May 02

Tuesday 02, 2000:

Bill Clinton announces that GPS access equivalent to the U.S. military would be available for regular citizens.

Sunday 02, 1999:

Panamanian election: Mireya Moscoso became the first woman to be elected President of Panama.

Saturday 02, 1998:

The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the EU's monetary policy.

Friday 02, 1997:

The Labour Party's Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, ending 18 years of Conservative Party rule. At 44, he is the youngest prime minister for 185 years.

Monday 02, 1988:

The last B-1 Lancer is delivered to the United States by Rockwell International.

Friday 02, 1986:

The 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, opens.

Sunday 02, 1982:

Falklands War: The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano.

Tuesday 02, 1972:

Buddy Baker became the first stock car driver to finish a 500-mile race in less than three hours en route to winning the Winston Select 500 at the Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama.

Friday 02, 1969:

The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 departs on her maiden voyage to New York City.

Saturday 02, 1964:

Vietnam War: An explosion sinks the USS Card while docked at Saigon. Viet Cong forces are suspected of placing a bomb on the ship.

Thursday 02, 1963:

Berthold Seliger launches near Cuxhaven a rocket with three stages with a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.

Monday 02, 1955:

Tennessee Williams wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Saturday 02, 1953:

Hussein is crowned King of Jordan.

Wednesday 02, 1945:

1945 - The last postage stamp utilized by Manzhouguo is issued.

Tuesday 02, 1939:

Lou Gehrig's streak of 2130 consecutive Major League Baseball games played comes to an end. The record will stand for 56 years before Cal Ripken, Jr. breaks it.

Tuesday 02, 1933:

Gleichschaltung: Adolf Hitler bans trade unions.

Monday 02, 1932:

Comedian Jack Benny's radio show airs for the first time.

Sunday 02, 1920:

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.

Thursday 02, 1918:

General Motors acquires the Chevrolet Motor Company of Delaware.

Wednesday 02, 1900:

Oscar II, King of Sweden, declares support for Britain at the time of the Boer War.

Thursday 02, 1889:

Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, signs a treaty of amity with Italy, which gives Ethiopia control over Eritrea.

Saturday 02, 1885:

The Congo Free State is established by King Léopold II of Belgium.

Wednesday 02, 1866:

Peruvian defenders fight off Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao.

Saturday 02, 1829:

After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger, declares the Swan River Colony in Australia.

Thursday 02, 1816:

Léopold of Saxe-Coburg and Charlotte Augusta are wed.

Monday 02, 1808:

Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation.

Monday 02, 1672:

John Maitland becomes Duke of Lauderdale and Earl of March.

Friday 02, 1670:

King Charles II of England grants a permanent charter to the Hudson's Bay Company to open up the fur trade in North America.

Thursday 02, 1568:

Mary I of Scotland escapes from Loch Leven Castle.

Monday 02, 1335:

Otto the Merry, Duke of Austria, becomes Duke of Carinthia.

Monday 02, 1194:

King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter.

More on May, 02

• People Born on May, 02
• They left us on May, 02