On This Day — May 28

Famous events, births, and deaths from May 28 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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41 events · 183 births · 82 deaths recorded for May 28.

🕰️ Notable Events on May 28

2011 — Malta votes on the introduction of divorce; the proposal was approved by 53% of voters, resulting in a law allowing divorce under certain conditions being enacted later in the year. Wikipedia ↗
2010 — In West Bengal, India, the Jnaneswari Express train derailment and subsequent collision kills 148 passengers. Wikipedia ↗
2008 — The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal formally declares Nepal a republic, ending the 240-year reign of the Shah dynasty. Wikipedia ↗
2004 — The Iraqi Governing Council chooses Ayad Allawi, a longtime anti-Saddam Hussein exile, as prime minister of Iraq's interim government. Wikipedia ↗
2003 — Peter Hollingworth becomes the first Governor-General of Australia to resign his office as a result of criticism of his conduct. Wikipedia ↗
2002 — The last steel girder is removed from the original World Trade Center site. Cleanup duties officially end with closing ceremonies at Ground Zero in Manhattan, New York City. Wikipedia ↗
1999 — In Milan, Italy, after 22 years of restoration work, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper is put back on display. Wikipedia ↗
1998 — Nuclear testing: Pakistan responds to a series of nuclear tests by India with five of its own codenamed Chagai-I, prompting the United States, Japan, and other nations to impose economic sanctions. Pakistan celebrates Youm-e-Takbir annually. Wikipedia ↗
1996 — U.S. President Bill Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, Jim McDougal and Susan McDougal, and the Governor of Arkansas Jim Guy Tucker, are convicted of fraud. Wikipedia ↗
1995 — The 7.0 Mw Neftegorsk earthquake shook the former Russian settlement of Neftegorsk with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). Total damage was $64.1-300 million, with 1,989 deaths and 750 injured. The settlement was not rebuilt. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — The capital city of Addis Ababa falls to the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, ending both the Derg regime in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
1987 — A West German pilot, Mathias Rust, who was 18 years old, evades Soviet Union air defenses and lands a private plane in the Red Square in Moscow, Russia. He is immediately detained and released on August 3, 1988. Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Konstantinos Karamanlis signs the full treaty of the accession of Greece with the European Economic Community. Wikipedia ↗
1977 — In Southgate, Kentucky, the Beverly Hills Supper Club is engulfed in fire, killing 165 people inside. Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Fifteen West African countries sign the Treaty of Lagos, creating the Economic Community of West African States. Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Northern Ireland's power-sharing Sunningdale Agreement collapses following a general strike by loyalists. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is formed. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Peter Benenson's article The Forgotten Prisoners is published in several internationally read newspapers. This will later be thought of as the founding of the human rights organization Amnesty International. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, heavily reinforced by Frank Pais Militia, overwhelm an army post in El Uvero. Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Daniel François Malan is elected as Prime Minister of South Africa. He later goes on to implement Apartheid. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: In retaliation for the assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich, Nazis in Czechoslovakia kill over 1,800 people. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recapture Narvik in Norway. This is the first allied infantry victory of the War. Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Volkswagen (VW), the German automobile manufacturer is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Alan Turing submits On Computable Numbers for publication. Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Near Callander, Ontario, Canada, the Dionne quintuplets are born to Oliva and Elzire Dionne; they will be the first quintuplets to survive infancy. Wikipedia ↗
1932 — In the Netherlands, construction of the Afsluitdijk is completed and the Zuiderzee bay is converted to the freshwater IJsselmeer. Wikipedia ↗
1926 — The 28 May 1926 coup d'état: Ditadura Nacional is established in Portugal to suppress the unrest of the First Republic. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the First Republic of Armenia declare their independence. Wikipedia ↗
1907 — The first Isle of Man TT race was held. Wikipedia ↗
1905 — Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima ends with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō and the Imperial Japanese Navy. Wikipedia ↗
1892 — In San Francisco, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club. Wikipedia ↗
1871 — Fall of the Paris Commune. Wikipedia ↗
1830 — U.S. President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act which relocates Native Americans. Wikipedia ↗
1802 — In Guadeloupe, 400 rebellious slaves, led by Louis Delgrès, blow themselves up rather than submit to Napoleon's troops Wikipedia ↗
1754 — French and Indian War: In the first engagement of the war, Virginia militia under the 22-year-old Lieutenant colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen in what is now Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania. Wikipedia ↗
1644 — Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby. Wikipedia ↗
1588 — The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,000 men, sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, heading for the English Channel. (It will take until May 30 for all ships to leave port.) Wikipedia ↗
1533 — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declares the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn valid. Wikipedia ↗
621 — Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese emperor Gaozu, defeats the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decides the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty. Wikipedia ↗
A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by the Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares in the Battle of Halys, leading to a truce. This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 28

