13 May

May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 232 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about May 13^th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about May 13^th in history!

Table of Contents

1. Global Celebrations
2. Historic Events
3. Famous Birthdays
4. Heartbreaking Deaths

Global Celebrations

• International Hummus Day.
• Top Gun Day
• National Frog Jumping Day
• Leprechaun Day
• World Bellydance Day
• International Hummus Day

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – May 13

1989: Thousands of students begin a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square in Beijing

The non-violent occupation of the square was part of anti-corruption and pro-democracy demonstrations. Some 3000 unarmed civilians were killed when the army cracked down on the protesters on June 3-4, 1989.

1981: Pope John Paul II survives an assassination attempt

Turkish right-wing extremist Mehmet Ali Ağca fired two shots at John Paul II on St. Peter’s Square. The Pope was seriously wounded but survived thanks to a 5-hour operation and went on to visit his attacker in prison.

1950: The first Formula One World Championship season kicks off

Giuseppe Farina won the first FIA World Championship of Drivers for the Alfa Romeo team.

1940: Igor Sikorsky pilots his VS-300 helicopter’s maiden flight

The helicopter was the first successful model to use the single vertical tail rotor that most helicopters feature today.

1909: The Giro d’Italia cycle race is held for the first time

The Giro is considered one of the world’s most important cycle races. Luigi Ganna won the first edition, which went from Milan to Naples and back.

1918: Ladies wearing Face Masks during Spanish Flu, 1918.

1913: Igor Sikorsky flies the first four-engine aircraft in 1913.

1900: Albanian armed militia from Southern Albania, early 1900s

1846: The US Capitol in 1846

Famous Birthdays

Births On This Day, May 13

1964: Stephen Colbert, American comedian, actor, talk show host

1950: Stevie Wonder, American singer-songwriter, pianist, producer

1914: Joe Louis, American boxer

1842: Arthur Sullivan, English composer

1717: Maria Theresa, Austrian wife of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

Robert Pattinson was born.

Stephen Colbert was born.

Stevie Wonder was born.

Heartbreaking Deaths

Deaths On This Day, May 13

2001: R. K. Narayan, Indian author

1977: Mickey Spillane, American mobster

1975: Bob Wills, American singer-songwriter

1930: Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian, Nobel Prize laureate

1832: Georges Cuvier, French biologist

Gary Cooper died.

R.K. Narayan died.

Georges Cuvier died.