May 2

Historic Events

2014

Two mudslides in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, leave up to 2,500 people missing. ›

2012

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. ›

2011

Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI's most wanted fugitive, is killed by the United States Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan. ›

2011

An E. coli outbreak strikes Europe, mostly in Germany, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others are taken ill. ›

2008

Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless. ›

2008

Chaitén Volcano begins erupting in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people. ›

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. ›

2000

President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military. ›

1999

Panamanian general election: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama. ›

1998

The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy. ›

1995

During the Croatian War of Independence, the Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina fires cluster bombs at Zagreb, killing seven and wounding over 175 civilians. ›

1989

Cold War: Hungary begins dismantling its border fence with Austria, which allows a number of East Germans to defect. ›

1986

Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster. ›

1982

Falklands War: The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano. ›

1972

In the early morning hours a fire breaks out at the Sunshine Mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho, killing 91 workers. ›

1970

ALM Flight 980 ditches in the Caribbean Sea near Saint Croix, killing 23. ›

1969

The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 departs on her maiden voyage to New York City. ›

1964

First ascent of Shishapangma, the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders. ›

1963

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. ›

1952

A De Havilland Comet makes the first jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers, from London to Johannesburg. ›

1945

World War II: The Soviet Union announces the fall of Berlin. ›

1945

World War II: The surrender of Caserta comes into effect, by which German troops in Italy cease fighting. ›

1945

World War II: The US 82nd Airborne Division liberates Wöbbelin concentration camp finding 1,000 dead prisoners, most of whom starved to death. ›

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. ›

1941

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. ›

1933

Germany's independent labor unions are replaced by the German Labour Front. ›

1920

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis. ›

1906

Closing ceremony of the Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece. ›

1889

Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, signs the Treaty of Wuchale, giving Italy control over Eritrea. ›

1885

Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion. ›

1876

The April Uprising breaks out in Ottoman Bulgaria. ›

1867

Albert Günther publishes the first study to recognise that the New Zealand tuatara is not a lizard. ›

1866

Peruvian defenders fight off the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao. ›

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. ›

1829

After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger declares the Swan River Colony in Australia. ›

1812

The Siege of Cuautla during the Mexican War of Independence ends with both sides claiming victory. ›

1808

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. ›

1670

King Charles II of England grants a permanent charter to the Hudson's Bay Company to open up the fur trade in North America. ›

1625

Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Latin Patriarch of Ethiopia, arrives at Beilul from Goa. ›

1611

The King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker. ›

1568

Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle. ›

1559

John Knox returns from exile to Scotland to become the leader of the nascent Scottish Reformation. ›

1536

Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft. ›

1388

The surrender of the Acropolis of Athens to Nerio Acciaioli ends the Catalan presence in the Duchy of Athens. ›

1250

Mamluks under Baybars murder the Ayyubid sultan Turanshah for fear of losing their privileges. ›

1230

William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. ›

1194

King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first royal charter. ›