1194
832 years ago
UK story
King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter.
On this day: 2 May
132 things happened on 2 May, from AD 373 to 2015. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
In the UK 8
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
1559
467 years ago
UK story
Presbyterian clergyman John Knox returned from exile to lead the Scottish Reformation.
1568
458 years ago
UK story
Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle.
1611
415 years ago
UK story
The King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker.
1829
197 years ago
UK story
After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger declares the Swan River Colony in Australia.
1867
159 years ago
UK story
Albert Günther publishes the first study to recognise that the New Zealand tuatara is not a lizard.
1941
85 years ago
UK story
World War II: Following the coup d'état against Iraq Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah earlier that year, the United Kingdom launches the Anglo-Iraqi War to restore him to power.
1969
57 years ago
UK story
The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 departs on her maiden voyage to New York City.
Around the world 23
1388
638 years ago
The surrender of the Acropolis of Athens to Nerio Acciaioli ends the Catalan presence in the Duchy of Athens.
1625
401 years ago
Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Latin Patriarch of Ethiopia, arrives at Beilul from Goa.
1670
356 years ago
A royal charter granted the Hudson's Bay Company a monopoly in the fur trade in Rupert's Land (present-day Canada).
1808
218 years ago
Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808.
1812
214 years ago
The Siege of Cuautla during the Mexican War of Independence ends with both sides claiming victory.
1866
160 years ago
Peruvian defenders fight off the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao.
1876
150 years ago
The April Uprising breaks out in Ottoman Bulgaria.
1885
141 years ago
Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion.
1889
137 years ago
The Treaty of Wuchale was signed, ending the Italo-Ethiopian War, but differences in translation later led to another war.
1906
120 years ago
Closing ceremony of the Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece.
1920
106 years ago
The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis.
1945
81 years ago
World War II: General Helmuth Weidling, the German commander of Berlin, surrendered to Soviet forces led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, ending the Battle of Berlin.
1945
81 years ago
World War II: The surrender of Caserta comes into effect, by which German troops in Italy cease fighting.
1952
74 years ago
A De Havilland Comet makes the first jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers, from London to Johannesburg.
1963
63 years ago
Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.
1964
62 years ago
First ascent of Shishapangma, the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders.
1989
37 years ago
Cold War: Hungary begins dismantling its border fence with Austria, which allows a number of East Germans to defect.
1998
28 years ago
The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy.
1999
27 years ago
Mireya Moscoso (pictured) became the first woman to be elected President of Panama.
2000
26 years ago
President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military.
2003
23 years ago
Cyclone Manou formed in the Indian Ocean; over the next two weeks it struck Madagascar and left more than 100,000 people homeless.
2011
15 years ago
The Conservative Party of Canada won enough seats in the federal election to establish their first majority government.
2012
14 years ago
A pastel version of The Scream, by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, sells for $120 million in a New York City auction, setting a new world record for a work of art at auction.
Quick quiz
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
-
In which year did this happen: “King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter”?
- 1969
- 1194
- 1941
Show the answer
B: 1194. 1194 — that’s 832 years ago. Find it on the page
-
In which year did this happen: “Presbyterian clergyman John Knox returned from exile to lead the Scottish”?
- 1859
- 1194
- 1559
Show the answer
C: 1559. 1559 — that’s 467 years ago. Find it on the page
-
Which of these happened first?
- Presbyterian clergyman John Knox returned from exile to lead the Scottish
- King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter
- Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle
Show the answer
B: King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter. 1559: Presbyterian clergyman John Knox returned from exile to lead the Scottish · 1194: King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter · 1568: Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle Find it on the page
-
“Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle” happened in 1568. How many years ago was that?
- 448 years
- 458 years
- 468 years
Show the answer
B: 458 years. 2026 − 1568 = 458. Find it on the page
Born on this day 40
Famous people whose birthday is 2 May.