1994 — John Stones, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Son Yeon-jae, South Korean gymnast Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Daniel Alvaro, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Bárbara Luz, Portuguese tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Tom Carroll, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Sharrif Floyd, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Alexandre Lacazette, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Kail Piho, Estonian skier Wikipedia ↗
1988 — NaVorro Bowman, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Percy Harvin, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Craig Kimbrel, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Berrick Barnes, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Seth Rollins, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Ingmar Vos, Dutch decathlete Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Colbie Caillat, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Pablo Andrés González, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Kostas Mendrinos, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Carey Mulligan, English actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Steve Cronin, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Humberto Sánchez, Dominican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Alexa Davalos, French-American actress Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Jhonny Peralta, Dominican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Daniel Cabrera, Dominican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Eric Ghiaciuc, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Adam Green, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Miguel Pérez, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Lucy Shuker, English tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Abdulaziz al-Omari, Saudi Arabian terrorist, hijacker of American Airlines Flight 11 (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Ronald Curry, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Elisabeth Hasselbeck, American talk show host and author Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Steven Bell, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Zaza Enden, Georgian-Turkish wrestler, basketball player, and coach Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Roberto Goretti, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Glenn Morrison, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Maura Johnston, American journalist, critic, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Hans-Jörg Butt, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Marco Paulo Faria Lemos, Portuguese footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Doriva, Brazilian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Michael Boogerd, Dutch cyclist and manager Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Isabelle Carré, French actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Ekaterina Gordeeva, Russian figure skater and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Marco Rubio, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Mike DiFelice, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Rob Ford, Canadian politician, 64th Mayor of Toronto (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Kylie Minogue, Australian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Glen Rice, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Roger Kumble, American director, screenwriter, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Miljenko Jergović, Bosnian novelist and journalist Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Gavin Robertson, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Chris Ballew, American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Mary Coughlan, Irish politician Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Jeff Fenech, Australian boxer and trainer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Armen Gilliam, American basketball player and coach (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Zsa Zsa Padilla, Filipino singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Phil Vassar, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Houman Younessi, Australian-American biologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Mark Sanford, American captain and politician, 115th Governor of South Carolina Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Mary Portas, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Risto Mannisenmäki, Finnish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Colin Barnes, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Kirk Gibson, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Ben Howland, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Jerry Douglas, American guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Jeff Dujon, Jamaican cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Markus Höttinger, Austrian race car driver (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Peter Wilkinson, English admiral Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Laura Amy Schlitz, American author and librarian Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Mark Howe, American ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1954 — João Carlos de Oliveira, Brazilian jumper (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Youri Egorov, Russian pianist and composer (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Charles Saumarez Smith, English historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Péter Szilágyi, Hungarian conductor and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — John Tory, Canadian lawyer and politician, 65th Mayor of Toronto Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Pierre Gauthier, Canadian ice hockey player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Roger Briggs, American pianist, composer, conductor, and educator Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Wendy O. Williams, American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Michael Field, Australian politician, 38th Premier of Tasmania Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Pierre Rapsat, Belgian singer and songwriter (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Zahi Hawass, Egyptian archaeologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Lynn Johnston, Canadian author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Leland Sklar, American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Bruce Alexander, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Skip Jutze, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Janet Paraskeva, Welsh politician Wikipedia ↗
1946 — K. Satchidanandan, Indian poet and critic Wikipedia ↗
1946 — William Shawcross, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Patch Adams, American physician and author, founded the Gesundheit! Institute Wikipedia ↗
1945 — John N. Bambacus, American sergeant and politician Wikipedia ↗
