May 2

Today in History
• 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter
• 1230 - William de Braose, is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great
• 1497 - John Cabot departs to North-America
• 1595 - King Philip II names Albrecht of Austria land guardian of Netherlands
• 1598 - France and Spain signs Peace of Vervins
• 1668 - Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1st peace of Aachen: ends War of Devolution
• 1670 - King Charles II gives royal charter to the Hudson's Bay Company
• 1776 - France and Spain agreed to give weapons to American rebels


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Baby Day
• Childhood Depression Awareness Day
• National Fitness Day
• National Foster Care Day
• National Life Insurance Day
• National Teacher Day
• Polish National Flag Day
• The Twelfth Day of Ridvan

Birthdays
• 1360 - Yongle, Emperor of the Ming Empire (1402-24)
• 1458 - Eleanor of Viseu, Queen of Portugal (1481-95)
• 1601 - Athanasius Kircher, German Jesuit/inventor, magic lantern
• 1729 - Catherine II, the Great, empress of Russia, 1762-96
• 1737 - William Petty, Prime Minister of Great Britain (1782-83)
• 1740 - Elias Boudinot, lawyer and patriot, President of the Continental Congress
• 1797 - Abraham Gesner, Canadian geologist (inventor of kerosene)
• 1810 - Leo XIII, 257th Roman Catholic pope, 1878-1903