- 1975 David Beckham — English footballer, coach, and model UK Read more about David Beckham on Wikipedia
- 1729 Catherine the Great Read more about Catherine the Great on Wikipedia
- 1921 Satyajit Ray — Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (died 1992) Read more about Satyajit Ray on Wikipedia
- 1859 Jerome K. Jerome — English author and playwright (died 1927) UK Read more about Jerome K. Jerome on Wikipedia
- 1985 Lily Allen — English singer-songwriter and actress UK Read more about Lily Allen on Wikipedia
- 1772 Novalis — German author and poet (died 1801) Read more about Novalis on Wikipedia
- 1972 Dwayne Johnson — American actor and wrestler Read more about Dwayne Johnson on Wikipedia
- 2015 Princess Charlotte of Wales — British royal, and third in line to the British throne UK Read more about Princess Charlotte of Wales on Wikipedia
- 1860 Theodor Herzl — Austro-Hungarian Zionist philosopher, journalist and author (died 1904) Read more about Theodor Herzl on Wikipedia
- 1946 David Suchet — English actor UK Read more about David Suchet on Wikipedia
- 1936 Engelbert Humperdinck — English singer and pianist UK Read more about Engelbert Humperdinck on Wikipedia
- 1737 William Petty — 2nd Earl of Shelburne, Irish-English politician, Prime Minister of Great Britain (died 1805) UK Read more about William Petty on Wikipedia
- 1960 Stephen Daldry — English director and producer UK Read more about Stephen Daldry on Wikipedia
- 1551 William Camden — English historian and topographer (died 1623) UK Read more about William Camden on Wikipedia
- 1962 Jimmy White — English snooker player UK Read more about Jimmy White on Wikipedia
- 1958 David O'Leary — English-Irish footballer and manager UK Read more about David O'Leary on Wikipedia
- 1947 James Dyson — English businessman, founded the Dyson Company UK Read more about James Dyson on Wikipedia
- 1860 John Scott Haldane — Scottish physiologist, physician, and academic (died 1936) UK Read more about John Scott Haldane on Wikipedia
- 1980 Zat Knight — English footballer UK Read more about Zat Knight on Wikipedia
- 1981 Chris Kirkland — English footballer UK Read more about Chris Kirkland on Wikipedia
- 1925 John Neville — English-Canadian actor (died 2011) UK Read more about John Neville on Wikipedia
- 1892 Manfred von Richthofen — German captain and pilot (died 1918) Read more about Manfred von Richthofen on Wikipedia
- 1902 Brian Aherne — English actor (died 1986) UK Read more about Brian Aherne on Wikipedia
- 1993 Owain Doull — Welsh track cyclist UK Read more about Owain Doull on Wikipedia
- 1955 Donatella Versace — Italian fashion designer Read more about Donatella Versace on Wikipedia
- 1967 David Rocastle — English footballer (died 2001) UK Read more about David Rocastle on Wikipedia
- 1601 Athanasius Kircher — German priest and scholar (died 1680) Read more about Athanasius Kircher on Wikipedia
- 1750 John André — English soldier and spy (died 1780) UK Read more about John André on Wikipedia
- 1660 Alessandro Scarlatti — Italian composer (died 1725) Read more about Alessandro Scarlatti on Wikipedia
- 1360 Yongle Emperor Read more about Yongle Emperor on Wikipedia
- 1951 John Glascock — English singer and bass player (died 1979) UK Read more about John Glascock on Wikipedia
- 1955 Willie Miller — Scottish footballer UK Read more about Willie Miller on Wikipedia
- 1912 Nigel Patrick — English actor and director (died 1981) UK Read more about Nigel Patrick on Wikipedia
- 1903 Benjamin Spock — American pediatrician, activist, and author (died 1998) Read more about Benjamin Spock on Wikipedia
- 1886 Gottfried Benn — German author and poet (died 1956) Read more about Gottfried Benn on Wikipedia
- 1952 Christine Baranski — American actress and singer Read more about Christine Baranski on Wikipedia
- 1935 Luis Suárez Miramontes — Spanish footballer and manager (died 2023) Read more about Luis Suárez Miramontes on Wikipedia
- 1935 Faisal II of Iraq — the last King of Iraq (died 1958) Read more about Faisal II of Iraq on Wikipedia
- 1996 Julian Brandt — German footballer Read more about Julian Brandt on Wikipedia
- 1953 Valery Gergiev — Russian conductor and director Read more about Valery Gergiev on Wikipedia
Remembering 20
Well-known people who died on 2 May.
