May 13
Every day on the calendar is a tapestry woven with countless moments of human history—births, deaths, discoveries, and pivotal events that shape our world. May 13th is no exception, a date marked by dramatic clashes, groundbreaking achievements, and moments of profound personal and political change. Let's journey through some of the most compelling stories that unfolded on this single day. May 13th has witnessed pivotal military victories, profound spiritual encounters, and critical steps in global exploration. This date marks the births and deaths of influential figures who shaped science, art, and politics, leaving enduring legacies. From the abolition of slavery in Brazil to the beginning of the Tiananmen Square protests, May 13th often stands as a turning point in social and political movements.
AI Summary
Every day on the calendar is a tapestry woven with countless moments of human history—births, deaths, discoveries, and pivotal events that shape our world. May 13th is no exception, a date marked by dramatic clashes, groundbreaking achievements, and moments of profound personal and political change. Let's journey through some of the most compelling stories that unfolded on this single day.
- May 13th has witnessed pivotal military victories, profound spiritual encounters, and critical steps in global exploration.
- This date marks the births and deaths of influential figures who shaped science, art, and politics, leaving enduring legacies.
- From the abolition of slavery in Brazil to the beginning of the Tiananmen Square protests, May 13th often stands as a turning point in social and political movements.
The Rhythms of Time
May 13th holds a specific place in the Gregorian calendar, serving as the 133rd day of the year—or the 134th in a leap year. It's a point from which 232 days typically remain until the calendar resets, a seemingly ordinary marker that has nonetheless been imprinted with extraordinary events across millennia.
Ancient Echoes and Medieval Maneuvers
Our journey begins far back in 1344, when a Latin Christian fleet achieved a significant victory over a Turkish fleet in the Battle of Pallene. This naval clash was a key moment in the Smyrniote Crusades, a series of campaigns fought to control vital trade routes and territories in the Aegean Sea, far from the more familiar battlefields of the Holy Land.
Just decades later, in 1373, an English mystic named Julian of Norwich experienced a series of profound visions while gravely ill. These spiritual revelations, which detailed divine love and comfort amidst suffering, were later documented in her seminal work, 'Revelations of Divine Love'—a cornerstone of Christian mysticism and early English literature.
The year 1501 saw the renowned explorer Amerigo Vespucci embark on yet another westward voyage, this time under the Portuguese flag. His expeditions along the coast of South America were instrumental in convincing Europeans that they had discovered a 'New World,' rather than just a new route to Asia—a realization that would forever change global geography.
Later, in 1568, the tempestuous reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, faced a critical turning point. Her forces were decisively defeated at the Battle of Langside, a brutal clash that was part of the civil war pitting the Queen against the supporters of her infant son, James VI. This defeat ultimately led to her flight to England and decades of imprisonment.
Legends and Legacy
Fast forward to 1612, and we find ourselves on the shores of Ganryū Island, Japan, witnessing one of the most legendary duels in samurai history. Here, the enigmatic Miyamoto Musashi faced off against the master swordsman Sasaki Kojirō. Musashi, reportedly arriving late and using a wooden oar fashioned into a bokken, delivered a fatal blow to Kojirō, solidifying his own myth as Japan's greatest swordsman.
The 18th century brought the birth of powerful minds and monarchs. On May 13, 1717, Maria Theresa was born, destined to become the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. Her reign saw significant reforms and established her as one of Europe's most influential and capable empresses.
Just four years prior, in 1713, another brilliant mind, Alexis Clairaut, entered the world. This French mathematician, astronomer, and geophysicist was a child prodigy, publishing his first paper on geometry at just 12 years old. He would go on to make critical contributions to understanding the shape of the Earth and the orbital mechanics of celestial bodies.
Shifting Tides and Freedom's Call
A truly inspiring story from May 13, 1862, during the American Civil War, involves Robert Smalls. Born into slavery, Smalls boldly commandeered the Confederate steamboat Planter, navigating it past Confederate defenses and delivering it to the Union Navy. This act of defiance earned him freedom, captaincy of the Planter as a Union gunboat, and later a distinguished career as a politician.
Perhaps one of the most significant events on this day occurred in 1888 when Brazil formally abolished slavery with the passage of the Lei Áurea, or 'Golden Law.' Signed by Princess Isabel, this decree instantly freed over 700,000 enslaved people, making Brazil the last country in the Western Hemisphere to completely end slavery—a monumental step for human rights.
