On This Day — May 30

Famous events, births, and deaths from May 30 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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54 events · 213 births · 112 deaths recorded for May 30.

🕰️ Notable Events on May 30

2013 — Nigeria passes a law banning same-sex marriage. Wikipedia ↗
2012 — Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
2008 — Convention on Cluster Munitions is adopted. Wikipedia ↗
2003 — Depayin massacre: At least 70 people associated with the National League for Democracy are killed by government-sponsored mob in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi fled the scene, but is arrested soon afterwards. Wikipedia ↗
1998 — The 6.5 Mw Afghanistan earthquake shook the Takhar Province of northern Afghanistan with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong), killing around 4,000-4,500. Wikipedia ↗
1998 — Nuclear Testing: Pakistan conducts an underground test in the Kharan Desert. It is reported to be a plutonium device with yield of 20kt TNT equivalent. Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: The 33-foot high "Goddess of Democracy" statue is unveiled in Tiananmen Square by student demonstrators. Wikipedia ↗
1975 — European Space Agency is established. Wikipedia ↗
1974 — The Airbus A300 passenger aircraft first enters service. Wikipedia ↗
1972 — The Angry Brigade goes on trial over a series of 25 bombings throughout the United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
1972 — In Ben Gurion Airport (at the time: Lod Airport), Israel, members of the Japanese Red Army carry out the Lod Airport massacre, killing 24 people and injuring 78 others. Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Mariner program: Mariner 9 is launched to map 70% of the surface, and to study temporal changes in the atmosphere and surface, of Mars. Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Charles de Gaulle reappears publicly after his flight to Baden-Baden, Germany, and dissolves the French National Assembly by a radio appeal. Immediately after, less than one million of his supporters march on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This is the turning point of May 1968 events in France. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — The Nigerian Eastern Region declares independence as the Republic of Biafra, sparking a civil war. Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Former Congolese Prime Minister, Évariste Kimba, and several other politicians are publicly executed in Kinshasa on the orders of President Joseph Mobutu. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — A protest against pro-Catholic discrimination during the Buddhist crisis is held outside South Vietnam's National Assembly, the first open demonstration during the eight-year rule of Ngo Dinh Diem. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — The long-time Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo is assassinated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Wikipedia ↗
1959 — The Auckland Harbour Bridge, crossing the Waitematā Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand, is officially opened by Governor-General Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Memorial Day: The remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Wikipedia ↗
1948 — A dike along the flooding Columbia River breaks, obliterating Vanport, Oregon within minutes. Fifteen people die and tens of thousands are left homeless. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — The Holocaust: Josef Mengele becomes chief medical officer of the Zigeunerfamilienlager (Romani family camp) at Auschwitz concentration camp. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: One thousand British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany. Wikipedia ↗
1941 — World War II: Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas climb the Athenian Acropolis and tear down the German flag. Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Memorial Day massacre: Chicago police shoot and kill ten labor demonstrators. Wikipedia ↗
1925 — May Thirtieth Movement: Shanghai Municipal Police Force shoot and kill 13 protesting workers. Wikipedia ↗
1922 — The Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.. Wikipedia ↗
1917 — Alexander I becomes king of Greece. Wikipedia ↗
1914 — The new, and then the largest, Cunard ocean liner RMS Aquitania, 45,647 tons, sets sails on her maiden voyage from Liverpool, England, to New York City. Wikipedia ↗
1913 — The Treaty of London is signed, ending the First Balkan War; Albania becomes an independent nation. Wikipedia ↗
1911 — At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first Indianapolis 500 ends with Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp becoming the first winner of the 500-mile auto race. Wikipedia ↗
1899 — Pearl Hart, a female outlaw of the Old West, robs a stage coach 30 miles southeast of Globe, Arizona. Wikipedia ↗
1883 — In New York City, a stampede on the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge killed twelve people. Wikipedia ↗
1876 — Ottoman sultan Abdülaziz is deposed and succeeded by his nephew Murad V. Wikipedia ↗
1868 — Decoration Day (the predecessor of the modern "Memorial Day") is observed in the United States for the first time (by "Commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic" John A. Logan's proclamation on May 5). Wikipedia ↗
1854 — The Kansas-Nebraska Act becomes law establishing the US territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Wikipedia ↗
1845 — The Fatel Razack coming from India, lands in the Gulf of Paria in Trinidad and Tobago carrying the first Indians to the country. Wikipedia ↗
1842 — John Francis attempts to murder Queen Victoria as she drives down Constitution Hill in London with Prince Albert. Wikipedia ↗
1834 — Minister of Justice Joaquim António de Aguiar issues a law seizing "all convents, monasteries, colleges, hospices and any other houses" from the Catholic religious orders in Portugal, earning him the nickname of "The Friar-Killer". Wikipedia ↗
1815 — The East Indiaman Arniston is wrecked during a storm at Waenhuiskrans, near Cape Agulhas, in present-day South Africa, with the loss of 372 lives. Wikipedia ↗
1814 — Napoleonic Wars: War of the Sixth Coalition: The Treaty of Paris (1814) is signed returning French borders to their 1792 extent. Napoleon is exiled to Elba. Wikipedia ↗
1806 — Future U.S. President Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duel. Wikipedia ↗
1642 — From this date all honors granted by Charles I are retroactively annulled by Parliament. Wikipedia ↗
1635 — Thirty Years' War: The Peace of Prague is signed. Wikipedia ↗
1631 — Publication of Gazette de France, the first French newspaper. Wikipedia ↗
1588 — The last ship of the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon heading for the English Channel. Wikipedia ↗
