On this day: 15 May

Selected events and births on 15 May, from Wikipedia’s “On this day”.

Events

• 1725 – Bach led the first performance of his cantata Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85, about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Read more: Johann Sebastian Bach Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85 Good Shepherd
• 1836 – English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads (example pictured), a phenomenon during a solar eclipse in which the rugged topography of the lunar limb allows sunlight to shine through. Read more: Francis Baily Baily's beads Solar eclipse
• 1855 – Thieves stole 224 pounds (102 kg) of gold from a train travelling from London to Folkestone, England. Read more: Great Gold Robbery Folkestone
• 1862 – Fertilisation of Orchids, the first book by Charles Darwin which demonstrated the power of natural selection in detail, was published. Read more: Fertilisation of Orchids Charles Darwin Natural selection
• 1869 – Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the National Woman Suffrage Association, breaking away from the American Equal Rights Association which they had also previously founded. Read more: Susan B. Anthony Elizabeth Cady Stanton National Woman Suffrage Association
• 1891 – Pope Leo XIII issued the encyclical Rerum novarum, which addressed the condition of the working classes and is considered to be the foundation of modern Catholic social teaching. Read more: Pope Leo XIII Encyclical Rerum novarum
• 1912 – During a match, baseball star Ty Cobb enters the stands and assaults a fan who had heckled him, leading to his suspension. Read more: Ty Cobb 1912 suspension of Ty Cobb
• 1928 – Mickey and Minnie Mouse made their film debuts in the animated cartoon Plane Crazy. Read more: Mickey Mouse Minnie Mouse Plane Crazy
• 1953 – Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, an event for Cub Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America where wooden cars built by the scouts are raced. Read more: Pinewood derby Cub Scout Scouting America
• 1990 – Vincent van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gachet was sold at auction at Christie's in New York for US$82.5 million, making it the world's most expensive painting at the time. Read more: Vincent van Gogh Portrait of Dr. Gachet Christie's
• 2001 – A runaway train loaded with hazardous chemicals traveled driverless for 66 miles (106 km) through Ohio before being stopped near Kenton. Read more: CSX 8888 incident Kenton, Ohio
• 2004 – Arsenal became the first football team in England's top flight to finish a season undefeated since Preston North End did so in 1888–1889. Read more: Arsenal F.C. Association football English football league system
• 2010 – Three days before her seventeenth birthday, Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney after sailing non-stop and unassisted around the world. Read more: Jessica Watson Sydney Unassisted sailing

Born on this day

• 1938 – Diane Nash, American civil rights movement activist Read more: Diane Nash Civil rights movement
• 1942 – Jusuf Kalla, Indonesian businessman and politician, 10th Vice President of Indonesia Read more: Jusuf Kalla Vice President of Indonesia
• 1942 – Doug Lowe, Australian politician, 35th Premier of Tasmania Read more: Doug Lowe (Australian politician) Premier of Tasmania
• 1948 – Kathleen Sebelius, American politician, 44th Governor of Kansas Read more: Kathleen Sebelius List of governors of Kansas
• 1951 – Frank Wilczek, American mathematician and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate Read more: Frank Wilczek Nobel Prize in Physics
• 1956 – Andreas Loverdos, Greek lawyer and politician, Greek Minister of Labour Read more: Andreas Loverdos Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Greece)
• 1964 – Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Danish lawyer and politician, 40th Prime Minister of Denmark Read more: Lars Løkke Rasmussen Prime Minister of Denmark
• 1968 – Cecilia Malmström, Swedish academic and politician, 15th European Commissioner for Trade Read more: Cecilia Malmström European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security
• 1972 – Danny Alexander, Scottish politician, Secretary of State for Scotland Read more: Danny Alexander Secretary of State for Scotland
• 1975 – Janne Seurujärvi, Finnish Sami politician, first Sami ever to be elected to the Finnish Parliament Read more: Janne Seurujärvi Sámi people Parliament of Finland
• 2002 – Chase Hudson, American internet celebrity, singer, actor Read more: Huddy (musician)
• 2006 – Haerin, Korean singer Read more: Haerin

Text from Wikipedia: Selected anniversaries / May 15 and the linked articles, via the Wikimedia “On this day” feed, under CC BY-SA 4.0. We leave out entries about wars, violence and disasters to keep this page family-friendly.