May 2023 – Page 2 – History of the Day

Archive: May 2023

American Jazz Singer and Actress Rosemary Clooney born

May 23, 1928: Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky. Later she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to live with her grandfather, where she began her singing career on the local radio station. She found success after moving to New York City and signing with Columbia Records. Notable facts about Clooney…

America’s first First Lady, Martha Washington, passes away

May 22, 1802: Martha Washington, wife of President George Washington and the first First Lady of the United States, passed away at age 70 at her home in Mount Vernon. U.S. Presidential History: May May 22 1802Martha Washington, the United States’ first First Lady, dies on this day at…

American Red Cross was founded

May 21, 1881: The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton and Adolphus Solomons as a humanitarian organization with the aim of providing relief to those in need. This non-profit organization has played a significant role in responding to disasters, offering support to military personnel and their families, and…

Blue Jeans are Patented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis

May 20, 1873: The granting of a patent to Levi Strauss, a businessman from San Francisco, and Jacob Davis, a tailor from Reno, Nevada, was the birth of the renowned clothing item: blue jeans. These innovative work pants were strengthened with metal rivets, and they would go on to become…

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s death

May 19, 1994: First Lady Jackie Kennedy passed away leaving a legacy of American class and culture. Notably married to JFK and widowed after his assassination, Jackie Kennedy went on to marry Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. After being twice widowed, she began a successful career in publishing. She will…

Battle of Vicksburg begins

May 18, 1863: The Battle of Vicksburg during the American Civil War was a turning point due to the major significance of control of the Mississippi River. When the Union Army eventually won the battle on July 4, 1863, the South was cleaved in half with Union control of the…

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz published

May 17, 1900: American Author L. Frank Baum published his most famous children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The book was so successful that it became a musical in 1902. Baum went on to write a whole Oz series with 13 more books. The Wizard of Oz is regarded…

Top Gun premieres

May 16, 1986: Iconic Hollywood classic ‘Top Gun’ premiered across the United States, where it instantly captured American audiences’ attention. The film was an immediate success, becoming the top-earning movie of 1986. It continued with a successful IMAX release in 2013 and its re-release in 2021 in anticipation of Top…

American Poet Emily Dickinson dies in Massachusetts

May 15, 1886: American poet and literary icon, Emily Dickinson, died in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts. After her death, her family found her collection of hand-sewn poetry booklets and proceeded to publish her entire collection posthumously. Her world-renowned collection makes Dickinson synonymous with American Literature.

1st passenger flight in an airplane

May 14, 1908: Charlie Furnas, the world's first airline passenger, had the privilege of flying with both Wilbur and Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk, NC. After a short hop with Wilbur earlier in the day, Furnas then embarked on another flight, this time accompanied by Orville. They covered an impressive…