May 1 in History
May 1 is the birthday of Lewis Miley (2006) and the anniversary of the death of Gordon Lightfoot (2023). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for May 1, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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John I, Count of Hainaut, Flemish nobleman was born in 1218, while Arcadius, Byzantine emperor from 383 to 408 died in 408.
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Famous people born on May 1
Famous people who died on May 1
2015
María Elena Velasco (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Mexican actress, comedian, singer-songwriter and dancer (1940–2015)
2014
Assi Dayan (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Israeli film director, actor, screenwriter and producer (1945–2014)
2008
Philipp von Boeselager (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
German Wehrmacht officer, failed assassin of Adolf Hitler (1917–2008)
2003
Miss Elizabeth (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American professional wrestling manager (1960–2003)
What happened on May 1
- 2026
After a ransomware attack by the group ShinyHunters, the education platform Canvas operated by private company Instructure, goes offline, affecting thousands of educational institutions.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2024
The 2024 Loblaw boycott, a Canadian boycott against retail corporation and grocer Loblaw Companies, begins.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
Naxalite attack in Gadchiroli district of India: Sixteen army soldiers, including a driver, killed in an IED blast. Naxals targeted an anti-Naxal operations team.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
Naruhito ascends to the throne of Japan succeeding his father Akihito, beginning the Reiwa period.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2018
Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) resumes the Deir ez-Zor campaign in order to clear the remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from the Iraq–Syria border.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2011
Pope John Paul II is beatified by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2010
Faisal Shahzad attempts to detonate a car bomb in Times Square, but the bomb fails to go off.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2009
Same-sex marriage in Sweden is legalized.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2004
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2003
Invasion of Iraq: In what becomes known as the "Mission Accomplished" speech, on board the USS Abraham Lincoln (off the coast of California), U.S. President George W. Bush declares that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended".
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1997
The Labour Party wins the 1997 General Election and Tony Blair is elected as Prime Minister.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
Three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna is killed in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1993
Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa is assassinated in Colombo in a suicide bombing carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Angolan Civil War: The MPLA and UNITA agree to the Bicesse Accords, which are formally signed on May 31 in Lisbon.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1982
Operation Black Buck: The Royal Air Force attacks the Argentine Air Force during the Falklands War.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on May 1
- 1218 — John I, Count of Hainaut, Flemish nobleman (died 1257)
- 1218 — Rudolf I of Germany, King of Germany 1273—1291 (died 1291)
- 1285 — Edmund FitzAlan, 2nd Earl of Arundel, English nobleman (died 1326)
Died on May 1
- 408 — Arcadius, Byzantine emperor from 383 to 408 (born 377)
- 558 — Marcouf, Christian abbot and saint
- 908 — Wang Zongji, Chinese prince and pretender
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for May 1
Quick answers
Who was born on May 1? Lewis Miley (2006), Linda Fruhvirtová (2005), Charli D'Amelio (2004).
Who died on May 1? Gordon Lightfoot (2023), Olympia Dukakis (2021), Geoff Duke (2015).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in May? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the May 1 historical article above.
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Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
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