The same era saw the birth of groundbreaking scientists, like Inge Lehmann in 1888. A Danish seismologist and geophysicist, Lehmann revolutionized our understanding of Earth's interior by discovering the Earth's inner core in 1936. Her meticulous analysis of seismic waves revealed a solid core within the molten outer core, a discovery still fundamental to earth science today.
In the world of art, May 13, 1882, marks the birth of Georges Braque, a pivotal figure in the development of Cubism. Collaborating closely with Pablo Picasso, Braque helped invent this revolutionary art movement, challenging traditional perspectives and reshaping how artists depicted reality.
Modern Milestones
May 13, 1909, marked the beginning of a new sporting tradition: the inaugural Giro d'Italia. This grueling multi-stage bicycle race, starting in Milan, quickly grew to become one of cycling's most prestigious events, capturing the hearts of fans across Italy and the world. The first winner was the Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna.
Just three years later, in 1912, a new chapter in military history began with the establishment of the Royal Flying Corps in the United Kingdom. This pioneering aerial arm would rapidly evolve during World War I and eventually transform into the mighty Royal Air Force, forever changing the face of modern warfare.
A profound spiritual event occurred on May 13, 1917, in Fátima, Portugal, when three shepherd children reported the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima. These visions, repeated over several months, drew millions of pilgrims and established Fátima as one of the most important Marian shrines in the world.
As World War II raged in Europe, May 13, 1940, saw Winston Churchill deliver one of his most iconic speeches to the House of Commons. As German forces pushed into France, Churchill rallied the British people with his resolute promise of 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat,' a powerful message of determination in the face of overwhelming adversity.
In a different realm of speed and competition, May 13, 1950, inaugurated the Formula One World Championship at Silverstone Circuit. This historic race, won by Giuseppe Farina who would become the first World Champion, kicked off a global phenomenon, establishing Formula One as the pinnacle of motor racing.
The year 1981 brought global shock and concern when Mehmet Ali Ağca attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square. The Pope, gravely wounded, underwent emergency surgery and miraculously survived, later forgiving his assailant in a poignant act of faith.
Later in the decade, May 13, 1989, marked the beginning of momentous student protests in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Large groups of students occupied the square and commenced a hunger strike, demanding political reforms and greater freedom—a movement that captivated the world before its tragic conclusion.
In 1995, a remarkable feat of human endurance unfolded as British climber Alison Hargreaves became the first woman to ascend Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen or the assistance of Sherpas. Her audacious climb underscored the incredible capabilities of the human spirit against nature's might.
Departures of Distinction
Finally, May 13th has also been a day of notable farewells. In recent years, we've seen the passing of beloved figures like American singer and actress Doris Day in 2019, whose infectious charm lit up screens for decades. More recently, in 2024, Canadian short story writer and Nobel laureate Alice Munro, celebrated for her profound insights into ordinary lives, left us. This day also marked the death of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the influential President of the United Arab Emirates, in 2022, reminding us of the constant ebb and flow of leadership and legacy across the world.
Article
May 13
<table><thead><tr><th>May 13 in recent years</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> 2025 (Tuesday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2024 (Monday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2023 (Saturday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2022 (Friday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2021 (Thursday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2020 (Wednesday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2019 (Monday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2018 (Sunday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2017 (Saturday)</td></tr><tr><td> 2016 (Friday)</td></tr></tbody></table>
May 13 is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 232 days remain until the end of the year.
Events
Pre-1600
• (/wiki/1344) – A Latin Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet in the battle of Pallene during the Smyrniote crusades. • (/wiki/1373) – Julian of Norwich has visions of Jesus while suffering from a life-threatening illness, visions which are later described and interpreted in her book Revelations of Divine Love. • (/wiki/1501) – Amerigo Vespucci, this time under Portuguese flag, set sail for western lands. • (/wiki/1568) – Mary, Queen of Scots, is defeated at the Battle of Langside, part of the civil war between Queen Mary and the supporters of her son, James VI.
