What Happened in May 1909

Historical Events

  • May 1 Netherlands begins unity with Belgium

Baseball Record

May 2 Honus Wagner steals his way around bases in 1st inning against Cubs

  • May 3 35th Kentucky Derby: Vincent Powers on Wintergreen wins in 2:08.2
  • May 6 Indian nationalist Sri Aurobindo acquitted in the Alipore Bomb Case in Calcutta, India
  • May 7 Construction begins on first 100 houses in Ahuzat Bayit (Tel Aviv)
  • May 8 American Albert Raines runs world record marathon (2:46:04.6) in NYC
  • May 8 British runner Henry Barrett runs world record marathon (2:42:31) in the Polytechnic Marathon in London
  • May 10 Winchester's Fred Toney no-hits Lexington for 17 inning
  • May 12 34th Preakness: Willie Doyle aboard Effendi wins in 1:39.8
  • May 13 Christian National Labor Workers (CNV) party begins in Netherlands
  • May 13 First Giro d'Italia takes place in Milan - Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna is the winner
  • May 17 White firemen on Georgia lroad strike to protest against hiring blacks

Johnson vs O'Brien

May 19 In his first title defense Jack Johnson fights 'Philadelphia' Jack O'Brien to a no decision in 6 rounds in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to retain his world heavyweight crown

  • May 22 1st San Francisco fireboat, David Scannell, launched
  • May 24 Bristol University granted Royal Charter
  • May 29 Frank "Home Run" Baker's 1st career home run for Philadelphia Athletics
  • May 30 Reuben Siegel laid cornerstone of 1st home in Tel-Aviv

National Negro Conference

May 31 National Conference on the Negro holds its first meeting in United Charities Building, New York (earlier form of the NAACP)


1909 History

Famous Birthdays

  • May 1 Ethel Jane Cain, British telephonist and original UK Speaking Clock voice, born in England (d. 1996)
  • May 1 George Melachrino, English composer, born in London (d. 1965)
  • May 1 Yiannis Ritsos, Greek poet and political activist, born in Monemvasia (d. 1990)
  • May 4 Howard Da Silva [Silverblatt], American actor (1776, The Lost Weekend, The Blue Dahlia), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1986)
  • May 4 Jeroom Verten [Jozef Frans Vermetten], Flemish playwright, born in Berchem, Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1958)
  • May 5 Miklós Radnóti, Hungarian poet (Clouded Sky), born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (d. 1944)
  • May 6 Loyd Sigmon, American radio broadcaster, sound engineer, and inventor ("Sig Alert" for traffic and emergency notices), born in Stigler, Oklahoma (d. 2004)

Edwin Land (1909-1991)

May 7 American inventor of instant photography and co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation, born in Bridgeport, Connecticut

  • May 9 Don Messer, Canadian folk fiddler, and television host (Jubilee, 1959-73), born in Tweedside, New Brunswick (d. 1973)
  • May 10 Harold Collison, British trade unionist (agriculture workers), born in London (d. 1995)

Maybelle Carter (1909-1978)

May 10 American country singer (Johnny Cash Show), born in Nickelsville, Virginia

  • May 11 Herbert Murrill, British organist, composer (The Song of the Birds; Carillon), and educator (Royal Academy of Music, 1933-52), born in London, England (d. 1952)
  • May 11 René Bousquet, French Vichy-police chief (deported Jews), born in Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne (d. 1993)
  • May 12 Frank DeCaires, West Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests, 2 x 50; British Guiana), born in British Guiana (d. 1959)
  • May 15 James Mason, British actor (Lolita, North by Northwest, Bloodline, Boys From Brazil), born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire (d. 1984)
  • May 15 Rodolfo Cornejo, Filipino classical pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Manila, Philippines (d. 1991)
  • May 16 Margaret Sullavan, American actress (Three Comrades, The Shop Around the Corner), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 1960)
  • May 17 Edward Playfair, British senior civil servant, born in London (d. 1999)
  • May 17 Karl Schäfer, Austrian figure skater (Olympic gold 1932, 36), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1976)
  • May 17 Magda Schneider, German actress (Eva, Going Gay, Be Mine Tonight), born in Bavaria, German (d. 1996)

Fred Perry (1909-1995)

May 18 English tennis player (first to win "Career Grand Slam"; 8 x Grand Slam singles, 6 x Grand Slam doubles titles; Davis Cup 1933, 34, 35, 36) and broadcaster (BBC, ITV), born in Stockport, England

  • May 19 Schlomo Joffe, Polish-Israeli folk and classical musician and composer, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1995)
  • May 19 Sir Nicholas Winton, British humanitarian ('British Schindler' - saved 669 children from Nazis), born in London (d. 2015) [1] [2]
  • May 21 François-Albert Angers, Quebec economist (d. 2003)
  • May 21 Guy de Rothschild, French banker (Rothschild Frères), born in Paris, France (d. 2007)
  • May 24 Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, Spanish literary and poet (Lorca), born in Manresa, Barcelona (d. 1984)
  • May 24 Louis Fornberg, writer (d. 1957)
  • May 24 Wilbur Mills, American congressmen (Democrat-AZ: 1939-77), famous for his involvement in a sex scandal with Fanne Foxe, born in Kensett, Arkansas (d. 1992)
  • May 25 Alfred Kubel, German politician, born in Braunschweig, Germany (d. 1999)
  • May 25 Marie Menken, American experimental filmmaker and socialite, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1970)
  • May 26 Matt Busby, Scottish soccer forward (Manchester City, Liverpool) and manager (Manchester United 1945-69, 70–71; Scotland 1958), born in Orbiston, Bellshill, Scotland (d. 1994)
  • May 26 Richard Maibaum, American screenwriter (Goldfinger), born in New York City (d. 1991)
  • May 27 Isador Goodman, South African-Australian pianist and composer (New Guinea Fantasy), born in Cape Town, South Africa (d. 1982)
  • May 28 Red Horner, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup 1932 Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Lynden, Ontario (d. 2005)
  • May 29 Neil R. Jones, American sci-fi author (Space War, Twin Worlds), born in Fulton, New York (d. 1988)

Benny Goodman (1909-1986)

May 30 American clarinetist and bandleader (King of Swing), born in Chicago, Illinois

George Headley (1909-1983)

May 30 West Indies cricket batsman (22 Tests; 2,190 runs @ 60.83; 10 x 100; Jamaica), born in Colón, Panama

  • May 31 Sammy Spear, American big band trumpet player and orchestra leader (The Jackie Gleason Show), born in Brooklyn, NYC (d. 1975)
  • May 31 Thor Thorvaldsen, Norwegian yachtsman (Olympic gold dragon class 1948, 52), born in Bamble, Norway (d. 1987)
Born in 1909

Famous Deaths

  • May 5 Pauline Staegeman, German feminist, dies
  • May 6 (Francesca) "Fanny" Cerrito, Italian ballerina and choreographer (Rosida), dies at 91
  • May 8 Friedrich von Holstein, German civil servant (head of the political department of the German Foreign Office), dies at 72
  • May 10 Johannes de Koo, Dutch journalist and playwright, dies at 67
  • May 12 Bertha Townsend, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1888-89), dies at 40
  • May 18 George Meredith, English poet and writer (Diana of Crossways), dies at 81
  • May 18 Isaac Albéniz, Spanish pianist and composer (Suite española; Tango in D), dies from nephritis at 48
  • May 20 Ernest Hogan, blackface comedian and musician (b. 1859)