1794⚡ Event
Antoine Lavoisier is executed
French chemist Antoine Lavoisier is executed during the Reign of Terror, ending the life of one of the founders of modern chemistry.
sciencepolitics
This Week in History: Week 19
May 6 – May 12
Over 112 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.
Explore the Full Daily Timelines
Major Events (May 6 – May 12)(20)
1886⚡ Event
Coca-Cola first sold
Pharmacist John Pemberton first sells Coca-Cola at a pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia for five cents a glass.
economics
1945⚡ Event
V-E Day: Victory in Europe
Nazi Germany unconditionally surrenders to the Allied forces, ending World War II in Europe.
warpoliticsmilitary
1954⚡ Event
Circus Wagons Overturn in Dungannon
A convoy of circus wagons carrying animals lost control and overturned into shop fronts in Dungannon, Northern Ireland.
disaster
1960⚡ Event
Khrushchev Announces Capture of U-2 Pilot
Nikita Khrushchev announced that the Soviet Union was holding American pilot Francis Gary Powers. Powers' spy plane had been shot down six days prior.
politicswar
1963⚡ Event
Buddhist Crisis in Huế
In Huế, South Vietnam, soldiers fired on Buddhist protesters. The protest was against a ban on flying the Buddhist flag on Phật Đản, resulting in nine deaths and sparking the Buddhist crisis.
religionpoliticswar
1970⚡ Event
Beatles release Let It Be album
The Beatles release Let It Be, one of the band's final studio albums, in the United Kingdom.
musicculture
1970⚡ Event
Hard Hat Riot
Construction workers attacked students and protesters in New York City. The protest was against the Vietnam War.
politicswar
1972⚡ Event
Sabena Flight 571 Hijacking
Four members of Black September hijacked Sabena Flight 571. They demanded the release of 315 Palestinians convicted on terrorism charges.
warpolitics
1980⚡ Event
Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse
Part of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida collapsed after being struck by the MV Summit Venture. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 35 people.
disasterlaw
1987⚡ Event
Loughgall Ambush
A British Special Air Service unit ambushed an Irish Republican Army unit in Loughgall, Northern Ireland. Eight IRA members and one civilian were killed.
warpolitics
1999⚡ Event
Kosovo War: US Bombs Chinese Embassy
During NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, the United States mistakenly bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
warpolitics
2004⚡ Event
Final episode of Friends aired
The final episode of the television sitcom Friends was aired.
entertainment
2008⚡ Event
Mark Saunders shot dead by police
British barrister Mark Saunders was shot dead by police after a five-hour siege at his home in Chelsea, London.
law
2009⚡ Event
Napier Siege Begins
Police in Napier, New Zealand, began a 40-hour siege of a former soldier's home. The man had shot at officers during a search warrant execution.
lawdisaster
2010⚡ Event
Flash crash of 2010
Exacerbated by high-frequency traders using strategies that have since been banned, major U.S. stock indices dropped nearly 9 percent and quickly rebounded.
economicstechnology
2010⚡ Event
Neanderthal Genome Draft Published
A draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome was published. It demonstrated that modern humans have Neanderthal ancestors.
sciencetechnology
2013⚡ Event
Amanda Berry escapes captivity
Amanda Berry escaped from the Cleveland, Ohio, home of her captor, Ariel Castro, having been held there with two other women for ten years.
2023⚡ Event
Coronation of Charles III and Camilla
The coronation of Charles III and Camilla as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms was held at Westminster Abbey in London.
politics
2025⚡ Event
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first U.S.-born pope and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine. He is also the second pope from the Americas.
religionpolitics
Famous Birthdays This Week(15)
1884🎂 Birth
Harry S. Truman born
The 33rd President of the United States is born in Lamar, Missouri. He oversaw the end of WWII and the start of the Cold War.
politics
1998🎂 Birth
Luigi Mangione
Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was born on May 6, 1998.
2002🎂 Birth
Angel Reese
Angel Reese is an American professional basketball player born on May 6, 2002.
sports
2002🎂 Birth
Andrew Barth Feldman
Andrew Barth Feldman is an American actor and singer, known for his role as the title character in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen.
entertainmentmusicarts
2004🎂 Birth
Minji
Minji is a South Korean singer and a member of the girl group NewJeans.
musicentertainment
2019🎂 Birth
Prince Archie of Sussex
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, also known as Prince Archie of Sussex, was born on May 6, 2019.
Notable Deaths This Week(15)
1880🕊️ Death
Gustave Flaubert dies
French novelist Gustave Flaubert, author of Madame Bovary, dies in Rouen at age 58.
literature
2015🕊️ Death
Frank DiPascali
Frank DiPascali was an American businessman. He was born in 1956.
economics
2015🕊️ Death
John Dixon
John Dixon was an Australian-American author and illustrator. He was born in 1929.
literaturearts
2016🕊️ Death
Patrick Ekeng
Patrick Ekeng, a Cameroonian footballer, died on May 6, 2016. He was born in 1990.
sportsdisaster
2021🕊️ Death
Kentaro Miura
Kentaro Miura, a Japanese manga artist, died on May 6, 2021. He was born in 1966.
artsliterature
2022🕊️ Death
George Pérez
George Pérez, an American comic book artist and writer, died on May 6, 2022. He was born in 1954.
artsliterature
2023🕊️ Death
Aase Foss Abrahamsen
Aase Foss Abrahamsen was a Norwegian writer. She was born in 1930.
literature
2024🕊️ Death
Bernard Pivot
Bernard Pivot, a French journalist, interviewer, and host, died on May 6, 2024. He was born in 1935.
entertainmentliterature
2024🕊️ Death
Brian Wenzel
Brian Wenzel, an Australian actor, died on May 6, 2024. He was born in 1929.
entertainment
2024🕊️ Death
Steve Albini
Steve Albini was an American musician, record producer, audio engineer, and music journalist. He was born in 1962.
music
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