May 5th
1494
Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Jamaica and claims it for Spain.
1809
Mary Kies of South Killingly, Conn., became the first woman to be granted a patent. The patent was for the rights to a technique for weaving straw with silk and thread.
1821
Napoleon Bonaparte died on the island of St. Helena.
1891
Carnegie Hall (then known as Music Hall) opened in New York City. Peter Tchaikovsky was the guest conductor.
1921
Coco Chanel introduces Chanel No. 5
1955
The baseball musical "Damn Yankees" opened on Broadway.
1961
Alan Shepard became the first American in space.
1978
Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds registered his 3,000th major league hit.
1993
The final episode of "Quantum Leap" aired on NBC.
1995
The last game was played at Boston Gardens. The Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics.
1997
The final episode of "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" aired.
2000
The final episode of "Boy Meets World" aired on ABC.
2004
Pablo Picasso's "Boy with a Pipe" became the most expensive painting ever sold.
Birthdays
82 Pat Carroll Actress
75 Ace Cannon Rock musician
71 Michael Murphy Actor
71 Roni Stoneman Country singer
69 Lance Henriksen Actor
66 Michael Palin Actor, comedian (Monty Python)
65 Roger Rees Actor, director
65 John Rhys-Davies Actor
64 Kurt Loder Music journalist (MTV)
61 Bill Ward Rock musician (Black Sabbath)
52 Richard E. Grant Actor
50 Brian Williams NBC news anchor
50 Ian McCulloch Rock singer (Echo and the Bunnymen)
46 James LaBrie Rock singer (Dream Theater)
43 Shawn Drover Rock musician (Megadeth)
39 Kyan Douglas TV personality ("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy")
36 Tina Yothers Actress ("Family Ties")
30 Vincent Kartheiser Actor ("Mad Men")
28 Craig David Rock singer
28 Danielle Fishel Actress ("Boys Meet World")
26 Henry Cavill Actor ("The Tudors")
21 Skye Sweetnam Rock singer
21 Brooke Hogan Singer & daughter of Hulk Hogan
20 Chris Brown R&B singer
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icehog3 Cigar Asylum Inmate
64 Karl Marx 5/5/1818 - 3/14/1883 German political philosopher and economist; wrote "The Communist Manifesto"
60 Peter Cooper Hewitt 5/5/1861 - 8/25/1921 American electrical engineer; invented the mercury-vapor lamp
57 Nellie Bly 5/5/1864 - 1/27/1922 American journalist and adventurer