What are the important events that happened on May 2? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.

May 2: Facts & Myths About This Day

May 2 is the 122^nd day of the year 2025 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 243 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Friday.

Under the Julian calendar, this day is April 19, 2025 – a Friday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?

When this day started, 29,102,400 minutes has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.

Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘hectaicosadigon’ day.

Taurus is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Emerald is the modern birthstone for this month. Sapphire is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.

According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 291 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.

The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,515 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.

May 2 Historical Events

• 1536 –
  Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft.
• 1757 –
  End of Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War, and end of Burmese Civil War (1740–1757)
• 1808 –
  Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808.
• 1829 –
  After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of the HMS Challenger, declares the Swan River Colony in Australia.
• 1941 –
  Following the coup d'état against Iraq Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah earlier that year, the United Kingdom launches the Anglo-Iraqi War to restore him to power.
• 1945 –
  World War II: Italian Campaign – General Heinrich von Vietinghoff signs the official instrument of surrender of all Wehrmacht forces in Italy.
• 1955 –
  Tennessee Williams wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
• 2002 –
  Marad massacre of eight Hindus near Palakkad in Kerala.
• 2004 –
  Yelwa massacre of more than 630 nomad Muslims by Christians in Nigeria.
• 2008 –
  Chaitén Volcano begins erupting in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people.

Who were born on May 2?

• 1828 –
  Désiré Charnay, French archaeologist (d. 1915)
• 1859 –
  Jerome Klapka Jerome, English writer (d. 1927)
• 1913 –
  Nigel Patrick, English actor (d. 1981)
• 1935 –
  King Faisal II of Iraq (d. 1958)
• 1959 –
  Tony Wakeford, English musician (Sol Invictus)
• 1971 –
  Musashimaru Kōyō, American Samoan sumo wrestler, the 67th Yokozuna
• 1978 –
  Mike Weaver, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1980 –
  Tim Borowski, German footballer
• 1982 –
  Johan Botha, South African cricketer
• 1988 –
  Neftali Feliz, Dominican baseball player

Who died on May 2?

• 1802 –
  Herman Willem Daendels, Dutch statesman (b. 1762)
• 1819 –
  Mary Moser, English painter (b. 1744)
• 1969 –
  Franz von Papen, Chancellor of Germany (b. 1879)
• 1980 –
  George Pal, Hungarian-born film director (b. 1908)
• 1985 –
  Larry Clinton, American trumpeter and bandleader (b. 1909)
• 1998 –
  Justin Fashanu, English footballer (b. 1961)
• 2002 –
  John Nathan-Turner, English television producer (b. 1947)
• 2005 –
  Wee Kim Wee, 4th President of Singapore (b. 1915)
• 2008 –
  Beverlee McKinsey, American actress (b. 1940)
• 2009 –
  Kiyoshiro Imawano, Japanese musician (b. 1951)