Historical Events
Mackenzie's Second Expedition to the Pacific
May 9 Explorer Alexander Mackenzie sets out on his second expedition to the Pacific from Fort Fork (arrives at Pacific 22nd July)
- May 15 Diego Marín Aguilera flies a glider for "about 360 metres", at a height of 5-6 metres, one of the first attempted flights
- May 19 Netherlands captures French island of St Maarten (held until 1795)
- May 21 Curacao Island Council forbids criticism of House of Orange
- May 25 Father Stephen Theodore Badin is 1st US Roman Catholic priest ordained
- May 30 French revolutionary Georges Couthon chosen to be a member of French Committee the Salut Public
Famous Birthdays
- May 9 Johannes Cornelis de Jonge, Dutch historian and archivist, born in Zierikzee, Netherlands (d. 1853)
Famous Deaths
- May 7 Johan Zoutman, Dutch rear admiral who fought at the Battle of Dogger Bank and in the American Revolutionary War, dies at 68
- May 7 Pietro Nardini, Italian composer, dies at 71
- May 13 Martin Gerbert, German composer, music historian and abbot, dies at 72
- May 20 Charles Bonnet, Swiss naturalist and writer, dies at 73
