May 30 has been a date of significant historical events spanning centuries. From medieval times to the modern era, this date marks moments of political upheaval, groundbreaking achievements, and tragic occurrences that have shaped the world we know today.
From the martyrdom of Joan of Arc in 1431 to the official closing ceremony of the Concorde’s final flight in 2003, each event on this day provides a unique glimpse into our past.
This article chronicles 20 notable events that happened on May 30, offering insights into their historical contexts and enduring impacts.
May 30th – On this Day in History
1431 – Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France
Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from Lorraine, France, claimed to have received divine visions instructing her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination late in the Hundred Years’ War. She led the French army to several important victories, which boosted French morale and led to Charles VII’s coronation.
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Captured by the Burgundians, Joan was handed over to the English, put on trial for heresy, and found guilty. She was burned at the stake in Rouen on May 30, 1431. She was later exonerated and canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
1539 – Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Florida
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who played a key role in the conquest of Peru and Central America. On May 30, 1539, de Soto landed on the western coast of Florida, near present-day Bradenton. He led a large expedition with the goal of colonizing North America and seeking wealth.
His journey through the southeastern United States, including present-day states such as Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, was marked by significant encounters with Native American tribes and harsh conditions.
De Soto’s expedition provided valuable information about the interior of what would become the United States, although it failed to find the wealth he sought.
1631 – Publication of La Gazette, the first French newspaper
La Gazette, often regarded as the first French newspaper, was founded by Théophraste Renaudot with the approval of Cardinal Richelieu. The first issue was published on May 30, 1631.
La Gazette played a significant role in disseminating official news and information to the public and became an important instrument of state propaganda under Richelieu and later Louis XIV.
It covered a wide range of topics including politics, science, and society, contributing to the spread of information and ideas in early modern France.
1783 – The first public demonstration of a hot air balloon flight (unmanned) by the Montgolfier brothers in France
On May 30, 1783, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier conducted the first public demonstration of a hot air balloon flight in Annonay, France. The brothers were paper manufacturers with an interest in science and invention.
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Their balloon, made of taffeta and lined with paper, rose to an estimated altitude of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) and traveled over a kilometer before landing. This demonstration marked the beginning of the era of human flight and laid the groundwork for future developments in aviation.
The Montgolfiers’ invention captured the public imagination and led to further experiments with balloons, including manned flights later that year.
1806 – Future U.S. President Andrew Jackson killed Charles Dickinson in a duel
On May 30, 1806, Andrew Jackson, who would later become the seventh President of the United States, engaged in a duel with Charles Dickinson. The conflict arose from a dispute over a horse race and insults directed at Jackson’s wife, Rachel. Dickinson was a renowned marksman, and the duel was highly anticipated.
Despite being wounded first, Jackson managed to fire back and mortally wound Dickinson. Jackson carried Dickinson’s bullet in his body for the rest of his life. This incident contributed to Jackson’s reputation as a fierce and determined individual and played a part in his tough frontier image, which he leveraged in his political career.
1842 – John Francis attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria
On May 30, 1842, John Francis made an attempt on the life of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. This was the second of two attempts he made within two days. As Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were returning from an evening drive in their open carriage, Francis fired a pistol at the Queen but missed.
He was quickly apprehended by bystanders and police. This assassination attempt followed several others during Victoria’s reign, reflecting the heightened political tensions and the presence of individuals willing to resort to violence.
Francis was tried for high treason and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to transportation for life to Australia.
1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican-American War
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, and ratified by the United States Senate on May 30, 1848, formally ended the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
Under the terms of the treaty, Mexico ceded significant territories to the United States, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.
In exchange, the U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and assumed $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to American citizens. This treaty significantly expanded the territory of the United States and had profound implications for the development and politics of the new American West.
1854 – The Kansas-Nebraska Act was signed into law, allowing territories to decide on the legality of slavery
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, signed into law by President Franklin Pierce on May 30, 1854, created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the settlers in those territories to determine whether to allow slavery within their borders through the principle of popular sovereignty.
This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery north of latitude 36°30′. The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to violent conflict known as “Bleeding Kansas” as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into Kansas to influence the vote. This conflict further polarized the North and South and was a significant precursor to the American Civil War.
1868 – Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) was first observed in the United States
Memorial Day, initially known as Decoration Day, was first observed on May 30, 1868, as a day to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the American Civil War. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance.
On this first observance, flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Over time, Memorial Day evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars and became an official federal holiday. It is observed on the last Monday in May.
1871 – The Paris Commune fell after a two-month siege by the French Army
The Paris Commune was a radical socialist and revolutionary government that ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It arose in the wake of France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the collapse of the Second French Empire.
The Commune implemented various progressive reforms, including separation of church and state, and support for workers’ rights. However, it faced opposition from the French national government, which laid siege to the city. After intense fighting and significant bloodshed, the French Army crushed the Commune.
The fall of the Commune on May 28 was followed by a week of brutal reprisals known as “La Semaine Sanglante” (The Bloody Week), during which thousands of Communards were killed or executed, marking a tragic and violent end to this revolutionary experiment.
1883 – A stampede on the Brooklyn Bridge occurred after a rumor spread that it was collapsing
On May 30, 1883, just six days after the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to the public, a tragic stampede occurred on the bridge. A rumor spread that the bridge, which was a marvel of engineering at the time, was collapsing. The panic led to a crush of people trying to flee, resulting in the death of twelve people and many more being injured.
