May, 15th in History

[Spiritus Temporis]

Events

Saturday 15, 2004:
The largest prime number to be discovered, 2^24036583 − 1, is found by Josh Findley and the GIMPS collaborative effort.

Friday 15, 1992:
The Genoa Expo '92 World's Fair opens in Genoa, Italy.

Wednesday 15, 1991:
Edith Cresson becomes France's first female prime minister.

Tuesday 15, 1990:
Portrait of Doctor Gachet by Vincent van Gogh is sold for a record $82.5 million, the most expensive painting at the time.

Sunday 15, 1988:
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: After more than eight years of fighting, the Red Army begins its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Monday 15, 1978:
Lagumot Harris, having only been elected President less than a month before, is replaced as the leader of the republic of Nauru. He is succeeded by Hammer DeRoburt.

Monday 15, 1972:
In Laurel, Maryland, Arthur Bremer shoots and paralyzes Alabama Governor George Wallace while Wallace is campaigning to be American President.

Friday 15, 1970:
Philip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green killed at Jackson State University by police during student protests.

Friday 15, 1964:
The Smothers Brothers give their first concert in Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Wednesday 15, 1963:
Mercury program: America launches the last mission of the program, Mercury 9 (on June 12 NASA Administrator James E. Webb told Congress the program was complete).

Sunday 15, 1960:
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 4.

Thursday 15, 1958:
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 3.

Wednesday 15, 1957:
Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb in Operation Grapple.

Sunday 15, 1955:
First ascent of Makalu, the world's fifth highest mountain.

Tuesday 15, 1951:
The Polish cultural attache in Paris, Czeslaw Milosz, asks the French government for political asylum.

Saturday 15, 1948:
Egypt, Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia attack Israel.

Tuesday 15, 1945:
Last skirmish of the Second World War in Europe fought near Prevalje, Slovenia.

Saturday 15, 1943:
Joseph Stalin dissolves the Comintern (or Third International).

Friday 15, 1942:
World War II: In the United States, a bill creating the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) is signed into law.

Thursday 15, 1941:
Baseball player Joe DiMaggio starts his record-breaking 56-game hitting streak.

Wednesday 15, 1940:
World War II: German troops occupy Amsterdam and invade Northern France.

Tuesday 15, 1934:
K?rlis Ulmanis establishes an authoritarian government in Latvia.

Sunday 15, 1932:
The May 15 incident. In an attempted coup the Prime Minister of Japan Inukai Tsuyoshi is killed.

Thursday 15, 1930:
Aboard a Boeing tri-motor, Ellen Church becomes the first airline stewardess, on a flight from Oakland, California to Chicago, Illinois.

Tuesday 15, 1928:
Release of the animated short "Plane Crazy", featuring the first appearances of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Thursday 15, 1919:
The Winnipeg General Strike began. By 11:00, virtually the entire working population of Winnipeg had walked off the job.

Wednesday 15, 1918:
The US Post Office Department (later renamed the USPS) begins the first regular airmail service in the world (between New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC).

Friday 15, 1914:
Bolivia becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty.

Monday 15, 1911:
The United States Supreme Court declares Standard Oil to be an "unreasonable" monopoly under the Sherman Antitrust Act and orders the company to be dissolved.

Monday 15, 1905:
Las Vegas, Nevada, is founded when 110 acres (0.4 km²), in what later would become downtown, are auctioned off.

Thursday 15, 1902:
In a field outside Grass Valley, California, Lyman Gilmore reportedly becomes the first person to fly a powered airplane (a steam-powered glider).

Saturday 15, 1897:
The Greek army retreats with heavy losses in Greco-Turkish War

Saturday 15, 1869:
Woman's suffrage: In New York, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association.

Sunday 15, 1864:
American Civil War: Battle of New Market, Virginia – Students from the Virginia Military Institute fight alongside the Confederate Army to force Union General Franz Sigel out of the Shenandoah Valley.

Thursday 15, 1862:
President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the United States Bureau of Agriculture (later renamed USDA).

