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On This Day · The 148th day of the year

May 28

A look at May 28 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Mark Sanford and Kylie Minogue, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♊ZodiacGemini ◈BirthstoneEmerald ❀Birth flowerLily of the Valley
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2016

    Harambe

    Harambe, a gorilla, is shot to death after grabbing a three-year-old boy in his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, resulting in widespread criticism and sparking various internet memes.

    Captive gorilla (1999–2016)
  2. 2011

    Malta

    Malta votes on the introduction of divorce; the proposal was approved by 53% of voters, resulting in a law allowing divorce under certain conditions being enacted later in the year.

    Island country in Southern
  3. 1999

    Milan

    In Milan, Italy, after 22 years of restoration work, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper is put back on display.

    Second-largest city in Italy
  4. 1987

    Mathias Rust

    An 18-year-old West German pilot, Mathias Rust, evades Soviet Union air defences and lands a private plane in Red Square in Moscow, Russia.

    German activist, landed a
  5. 1974

    Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland's power-sharing Sunningdale Agreement collapses following a general strike by loyalists.

    Part of the United
  6. 1940

    World War II

    World War II: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1937

    Volkswagen

    Volkswagen, the German automobile manufacturer, is founded.

    German automobile manufacturer
  8. 1892

    San Francisco

    In San Francisco, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club.

    City and county in
  9. 1754

    French and Indian War

    French and Indian War: In the first engagement of the war, Virginia militia under the 22-year-old Lieutenant colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen in what is now Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania.

    North American theater of
  10. 1644

    English Civil War

    English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby.

    Series of wars in
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Famous birthday twins

Born on May 28

Mark Sanford

b. 1960

American military veteran (USAF) and politician, 115th Governor of South Carolina

Kylie Minogue

b. 1968

Australian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress

Kyle Walker

b. 1990

English footballer

Heinz G. Konsalik

b. 1921

German journalist and author

Alexander Mitscherlich (chemist)

b. 1836

German chemist and academic

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

b. 1925

German opera singer and conductor

Ian Fleming

b. 1908

English journalist and author, created James Bond

Markus Höttinger

b. 1956

Austrian racing driver

Deaths

  • 2016Harambe, Cincinnati Zoo western lowland gorilla
  • 2014Maya Angelou, American memoirist and poet
  • 2013Viktor Kulikov, Russian commander
  • 2007Jörg Immendorff, German painter, sculptor, and academic
  • 1849Anne Brontë, English novelist and poet
  • 1427Henry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg, German noble

Holidays & observances

  • —Armed Forces Day (Croatia)
  • —Christian feast day: Bernard of Menthon
  • —Christian feast day: Germain of Paris
  • —Christian feast day: John Calvin (Episcopal Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Lanfranc
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Margaret Pole
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Maria Bagnesi
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Thomas Ford

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