✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 142nd day of the year

May 22

A look at May 22 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Richard Wagner and Charles Aznavour, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♊ZodiacGemini ◈BirthstoneEmerald ❀Birth flowerLily of the Valley
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2026

    2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion

    A gas explosion at a coal mine in Changzhi, Shanxi, leaves at least 82 people dead.

    2026 disaster in Shanxi,
  2. 2015

    Republic of Ireland

    The Republic of Ireland becomes the first nation in the world to utilise a public referendum to legalise gay marriage.

    Country in Northwestern Europe
  3. 2014

    Prayut Chan-o-cha

    General Prayut Chan-o-cha becomes interim leader of Thailand in a military coup d'état, following six months of political turmoil.

    Prime Minister of Thailand
  4. 1992

    Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia join the United Nations.

    Country in Southeast Europe
  5. 1960

    1960 Valdivia earthquake

    The Great Chilean earthquake, measuring 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale, hits southern Chile, becoming the most powerful earthquake ever recorded.

    9.4–9.6 magnitude earthquake in
  6. 1958

    1958 anti-Tamil pogrom

    The 1958 riots in Ceylon become a watershed in the race relations of various ethnic communities of Sri Lanka. The total deaths are estimated at 300, mostly Tamils.

    First islandwide Sinhalese-Tamil riots
  7. 1915

    Lassen Peak

    Lassen Peak erupts with a powerful force, the only volcano besides Mount St. Helens to erupt in the contiguous U.S. during the 20th century.

    Active volcano in California,
  8. 1826

    HMS Beagle

    HMS Beagle departs on its first voyage.

    10-gun brig-sloop of the
  9. 1766

    1766 Istanbul earthquake

    A large earthquake causes heavy damage and loss of life in Istanbul and the Marmara region.

    Earthquake in Turkey
  10. 1762

    Trevi Fountain

    Trevi Fountain is officially completed and inaugurated in Rome.

    Fountain in Rome, Italy
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Famous birthday twins

Born on May 22

Richard Wagner

b. 1813

German composer

Charles Aznavour

b. 1924

French-Armenian singer-songwriter and actor

Novak Djokovic

b. 1987

Serbian tennis player

Harvey Milk

b. 1930

American lieutenant and politician

Lisa Murkowski

b. 1957

American lawyer and politician

Hideaki Anno

b. 1960

Japanese animator, director, and screenwriter

Max Brooks

b. 1972

American author and screenwriter

Arthur Conan Doyle

b. 1859

British writer

Deaths

  • 1939Ernst Toller, German playwright and author
  • 1885Victor Hugo, French novelist, poet, and playwright
  • 1868Julius Plücker, German mathematician and physicist
  • 1602Renata of Lorraine, Duchess of Bavaria from 1579 to 1597
  • 1540Francesco Guicciardini, Italian historian and politician
  • 337Constantine the Great, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Abolition Day (Martinique)
  • —Aromanian National Day (marginal, celebration on May 23 is more common)
  • —Christian feast day: Castus and Emilius
  • —Christian feast day: Fulk
  • —Christian feast day: Humilita
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed John Forest
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini
  • —Christian feast day: Michael Hồ Đình Hy (one of Vietnamese Martyrs)

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