Saturday 15, 1858:
The third Royal Opera House officially opens in London.

Thursday 15, 1851:
Rama IV is crowned King of Thailand.

Sunday 15, 1836:
Francis Baily observes "Baily's beads" during an annular eclipse.

Friday 15, 1795:
First Coalition: Napoleon I of France enters Milan in triumph.

Wednesday 15, 1776:
American Revolution: Virginia convention instructs its delegates to propose a declaration of independence from Great Britain.

Saturday 15, 1756:
The Seven Years' War begins when England declares war on France.

Sunday 15, 1718:
James Puckle, a London lawyer, patents the world's first machine gun.

Sunday 15, 1701:
The War of the Spanish Succession begins.

Tuesday 15, 1618:
Johannes Kepler confirms his previously rejected discovery of the third law of planetary motion (he first discovered it on March 8 but soon rejected the idea after some initial calculations were made).

Wednesday 15, 1602:
Bartholomew Gosnold becomes the first European to see Cape Cod.

Friday 15, 1525:
The battle of Frankenhausen ends the Peasants' War.

Friday 15, 1514:
Jodocus Badius Ascensius publishes Christiern Pedersen's Latin version of Saxo’s Gesta Danorum, the oldest known version of that work.

Wednesday 15, 1252:
Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull ad extirpanda, which authorizes the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition. Torture quickly gains widespread usage across Catholic Europe.

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/15-may/on-this-day.html


People born on May 15

1989:
Jennifer Hague, Canadian sexy (b: May 15, 1989) (Biography of Jennifer Hague)

1987:
Andrew Murray, Scottish tennis player (b: May 15, 1987) (Biography of Andrew Murray (tennis player))

1983:
Devin Bronson, American guitarist (Avril Lavigne) (b: May 15, 1983) (Biography of Devin Bronson)

1981:
Jamie-Lynn DiScala, American actress (b: May 15, 1981) (Biography of Jamie-Lynn DiScala)

1978:
Amy Chow, American gymnast (b: May 15, 1978) (Biography of Amy Chow)

1976:
Tyler Walker, baseball player (b: May 15, 1976) (Biography of Tyler Walker)

1975:
Ray Lewis, American football player (b: May 15, 1975) (Biography of Ray Lewis (NFL))

1974:
Ahmet Zappa, American musician (b: May 15, 1974) (Biography of Ahmet Zappa)
Andrew Johns, Australian rugby player (b: May 15, 1974) (Biography of Andrew Johns)

1972:
David Charvet, French actor (b: May 15, 1972) (Biography of David Charvet)

1970:
Rod Smith, American football player (b: May 15, 1970) (Biography of Rod Smith)

1969:
Emmitt Smith, American football player (b: May 15, 1969) (Biography of Emmitt Smith)

1967:
John Smoltz, baseball player (b: May 15, 1967) (Biography of John Smoltz)

1962:
Melle Mel, American musician (b: May 15, 1962) (Biography of Melle Mel)

1959:
Andrew Eldritch, English singer and songwriter (The Sisters of Mercy) (b: May 15, 1959) (Biography of Andrew Eldritch)
Kaokor Galaxy, Thai boxer (b: May 15, 1959) (Biography of Kaokor Galaxy)
Khaosai Galaxy, Thai boxer (b: May 15, 1959) (Biography of Khaosai Galaxy)

1958:
Ron Simmons, American professional wrestler (b: May 15, 1958) (Biography of Ron Simmons)

1956:
Dan Patrick, American sportscaster (b: May 15, 1956) (Biography of Dan Patrick)

1955:
Melinda Culea, American actress (b: May 15, 1955) (Biography of Melinda Culea)

1953:
George Brett, baseball player (b: May 15, 1953) (Biography of George Brett)
Mike Oldfield, English composer (b: May 15, 1953) (Biography of Mike Oldfield)