1601–1900
• (/wiki/1612) – Sword duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro on the shores of Ganryū Island. Kojiro dies at the end. • (/wiki/1619) – Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt is executed in The Hague after being convicted of treason. • (/wiki/1654) – A Venetian fleet under Admiral Cort Adeler breaks through a line of galleys and defeats the Turkish navy. • (/wiki/1779) – War of the Bavarian Succession: Russian and French mediators at the Congress of Teschen negotiate an end to the war. In the agreement Austria receives the part of its territory that was taken from it (the Innviertel). • (/wiki/1780) – The Cumberland Compact is signed by leaders of the settlers in the Cumberland River area of what would become the U.S. state of Tennessee, providing for democratic government and a formal system of justice. • (/wiki/1804) – Forces sent by Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli to retake Derna from the Americans attack the city. • (/wiki/1830) – Ecuador gains its independence from Gran Colombia. • (/wiki/1846) – Mexican–American War: The United States declares war on the Federal Republic of Mexico following a dispute over the American annexation of the Republic of Texas and a Mexican military incursion. • (/wiki/1861) – American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the Confederacy as having belligerent rights. • 1861 – The Great Comet of 1861 is discovered by John Tebbutt of Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. • 1861 – Pakistan's (then a part of British India) first railway line opens, from Karachi to Kotri. • (/wiki/1862) – Southern slave Robert Smalls steals the steamboat Planter, spirits it through Confederate lines and hands it to the United States Navy, who quickly commission it as the gunboat USS Planter and appoint Smalls as captain, thus making him the first black man to command a United States ship. • (/wiki/1888) – With the passage of the Lei Áurea ("Golden Law"), the Empire of Brazil abolishes slavery.
1901–present
• (/wiki/1909) – The first edition of the Giro d'Italia, a long-distance multiple-stage bicycle race, began in Milan; the Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna was the eventual winner. • (/wiki/1912) – The Royal Flying Corps, the forerunner of the Royal Air Force, is established in the United Kingdom. • (/wiki/1917) – Three children report the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal. • (/wiki/1940) – World War II: Germany's conquest of France begins, as the German army crosses the Meuse. Winston Churchill makes his "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech to the House of Commons. • (/wiki/1943) – World War II: Operations Vulcan and Strike force the surrender of the last Axis troops in Tunisia. • (/wiki/1945) – World War II: Yevgeny Khaldei's photograph Raising a Flag over the Reichstag is published in Ogonyok magazine. • (/wiki/1948) – Arab–Israeli War: The Kfar Etzion massacre occurs, a day prior to the Israeli Declaration of Independence. • (/wiki/1949) – Aeroflot Flight 17 crashes on approach to Severny Airport in Novosibirsk, killing 25. • (/wiki/1950) – The inaugural Formula One World Championship race takes place at Silverstone Circuit. The race was won by Giuseppe Farina, who would go on to become the inaugural champion that year. • (/wiki/1951) – The 400th anniversary of the founding of the National University of San Marcos is commemorated by the opening of the first large-capacity stadium in Peru. • (/wiki/1952) – The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, holds its first sitting. • (/wiki/1954) – The anti-National Service Riots, by Chinese middle school students in Singapore, take place. • (/wiki/1958) – During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, the US Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators. • 1958 – May 1958 crisis: A group of French military officers lead a coup in Algiers demanding that a government of national unity be formed with Charles de Gaulle at its head in order to defend French control of Algeria. • 1958 – Ben Carlin becomes the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle, having travelled over 17,000 kilometres (11,000 mi) by sea and 62,000 kilometres (39,000 mi) by land during a ten-year journey. • (/wiki/1960) – Hundreds of University of California, Berkeley students congregate for the first day of protest against a visit