May 11 in History
May 11 is the birthday of Konsta Helenius (2006) and the anniversary of the death of Brandon Clarke (2026). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for May 11, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Niwa Nagashige, Japanese daimyō was born in 1571, while Leo VI the Wise, Byzantine Emperor, the second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty died in 912.
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Famous people born on May 11
Famous people who died on May 11
2007
Malietoa Tanumafili II (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa from 1962 to 2007
2005
Horton Davies (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Welsh Protestant minister and historian (1916–2005)
1988
Kim Philby (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
British intelligence officer and Soviet double agent (1912–1988)
1987
James Jesus Angleton (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Central Intelligence Agency officer (1917–1987)
What happened on May 11
- 2024
Start/Middle of the May 2024 Solar Storms, the most powerful set of geomagnetic storms since the 2003 Halloween solar storms.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2024
The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is held in Malmö, Sweden. Nemo from Switzerland win with their song "The Code", making them the contest's first non-binary winner.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2022
The Burmese military executes at least 37 villagers during the Mon Taing Pin massacre in Sagaing, Myanmar.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2022
Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is killed while covering a raid in Jenin. Israel eventually admitted and apologized for the murder, after initial denials.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2016
One hundred and ten people are killed in an ISIL bombing in Baghdad.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2014
Fifteen people are killed and 46 injured in Kinshasa, DRC, in a stampede caused by tear gas being thrown into soccer stands by police officers.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2013
Fifty-two people are killed in a bombing in Reyhanlı, Turkey.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2011
An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 hits Lorca, Spain.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2011
The Istanbul Convention is signed in Istanbul, Turkey.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2010
David Cameron takes office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form the country's first coalition government since the Second World War.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2009
An American soldier in Iraq opens fire on a counseling center at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, killing five other US soldiers and wounding three.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2009
Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on the final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2000
Second Chechen War: Chechen separatists ambush Russian paramilitary forces in the Republic of Ingushetia.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1998
India conducts three underground atomic tests in Pokhran.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1997
Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov in the last game of the rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format.
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 11
- 1571 — Niwa Nagashige, Japanese daimyō (died 1637)
- 1578 — Sophie Axelsdatter Brahe, Danish noblewoman (died 1646)
- 1715 — Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach, German organist (died 1739)
Died on May 11
- 912 — Leo VI the Wise, Byzantine Emperor, the second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty (born 866)
- 1610 — Matteo Ricci, Italian priest and mathematician (born 1552)
- 1778 — William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, English politician, Prime Minister of Great Britain (born 1708)
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for May 11
Quick answers
Who was born on May 11? Konsta Helenius (2006), Fermín López (2003), Yuki Tsunoda (2000).
Who died on May 11? Brandon Clarke (2026), Susan Backlinie (2024), Norman Lloyd (2021).
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Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the May 11 historical article above.
Ancestry
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