On this day: 6 May

Selected events and births on 6 May, from Wikipedia’s “On this day”.

Events

• 1757 – English poet Christopher Smart was admitted to St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics in London, beginning his six-year confinement in mental asylums. Read more: Christopher Smart St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics Asylum confinement of Christopher Smart
• 1782 – Construction began on the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the official residence of the king of Thailand. Read more: Grand Palace Monarchy of Thailand
• 1882 – U.S. president Chester A. Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act into law (cartoon pictured), implementing a ban on Chinese immigration to the United States that remained for 61 years. Read more: Chester A. Arthur Chinese Exclusion Act History of Chinese Americans
• 1915 – Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition: SY Aurora, anchored in McMurdo Sound, broke loose during a gale, beginning a 312-day ordeal in the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean for her 18-man crew. Read more: Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition SY Aurora McMurdo Sound
• 1930 – Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson purchased the Kent property they would transform into Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Read more: Vita Sackville-West Harold Nicolson Kent
• 1941 – American entertainer Bob Hope performed his first show with the United Service Organizations, beginning a 50-year involvement with them. Read more: Bob Hope United Service Organizations
• 1954 – At Oxford's Iffley Road Track, English runner Roger Bannister became the first person to run the mile in under four minutes. Read more: Oxford Roger Bannister running track Roger Bannister
• 1998 – Steve Jobs unveiled the iMac G3' personal computer. Read more: Steve Jobs IMac G3
• 2004 – The final episode of the television sitcom Friends was aired. Read more: The Last One (Friends) Friends
• 2023 – King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. Read more: Charles III Queen Camilla Coronation of Charles III and Camilla

Born on this day

• 1952 – Gerrit Zalm, Dutch economist and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands Read more: Gerrit Zalm Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands
• 1953 – Tony Blair, British politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Read more: Tony Blair Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• 1954 – Dora Bakoyannis, Greek politician, 120th Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs Read more: Dora Bakoyannis Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)
• 1955 – John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness, English academic and politician, Secretary of State for Defence Read more: John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness Secretary of State for Defence
• 1961 – Frans Timmermans, Dutch politician and diplomat, First Vice President of the European Commission Read more: Frans Timmermans Vice-president of the European Commission
• 1983 – Trinley Thaye Dorje, Tibetan religious leader, the 17th Karmapa Lama Read more: Trinley Thaye Dorje Karmapa
• 1997 – Maymay Entrata, Filipino model, entertainer and singer-songwriter Read more: Maymay Entrata
• 1997 – Ranz Kyle, Filipino social media personality and entertainer Read more: Ranz Kyle
• 1999 – Pato O'Ward, Mexican racing driver Read more: Pato O'Ward
• 2002 – Cole Palmer, English footballer Read more: Cole Palmer
• 2002 – Angel Reese, American basketball player Read more: Angel Reese
• 2006 – Sadie Sandler, American actress Read more: Sadie Sandler

Text from Wikipedia: Selected anniversaries / May 6 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.