by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. • (/wiki/1967) – Dr. Zakir Husain becomes the third President of India. He is the first Muslim President of the Indian Union. He holds this position until August 24, 1969. • (/wiki/1969) – In the aftermath of the 1969 Malaysian general election, Sino-Malay sectarian violence erupted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. • (/wiki/1972) – A fire occurs in the Sennichi Department Store in Osaka, Japan. Blocked exits and non-functional elevators result in 118 fatalities (many victims leaping to their deaths). • 1972 – The Troubles: A car bombing outside a crowded pub in Belfast sparks a two-day gun battle involving the Provisional IRA, Ulster Volunteer Force and British Army. Seven people are killed and over 66 injured. • (/wiki/1980) – An F3 tornado hits Kalamazoo County, Michigan. President Jimmy Carter declares it a federal disaster area. • (/wiki/1981) – Mehmet Ali Ağca attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in Rome. The Pope is rushed to the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic to undergo emergency surgery and survives. • (/wiki/1985) – Police bombed MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 city residents. • (/wiki/1989) – Large groups of students occupy Tiananmen Square and begin a hunger strike. • (/wiki/1990) – The Dinamo–Red Star riot took place at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, Croatia between the Bad Blue Boys (fans of Dinamo Zagreb) and the Delije (fans of Red Star Belgrade). • (/wiki/1992) – Li Hongzhi gives the first public lecture on Falun Gong in Changchun, People's Republic of China. • (/wiki/1995) – Alison Hargreaves, a 33-year-old British mother, becomes the first woman to ascend Everest without oxygen or the help of sherpas. • (/wiki/1996) – Severe thunderstorms and a tornado in Bangladesh kill 600 people. • (/wiki/1998) – Race riots break out in Jakarta, Indonesia, where shops owned by Indonesians of Chinese descent are looted and women raped. • 1998 – India carries out two nuclear weapon tests at Pokhran, following the three conducted on May 11. The United States and Japan impose economic sanctions on India. • (/wiki/1999) – Kosovo War: NATO bombs the village of Koriša, killing at least 87 people. • (/wiki/2000) – A fireworks storage depot explodes in a residential neighborhood in Enschede, Netherlands, killing 23 people and injuring 950 others. • (/wiki/2005) – Andijan uprising, Uzbekistan; Troops open fire on crowds of protestors after a prison break; at least 187 people were killed according to official estimates. • (/wiki/2006) – São Paulo violence: Rebellions occur in several prisons in Brazil. • (/wiki/2011) – Two bombs explode in the Charsadda District of Pakistan killing 98 people and wounding 140 others. • (/wiki/2012) – Forty-nine dismembered bodies are discovered by Mexican authorities on Mexican Federal Highway 40. • (/wiki/2013) – American physician Kermit Gosnell is found guilty in Pennsylvania of murdering three infants born alive during attempted abortions, involuntary manslaughter of a woman during an abortion procedure, and other charges. • (/wiki/2014) – An explosion at an underground coal mine in southwest Turkey kills 301 miners.
Births
Pre-1600
• (/wiki/1024) – Hugh of Cluny, French abbot and saint (died 1109) • (/wiki/1179) – Theobald III, Count of Champagne (died 1201) • (/wiki/1221) – Alexander Nevsky, Russian prince and saint (died 1263) • (/wiki/1254) – Marie of Brabant, Queen of France (died 1321) • (/wiki/1453) – Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran, Scottish princess (died 1488) • (/wiki/1588) – Ole Worm, Danish physician and historian (died 1654)
1601–1900
• (/wiki/1638) – Richard Simon, French priest and scholar (died 1712) • (/wiki/1699) – Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, Portuguese politician, Prime Minister of Portugal (died 1782) • (/wiki/1712) – Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff, Danish politician and diplomat (died 1772) • (/wiki/1713) – Alexis Clairaut, French mathematician, astronomer, and geophysicist (died 1765) • (/wiki/1717) – Maria Theresa, Archduchess, Queen, and Empress; Austrian wife of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (died 1780) • (/wiki/1730) – Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, English politician, Prime Minister of Great Britain (died 1782) • (/wiki/1735) – Horace