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On This Day in History — May 30

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Highlights of May 30

2024 — Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in a New York trial, becoming the first former U.S. president found guilty in a criminal case. Read more
2020 — Crew Dragon Demo-2 became the first commercial mission to the International Space Station. Read more
2012 — Former Liberia president Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Read more
2008 — The Convention on Cluster Munitions, prohibiting the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs, was adopted. Read more
2005 — American student Natalee Holloway disappeared on a high-school graduation trip to Aruba. Read more
1998 — A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, killing at least 4,000 people, destroying more than 30 villages, and leaving 45,000 people homeless. Read more
1972 — Members of the Japanese Red Army carried out the Lod Airport massacre in Tel Aviv, Israel, on behalf of PFLP External Operations, killing over 20 people and injuring almost 80 others. Read more
1969 — A demonstration by workers and activists on the Caribbean island of Curaçao escalated into a violent uprising which destroyed much of Willemstad. Read more
1963 — Buddhist crisis: A protest against pro-Catholic discrimination was held outside the National Assembly of South Vietnam in Saigon, the first open demonstration against President Ngô Đình Diệm. Read more
1959 — The Auckland Harbour Bridge officially opened, connecting the suburbs of Saint Marys Bay and Northcote in Auckland, New Zealand, across Waitematā Harbour. Read more
1948 — A dike holding the Columbia River broke, causing a flood that destroyed Vanport, Oregon, U.S., only five years after the city was built. Read more
1940 — Second World War: HMS Cambrian was sunk by a mine in The Solent, with the loss of 23 lives. Read more
1922 — The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., featuring a sculpture of the sixteenth U.S. president Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Chester French, opened. Read more
1914 — RMS Aquitania, the last surviving four-funnel ocean liner, departed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to New York City. Read more
1899 — Pearl Hart, one of the few female outlaws of the American Old West, committed one of the last recorded stagecoach robberies, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Globe, Arizona. Read more
1866 — Bedřich Smetana's comic opera The Bartered Bride (cover of score pictured) premiered in Prague. Read more
1854 — The Kansas–Nebraska Act became law, establishing the U.S. territories of Nebraska and Kansas, and allowing their settlers to determine if slavery would be permitted. Read more
1806 — In one of several violent incidents involving future U.S. president Andrew Jackson, Charles Dickinson was killed in a duel; Jackson was wounded and carried the bullet for the rest of his life. Read more
1723 — Johann Sebastian Bach assumed the office of Thomaskantor in Leipzig, presenting the cantata Die Elenden sollen essen in St. Nicholas Church. Read more
1536 — Jane Seymour, a former lady-in-waiting, married King Henry VIII, becoming the queen consort of England. Read more
1431 — Hundred Years' War: After being convicted of heresy, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. Read more

