyser, American journalist and author (born 1933) Read more
- 2005 — Wee Kim Wee, Singaporean journalist and politician, 4th President of Singapore (born 1915) Read more
- 2002 — W. T. Tutte, English-Canadian mathematician and academic (born 1917) Read more
- 2000 — Sundar Popo, Indo-Trinidadian musician (born 1943) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church).; Christian feast day:
Athanasius of Alexandria (Western Christianity); Christian feast day:
Bolesław Strzelecki (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Boris I of Bulgaria (Bulgarian Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Germanus of Normandy; Christian feast day:
Joseph Luu Van Nguyen (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Wiborada (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
William Tirry (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
May 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); The last day of the Festival of Ridván (Baháʼí Faith) (this date is non-Gregorian and may change according to the March equinox, see List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar); Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (Community of Madrid, Spain); Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan); Flag Day (Poland); Indonesia National Education Day; Teachers' Day (Iran) (this date is non-Gregorian and may change according to the March Equinox, see List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar); International Harry Potter Day; World Tuna Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “May 2”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.