Coignet, French violinist and composer (died 1821) • (/wiki/1742) – Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen (died 1798) • (/wiki/1753) – Lazare Carnot, French general, mathematician, and politician, French Minister of the Interior (died 1823) • (/wiki/1792) – Pope Pius IX (died 1878) • (/wiki/1794) – Louis Léopold Robert, French painter (died 1835) • (/wiki/1795) – Gérard Paul Deshayes, French geologist and chronologist (died 1875) • (/wiki/1804) – Per Gustaf Svinhufvud af Qvalstad, Swedo-Finnish treasurer of Tavastia province, manor host, and paternal grandfather of President P. E. Svinhufvud (died 1866) • (/wiki/1811) – Juan Bautista Ceballos, President of Mexico (1853) (died 1859) • (/wiki/1822) – Francis, Duke of Cádiz (died 1902) • (/wiki/1830) – Zebulon Baird Vance, American colonel, lawyer, and politician, 37th Governor of North Carolina (died 1894) • (/wiki/1832) – Juris Alunāns, Latvian philologist and author (died 1864) • (/wiki/1840) – Alphonse Daudet, French author, poet, and playwright (died 1897) • (/wiki/1842) – Arthur Sullivan, English composer (died 1900) • (/wiki/1856) – Tom O'Rourke, American boxer and manager (died 1938) • (/wiki/1857) – Ronald Ross, Indian-English physician and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1932) • (/wiki/1868) – Sumner Paine, American target shooter (died 1904) • (/wiki/1869) – Mehmet Emin Yurdakul, Turkish writer (died 1944) • (/wiki/1877) – Robert Hamilton, Scottish international footballer (died 1948) • (/wiki/1881) – Lima Barreto, Brazilian journalist and author (died 1922) • 1881 – Joe Forshaw, American runner (died 1964) • (/wiki/1882) – Georges Braque, French painter and sculptor (died 1963) • (/wiki/1883) – Georgios Papanikolaou, Greek-American pathologist, invented the pap smear (died 1962) • (/wiki/1884) – Oskar Rosenfeld, Jewish-Austrian writer and Holocaust victim (died 1944) • (/wiki/1885) – Mikiel Gonzi, Maltese archbishop (died 1984) • (/wiki/1887) – Lorna Hodgkinson, Australian educator and educational psychologist (died 1951) • (/wiki/1888) – Inge Lehmann, Danish seismologist and geophysicist (died 1993) • (/wiki/1894) – Ásgeir Ásgeirsson, Icelandic politician, 2nd President of Iceland (died 1972) • (/wiki/1895) – Nandor Fodor, Hungarian-American psychologist, parapsychologist, and author (died 1964)
1901–present
• (/wiki/1905) – Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Indian lawyer and politician, 5th President of India (died 1977) • (/wiki/1907) – Daphne du Maurier, English novelist and playwright (died 1989) • (/wiki/1909) – Ken Darby, American composer and conductor (died 1992) • (/wiki/1911) – Maxine Sullivan, American singer and actress (died 1987) • (/wiki/1912) – Gil Evans, Canadian-American pianist, composer, and bandleader (died 1988) • (/wiki/1913) – Robert Dorning, English actor, singer, and dancer (died 1989) • 1913 – William R. Tolbert, Jr., Liberian politician, 20th President of Liberia (died 1980) • (/wiki/1914) – Joe Louis, American boxer (died 1981) • 1914 – Johnnie Wright, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2011) • (/wiki/1922) – Otl Aicher, German graphic designer and typographer (died 1991) • 1922 – Bea Arthur, American actress and singer (died 2009) • (/wiki/1924) – Harry Schwarz, South African anti-apartheid leader, lawyer, and Ambassador (died 2010) • (/wiki/1928) – Enrique Bolaños, Nicaraguan politician, President of Nicaragua (died 2021) • (/wiki/1930) – Mike Gravel, American politician (died 2021) • (/wiki/1931) – Jim Jones, American cult leader, founder of the Peoples Temple (died 1978) • (/wiki/1933) – John Roseboro, American baseball player and coach (died 2002) • (/wiki/1934) – Ehud Netzer, Israeli archaeologist, architect, and academic (died 2010) • (/wiki/1935) – James F. White, American funeral director and politician (died 2026) • (/wiki/1937) – Zohra Lampert, American actress • 1937 – Roger Zelazny, American author and poet (died 1995) • (/wiki/1938) – Giuliano Amato, Italian academic and politician, 48th Prime Minister of Italy • (/wiki/1939) – Harvey Keitel, American actor • (/wiki/1940) – Bruce Chatwin, English author (died 1989) • (/wiki/1941) – Senta Berger, Austrian actress • 1941 – Jody Conradt, American basketball player and coach • 1941 – Ritchie Valens, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1959) • (/wiki/1943) – Mary Wells, American singer-songwriter (died 