1945 — John Fogerty, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Jean Perrault, Canadian politician, Mayor of Sherbrooke Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Helena Shovelton, English physician Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Faith Brown, English actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Rudy Giuliani, American lawyer and politician, 107th mayor of New York City Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Gladys Knight, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Rita MacNeil, Canadian singer and actress (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Gary Stewart, American singer-songwriter (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Billy Vera, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Terry Crisp, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Stanley B. Prusiner, American neurologist and biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Beth Howland, American actress and singer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — David William Brewer, English politician, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Shlomo Riskin, American rabbi and academic, founded the Lincoln Square Synagogue Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Maeve Binchy, Irish novelist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Jerry West, American basketball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Claude Forget, Canadian academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Ole K. Sara, Norwegian politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Betty Shabazz, American educator and activist (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1933 — John Karlen, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Zelda Rubinstein, American actress and activist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Tim Renton, Baron Renton of Mount Harry, English politician, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Carroll Baker, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Gordon Willis, American cinematographer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Edward Seaga, American-Jamaican academic and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Jamaica Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Patrick McNair-Wilson, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Sally Forrest, American actress and dancer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Bülent Ecevit, Turkish journalist, scholar, and politician, 16th Prime Minister of Turkey (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, German opera singer and conductor (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Edward du Cann, English lieutenant and politician Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Paul Hébert, Canadian actor (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — György Ligeti, Romanian-Austrian composer and educator (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — N. T. Rama Rao, Indian actor, director, producer, and politician, 10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Lou Duva, American boxer, trainer, and manager (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Roger Fisher, American author and academic (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Tuomas Gerdt, Finnish sergeant Wikipedia ↗
1921 — D. V. Paluskar, Indian Hindustani classical musician (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Heinz G. Konsalik, German journalist and author (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Tom Uren, Australian soldier, boxer, and politician (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Johnny Wayne, Canadian comedian (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1917 — Barry Commoner, American biologist, academic, and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1916 — Walker Percy, American novelist and essayist (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1915 — Joseph Greenberg, American linguist and academic (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — W. G. G. Duncan Smith, English captain and pilot (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Herman Johannes, Indonesian scientist, academic, and politician (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Ruby Payne-Scott, Australian physicist and astronomer (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Patrick White, Australian novelist, poet, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Bob Crisp, South African cricketer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Thora Hird, English actress (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Fritz Hochwälder, Austrian playwright (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Georg Gaßmann, German politician, Mayor of Marburg (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Rachel Kempson, English actress (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — T-Bone Walker, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
1909 — Red Horner, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1908 — Léo Cadieux, Canadian journalist and politician, 17th Canadian Minister of National Defence (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1908 — Ian Fleming, English journalist and author, created James Bond (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
1906 — Henry Thambiah, Sri Lankan lawyer, judge, and diplomat, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1903 — S. L. Kirloskar, Indian businessman, founded Kirloskar Group (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Tommy Ladnier, American trumpet player (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
1892 — Minna Gombell, American actress (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
1889 — Richard Réti, Slovak-Czech chess player and author (d. 1929) Wikipedia ↗
1888 — Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot, English author and educator (d. 1947) Wikipedia ↗
1888 — Jim Thorpe, American decathlete, football player, and coach (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
1888 — Kaarel Eenpalu, Estonian journalist and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Estonia (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
1886 — Santo Trafficante, Sr., Italian-American mobster (d. 1954) Wikipedia ↗
1884 — Edvard Beneš, Czech academic and politician, 2nd President of Czechoslovakia (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
1883 — Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Indian poet and politician (d. 1966) Wikipedia ↗
1883 — Clough Williams-Ellis, English-Welsh architect, designed the Portmeirion Village (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
1879 — Milutin Milanković, Serbian mathematician, astronomer, and geophysicist (d. 1958) Wikipedia ↗
1878 — Paul Pelliot, French sinologist and explorer (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on May 28 (Calendar.cx)

National Beef Burger Day

National Hamburger Day

National Brisket Day

Also observed on May 28