Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
May 2 Saturday, May 2, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 2 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
1963
Science 63 years ago
Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.
German engineer Berthold Seliger launches a three-stage rocket near Cuxhaven, reaching an altitude exceeding 100 kilometers in the only German-developed sounding rocket program.
History
What happened on May 2
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1194UK history
King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first royal charter.
King Richard I grants Portsmouth its first royal charter, establishing the town as a strategic naval base for England's military operations.
- 1230UK history
William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great.
Prince Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd orders the hanging of William de Braose, who had been discovered in an affair with Llywelyn's wife Joan.
- 1250World history
Mamluks under Baybars murder the Ayyubid sultan Turanshah for fear of losing their privileges.
Baybars leads the Mamluks in murdering Sultan Turanshah to preserve their own power and privileges.
- 1388European history
The surrender of the Acropolis of Athens to Nerio Acciaioli ends the Catalan presence in the Duchy of Athens.
Nerio Acciaioli takes control of the Acropolis of Athens, ending the Catalan rule over the Duchy.
- 1536Royalty
Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft.
Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, is arrested and imprisoned on charges including adultery, incest, treason, and witchcraft.
- 1559Religion
John Knox returns from exile to Scotland to become the leader of the nascent Scottish Reformation.
John Knox returns to Scotland and becomes a key figure in the Scottish Reformation.
- 1611Religion
The King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker.
The King James Version of the Bible is published in London by printer Robert Barker.
- 1625Religion
Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Latin Patriarch of Ethiopia, arrives at Beilul from Goa.
Afonso Mendes arrives in Beilul from Goa to assume his role as the Latin Patriarch of Ethiopia, appointed by Pope Gregory XV.
- 1812War
The Siege of Cuautla during the Mexican War of Independence ends with both sides claiming victory.
The Siege of Cuautla ends with neither side conceding defeat, each claiming victory in the Mexican War of Independence.
- 1885Canadian history
Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion.
Cree and Assiniboine warriors achieve their greatest victory over Canadian forces in the North-West Rebellion at the Battle of Cut Knife.
- 1963Science
Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.
German engineer Berthold Seliger launches a three-stage rocket near Cuxhaven, reaching an altitude exceeding 100 kilometers in the only German-developed sounding rocket program.
- 2008Disaster
Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless.
Cyclone Nargis devastates Burma, killing more than 138,000 people and displacing millions.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 2
7 this date All birthdays
Isabel González
Puerto Rican activist who helped pave the way for Puerto Ricans' American citizenship
Isabel González, the Puerto Rican activist whose legal challenge helped pave the way for Puerto Ricans to be granted United States citizenship, was born today in 1882.
Born
1882
Died
1971
Vicente Martín y Soler
Spanish composer
1754 – 1806
Eddie Collins
American baseball player and manager
1887 – 1951
Lorenzo Music
American actor, producer, and screenwriter
1937 – 2001
Musashimaru Kōyō
Samoan-American sumo wrestler, the 67th Yokozuna
b. 1971 · 55
Dwayne Johnson
American actor and wrestler
b. 1972 · 54
Cherprang Areekul
Thai singer
b. 1996 · 30
Music
The number one songs on May 2
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Drop Dead"— Olivia Rodrigo
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Fortnight"— Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
- 2023"Wish You the Best"— Lewis Capaldi
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport May 2, 1920
The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis.
The first game of the Negro National League is played in Indianapolis, marking a significant moment in African American sports history.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 2, 1963
Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.
Berthold Seliger launches a multi-stage rocket reaching over 100 kilometres, the sole sounding rocket developed in Germany.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
The last day of the Festival of Ridván (Baháʼí Faith) (this date is non-Gregorian and may change according to the March equinox, see List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar)
International
Riḍván is a twelve-day festival in the Bahá'í Faith commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's declaration that he was a Manifestation of God
Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (Community of Madrid, Spain)
International
The Dos de Mayo or Second of May Uprising took place in Madrid, Spain, on 2-3 May 1808
Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan)
International
Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals or tshechus
Flag Day (Poland)
International
The Polish National Flag Day, also known as the Day of the Flag of the Republic of Poland, is a national holiday in Poland which takes place on 2 May every year
Indonesia National Education Day
International
Indonesian National Education Day or Hari Pendidikan Nasional abbreviated as HARDIKNAS is celebrated on 2 May
Teachers' Day (Iran) (this date is non-Gregorian and may change according to the March Equinox, see List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar)
International
Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers
❝
I am not a foreigner. I was born in Porto Rico, and Porto Rico is a part of the United States.
— Isabel González · born May 2, 1882