30 fun facts for May, 13
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
May 13th boasts many fun and historical facts, from events such as first Formula One World Championship race to Brazil's abolition of slavery in 1888. The day also sees celebrations like International Hummus Day, National Apple Pie Day, and Saint Servatius Day in the Netherlands.
30 Fun facts
- May 13, 1787: The First Fleet, a group of 11 ships carrying British convicts to Australia, set sail from Portsmouth, England. This eventually led to the establishment of the first European colonies in Australia.
- May 13, 1846: The U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico, starting the Mexican-American War. This eventually led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, adding significant territories to the U.S.
- May 13, 1865: The Battle of Palmito Ranch occurred, which was the last major conflict of the American Civil War. Confederate forces secured victory over Union forces in the battle.
- May 13, 1888: Brazil abolished slavery with the passing of the Golden Law (Lei Áurea), which immediately emancipated all slaves in the country. Brazil was the last country in the Americas to end slavery.
- May 13, 1917: The Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. This event led to the establishment of the popular Roman Catholic pilgrimage site, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima.
- May 13, 1939: The British ship MS St. Louis departed from Hamburg, Germany, carrying over 900 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. Most of them were later denied entry to other countries, forcing the ship to return to Europe.
- May 13, 1950: The first ever Formula One World Championship race took place at the Silverstone Circuit in England. The championship was won by the Italian driver Giuseppe Farina.
- May 13, 1958: The Velcro trademark was registered by Swiss engineer George de Mestral, who originally developed the technology after realizing that burrs from plants stuck to his clothing and his dog's fur.
- May 13, 1960: The United States launched the navigation satellite, Transit 1-B. It was the second orbital test of the Transit system, which later became the basis for the Global Positioning System (GPS).
- May 13, 1967: Dr. Zakir Hussain became the third President of India and the first Muslim to hold the position. He served until his death in 1969.
- May 13, 1981: Pope John Paul II was shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. The Pope survived the assassination attempt and later forgave Agca.
- May 13, 1985: Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on the MOVE organization's headquarters, a radical black liberation group. The bombing killed 11 people and destroyed around 60 homes in the area.
- May 13, 1992: Over 2,000 victims of the Bosnian War from the town of Prijedor were discovered in mass graves. This event was part of the ongoing Bosnian War in the former Yugoslavia.
- May 13, 1995: The first ever Rugby Union World Cup Sevens tournament began in Hong Kong. The tournament was won by Fiji.
- May 13, 2000: The final episode of the American television show Beverly Hills, 90210 aired after ten successful seasons. The show was a cultural phenomenon and helped launch the careers of many young actors.
- May 13, 2005: Uzbekistan military forces killed several hundred unarmed protesters in Andijan. The killings were condemned internationally as a human rights violation.
- May 13, 2009: NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which went on to discover water ice on the Moon's south pole. The mission helped pave the way for future lunar exploration.
- May 13, 2011: South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh broke the world record for the 50-meter breaststroke during the South African National Championships. His time was 26.67 seconds.
- May 13, 2011: An EF5 tornado struck the city of Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people and injuring over 1,000. It was one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
- May 13, 2016: Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer became the country's acting president after the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Temer served as president until the end of Rousseff's term in 2018.
- May 13, 2018: Chelsea F.C. won their eighth FA Cup after defeating Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. The victory marked the first FA Cup win for manager Antonio Conte.
- May 13th is celebrated as International Hummus Day, recognizing the popular Middle Eastern dish made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. People around the world gather to enjoy hummus and share recipes.
- May 13th is National Apple Pie Day in the United States, celebrating the classic American dessert made from apples, sugar, and spices baked inside a pie crust.
- May 13th is National Frog Jumping Day in the United States, inspired by Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." This day is marked by frog jumping contests and celebrations.
- May 13th is National Leprechaun Day, celebrating the mythical Irish fairies who are said to store their pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is a day to explore Irish folklore and traditions.
- May 13th is Top Gun Day, an unofficial holiday commemorating the release of the iconic 1986 film starring Tom Cruise as a fighter pilot. Fans celebrate the day by quoting famous lines from the movie or dressing up as their favorite characters.
- May 13th is National Children's Day in Indonesia, a day to celebrate and appreciate children, promote their wellbeing, and raise awareness about their rights and needs.
- May 13th is Rotuma Day in Fiji, which commemorates the people of the island of Rotuma and their unique culture, language, and traditions.
- May 13th is International Migratory Bird Day, observed to raise awareness about the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
- May 13th is Saint Servatius Day, observed mainly in the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Saint Servatius was the first bishop of Maastricht, and his feast day is celebrated with various religious and cultural events.