1574 — Henry III becomes King of France. Wikipedia ↗
1539 — In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal of finding gold. Wikipedia ↗
1536 — King Henry VIII of England marries Jane Seymour, a lady-in-waiting to his first two wives. Wikipedia ↗
1510 — During the reign of the Zhengde Emperor, Ming dynasty rebel leader Zhu Zhifan is defeated by commander Qiu Yue, ending the Prince of Anhua rebellion. Wikipedia ↗
1434 — Hussite Wars: Battle of Lipany: Effectively ending the war, Utraquist forces led by Diviš Bořek of Miletínek defeat and almost annihilate Taborite forces led by Prokop the Great. Wikipedia ↗
1431 — Hundred Years' War: In Rouen, France, the 19-year-old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal. The Roman Catholic Church remembers this day as the celebration of Saint Joan of Arc. Wikipedia ↗
1416 — The Council of Constance, called by Emperor Sigismund, a supporter of Antipope John XXIII, burns Jerome of Prague following a trial for heresy. Wikipedia ↗
1381 — Beginning of the Peasants' Revolt in England. Wikipedia ↗
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within fifteen kilometres. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 30

1996 — Beatriz Haddad Maia, Brazilian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Ivars Punnenovs, Latvian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Scott Laughton, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Jonathan Fox, English swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Mustafa Akbaş, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Im Yoona, South Korean singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Andrei Loktionov, Russian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Lesia Tsurenko, Ukrainian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Ailee, Korean-American singer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Antonio Winterstein, New Zealand-Samoan rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Nikolay Bodurov, Bulgarian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Igor Kurnosov, Russian chess player (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Igor Lewczuk, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Aaron Volpatti, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Sham Kwok Fai, Hong Kong footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Matt Maguire, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Jordan Palmer, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Alexander Sulzer, German ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Eddie Griffin, American basketball player (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1982 — James Simpson-Daniel, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Devendra Banhart, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Gianmaria Bruni, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Ahmad Elrich, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Remy Ma, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Lars Møller Madsen, Danish handball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Hisanori Takada, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Steven Gerrard, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Ilona Korstin, Russian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Ryōgo Narita, Japanese author Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Mike Bishai, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Francis Lessard, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Rachael Stirling, English actress Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Federico Vilar, Argentinian-Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Radoslav Nesterović, Slovenian-Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Magnus Norman, Swedish tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Margaret Okayo, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Evan Eschmeyer, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Brian Fair, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Andy Farrell, English rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Marissa Mayer, American computer scientist and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Big L, American rapper (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Kostas Chalkias, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — CeeLo Green, American singer-songwriter, pianist, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1974 — David Wilkie, American ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Leigh Francis, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Manny Ramirez, Dominican-American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Paul Grayson, English rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Duncan Jones, English director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Idina Menzel, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Jiří Šlégr, Czech ice hockey player and politician Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Adrian Vowles, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Naomi Kawase, Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Ryuhei Kitamura, Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Jason Kenney, Canadian lawyer and politician, 40th Canadian Minister of National Defence Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Zacarias Moussaoui, French citizen, sentenced to life in prison related to September 11 attacks Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Tim Burgess, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Rechelle Hawkes, Australian hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Sven Pipien, German-American bass player Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Thomas Häßler, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Stephen Malkmus, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Troy Coker, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Billy Donovan, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Iginio Straffi, Italian animator and producer, founded Rainbow S.r.l. