22 fun facts for May, 29
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
May 29 holds significant importance in various areas, including international relations, space exploration, literature and arts. Notably, May 29 is marked by the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, and the first-ever meeting between an acting US president and a North Korean leader in 2018.
22 Fun facts
- On May 29, 1453, the Byzantine Empire fell after the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople. This marked the end of the Roman Empire which had lasted for nearly 1,500 years.
- In 1677, Treaty of Middle Plantation was signed on May 29, effectively ending hostilities between various Native American tribes and the English settlers in Virginia.
- On May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry's famous "If this be treason, make the most of it!" speech took place in the Virginia House of Burgesses, marking a critical moment in American opposition to British rule.
- The famous American author and poet G.K. Chesterton was born on May 29, 1874. Chesterton is best known for his mystery novel series featuring detective Father Brown.
- In 1886, pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton placed the first advertisement for Coca-Cola in The Atlanta Journal, marking the beginning of a global beverage phenomenon.
- On May 29, 1917, future US President John F. Kennedy was born. He would become the 35th President of the United States and the youngest elected to office in 1961.
- In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, providing a groundbreaking achievement in human exploration.
- On May 29, 1961, Australian-South African opera singer Marais Viljoen was inaugurated as the last ceremonial State President of South Africa.
- May 29 is celebrated as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of UN Peacekeepers in maintaining security and international peace.
- In 1973, Tom Bradley was elected as the first African American mayor of Los Angeles on May 29. He would go on to serve five terms in office, becoming one of the city's most influential mayors.
- On May 29, 1977, A.J. Foyt won his record-setting fourth Indianapolis 500 title.
- On May 29, 1999, the Space Shuttle Discovery completed the first-ever docking with the International Space Station, marking another milestone in international space exploration.
- Every May 29, Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day since 1999, commemorating the date when power was handed over from military rule to civilian government.
- In 1999, on May 29, Olusegun Obasanjo began his second term as President of Nigeria after being in prison for three years.
- May 29 is also celebrated globally as World Digestive Health Day to raise awareness about the importance of gastrointestinal health and the management of digestive disorders.
- On May 29, 2004, the National World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., to honor the 16 million Americans who served during World War II.
- On May 29, 2005, Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500.
- In 2012, the transit of Venus occurred on May 29, a rare astronomical event where Venus passes between Earth and the Sun, making it visible as a small black dot on the Sun's surface.
- On May 29, 2015, Sepp Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president, only to resign four days later amid a massive corruption scandal.
- In 2018, May 29 marked the historic first-ever meeting between an acting US president and a sitting North Korean leader when Donald Trump met with Kim Jong-un in Singapore.
- US cities like Mount Prospect (IL), Ames (IA), and Lake Worth (TX) celebrate May 29 as Shred Day to encourage their citizens to shred and recycle their unwanted documents.
- May 29, 2019, the African Continental Free Trade Area officially entered into force, building the world's largest trade bloc in terms of participating countries.