1992) • (/wiki/1944) – Armistead Maupin, American author, screenwriter, and actor • (/wiki/1945) – Lasse Berghagen, Swedish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (died 2023) • 1945 – Lou Marini, American saxophonist and composer • (/wiki/1946) – Tim Pigott-Smith, English actor and author (died 2017) • 1946 – Marv Wolfman, American author • (/wiki/1949) – Zoë Wanamaker, American-British actress • (/wiki/1950) – Danny Kirwan, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2018) • 1950 – Bobby Valentine, American baseball player and manager • 1950 – Stevie Wonder, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer • (/wiki/1952) – John Kasich, American politician, 69th Governor of Ohio • 1952 – Mary Walsh, Canadian actress, producer, and screenwriter • 1952 – Londa Schiebinger, American academic and author • (/wiki/1954) – Johnny Logan, Australian-Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist • (/wiki/1956) – Richard Madeley, English journalist and author • (/wiki/1957) – Mar Roxas, Filipino economist and politician, 24th Secretary of the Interior and Local Government • (/wiki/1961) – Siobhan Fallon Hogan, American actress • 1961 – Dennis Rodman, American basketball player, wrestler, and actor • (/wiki/1963) – Andrea Leadsom, English politician • (/wiki/1964) – Stephen Colbert, American comedian and talk show host • (/wiki/1965) – José Rijo, Dominican baseball player • 1965 – Lari White, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress (died 2018) • (/wiki/1966) – Alison Goldfrapp, English singer-songwriter and producer • 1966 – Darius Rucker, American singer-songwriter and guitarist • (/wiki/1967) – Chuck Schuldiner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2001) • 1967 – Melanie Thornton, American-German singer (died 2001) • (/wiki/1968) – Scott Morrison, Australian politician, 30th Prime Minister of Australia • (/wiki/1969) – Buckethead, American guitarist and songwriter • (/wiki/1972) – Darryl Sydor, Canadian ice hockey player and coach • (/wiki/1973) – Reinhold Einwallner, Austrian politician • (/wiki/1976) – Trajan Langdon, American basketball player and executive • (/wiki/1977) – Tom Cotton, American politician • 1977 – Ilse DeLange, Dutch singer-songwriter • 1977 – Samantha Morton, English actress and director • 1977 – Pusha T, American rapper • (/wiki/1978) – Mike Bibby, American basketball player and coach • 1978 – Barry Zito, American baseball player • (/wiki/1979) – Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland • 1979 – Steve Mildenhall, English footballer • (/wiki/1981) – Luciana Berger, English politician • 1981 – Andrey Polukeyev, Russian sprinter • (/wiki/1982) – Larry Fonacier, Filipino basketball player • 1982 – Oguchi Onyewu, American footballer • (/wiki/1983) – Natalie Cassidy, English actress and singer • 1983 – Anita Görbicz, Hungarian handball player • 1983 – Yaya Touré, Ivorian footballer • (/wiki/1984) – Dawn Harper, American hurdler • (/wiki/1985) – Javi Balboa, Equatoguinean footballer • 1985 – Jaroslav Halák, Slovak ice hockey player • 1985 – Iwan Rheon, Welsh actor and singer • 1985 – Travis Zajac, Canadian ice hockey player • (/wiki/1986) – Lena Dunham, American actress, director, and screenwriter • 1986 – Robert Pattinson, English actor • 1986 – Alexander Rybak, Belarusian-Norwegian singer-songwriter, violinist, and actor • 1986 – Kris Versteeg, Canadian ice hockey player • (/wiki/1987) – Candice King, American singer-songwriter and actress • 1987 – Marianne Vos, Dutch cyclist • (/wiki/1988) – Paulo Avelino, Filipino actor and singer • 1988 – Casey Donovan, Australian singer-songwriter • 1988 – Lydia Williams, Australian footballer • (/wiki/1989) – P. K. Subban, Canadian ice hockey player • (/wiki/1990) – Mychal Givens, American baseball player • (/wiki/1991) – Jen Beattie, Scottish footballer • 1991 – Francis Coquelin, French footballer • 1991 – Junior Messias, Brazilian footballer • 1991 – Alan Patrick, Brazilian footballer • (/wiki/1992) – Thievy Bifouma, Congolese footballer • 1992 – Willson Contreras, Venezuelan baseball player • 1992 – Tyrann Mathieu, American football player • 1992 – Josh Papalii, New Zealand-Australian rugby league player • 1992 – Mark Stone, Canadian hockey player • (/wiki/1993) – Abby Dahlkemper, American footballer • 1993 – Romelu Lukaku, Belgian footballer • 1993 – Debby Ryan, American actress and singer • 1993 – Morgan Wallen, American singer-songwriter • (/wiki/1994) – Percy Tau, South African footballer • (/wiki/1997) – Nico Hoerner, American baseball player • (/wiki/1998) – Adrià Pedrosa, Spanish footballer • 1998 – Luca Zidane, Algerian footballer • (/wiki/1999) – Óscar Mingueza, Spanish footballer • 1999 – Aníbal Moreno, Argentine footballer • (/wiki/2002) – Diego López, Spanish footballer • (/wiki/2003) – Jaxson Dart, American football player • 2003 – Javi Guerra, Spanish footballer • 2003 – Jabari Smith Jr., American basketball player • (/wiki/2005) – Romain Esse, English footballer