1951:
Chazz Palminteri, American actor (b: May 15, 1951) (Biography of Chazz Palminteri)
Jonathan Richman, American musician (b: May 15, 1951) (Biography of Jonathan Richman)
Frank Wilczek, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: May 15, 1951) (Biography of Frank Wilczek)

1948:
Brian Eno, English musician and record producer (b: May 15, 1948) (Biography of Brian Eno)

1945:
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza (b: May 15, 1945) (Biography of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza)

1944:
Ulrich Beck, German sociologist (b: May 15, 1944) (Biography of Ulrich Beck)

1941:
K.T. Oslin, American musician (b: May 15, 1941) (Biography of K.T. Oslin)

1937:
Madeline Albright, U.S. Secretary of State (b: May 15, 1937) (Biography of Madeline Albright)
Trini López, American musician (b: May 15, 1937) (Biography of Trini Lopez)

1936:
Paul Zindel, American writer (b: May 15, 1936 ; d: March 27, 2003) (Biography of Paul Zindel)
Anna Maria Alberghetti, Italian-born actress (b: May 15, 1936) (Biography of Anna Maria Alberghetti)
Hugh Romney, American clown and activist (b: May 15, 1936) (Biography of Hugh Romney)

1931:
Ken Venturi, American golfer (b: May 15, 1931) (Biography of Ken Venturi)

1930:
Jasper Johns, American painter (b: May 15, 1930) (Biography of Jasper Johns)

1926:
Peter Shaffer, English playwright (b: May 15, 1926) (Biography of Peter Shaffer)
Anthony Shaffer, English playwright (b: May 15, 1926 ; d: November 6, 2001) (Biography of Anthony Shaffer)

1923:
John Lanchbery, English composer (b: May 15, 1923 ; d: February 27, 2003) (Biography of John Lanchbery)
Richard Avedon, American photographer (b: May 15, 1923 ; d: October 1, 2004) (Biography of Richard Avedon)

1922:
Setouchi Jakucho, Japanese writer and Buddhist nun (b: May 15, 1922) (Biography of Setouchi Jakucho)

1918:
Eddy Arnold, American singer (b: May 15, 1918) (Biography of Eddy Arnold)

1915:
Paul Samuelson, American economist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: May 15, 1915) (Biography of Paul Samuelson)

1911:
Max Frisch, Swiss author (b: May 15, 1911 ; d: April 4, 1991) (Biography of Max Frisch)

1909:
James Mason, English actor (b: May 15, 1909 ; d: July 27, 1984) (Biography of James Mason)

1905:
Joseph Cotten, American actor (b: May 15, 1905 ; d: February 6, 1994) (Biography of Joseph Cotten)

1902:
Richard J. Daley, Mayor of Chicago (b: May 15, 1902 ; d: December 20, 1976) (Biography of Richard J. Daley)

1899:
Jean-Etienne Valluy, French general (b: May 15, 1899 ; d: January 4, 1970) (Biography of Jean-Etienne Valluy)

1898:
Arletty, French model and actress (b: May 15, 1898) (Biography of Arletty)

1892:
Jimmy Wilde, boxer (b: May 15, 1892) (Biography of Jimmy Wilde)

1891:
Mikhail Bulgakov, Russian writer (b: May 15, 1891) (Biography of Mikhail Bulgakov)

1890:
Katherine Anne Porter, American author (b: May 15, 1890 ; d: September 18, 1980) (Biography of Katherine Anne Porter)

1862:
Arthur Schnitzler, Austrian dramatist and narrator (b: May 15, 1862 ; d: October 21, 1931) (Biography of Arthur Schnitzler)

1859:
Pierre Curie, French physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: May 15, 1859 ; d: April 19, 1906) (Biography of Pierre Curie)

1857:
Williamina Fleming, Scottish-born astronomer (b: May 15, 1857 ; d: May 21, 1911) (Biography of Williamina Fleming)

1856:
L. Frank Baum, American author (b: May 15, 1856 ; d: May 6, 1919) (Biography of L. Frank Baum)

