Events
- 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins.
- 1260 - Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire.
- 1494 - Christopher Columbus discovers the island of Jamaica and claims it for Spain.
- 1640 - King Charles I of England dissolves the Short Parliament.
- 1762 - Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg.
- 1789 - In France, the Estates-General convenes for the first time in 150 years.
- 1809 - Mary Kies becomes the first woman awarded a U.S. patent, for a technique of weaving straw with silk and thread.
- 1809 - The Swiss canton of Aargau denies citizenship to Jews.
- 1835 - In Belgium, the first railway in continental Europe opens between Brussels and Mechelen.
- 1862 - Cinco de Mayo in Mexico: Troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halt a French invasion in the Battle of Puebla.
- 1864 - American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
- 1865 - In North Bend, Ohio (a suburb of Cincinnati), the first train robbery in the United States takes place.
- 1877 - Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.
- 1886 - The Bay View Tragedy occurs, militia fire upon a crowd of protesters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin killing seven.
- 1891 - The Music Hall in New York (now known as Carnegie Hall) has its grand opening and first public performance, with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the guest conductor.
- 1902 - Commonwealth Public Service Act creates the Australian Public Service.
- 1904 - Pitching against the Philadelphia Athletics at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, Cy Young of the Boston Americans threw the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball.
- 1916 - American marines invade the Dominican Republic.
- 1925 - Scopes Trial: John T. Scopes is served an arrest warrant for teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act.
- 1925 - Afrikaans established as an official language in South Africa.
- 1936 - Italian troops occupy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- 1940 - World War II: In London, a Norwegian government-in-exile is formed.
- 1941 - Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; this date has been since commemorated as Liberation Day.
- 1945 - World War II:German troops in the Netherlands and Denmark capitulate to Canadian and British forces, liberating these countries from Nazi occupation.
- 1945 - World War II:Prague uprising against the Nazis.
- 1945 - World War II:Mauthausen concentration camp is liberated.
- 1945 - World War II:Admiral Karl Dönitz, leader of Germany after Hitler's death, orders all U-boats to cease offensive operations and return to their bases.
- 1949 - The Council of Europe in Strasbourg is founded through the Treaty of London as the first European institution working for European integration. Since 1964, May 5 has been designated Europe Day by the Council of Europe and is celebrated since then to commemorate its founding on 5 May 1949.
- 1950 - Bhumibol Adulyadej is crowned as King Rama IX of Thailand.
- 1955 - West Germany gains full sovereignty.
- 1961 - Mercury program: Mercury-Redstone 3 – Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into space, making a sub-orbital flight of 15 minutes.
- 1964 - 5 May is declared Europe Day on the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe.
- 1980 - Operation Nimrod: The Special Air Service storm the Iranian embassy in London after a six day siege.
- 1980 - Constantine Karamanlis is elected for the first time President of Greece.
- 1987 - Iran-Contra affair: Start of Congressional televised hearings.
- 1991 - A riot breaks out in the Mt. Pleasant section of Washington, DC after a Salvadoran man is shot by police.
- 1992 - The 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified.
- 2005 - The United Kingdom general election takes place, in which Tony Blair's Labour Party is re-elected for a third, consecutive term.
- 2006 - The government of Sudan signed an accord with the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA).
- 2007 - Kenya Airways Flight KQ 507 crashes in Cameroon.
- 2007 - Republic Protests in Turkey
- 867 - Uda, Emperor of Japan (d. 931)
- 1210 - King Afonso III of Portugal (d. 1279)
- 1479 - Guru Amar Das, third Sikh Guru (d. 1574)
- 1546 - Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter, English politician (d. 1623)
- 1747 - Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1792)
- 1764 - Robert Craufurd, British general (d. 1812)
- 1800 - Louis Christophe François Hachette, French publisher (d. 1864)
- 1813 - Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (d. 1855)
- 1818 - Karl Marx, German political philosopher (d. 1883)