Events

2024 — Donald Trump is convicted of falsifying business records in his New York trial, the first time a former President of the United States has been found guilty in a criminal case. Read more
2020 — Crew Dragon Demo-2 launches from Kennedy Space Center, becoming the first crewed orbital spacecraft to launch from the United States since 2011 and the first commercial flight to the International Space Station. Read more
2013 — Nigeria passes a law banning same-sex marriage. Read more
2012 — Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Read more
2008 — Convention on Cluster Munitions is adopted. Read more
2008 — TACA Flight 390 overshoots the runway at Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and crashes, killing five people. Read more
2003 — Depayin massacre: At least 70 people associated with the National League for Democracy are killed by government-sponsored mob in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi flees the scene, but is arrested soon afterwards. Read more
1999 — 53 people are killed in a stampede at the Nyamiha metro station in Minsk, Belarus. Read more
1998 — The 6.5 Mw Afghanistan earthquake shakes the Takhar Province of northern Afghanistan with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong), killing around 4,000–4,500. Read more
1998 — Nuclear Testing: Pakistan conducts an underground test in the Kharan Desert. It is reported to be a plutonium device with yield of 20kt TNT equivalent. Read more
1990 — Croatian Parliament is constituted after the first free, multi-party elections, today celebrated as the National Day of Croatia. Read more
1989 — Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: The 10-metre high "Goddess of Democracy" statue is unveiled in Tiananmen Square by student demonstrators. Read more
1982 — Cold War: Spain joins NATO. Read more
1979 — Downeast Airlines Flight 46 crashes on approach to Knox County Regional Airport in Rockland, Maine, killing 17. Read more
1975 — The European Space Agency is established. Read more
1974 — The Airbus A300 passenger aircraft first enters service. Read more
1972 — The Angry Brigade goes on trial over a series of 25 bombings throughout the United Kingdom. Read more
1972 — In Ben Gurion Airport (at the time: Lod Airport), Israel, members of the Japanese Red Army carry out the Lod Airport massacre, killing 24 people and injuring 78 others. Read more
1971 — Mariner program: Mariner 9 is launched to map 70% of the surface, and to study temporal changes in the atmosphere and surface, of Mars. Read more
1968 — Charles de Gaulle reappears publicly after his flight to Baden-Baden, West Germany, and dissolves the French National Assembly by a radio appeal. Immediately after, less than one million of his supporters march on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This is the turning point of the May 1968 events in France. Read more
1967 — The Nigerian Eastern Region declares independence as the Republic of Biafra, sparking a civil war. Read more
1966 — Former Congolese Prime Minister, Évariste Kimba, and several other politicians are publicly executed in Kinshasa on the orders of President Joseph Mobutu. Read more
1963 — A protest against pro-Catholic discrimination during the Buddhist crisis is held outside South Vietnam's National Assembly, the first open demonstration during the eight-year presidency of Ngo Dinh Diem. Read more
1961 — The long-time Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo is assassinated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Read more
1961 — Viasa Flight 897 crashes after takeoff from Lisbon Airport, killing 61. Read more
1959 — The Auckland Harbour Bridge, crossing the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand, is officially opened by Governor-General Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham. Read more
1958 — Memorial Day: The remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Read more
1948 — A dike along the flooding Columbia River breaks, obliterating Vanport, Oregon within minutes. Fifteen people die and tens of thousands are left homeless. Read more
1943 — The Holocaust: Josef Mengele becomes chief medical officer of the Zigeunerfamilienlager (Romani family camp) at Auschwitz concentration camp. Read more
1942 — World War II: One thousand British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany. Read more
1941 — World War II: Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas climb the Athenian Acropolis and tear down the German flag. Read more
1937 — Memorial Day massacre: Chicago police shoot and kill ten labor demonstrators. Read more
1925 — May Thirtieth Movement: Shanghai Municipal Police Force shoot and kill 13 protesting workers. Read more
1922 — The Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. Read more
1914 — The new, and then the largest, Cunard ocean liner RMS Aquitania, 45,647 tons, sets sail on her maiden voyage from Liverpool, England, to New York City. Read more
1913 — The Treaty of London is signed, ending the First Balkan War between the Balkan allies and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans cede all their European territories west of a straight line between Enos and Media and Albania becomes an independent nation. Read more
1911 — At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first Indianapolis 500 ends with Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp becoming the first winner of the 500-mile auto race. Read more
1899 — Pearl Hart, a female outlaw of the Old West, robs a stage coach 30 miles southeast of Globe, Arizona. Read more
1883 — In New York City, 12 people are killed in a stampede on the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge. Read more
1876 — Ottoman sultan Abdülaziz is deposed and succeeded by his nephew Murad V. Read more
1876 — The secret decree of Ems Ukaz is issued by Russian Tsar Alexander II in the German city of Bad Ems, aimed at stopping the printing and distribution of Ukrainian-language publications in the Russian Empire. Read more
1868 — Decoration Day (the predecessor of the modern "Memorial Day") is observed in the United States for the first time after a proclamation by John A. Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic (a veterans group). Read more
1866 — Bedrich Smetana's comic opera The Bartered Bride premieres in Prague. Read more
1862 — American Civil War: The Siege of Corinth ends in a Union victory, with General Henry Halleck capturing the critical rail junction of Corinth, Mississippi from retreating Confederate forces under General P. G. T. Beauregard. Read more
1854 — The Kansas–Nebraska Act becomes law, establishing the U.S. territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Read more
1845 — The Fatel Razack, coming from India, lands in the Gulf of Paria in Trinidad and Tobago carrying the first Indians to the country. Read more
1842 — John Francis attempts to murder Queen Victoria as she drives down Constitution Hill in London with Prince Albert. Read more
1834 — Minister of Justice Joaquim António de Aguiar issues a law seizing "all convents, monasteries, colleges, hospices and any other houses" from the Catholic religious orders in Portugal, earning him the nickname of "The Friar-Killer". Read more
1815 — The East Indiaman Arniston is wrecked during a storm at Waenhuiskrans, near Cape Agulhas, in present-day South Africa, with the loss of 372 lives. Read more
1814 — The First Treaty of Paris is signed, returning the French frontiers to their 1792 extent, and restoring the House of Bourbon to power. Read more
1806 — Future U.S. President Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duel. Read more
1796 — War of the First Coalition: In the Battle of Borghetto, Napoleon Bonaparte manages to cross the Mincio River against the Austrian army. This crossing forces the Austrians to abandon Lombardy and retreat to the Tyrol, leaving the fortress of Mantua as the sole remaining Austrian stronghold in Northern Italy. Read more
1723 — Johann Sebastian Bach assumes the office of Thomaskantor in Leipzig, presenting his first new cantata, Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, in the St. Nicholas Church on the first Sunday after Trinity. Read more
1642 — From this date all honors granted by Charles I of England are retroactively annulled by Parliament. Read more
1635 — Thirty Years' War: The Peace of Prague is signed. Read more
1631 — Publication of Gazette de France, the first French newspaper. Read more
1588 — The last ship of the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon heading for the English Channel. Read more
1574 — Henry III becomes King of France. Read more
1539 — In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal of finding gold. Read more
1536 — King Henry VIII of England marries Jane Seymour, a lady-in-waiting to his first two wives. Read more