This incident highlighted the public’s initial mistrust in the structural integrity of the bridge, which was an unprecedented architectural achievement linking Manhattan and Brooklyn. To restore confidence, a procession of elephants from P.T. Barnum’s circus was later paraded across the bridge to demonstrate its safety.
1911 – The first Indianapolis 500 motor race was held
The inaugural Indianapolis 500, also known as the Indy 500, took place on May 30, 1911, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. Organized by Carl G. Fisher, the race quickly became one of the most prestigious events in automobile racing.
The first race was won by Ray Harroun, who drove a Marmon Wasp equipped with what is considered the first rear-view mirror. Harroun completed the 500 miles at an average speed of 74.6 mph. The race is now a cornerstone of American motorsport, held annually on Memorial Day weekend and known for its traditions and innovations in racing technology.
1913 – The Treaty of London was signed, ending the First Balkan War
The Treaty of London, signed on May 30, 1913, formally ended the First Balkan War. The war had been fought between the Balkan League (comprising Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria) and the Ottoman Empire.
The treaty resulted in significant territorial losses for the Ottoman Empire, which ceded almost all its remaining European territories to the Balkan League members. The creation of an independent Albania was also recognized.
However, dissatisfaction with the treaty’s terms, particularly by Bulgaria, soon led to the outbreak of the Second Balkan War, as former allies turned against each other over the division of the spoils.
1922 – The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C
On May 30, 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., in honor of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. The dedication ceremony was attended by thousands, including Lincoln’s only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln.
The memorial, designed by architect Henry Bacon and featuring a massive seated statue of Lincoln by sculptor Daniel Chester French, quickly became one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.
The memorial has since been the site of numerous historic events, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
1942 – The British RAF launched a thousand-bomber raid on Cologne, Germany
On the night of May 30-31, 1942, the Royal Air Force (RAF) launched Operation Millennium, a massive bombing raid on Cologne, Germany. This was the first RAF raid to employ 1,000 bombers, aiming to demonstrate the potential of strategic bombing to disrupt German industrial production and civilian morale.
The raid involved 1,046 aircraft and resulted in extensive damage to the city, with around 600 acres destroyed, including residential and industrial areas. Approximately 500 civilians were killed, and many more were injured.
The raid marked a significant escalation in the Allies’ bombing campaign against Germany during World War II and showcased the RAF’s growing capability to conduct large-scale aerial assaults.
1967 – The Nigerian Eastern Region declared independence as the Republic of Biafra, leading to the Nigerian Civil War
On May 30, 1967, the southeastern region of Nigeria, dominated by the Igbo ethnic group, declared its independence and named itself the Republic of Biafra.
This declaration was led by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military governor of the Eastern Region, following ethnic tensions, economic disparities, and a series of violent clashes, particularly the pogroms against the Igbo people in the northern regions of Nigeria.
The secession led to the Nigerian Civil War (also known as the Biafran War), which lasted until January 1970. The conflict resulted in significant loss of life, widespread famine, and immense suffering, especially in Biafra, due to blockades and military actions. The war ended with the reintegration of Biafra into Nigeria.
1971 – Mariner 9 was launched by NASA to map the surface of Mars
NASA launched Mariner 9 on May 30, 1971, with the mission of mapping the surface of Mars. Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet when it arrived at Mars in November 1971. The spacecraft’s mission was to send back detailed images and data about the Martian surface and atmosphere.
Mariner 9 successfully mapped about 85% of the Martian surface and provided unprecedented insights into the planet’s geography, including detailed images of Martian volcanoes, the Valles Marineris canyon system, and evidence of past water flow. The mission marked a significant milestone in planetary exploration and laid the groundwork for future missions to Mars.
1982 – Spain became a member of NATO
On May 30, 1982, Spain officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), becoming its 16th member. Spain’s accession to NATO marked a significant step in its integration into Western political and military structures following the end of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship and the country’s transition to democracy.
Membership in NATO was seen as a move to enhance Spain’s security, contribute to European stability, and align more closely with Western democratic nations during the Cold War.
Spain’s entry into NATO was followed by a national referendum in 1986, in which the Spanish public voted to remain in the alliance, solidifying the country’s commitment to NATO.
2003 – The official closing ceremony was held for the last flight of the supersonic aircraft, Concorde
On May 30, 2003, the official closing ceremony for the final flight of the Concorde took place, marking the end of the era of supersonic passenger travel.
The Concorde, developed jointly by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation, had been in commercial service since 1976, offering transatlantic flights that significantly reduced travel time between Europe and North America.
However, due to a combination of factors including high operating costs, low passenger numbers, and the aftermath of the Air France Flight 4590 crash in 2000, both Air France and British Airways decided to retire their Concorde fleets.
The final commercial flight occurred in October 2003, and the closing ceremony on May 30 was a commemorative event to mark the end of its operational service.
2013 – Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa due to activities of Boko Haram
On May 30, 2013, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa in response to escalating violence and insurgency by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates to “Western education is forbidden,” had been responsible for numerous attacks on civilians, government targets, and security forces, aiming to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria.
The declaration of a state of emergency allowed for greater military intervention and the deployment of additional troops to combat the insurgency. Despite these efforts, Boko Haram continued to pose a significant security threat, leading to ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises in the affected regions.