1817:
Debendranath Tagore, Indian religious reformer (b: May 15, 1817 ; d: January 19, 1905) (Biography of Debendranath Tagore)

1773:
Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, Austrian statesman (b: May 15, 1773) (Biography of Klemens Wenzel von Metternich)

1567:
Claudio Monteverdi, Italian composer (b: May 15, 1567 ; d: November 29, 1643) (Biography of Claudio Monteverdi)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/15-may/births.html

[Spiritus Temporis]

People who died on May 15

2005:
Les Bartley (d: May 15, 2005) (Biography of Les Bartley)

2003:
June Carter Cash, American singer (b: June 23, 1929 ; d: May 15, 2003) (Biography of June Carter Cash)
George Francis (suspected mobster) (d: May 15, 2003) (Biography of George Francis (suspected mobster))
Rik Van Steenbergen, Belgian cyclist (b: September 9, 1924 ; d: May 15, 2003) (Biography of Rik Van Steenbergen)

1998:
Earl Manigault (d: May 15, 1998) (Biography of Earl Manigault)

1996:
Charles B. Fulton, American jurist (b: May 12, 1910 ; d: May 15, 1996) (Biography of Charles B. Fulton)

1995:
Eric Porter (d: May 15, 1995) (Biography of Eric Porter)

1994:
Gilbert Roland, American actor (b: December 11, 1905 ; d: May 15, 1994) (Biography of Gilbert Roland)

1991:
Andreas Floer, German mathematician, Floer homology, (b: August 23, 1956 ; d: May 15, 1991) (Biography of Andreas Floer)

1986:
Theodore H. White, American writer (b: May 6, 1915 ; d: May 15, 1986) (Biography of Theodore H. White)

1971:
Tyrone Guthrie, English actor (b: July 2, 1900 ; d: May 15, 1971) (Biography of Tyrone Guthrie)

1967:
Edward Hopper, American painter (b: July 22, 1882 ; d: May 15, 1967) (Biography of Edward Hopper)

1956:
Austin Osman Spare (d: May 15, 1956) (Biography of Austin Osman Spare)

1948:
Edward Flanagan (d: May 15, 1948) (Biography of Edward Flanagan)

1940:
Menno ter Braak, Dutch author and polemicist (b: January 26, 1902 ; d: May 15, 1940) (Biography of Menno ter Braak)

1937:
Phillip Snowden, British politician (b: July 18, 1864 ; d: May 15, 1937) (Biography of Phillip Snowden)

1886:
Emily Dickinson, American poet (b: December 10, 1830 ; d: May 15, 1886) (Biography of Emily Dickinson)

1782:
Marquis of Pombal, Prime Minister of Portugal (b: May 13, 1699 ; d: May 15, 1782) (Biography of Marquis of Pombal)

1740:
Ephraim Chambers (d: May 15, 1740) (Biography of Ephraim Chambers)

1714:
Roger Elliott (d: May 15, 1714) (Biography of Roger Elliott)

1699:
Edward Petre (d: May 15, 1699) (Biography of Edward Petre)

1698:
Marie Champmeslé, French actress (b: February 18, 1642 ; d: May 15, 1698) (Biography of Marie Champmeslé)

1634:
Hendrick Avercamp, Dutch painter (b: January 27, 1585 ; d: May 15, 1634) (Biography of Hendrick Avercamp)

1609:
Giovanni Croce (d: May 15, 1609) (Biography of Giovanni Croce)

1591:
Dmitry Ivanovich, Tsarevich (b: October 19, 1582 ; d: May 15, 1591) (Biography of Dmitry Ivanovich)

1585:
Niwa Nagahide, Japanese warlord (b: October 16, 1535 ; d: May 15, 1585) (Biography of Niwa Nagahide)

1470:
Charles VIII of Sweden (d: May 15, 1470) (Biography of Charles VIII of Sweden)

1036:
Emperor Go-Ichij?, emperor of Japan (b: October 12, 1008 ; d: May 15, 1036) (Biography of Emperor Go-Ichijo)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/15-may/deaths.html