- 1519 Leonardo da Vinci — Italian painter, sculptor, and architect (born 1452) Read more about Leonardo da Vinci on Wikipedia
- AD 373 Athanasius of Alexandria — Egyptian bishop and saint (born 298) Read more about Athanasius of Alexandria on Wikipedia
- 1857 Alfred de Musset — French dramatist, poet, and novelist (born 1810) Read more about Alfred de Musset on Wikipedia
- 2010 Lynn Redgrave — English-American actress and singer (born 1943) UK Read more about Lynn Redgrave on Wikipedia
- 2015 Ruth Rendell — English author (born 1930) UK Read more about Ruth Rendell on Wikipedia
- 1964 Nancy Astor — Viscountess Astor, American-English politician (born 1879) UK Read more about Nancy Astor on Wikipedia
- 1999 Oliver Reed — English actor (born 1938) UK Read more about Oliver Reed on Wikipedia
- 1969 Franz von Papen — German general and politician, Chancellor of Germany (born 1879) Read more about Franz von Papen on Wikipedia
- 1957 Joseph McCarthy — American captain, lawyer, judge, and politician (born 1908) Read more about Joseph McCarthy on Wikipedia
- 1998 Justin Fashanu — English footballer (born 1961) UK Read more about Justin Fashanu on Wikipedia
- 1979 Giulio Natta — Italian chemist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1903) Read more about Giulio Natta on Wikipedia
- 1819 Mary Moser — English painter and academic (born 1744) UK Read more about Mary Moser on Wikipedia
- 2015 Maya Plisetskaya — Russian-Lithuanian ballerina, choreographer, actress, and director (born 1925) Read more about Maya Plisetskaya on Wikipedia
- 1927 Ernest Starling — English physiologist and academic (born 1866) UK Read more about Ernest Starling on Wikipedia
- 1972 J. Edgar Hoover — American 1st director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (born 1895) Read more about J. Edgar Hoover on Wikipedia
- 2002 W. T. Tutte — English-Canadian mathematician and academic (born 1917) UK Read more about W. T. Tutte on Wikipedia
- 1997 Paulo Freire — Brazilian philosopher and academic (born 1921) Read more about Paulo Freire on Wikipedia
- 1864 Giacomo Meyerbeer — German composer and educator (born 1791) Read more about Giacomo Meyerbeer on Wikipedia
- 1995 Michael Hordern — English actor (born 1911) UK Read more about Michael Hordern on Wikipedia
- 1940 Ernest Joyce — English explorer (born 1875) UK Read more about Ernest Joyce on Wikipedia
Special days 14
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 2 May somewhere in the world.
- International Harry Potter Day Read more about Harry Potter on Wikipedia
- Teachers' Day (Iran) (this date is non-Gregorian and may change according to the March Equinox, see List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar) Read more about List of Teachers' Days on Wikipedia
- Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (Community of Madrid, Spain) Read more about Dos de Mayo Uprising on Wikipedia
- The last day of the Festival of Ridván (Baháʼí Faith) (this date is non-Gregorian and may change according to the March equinox, see List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar) Read more about Ridván on Wikipedia
- Flag Day (Poland) Read more about Polish National Flag Day on Wikipedia
- Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan) Read more about Public holidays in Bhutan on Wikipedia
- Indonesia National Education Day Read more about National Education Day (Indonesia) on Wikipedia
- World Tuna Day
- Christian saints’ and feast days: Athanasius of Alexandria (Western Christianity), Boris I of Bulgaria (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Wiborada (Catholic Church), Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church)., Germanus of Normandy, May 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics).
For older readers 27 Show stories about war, disasters, crime and other difficult history
Content note: these entries mention things like war, violence, deaths, disasters or crime. They are part of history, but they can be upsetting. Grown-ups and teachers: you may want to read them first. They come straight from Wikipedia and have not been rewritten for children.