Deaths
Pre-1600
• (/wiki/189) – Emperor Ling of Han, Chinese emperor (born 156) • (/wiki/1112) – Ulric II, Margrave of Carniola • (/wiki/1176) – Matthias I, Duke of Lorraine (born 1119) • (/wiki/1285) – Robert de Ros, 1st Baron de Ros • (/wiki/1312) – Theobald II, Duke of Lorraine (born 1263) • (/wiki/1573) – Takeda Shingen, Japanese daimyō (born 1521)
1601–1900
• (/wiki/1612) – Sasaki Kojirō, Japanese master swordsman (born 1575) • (/wiki/1619) – Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Dutch politician (born 1547) • (/wiki/1704) – Louis Bourdaloue, French preacher and author (born 1632) • (/wiki/1726) – Francesco Antonio Pistocchi, Italian singer (born 1659) • (/wiki/1782) – Daniel Solander, Swedish-English botanist and phycologist (born 1736) • (/wiki/1807) – Eliphalet Dyer, American colonel, lawyer, and politician (born 1721) • (/wiki/1809) – Beilby Porteus, English bishop (born 1731) • (/wiki/1832) – Georges Cuvier, French zoologist and academic (born 1769) • (/wiki/1835) – John Nash, English architect, designed the Royal Pavilion (born 1752) • (/wiki/1836) – John Littlejohn, American sheriff and Methodist preacher (born 1756) • (/wiki/1866) – Nikolai Brashman, Czech-Russian mathematician and academic (born 1796) • (/wiki/1878) – Joseph Henry, American physicist and academic (born 1797) • (/wiki/1884) – Cyrus McCormick, American businessman, co-founded the International Harvester Company (born 1809) • (/wiki/1885) – Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle, German physician, pathologist, and anatomist (born 1809)
1901–present
• (/wiki/1903) – Apolinario Mabini, Filipino lawyer and politician, 1st Prime Minister of the Philippines (born 1864) • (/wiki/1916) – Sholem Aleichem, Ukrainian-American author and playwright (born 1859) • (/wiki/1921) – Jean Aicard, French author, poet, and playwright (born 1848) • (/wiki/1926) – Libert H. Boeynaems, Belgian-American bishop (born 1857) • (/wiki/1929) – Arthur Scherbius, German electrical engineer, invented the Enigma machine (born 1878) • (/wiki/1930) – Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian scientist, explorer, and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1861) • (/wiki/1938) – Charles Édouard Guillaume, Swiss-French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1861) • (/wiki/1941) – Frederick Christian, English cricketer (born 1877) • 1941 – Ōnishiki Uichirō, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 26th Yokozuna (born 1891) • (/wiki/1945) – Tubby Hall, American drummer (born 1895) • (/wiki/1946) – Zara DuPont, American suffragist (born 1869) • (/wiki/1947) – Sukanta Bhattacharya, Indian poet and playwright (born 1926) • (/wiki/1948) – Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington (born 1920) • (/wiki/1957) – Michael Fekete, Hungarian-Israeli mathematician and academic (born 1886) • (/wiki/1961) – Gary Cooper, American actor (born 1901) • (/wiki/1962) – Henry Trendley Dean, American dentist (born 1893) • 1962 – Franz Kline, American painter and academic (born 1910) • (/wiki/1963) – Alois Hudal, Austrian-Italian bishop (born 1885) • (/wiki/1972) – Dan Blocker, American actor (born 1928) • (/wiki/1974) – Jaime Torres Bodet, Mexican poet and diplomat (born 1902) • 1974 – Arthur J. Burks, American colonel and author (born 1898) • (/wiki/1975) – Marguerite Perey, French physicist (born 1909) • 1975 – Bob Wills, American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1905) • (/wiki/1977) – Mickey Spillane, American mobster (born 1934) • (/wiki/1985) – Leatrice Joy, American actress (born 1893) • 1985 – Richard Ellmann, American literary critic and biographer (born 1918) • (/wiki/1988) – Chet Baker, American singer and trumpet player (born 1929) • (/wiki/1992) – F. E. McWilliam, Irish sculptor (born 1909) • (/wiki/1994) – Duncan Hamilton, Irish-English race car driver (born 1920) • 1994 – John