Born on May 30

2002 — Natty, Thai singer based in South Korea Read more
2000 — Jared S. Gilmore, American actor Read more
1999 — Eddie Nketiah, English footballer Read more
1999 — Guanyu Zhou, Chinese race car driver Read more
1997 — Jung Eun-bi, South Korean singer and actress Read more
1997 — Charlie Hall, American actor Read more
1997 — Jake Short, American actor Read more
1996 — Beatriz Haddad Maia, Brazilian tennis player Read more
1996 — Aleksandr Golovin, Russian footballer Read more
1994 — Scott Laughton, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1992 — Harrison Barnes, American basketball player Read more
1992 — Danielle Harold, English actress Read more
1992 — Jeremy Lamb, American basketball player Read more
1991 — Jonathan Fox, English swimmer Read more
1990 — Im Yoon-ah, South Korean singer and actress Read more
1990 — Andrei Loktionov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
1990 — Zack Wheeler, American baseball player Read more
1989 — Ailee, Korean-American singer and songwriter Read more
1989 — Lesia Tsurenko, Ukrainian tennis player Read more
1986 — Nikolay Bodurov, Bulgarian international footballer Read more
1986 — Will Peltz, American actor Read more
1985 — Igor Kurnosov, Russian chess player (died 2013) Read more
1985 — Igor Lewczuk, Polish footballer Read more
1985 — Aaron Volpatti, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1984 — Sham Kwok Fai, Hong Kong footballer Read more
1984 — Matt Maguire, Australian footballer Read more
1984 — Alexander Sulzer, German ice hockey player Read more
1982 — Eddie Griffin, American basketball player (died 2007) Read more
1982 — James Simpson-Daniel, English rugby player Read more
1982 — Leonid Radvinsky, American businessman (died 2026) Read more
1981 — Devendra Banhart, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
1981 — Gianmaria Bruni, Italian race car driver Read more
1981 — Ahmad Elrich, Australian footballer Read more
1981 — Remy Ma, American rapper Read more
1981 — Lars Møller Madsen, Danish handball player Read more
1981 — Hisanori Takada, Japanese footballer Read more
1980 — Steven Gerrard, English international footballer and manager Read more
1980 — Ilona Korstin, Russian basketball player Read more
1980 — Ryōgo Narita, Japanese author Read more
1979 — Mike Bishai, Canadian ice hockey player Read more