- 1826 - Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III (d. 1920)
- 1830 - John Batterson Stetson, American hat manufacturer (d. 1906)
- 1832 - H.H. Bancroft, American historian and publisher (d. 1918)
- 1833 - Ferdinand von Richthofen, German geographer (d. 1905)
- 1834 - Viktor Hartmann, Russian architect and painter (d. 1873)
- 1846 - Henryk Sienkiewicz, Polish author, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1916)
- 1865 - Nellie Bly, American journalist and writer (d. 1922)
- 1866 - Thomas B. Thrige, Danish industrialist (d. 1938)
- 1869 - Hans Pfitzner, Russian-born composer (d. 1949)
- 1883 - Archibald Wavell, British general (d. 1950)
- 1887 - Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury (d. 1972)
- 1890 - Christopher Morley, American writer (d. 1957)
- 1899 - Freeman Gosden, American radio comedian (Amos-Amos 'n' Andy) (d. 1982)
- 1901 - Blind Willie McTell, American singer (d. 1959)
- 1903 - James Beard, American chef and cookbook writer (d. 1985)
- 1908 - Kurt Böhme, German bass (d. 1989)
- 1914 - Tyrone Power, American actor (d. 1958)
- 1915 - Alice Faye, American actress (d. 1998)
- 1916 - Zail Singh, President of India (d. 1994)
- 1919 - Georgios Papadopoulos, Greek dictator (d. 1999)
- 1921 - Arthur Leonard Schawlow, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1999)
- 1923 - Richard Wollheim, British philosopher (d. 2003)
- 1925 - Leo Ryan, United States Congressman (d. 1978)
- 1926 - Ann B. Davis, American actress
- 1927 - Pat Carroll, American actress
- 1931 - Greg, Belgian comic-book writer (Achille Talon) (d, 1999)
- 1934 - Ace Cannon, American saxophonist
- 1935 - Douglas Marland, American television writer (d. 1993)
- 1935 - Bernard Pivot, French journalist and television host
- 1935 - Robert Rehme, American film producer
- 1936 - Patrick Gowers, British composer
- 1937 - Johnnie Taylor, American singer (d. 2000)
- 1939 - Cesare Fiorio, Italian sporting director of various Formula One teams
- 1940 - Lance Henriksen, American actor and painter
- 1940 - Michael Lindsay-Hogg, American film director
- 1941 - Alexander Ragulin, Russian hockey player (d. 2004)
- 1942 - Marc Alaimo, American actor
- 1942 - Tammy Wynette, American musician (d. 1998)
- 1943 - Michael Palin, British writer, actor, and comedian
- 1944 - Bo Larsson, Swedish footballer
- 1944 - Jean-Pierre Léaud, French actor
- 1944 - John Rhys-Davies, Welsh actor
- 1945 - Raphael, Spanish singer
- 1945 - Kurt Loder, Entertainment reporter
- 1945 - Bob Seger, Hall-of-Fame rock singer
- 1948 - Bill Ward, British drummer (Black Sabbath)
- 1950 - Googoosh, Faegheh Atashin (فائقه آتشین), Iranian, Persian Singer & actress
- 1950 - Mary Hopkin, Welsh singer
- 1952 - Campbell McComas, Australian impersonator and broadcaster (d. 2005)
- 1954 - Dave Spector, American television personality and commentator
- 1955 - Melinda Culea, American actress
- 1956 - Robert Marien, Quebec actor, singer and songwriter
- 1957 - Richard E. Grant, British actor
- 1957 - Peter Howitt, British actor and film director
- 1958 - Ron Arad, Israeli aircraft navigator missing in action.
- 1959 - Ian McCulloch, English singer of Echo & the Bunnymen
- 1959 - Brian Phelps, American disk jockey and actor
- 1959 - Brian Williams, American news anchor
- 1961 - Hiroshi Hase, Japanese professional wrestler and politician
- 1962 - Jenifer McKitrick, American songwriter
- 1963 - Simon Rimmer, English chef
- 1963 - Heidi Kozak, American actress
- 1963 - James LaBrie, Canadian singer (Dream Theater)
- 1965 - Glenn Seton, Australian racing driver
- 1966 - Shawn Drover, Canadian drummer (Megadeth)
- 1967 - Takehito Koyasu, Japanese seiyu (voice actor)
- 1967 - Maro Mavri, Greek fashion model and actress
- 1970 - Kyan Douglas, American TV-personality
- 1970 - Juan Acevedo, baseball player
- 1970 - Will Arnett, Canadian-American actor
- 1970 - Soheil Ayari, French racer
- 1971 - Mike Redmond, American baseball player
- 1971 - David Reilly, American singer (God Lives Underwater) (d. 2005)
- 1972 - James Cracknell, British rowing champion, double Olympic gold medalist
- 1972 - Mike Dirnt, American musician (Green Day)
- 1972 - Devin Townsend, Canadian musician (Strapping Young Lad)
- 1973 - Muhsin Muhammad, American football player
- 1973 - Tina Yothers, American actress
- 1974 - Seiji Ara, Japanese racing driver
- 1976 - Juan Pablo SorÃn, Argentine footballer
- 1976 - Anastasios Pantos, Greek footballer
- 1977 - Choi Kang-hee, South Korean actress
- 1978 - Santiago Cabrera, Chilean actor
- 1978 - Bruno Cheyrou, French footballer
- 1979 - Vincent Kartheiser, American actor
- 1981 - Craig David, British singer
- 1981 - Danielle Fishel, American actress
- 1981 - Marcelle Bittar, Brazilian supermodel