- 1982 Falklands War: HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano (pictured), the only ship ever to have been deliberately sunk by a nuclear submarine in battle. Read more about Falklands War on Wikipedia
- 1536 Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft. Read more about Anne Boleyn on Wikipedia
- 1230 William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. Read more about William de Braose (died 1230) on Wikipedia
- 1964 Vietnam War: An explosion attributed to Viet Cong commandos caused the escort carrier USNS Card to sink in the port of Saigon. Read more about Vietnam War on Wikipedia
- 2014 Russo-Ukrainian War: Forty-eight people were killed during a confrontation between pro-Russian protesters and pro-Ukrainian unity protesters in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa. Read more about Russo-Ukrainian war on Wikipedia
- 1995 Croatian War of Independence: Serb forces began rocket attacks on the Croatian capital Zagreb, killing 7 people and injuring around 200 others. Read more about Croatian War of Independence on Wikipedia
- 1863 American Civil War: Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp after reconnoitering during the Battle of Chancellorsville. He succumbs to pneumonia eight days later. Read more about American Civil War on Wikipedia
- 2011 Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six in his private residential compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Read more about Killing of Osama bin Laden on Wikipedia
- 2008 The Chaitén volcano in Chile began to erupt for the first time since around 1640. Read more about Chaitén (volcano) on Wikipedia
- 1986 Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster. Read more about Chernobyl disaster on Wikipedia
- 1986 Henri Toivonen was killed in an accident while leading the Tour de Corse rally, resulting in FISA banning the popular Group B rally cars for the following season. Read more about Henri Toivonen on Wikipedia
- 2014 Two mudslides in Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, killed at least 350 people. Read more about 2014 Badakhshan mudslides on Wikipedia
- 1878 A dust explosion (depicted) at the world's largest flour mill in Minneapolis resulted in 18 deaths. Read more about Great Mill Disaster on Wikipedia
- 1250 Mamluks under Baybars murder the Ayyubid sultan Turanshah for fear of losing their privileges. Read more about Mamluk on Wikipedia
- 2008 Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless. Read more about Cyclone Nargis on Wikipedia
- 1933 Germany's independent labor unions are replaced by the German Labour Front. Read more about German Labour Front on Wikipedia
- 1945 World War II: A death march from Dachau to the Austrian border is halted by the segregated, all-Nisei 522nd Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. Army in southern Bavaria, saving several hundred prisoners. Read more about Death marches during the Holocaust on Wikipedia
- 2011 An E. coli outbreak strikes Europe, mostly in Germany, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others are taken ill. Read more about 2011 Germany E. coli O104:H4 outbreak on Wikipedia
- 1970 ALM Flight 980 ditches in the Caribbean Sea near Saint Croix, killing 23. Read more about ALM Flight 980 on Wikipedia
- 1945 World War II: The US 82nd Airborne Division liberates Wöbbelin concentration camp finding 1,000 dead prisoners, most of whom starved to death. Read more about Wöbbelin concentration camp on Wikipedia
- 2004 The Yelwa massacre concludes. It began on 4 February 2004 when armed Muslims killed 78 Christians at Yelwa, Nigeria. In response, about 630 Muslims were killed by Christians on May 2. Read more about Yelwa massacre on Wikipedia
- 1972 In the early morning hours a fire breaks out at the Sunshine Mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho, killing 91 workers. Read more about Sunshine Mine on Wikipedia
- 2011 Died: Osama bin Laden, Saudi Arabian terrorist, founder of Al-Qaeda (born 1957) Read more about Osama bin Laden on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: Joseph Luu Van Nguyen (Catholic Church) Read more about Vietnamese Martyrs on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: Bolesław Strzelecki (Catholic Church) Read more about Bolesław Strzelecki on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: William Tirry (Catholic Church) Read more about William Tirry on Wikipedia
- 1945 Died: Martin Bormann, German politician (born 1900) Read more about Martin Bormann on Wikipedia
Where these facts come from
Stories with a heading have been written for young readers by A Day in the Past, using the linked articles as sources. Other entries show text from Wikipedia’s “May 2” page and its “On this day” feed, written by Wikipedia contributors and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. Each “Read more” link goes to the article an entry is based on. Photos are credited under each picture. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.