Died on May 30

2025 — Étienne-Émile Baulieu, French biochemist and endocrinologist (born 1926) Read more
2025 — Valerie Mahaffey, American actress (born 1953) Read more
2025 — Loretta Swit, American actress and singer (born 1937) Read more
2025 — John E. Thrasher, American politician (born 1943) Read more
2024 — Geneviève de Galard, French nurse (born 1925) Read more
2024 — Drew Gordon, American professional basketball player (born 1990) Read more
2021 — Jason Dupasquier, Swiss motorcycle road racer (born 2001) Read more
2020 — Michael Angelis, British actor (born 1944) Read more
2019 — Thad Cochran, American lawyer and politician (born 1937) Read more
2019 — Jason Marcano, Trinidadian footballer (born 1983) Read more
2016 — Tom Lysiak, Polish-Canadian ice hockey player (born 1953) Read more
2016 — Rick MacLeish, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1950) Read more
2015 — Beau Biden, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 44th Attorney General of Delaware (born 1969) Read more
2015 — Joël Champetier, Canadian author and screenwriter (born 1957) Read more
2015 — L. Tom Perry, American religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (born 1922) Read more
2014 — Hienadz Buraukin, Belarusian poet, journalist, and diplomat (born 1936) Read more
2014 — Henning Carlsen, Danish director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1927) Read more
2014 — Joan Lorring, British actress (born 1926) Read more
2014 — Leonidas Vasilikopoulos, Greek admiral (born 1932) Read more
2013 — Jayalath Jayawardena, Sri Lankan physician and politician (born 1953) Read more
2013 — Larry Jones, American football player and coach (born 1933) Read more
2012 — John Fox, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1957) Read more
2012 — Andrew Huxley, English physiologist and biophysicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1917) Read more
2012 — Gerhard Pohl, German economist and politician (born 1937) Read more
2012 — Jack Twyman, American basketball player and sportscaster (born 1934) Read more
2011 — Isikia Savua, Fijian police officer and diplomat (born 1952) Read more
2011 — Saleem Shahzad, Pakistani journalist (born 1970) Read more
2011 — Marek Siemek, Polish philosopher and historian (born 1942) Read more
2011 — Clarice Taylor, American actress (born 1917) Read more
2011 — Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1921) Read more
2010 — Yuri Chesnokov, Russian volleyball player and coach (born 1933) Read more
2010 — Dufferin Roblin, Canadian commander and politician, 14th Premier of Manitoba (born 1917) Read more
2009 — Torsten Andersson, Swedish painter and illustrator (born 1926) Read more
2009 — Susanna Haapoja, Finnish politician (born 1966) Read more
2009 — Ephraim Katzir, Israeli biophysicist and politician, 4th President of Israel (born 1916) Read more
2007 — Jean-Claude Brialy, Algerian-French actor and director (born 1933) Read more
2007 — Birgit Dalland, Norwegian politician (born 1907) Read more
2007 — Gunturu Seshendra Sarma, Indian poet and critic (born 1927) Read more
2006 — Shohei Imamura, Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
2006 — David Lloyd, New Zealand biologist and academic (born 1938) Read more

Holidays & observances

Anguilla Day, commemorates the beginning of the Anguillian Revolution in 1967. (Anguilla); Canary Islands Day (Spain); Christian feast day: Basil the Elder and Emmelia of Caesarea; Christian feast day: Dymphna; Christian feast day: Ferdinand III of Castile and León; Christian feast day: Isaac of Dalmatia; Christian feast day: Joan of Arc; Christian feast day: Joseph Marello; Christian feast day: Luke Kirby; Christian feast day: Matiya Mulumba; Christian feast day: Blessed Otto Neururer; Christian feast day: May 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Indian Arrival Day (Trinidad and Tobago); Kaamatan, harvest festival in the state of Sabah and the federal territory of Labuan (Malaysia); Lod Massacre Remembrance Day (Puerto Rico); Mother's Day (Nicaragua); Statehood Day (Croatia)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “May 30”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.