- 1981 - Chris Duncan, baseball player
- 1982 - Jay Bothroyd, English footballer
- 1982 - Randall Gay, National Footbal League player
- 1982 - Edyta Sliwinska, Polish ballroom dancer
- 1983 - Henry Cavill, English actor
- 1983 - Scott Ware, American footballer
- 1984 - Wade MacNeil, Canadian guitarist (Alexisonfire)
- 1984 - Eve Torres, American dancer and model
- 1985 - P. J. Tucker, American basketball player
- 1985 - Shōko Nakagawa, Japanese actress, illustrator and singer
- 1985 - Terrence Wheatley, American Football player
- 1987 - Marija Å estić, Bosnian singer
- 1988 - Jessica Dubroff, American aviator (d. 1996)
- 1988 - Brooke Hogan, American singer
- 1988 - Skye Sweetnam, Canadian singer and songwriter
- 1988 - Adele, English soul singer
- 1989 - Chris Brown, American singer
- 200 - Sun Ce, warlord of the Han Dynasty (b. 175)
- 311 - Galerius, Roman Emperor
- 984 - Gerberga of Saxony, Queen of Western Francia
- 1028 - King Alfonso V of Castile, León, and Galicia
- 1194 - King Casimir II of Poland (b. 1138)
- 1219 - King Leo II of Armenia (b. 1150)
- 1309 - King Charles II of Naples
- 1525 - Frederick III of Saxony (b. 1463)
- 1586 - Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland (b. 1529)
- 1604 - Claudio Merulo, Italian composer (b. 1533)
- 1671 - Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, English politician (b. 1602)
- 1672 - Samuel Cooper, English painter (b. 1609)
- 1705 - Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1640)
- 1760 - Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, English murderer (hanged) (b. 1720)
- 1766 - Jean Astruc, French physician and scholar (b. 1684)
- 1808 - Pierre Jean George Cabanis, French physiologist (b. 1757)
- 1811 - Robert Mylne, Scottish architect (b. 1734)
- 1821 - Napoleon I of France (b. 1769)
- 1827 - Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (b. 1750)
- 1855 - Sir Robert Inglis, Bt, English politician (b. 1786)
- 1859 - Peter Gustav Dirichlet, German mathematician (b. 1805)
- 1892 - August Wilhelm von Hofmann, German chemist (b. 1818)
- 1896 - Silas Adams, American lawyer and politician (b. 1839)
- 1900 - Ivan Aivazovsky, Russian painter (b. 1817)
- 1921 - Alfred Hermann Fried, Austrian writer and pacifist, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (b. 1864)
- 1931 - Glen Kidston, British aviator and racing driver (b. 1899)
- 1941 - Natalija Obrenović, Queen of Serbia (b. 1859)
- 1942 - Qemal Stafa, Albanian politician (b. 1920)
- 1945 - Peter Van Pels, Jewish Refugee
- 1947 - Ty LaForest, Canadian baseball player (b. 1917)
- 1959 - Carlos Saavedra Lamas, Argentine politician, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (b. 1878)
- 1962 - Ernest Tyldesley, English cricketer (b. 1889)
- 1971 - Violet Jessop, Titanic survivor (b. 1887)
- 1977 - Ludwig Erhard, German politician (CDU) and Chancellor of Germany from 1963 until 1966 (b. 1897)
- 1981 - Bobby Sands, Irish activist (b. 1954)
- 1983 - Horst Schumann, Nazi physician (b. 1901)
- 1985 - Sir Donald Bailey, British civil engineer (b. 1901)
- 1988 - Michael Shaara, American author (b. 1928)
- 1992 - Jean-Claude Pascal, French singer (b.1927)
- 1995 - Mikhail Botvinnik, Russian chess player, grandmaster and world champion (b. 1911)
- 1997 - Walter Gotell, German actor (b. 1924)
- 2000 - Gino Bartali, Italian cyclist (b. 1914)
- 2001 - Clifton Hillegass, American writer and publisher
- 2001 - Raymond Kessler, American midget wrestler
- 2002 - Hugo Banzer, Bolivian dictator (b. 1926)
- 2002 - Paul Klipsch, American engineer, noted for his loudspeaker designs. (b. 1904)
- 2002 - George Sidney, American film director (b. 1916)
- 2003 - Walter Sisulu, South African activist (b. 1912)
- 2004 - Ritsuko Okazaki, Japanese singer-songwriter (b. 1959)
- 2006 - Naushad Ali, Indian composer (b. 1919)
- 2007 - Theodore Harold Maiman, Inventor (b. 1927)
- Mexico and the United States: Cinco de Mayo (1862).
- International Midwives Day.
- Council of Europe: Europe Day.
- CPLP - Community of Portuguese-speaking countries: Day of the Lusophone.
- Albania: Martyrs' Day (Albania).
- Denmark: Liberation Day (1945).
- Ethiopia: Liberation Day (1941).
- Guyana: Indian Immigration Day (1838).
- Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and Taiwan (2006): Buddha's Birthday.
- Japan: Tango no Sekku (Boy's Day) or Kodomo no hi (Children's Day).
- The Netherlands: Liberation Day (1945).
- Northern Territory, Australia: May Day.
- South Korea: Children's Day.
- Saint Angelus of Jerusalem (d. 1222)
- Saint Aventinus (d. 1189)
- Saint Gerontius (d. 472)
- Saint Nicetius
- Saint Hilary of Arles (d. 449)
- Saint Pius V (1505-1572)
- Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