Swainson, Canadian-American jurist and politician, 42nd Governor of Michigan (born 1925) • (/wiki/1995) – Hao Wang, Chinese-American logician, philosopher, and mathematician (born 1921) • (/wiki/1999) – Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Saudi Arabian scholar and academic (born 1910) • 1999 – Gene Sarazen, American golfer and journalist (born 1902) • (/wiki/2000) – Paul Bartel, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1938) • 2000 – Jumbo Tsuruta, Japanese wrestler (born 1951) • (/wiki/2001) – Jason Miller, American actor and playwright (born 1939) • (/wiki/2002) – Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Ukrainian footballer and manager (born 1939) • (/wiki/2005) – Eddie Barclay, French record producer, founded Barclay Records (born 1921) • 2005 – George Dantzig, American mathematician and academic (born 1914) • (/wiki/2006) – Jaroslav Pelikan, American historian and scholar (born 1923) • 2006 – Johnnie Wilder, Jr., American singer (born 1949) • (/wiki/2008) – Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti ruler, Emir of Kuwait (born 1930) • 2008 – Ron Stone, American journalist and author (born 1936) • (/wiki/2009) – Frank Aletter, American actor (born 1926) • 2009 – Meir Brandsdorfer, Belgian rabbi (born 1934) • 2009 – Achille Compagnoni, Italian skier and mountaineer (born 1914) • (/wiki/2011) – Derek Boogaard, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1982) • 2011 – Stephen De Staebler, American sculptor and educator (born 1933) • 2011 – Wallace McCain, Canadian businessman, co-founded McCain Foods (born 1930) • 2011 – Bruce Ricker, American director and producer (born 1942) • (/wiki/2012) – Arsala Rahmani Daulat, Afghan politician (born 1937) • 2012 – Donald "Duck" Dunn, American bass player, songwriter, and producer (born 1941) • 2012 – Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, Cuban-American theologian, author, and academic (born 1943) • 2012 – Lee Richardson, English speedway rider (born 1979) • 2012 – Don Ritchie, Australian humanitarian (born 1925) • 2012 – Nguyễn Văn Thiện, Vietnamese bishop (born 1906) • (/wiki/2013) – Joyce Brothers, American psychologist, author, and actress (born 1927) • 2013 – Otto Herrigel, Namibian lawyer and politician (born 1937) • 2013 – Jagdish Mali, Indian photographer (born 1954) • 2013 – Chuck Muncie, American football player (born 1953) • 2013 – Fyodor Tuvin, Russian footballer (born 1973) • 2013 – Lynne Woolstencroft, Canadian politician (born 1943) • (/wiki/2014) – David Malet Armstrong, Australian philosopher and author (born 1926) • 2014 – Malik Bendjelloul, Swedish director and producer (born 1977) • 2014 – J. F. Coleman, American soldier and pilot (born 1918) • 2014 – Ron Stevens, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1949) • 2014 – Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, American occultist and author (born 1948) • (/wiki/2015) – Earl Averill, Jr., American baseball player (born 1931) • 2015 – Robert Drasnin, American clarinet player and composer (born 1927) • 2015 – Nina Otkalenko, Russian runner (born 1928) • 2015 – David Sackett, American-Canadian physician and academic (born 1934) • 2015 – Gainan Saidkhuzhin, Russian cyclist (born 1937) • (/wiki/2016) – Murray A. Straus, American sociologist and academic (born 1926) • (/wiki/2019) – Doris Day, American singer and actress (born 1922) • 2019 – Unita Blackwell, American civil rights activist and politician (born 1933) • (/wiki/2022) – Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2nd President of the United Arab Emirates (born 1948) • (/wiki/2024) – Alice Munro, Canadian short story writer (born 1931) • 2024 – Cyril Wecht, American forensic pathologist (born 1931) • 2024 – Samm-Art Williams, American playwright and screenwriter (born 1946) • (/wiki/2025) – Kit Bond, American lawyer and politician, 47th Governor of Missouri (born 1939) • 2025 – Danny Lendich, New Zealand businessperson (born 1944) • 2025 – José Mujica, Uruguayan politician, 40th President of Uruguay (born 1935)
Holidays and observances
May 13
• Abbotsbury Garland Day (Dorset, England) • Christian feast day: • Our Lady of Fátima • Conchita Barrecheguren (Roman Catholic) • Gerard of Villamagna • Glyceria • John the Silent (Roman Catholic) • Julian of Norwich (Roman Catholic) • Frances Perkins (Episcopal Church (USA)) • Servatius • May 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) • Rotuma Day (Rotuma)