May 5

What happened on May 5 in history

3 events fall on May 5, from 1821 to 1961. Read them below, then try to place a historical scene yourself — guess where in the world it happened and in what year.

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Events on May 5

  1. 1821

    Napoleon dies on Saint Helena

    The exiled emperor dies in the South Atlantic at fifty-one.

    Play the 19th century round

  2. 1862

    The Battle of Puebla

    A Mexican force defeats a larger French army, remembered as Cinco de Mayo.

    Play the 19th century round

  3. 1961

    Alan Shepard flies in space

    Freedom 7 makes America's first crewed suborbital flight.

    Play the 20th century round