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Wynonna Judd, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Andrea Montermini, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Tom Morello, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Michel Langevin, Canadian drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Élise Lucet, French journalist Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Helen Sharman, English chemist and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Kevin Eastman, American author and illustrator, co-created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Richard Fuller, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Tim Loughton, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Tonya Pinkins, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Harry Enfield, English actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Bob Yari, Iranian-American director and producer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Phil Brown, English footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Randy Ferbey, Canadian curler Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Frank Vanhecke, Belgian politician Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Michael López-Alegría, Spanish-American captain, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Ted McGinley, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Eugene Belliveau, Canadian football player Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Marie Fredriksson, Swedish singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Steve Israel, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Michael Clayton, Australian golfer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Tim Lucas, American author, screenwriter, and critic Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Topper Headon, English drummer and songwriter (The Clash) Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Jacqueline McGlade, English-Canadian biologist, ecologist, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Caroline Swift, English lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Colm Tóibín, Irish novelist, poet, playwright, and critic Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Colm Meaney, Irish actor Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Daniel Grodnik, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Kerry Fraser, Canadian ice hockey player, referee, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Zdravko Čolić, Bosnian Serb singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Fernando Lugo, Paraguayan bishop and politician, President of Paraguay Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Stephen Tobolowsky, American actor, singer, and director Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Bertrand Delanoë, French politician, 14th Mayor of Paris Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Paresh Rawal, Indian actor, producer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Joshua Rozenberg, English lawyer, journalist, and author Wikipedia ↗
1949 — P.J. Carlesimo, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Paul Coleridge, English lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Bob Willis, English cricketer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Johan De Muynck, Belgian former professional road racing cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Michael Piller, American screenwriter and producer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — David Thorpe, Australian rules footballer Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Jocelyne Bourassa, Canadian golfer Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Allan Chapman, English historian and author Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Gladys Horton, American singer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Lenny Davidson, English guitarist and songwriter (The Dave Clark Five) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Meredith MacRae, American actress (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Stav Prodromou, Greek-American engineer and businessman Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Anders Michanek Swedish motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Gale Sayers, American football player and philanthropist Wikipedia ↗
1942 — John Gladwin, English bishop Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Carole Stone, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Jagmohan Dalmiya, Indian cricket administrator (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Gilles Villemure, Canadian-American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Michael J. Pollard, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Dieter Quester, Austrian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Tim Waterstone, Scottish businessman, founded Waterstones Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Billie Letts, American author and educator (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Christopher Haskins, Anglo-Irish businessman, life peer, and British politician Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Rick Mather, American-English architect (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Keir Dullea, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Ruta Lee, Canadian-American actress and dancer Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Guy Tardif, Canadian academic and politician (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Alexey Leonov, Russian general, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Alketas Panagoulias, Greek footballer and manager (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Ray Cooney, English actor and playwright Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Pauline Oliveros, American accordion player and composer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Ivor Richard, Baron Richard, Welsh politician and diplomat, British Ambassador to the United Nations Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Larry Silverstein, American real estate magnate Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Mark Birley, English businessman, founded Annabel's (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Robert Ryman, American painter Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Georges Gilson, French archbishop Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Pro Hart, Australian painter (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Agnès Varda, Belgian-French director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Joan Birman, American mathematician Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Clint Walker, American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Billy Wilson, Australian rugby league player and coach (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Johnny Gimble, American country/western swing musician (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys) (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — John Henry Marks, English physician and author Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Anthony Dryden Marshall, American CIA officer and diplomat (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Hal Clement, American author and educator (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Franklin J. Schaffner, Japanese-American director and producer (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — René Barrientos, Bolivian general and politician, 55th President of Bolivia (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