All Events

Historical Events on May 5

  • Magna Carta

    1215

    Rebel barons renounce their allegiance to King John of England — part of a chain of events leading to the signing of the Magna Carta.

  • Jamaica

    1494

    Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Jamaica and claims it for Spain.

  • Napoleon

    1821

    Emperor Napoleon dies in exile on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.

  • Battle of the Wilderness

    1864

    American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County.

  • Sitting Bull

    1877

    American Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.

  • Sacco and Vanzetti

    1920

    Authorities arrest Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti for alleged robbery and murder.

  • Virginia Woolf

    1927

    To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf is first published.

  • Battle of Hegra Fortress

    1940

    World War II: Norwegian Campaign: Norwegian squads in Hegra Fortress and Vinjesvingen capitulate to German forces after all other Norwegian forces in southern Norway had laid down their arms.

  • Sudan Liberation Army

    2006

    The government of Sudan signs an accord with the Sudan Liberation Army.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on May 5

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on May 5

04. May

06. May